(One intermediate revision by the same user not shown)
Line 42:
Line 42:
[[File:1986 Jeno's Pizza - 28 - Roger Craig (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|The 49ers playing against the Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX.]]
[[File:1986 Jeno's Pizza - 28 - Roger Craig (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|The 49ers playing against the Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX.]]
The '''[[1984 NFL season|1984]] [[San Francisco 49ers]] season''' was their 35th season in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) and 39th overall. The season was highlighted by their second [[Super Bowl XIX|Super Bowl victory]]. The franchise had its best season ever, with a record of 15 wins and only 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Quarterback [[Joe Montana]] was awarded the [[Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award|Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player Award]] for the second time in his career, joining [[Bart Starr]] and [[Terry Bradshaw]] as the only two-time Super Bowl MVPs.
The '''[[1984 NFL season|1984]] [[San Francisco 49ers]] season''' was their 35th season in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) and 39th overall. The season was highlighted by their second [[Super Bowl XIX|Super Bowl victory]]. The franchise had its best season ever, with a record of 15 wins and only 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Quarterback [[Joe Montana]] was awarded the [[Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award|Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player Award]] for the second time in his career, joining [[Bart Starr]] and [[Terry Bradshaw]] as the only two-time Super Bowl MVPs.
==History==
The 1984 49ers became the first team to win fifteen games in the NFL's regular season since the league went to a sixteen-game schedule in 1978. The 49ers, if not for their loss to the Steelers, would have become the 2nd team after the [[1972 Miami Dolphins season|1972 Miami Dolphins]] to complete a perfect season, and the Forty-Niners would have been the first to do so since the NFL expanded to a 16-game schedule. The [[1985 Chicago Bears season|1985 Chicago Bears]], the [[1998 Minnesota Vikings season|1998 Minnesota Vikings]], the [[2004 Pittsburgh Steelers season|2004 Pittsburgh Steelers]], the [[2011 Green Bay Packers season|2011 Green Bay Packers]], and the [[2015 Carolina Panthers season|2015 Carolina Panthers]] would later join the 1984 49ers to finish 15–1, although the [[2007 New England Patriots season|2007 New England Patriots]] would exceed this feat by finishing the regular season at an unbeaten 16–0, losing the Super Bowl to the New York Giants 17-14. However, the only other one of these teams that won the Super Bowl was the 1985 Bears.
The 1984 49ers became the first team to win fifteen games in the NFL's regular season since the league went to a sixteen-game schedule in 1978. The 49ers, if not for their loss to the Steelers, would have become the 2nd team after the [[1972 Miami Dolphins season|1972 Miami Dolphins]] to complete a perfect season, and the Forty-Niners would have been the first to do so since the NFL expanded to a 16-game schedule. The [[1985 Chicago Bears season|1985 Chicago Bears]], the [[1998 Minnesota Vikings season|1998 Minnesota Vikings]], the [[2004 Pittsburgh Steelers season|2004 Pittsburgh Steelers]], the [[2011 Green Bay Packers season|2011 Green Bay Packers]], and the [[2015 Carolina Panthers season|2015 Carolina Panthers]] would later join the 1984 49ers to finish 15–1, although the [[2007 New England Patriots season|2007 New England Patriots]] would exceed this feat by finishing the regular season at an unbeaten 16–0, losing the Super Bowl to the New York Giants 17-14. However, the only other one of these teams that won the Super Bowl was the 1985 Bears.
Line 5,246:
Line 5,248:
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
==Further reading==
* Chris Willis, ''A Nearly Perfect Season: The Inside Story of the 1984 San Francisco 49ers.'' Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, 2014.
The 1984 49ers became the first team to win fifteen games in the NFL's regular season since the league went to a sixteen-game schedule in 1978. The 49ers, if not for their loss to the Steelers, would have become the 2nd team after the 1972 Miami Dolphins to complete a perfect season, and the Forty-Niners would have been the first to do so since the NFL expanded to a 16-game schedule. The 1985 Chicago Bears, the 1998 Minnesota Vikings, the 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers, the 2011 Green Bay Packers, and the 2015 Carolina Panthers would later join the 1984 49ers to finish 15–1, although the 2007 New England Patriots would exceed this feat by finishing the regular season at an unbeaten 16–0, losing the Super Bowl to the New York Giants 17-14. However, the only other one of these teams that won the Super Bowl was the 1985 Bears.
In the playoffs, the 49ers were the #1 seed. They defeated the Giants 21–10 in the divisional round. Then they shut out the Chicago Bears 23–0 in the NFC Championship and finally defeated the Miami Dolphins 38–16 in Super Bowl XIX. This 49ers team has gone down as the best in franchise history, and many call this season the best in Joe Montana's career.
NFL Films produced a documentary about the team's season entitled A Team Above All; Brad Crandall narrated it. On January 29, 2007, NFL Network aired America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions, in which they ranked the 1984 49ers at #8; the film was narrated by Gene Hackman and featured commentary from players Russ Francis, Keena Turner and Dwight Hicks. More than a decade later, the team gained greater esteem by ranking #4 on the 100 greatest teams of all time presented by the NFL on its 100th anniversary.[3][4]
The 49ers advanced to their second Super Bowl in team history after becoming the first team ever to win 15 regular season games since the league expanded to a 16-game schedule in 1978. Much of the hype surrounding the team was their offense, which boasted 5 Pro Bowlers. Quarterback Joe Montana recorded 279 out of 432 completions for 3,630 yards, 28 touchdowns, and only 10 interceptions. Running back Roger Craig was one of the 49ers' major weapons, both rushing and receiving. Craig was the team's second leading rusher with 649 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns, and also caught 71 passes for 675 yards. Pro Bowl running back Wendell Tyler, who had rushed for a team record 1,262 yards during the regular season, recorded 7 rushing touchdowns, and also caught 28 passes for 230 yards and 2 touchdown receptions. Wide receivers Freddie Solomon and Dwight Clark also were deep threats, gaining a combined total of 1,617 yards and 16 touchdowns. Up front, 3 of the 49ers' 5 starting offensive linemen, Randy Cross, Fred Quillan, and Keith Fahnhorst, had been selected to play in the Pro Bowl. Overall, San Francisco's offense finished the season ranked second in the NFL in scoring (475 points) and fourth in total yards (6,544).
Although they did not get as much media attention as the offense, the 49ers defense led the league in fewest points allowed during the regular season (227). All 4 of the 49ers' starting defensive backs, Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright, Carlton Williamson, and Dwight Hicks, were selected to play in the Pro Bowl. Pro Bowl linebacker Keena Turner was also a major defensive weapon, recording 2 sacks and 4 interceptions for 51 yards. Defensive end Dwaine Board anchored the line, recording 10 sacks and 1 fumble recovery.
TV announcers (NBC Game only aired in the San Francisco markets due to NBC airing Game 5 of the World Series): Jay Randolph (play-by-play) and Bob Trumpy (color commentator)
The 49ers' hope for a perfect season was foiled by the Steelers when Gary Anderson kicked the game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter that would ultimately prevent the 49ers from going undefeated.[23][24]
Quarterback Joe Montana threw for 309 yards and 3 touchdown passes as he led the 49ers to a victory, while receiver Dwight Clark caught 9 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown.