In "Building a Champion" Bill Walsh calls this 1984 49er team his very best, blaming its single loss (vs. the Steelers) on a "phantom interference" call by one of the refs. About the Bengal game, he acknowledges the strong play of a team with a losing record (3-6, tho they would finish 8-8 on Anderson's still strong and accurate arm, increasingly aided by the running of James Brooks and Larry Kinnebrew). He doesn't mention any individual players except Montana, who is outplayed by Anderson in this game, giving the Bengals an early lead that's held until late in the 4th quarter, when Montana offers a preview of the drive finishing the '88 Bengals (w Boomer) in their 2nd Super Bowl. in the Super Bowl for the '84 season, Walsh feels his team confidently handled a less quick, less physical Miami Dolphin team.
We all know Montana is the template for quarterbacks but Kenny Anderson had absolutely wonderful technique. His drop back, throwing motion, throwing in rhythm of drop, all was super professional! Thew a tremendous ball as well. Go figure, they were both coached by Bill Walsh!
I didn't follow Young closely. But I know he was another student of Bill Walsh, who drilled him in footwork like a dance instructor. Whatever Walsh did, it transformed Young from loser to all-time Pass Rating leader (6 seasons) with Ken Anderson in 2nd place with only 4 (but 2 well after Walsh had left the Bengals and the first 2 during the era of the "dead ball" (low-scoring games with few rules protecting QBs and their receivers). As for Fouts, a different type of player, throwing to zones, or areas, with big tall stand-outs like Winslow. And he was content to risk picks for the sake of yardage and scores. Anderson hated zones (even the end zone) unless he could see his individual man in the clear. Fouts retreated from center in tip-toes, Anderson turned his back and took it in strides before making his turn. Neither won a Superbowl. But all 4 of Isaac Curtis Pro-Bowl selections--and all 3 of Collingworth's--were with Anderson as passing partner.
Bill Walsh was Anderson's first quarterback coach in the NFL. If there were truth in advertising, the "West Coast" offense would be called the "Cincinnati" offense, because that was actually where that offensive scheme was designed.
49ers owned Bengals even in 1978 2-14 season. 28-12. Paul Brown was a Cheapskate like Gene Klein was for the Chargers. Any wonder those teams have been in limbo forever. In 4 years another Superbowl for the Niners vs Bengals. R.I.P. Freddie Soloman.
Bill Walsh sure got his revenge on Paul Brown in spades for not making him head coach of the Bengals and black-balling him from other head coaching opportunities.
"I wouldn't say that our franchise is cheap I would say that they are frugal." Reggie Williams Linebacker 2:11 WTF? hahahahaha the look on his face says it all. Paul Brown was tight fisted with his money.
Bengals literally could've won every matchup between themselves and the 49ers from 1984-1996...blew this game. Royally blew the 87 game late. Montana's drive took away the most important game of the series in Super Bowl XXIII. Had the game in 1990 and couldn't hold it. And then were whoopin' the Niners at home in 96 and allowed them to comeback. Probably a microcosm of the teams during that span. Cincy had talent, coaching, and would flash real ability, but couldn't do it when it mattered most.
@@graciemaemarie11jones16 "Always lucky." Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds? I thought the 9ers were supposed to be the whiners. The team was packed with deep talent at virtually every position and had the most creative, innovative and brilliant head coaches in the history of the game designing focused game plans directly attacking the weaknesses of their opponents. The team's focus on speed, timing, physicality and causing momentary confusion to get a half-step advantage, and superiority at offense, defense AND special teams, is what earned them their winning records. Sure, luck comes into it once in a while. But always lucky or always unlucky has more to do with preparation or lack thereof.
Thanks for the upload. One of the best teams ever, IMO. Do you have any of these games? 1984 Week 5 Falcons vs 49ers 1984 Week 12 Buccaneers vs 49ers 1984 Week 13 49ers vs Saints 1984 Week 14 49ers vs Falcons 1984 Week 16 Rams vs 49ers
The curse of Bill Walsh!! It would be nice to see Cincinnati win the big one (Im not a Bengals fan but I do have a soft spot for em) but they are cursed. The only way they win a super bowl is if they beat the browns, bills and lions who are more cursed than they are.
How many times did Stanley Wilson ruin a Bengals season in his career? Man he failed a lot of drug tests in the 80s. Geez he cost them a Super Bowl and never played after that 88 season.
This obviously wasnt the 49ers best game but at least symbolic of their defense and how it wore you down. The 9ers gave up ZERO 2nd half points in each of their 3 playoff games.
Maurence Shipley, the NBC station where I live (WFMJ-TV 21, Youngstown, Ohio) carried the 1984 Week 10 Bengals vs. 49ers as the second game (4pm) of NFL on NBC doubleheader, Week 10 1984. At the conclusion of that game, that audience caught the end of 1984 Week 10 Dolphins vs. Jets which a majority of the country carried as the main Game 2 (4pm) NBC DH that week.
I think the Bengals should have won this. Their big first half was the result of a running attack complementing Anderson's passing. Brooks and Kinnebrew are two of the most impressive rushers and breakaway receivers in Bengal history. Why weren't they used in the 2nd half? This loss is on Wyche (who probably was already planning to bench Kenny for good after the 2nd game of the 1985 season). True, Boomer would bring excitement (and have the worst Passer Rating in Superbowl history--against these same 49ers). Along with his winning seasons, Boomer would also experience seasons with only 3 wins--even 2 wins--fewer than Anderson ever had.
Huh? How could Wyche... "who probably was already planning to bench Kenny for good after the 2nd game of the 1985 season" when it's game 10 of the '84 season?? Just kidding. I know what you meant. Just the way you said it was funny. Wyche did use a running attack in the 2nd half. It's just that the 49er defense finally woke up and began stopping the run, so that sort of forced more of a passing game. 9ers were always even more dangerous in the 2nd half. They always made good half-time adjustments, resulting in the defense stepping up more. Commentators liked to repeat that they had low scoring in Q3, but that's because they were always way ahead at the half and played a bit more conservatively starting the 2nd half. "The record will show" that other teams also scored less in Q3 against the 9ers. The 9ers generally played more conservatively offensively but more effectively defensively in Q3's. But I guess you're right. Wyche tried running Kinnebrew in the 2nd half but not so much 2nd half action for Brooks as I recall.
Both were terrific but Dana edges out John Taylor with slightly higher career average return yards and slightly higher total return yards made with slightly less number of returns. And twice as many TD returns for roughly the same number of carries: 4/142 vs. 2/149. Dana stands apart: no one else in 49er history has had more than 2 TD returns. But JT is a very close 2nd to Dana. www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/leaders/career-puntreturns-yards But hell, yeah, he was one of those other true 49er greats that were obscured in history by the bigger marquee names of Montana, Clark, Lott and Rice. He played with an unteachable downfield vision and ability to dodge just enough to break the first tackle while slowing down as little as possible. I've never seen a kickoff returner so consistently get high yardage. His career 10.8 yard average is amazing - analogous to getting a 1st down EVERY time he got the ball. (Same with JT, with 10.2 yard avg.) He was a huge part of the 49er trifecta that won SB's: superior offense, superior defense AND superior special teams.
@@robertmayer7232 Well said and I agree 100%. I also always liked Chet Brooks, Jeff Fuller, and Carlton Williamson as pure hitters that made recievers hear footsteps and set the tone for the great defences we always had. They learned from Lott and it showed!