Starkey's Flashback: The Redemption Reception
Joe StarkeyÂ’s Top-Ten Greatest Moments as a 49ers Broadcaster
This is the ninth of 10 passages written by the Voice of the 49ers,
Joe Starkey, that reflect back at his most memorable moments calling
plays.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers, Sunday, January 3, 1999,
3Com Park
“The Redemption Reception”
The 49ers-Packers contests represented the most glamorous rivalry in
the closing years of the 20th century.
The results had been the same for all five games since the NFC
Championship game at the end of the 1995 season – five games, five
losses, with three coming in the playoffs.
Obviously, the Green Bay Packers clearly knew how to beat San
Francisco.
Packers Head Coach Mike Holmgren, who was the 49ers
quarterbacks/offensive coordinator from 1986-91, was 5-0 against his
former team. On the other hand, 49ers quarterback Steve Young was 0-8
against the Packers and the 49ers Head Coach Steve Mariucci was 0-2.
The run of misfortune began in a shocking and unexpected manner, when
the defending Super Bowl Champion 49ers lost to the Packers in the
1995 divisional playoffs 20-17. In the 1996 playoffs at Lambeau Field,
on turf that was named “The Swamp”, the Packers coasted to a 35-14
victory.
The results were the same in the 1997 NFC Championship Game at 3Com
Park. The game was played on a cold, wet and dreary Sunday afternoon.
The 49ers, who were without wide receiver Jerry Rice and running back
Garrison Hearst, lost 23-10.
The teams then met during the regular season in 1998 and there was
more disappointment on the 49ers sideline. On the first play of the
game, Packers quarterback Brett Favre connected with wide receiver
Antonio Freeman for an 80-yard touchdown pass. The Packers went ahead
16-0 during the first quarter.
Though the 49ers made a strong comeback, going ahead 22-19, they went
on to give up 17 unanswered points and eventually lost the contest
36-22. Young was sacked nine times and was so battered he was unable
to play the following week against Carolina.
The 49ers had another shot at settling the score with their foes from
the Frozen Tundra when the two teams met in San Francisco for the 1998
Wild Card Playoffs.
Young had enjoyed a sensational season. He finished with a quarterback
rating of 101. Hearst rushed for 1,570, while the aerial combination
of Young and Rice netted 1,157 yards. Emerging star wide receiver
Terrell Owens also chipped in with an impressive 1,097 yards.
During that season, the high-powered offense produced 60 touchdowns
and gave fans hope that the five-game losing streak to the Packers
would finally end. Once the game began though, that outlook faded
quickly.
The 49ers took a 7-3 first quarter lead and the Packers responded with
two second quarter touchdowns to go into the locker room ahead 17-10
at the half. When the teams returned to the field for the third
quarter, n an unforgettable 30 minutes of football magic followed.
49ers linebacker Lee Woodall got the third quarter off to a bang,
returning a Brett Favre errant throw to the Packers 33-yard line. Five
plays later, the turnover enabled Young to hit tight end Greg Clark
for an eight-yard touchdown pass that tied the game at 17.
This classic would feature three ties and five lead changes before the
excitement peaked in the fourth quarter. With less than 12 minutes
remaining, Packers kicker Ryan Longwell booted a 37-yard field goal
for the final tie of the game as both teams sat with 20 points each.
The 49ers answered with a 10-play, 51-yard drive that culminated with
Wade RicheyÂ’s 40-yard field goal to put San Francisco ahead 23-20.
Later, an interception by 49ers cornerback Darnell Walker gave the
49ers a chance to put the game away. However, they werenÂ’t able to
capitalize.
With only four minutes left to play, Favre got another opportunity
where he showed why he rates as one of the all-time greats at his
position. He led a nine play, 89-yard scoring drive that climaxed with
a 15-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Freeman. Now ahead 27-23 and after
scoring with 1:56 seconds left to play, the Packers were close to
defeating the 49ers for a sixth consecutive time.
That touchdown would be the catalyst to one of the most exciting
finishes in 49ers history.
Until that point, Young had done little to remind fans of his
spectacular regular season. But as he started the 49ers final drive,
he was unstoppable.
Young completed six of his next eight passes, including a six-yard
connection to Rice. After the catch, Rice was hit by two Packers along
the sideline and lost the ball. The Packers recovered the ball, and
the game looked like it was over. Shockingly, line judge Jeff Bergman,
a seven-year veteran, signaled that the play was over and Rice was
down by contact.
During the 1998 season there was no replay, meaning no fumble. It was
a fortunate break for the 49ers.
With eight seconds to play, the 49ers were still only at the Packers
25-yard line. On third and three, Mariucci called an “all-go” play.
Five receivers lined up, including Owens on the right side.
Although he had three catches to that point including a touchdown,
Owens also had four dropped passes, one that had potential to be a
touchdown.
As Young dropped back, he nearly fell, but recovered, firing a rocket
towards the goal line. Owens reached out with a two-hand grab and was
pin balled by two Packer defenders. Somehow, he held on for a 25-yard
touchdown catch with three seconds left to play.
The final score: 49ers 30, Green Bay 27. The losing streak to the
Packers was over.
Owens shed tears of redemption for his dropped passes, and Young had
finally beaten the Packers.
Though the 49ers lost the following week to Atlanta, the win over the
Packers and Owens’ spectacular catch (known to many as “The Redemption
Catch” and “The Catch II”) ranks in the minds of many second to only
Joe Montana and Dwight Clark’s “The Catch.”
[Alrighty then, Hands of Stone holds on to one and they win ... wow!]
