49ers open Erickson era with 49-7 victory
By Greg Beacham
Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO — As Ahmed Plummer raced downfield for his game-breaking interception return, a white-haired man with a headset ran right along with him.
Associated Press
Dennis Erickson promised more aggression and enthusiasm when he took charge of the San Francisco 49ers. The new coach backed up those words with a joyful sideline sprint that was one of countless high points in his 49-7 debut victory yesterday over the bumbling Chicago Bears.
The San Francisco defense smothers Chicago quarterback Kordell Stewart in the third quarter. Stewart, under constant pressure from blitzing 49ers, finished 14 of 34 for 95 yards, and was intercepted three times.
Erickson admitted to a serious case of anxiety before the game, but his team showed no nerves while flattening the Bears for their biggest victory since 1989. San Francisco forced five turnovers, outgained Chicago 391 yards to 127 and filled a highlight reel with big plays on offense, defense and special teams.
The 49ers scored 23 points in the final 6:01 of the first half, turning it into a blowout. In the locker room afterward, Terrell Owens and defensive coordinator Jim Mora presented Erickson with the game ball.
"To be honest, you can't ask for a better start," Erickson said. "We blitzed a lot, we came after them ... and everybody did their job. It was a great team effort."
The 49ers took a 33-7 halftime lead with their biggest offensive output in a half since 1992. Erickson left in nearly all of his starters to finish two fourth-quarter drives.
The highlights were numerous. Jeff Garcia passed for 229 yards and two touchdowns, and Garrison Hearst caught a TD pass and rushed for another score. Plummer returned an interception 68 yards for a score, and Jimmy Williams (forced fumble) and Brandon Lloyd (blocked punt) made exceptional special-teams plays.
Tai Streets had a TD catch, Owens caught seven passes for 112 yards, Plummer had two interceptions and Jeff Chandler kicked five field goals.
"It was a great feeling. It was like we were running downhill all day," said Williams, who had an interception and forced a fumble. "We just got on a roll, and everybody made one big play after another."
The Bears were finished early in their worst defeat since a 47-0 loss at Houston on Nov. 6, 1977. Chicago floundered at every level in quarterback Kordell Stewart's first game since leaving Pittsburgh as a free agent.
Stewart, who infuriated Steelers fans for eight years with erratic performances, went 14 of 34 for 95 yards, missing open receivers and forcing balls to covered ones. He was under constant pressure from the 49ers' blitzing defense, and his teammates dropped passes and missed blocking assignments with alarming frequency.
"I'm embarrassed," All-Pro linebacker Brian Urlacher said. "That was the worst game we've played since I've been here. When it goes bad, it goes bad. We just didn't play well."
During two dominant scoring drives in the first quarter, the 49ers showcased several of the aggressive innovations promised by Erickson. San Francisco employed a variety of formations, including sets with five receivers or two tight ends.
"We took advantage of what they gave us, and you saw what happened," Owens said.
