In the year that saw the release of the third installment of the original Star Wars trilogy in cinemas around the world, perhaps from a 49ers perspective the year should be known as the “Return of the Genii”.
After a lacklustre 1982 season that was cut short by player strikes, there was a very real threat that Bill Walsh would walk away from the team that he had coached to Super Bowl glory in 1981. Added to his potential loss was the fact that many of his coaching staff were being successfully headhunted for top jobs in the college and professional games. Even with the return of the majority of the championship side, any future success with Walsh and co at the helm was hanging by a thread once the 1982 season was over.
So, why “Return of the Genii?” Well, shortly after the 1983 Senior Bowl was completed, Walsh announced his intention to return as the head coach. Alongside him was newly promoted defensive coordinator George Seifert, who had previously been coaching the defensive backs but had accepted the promotion when existing defensive coordinator Chuck Studley left for the Houston Oilers.
Promoting Seifert was an astute move by Walsh. The former Kezar Stadium usher would prove to be the perfect defensive accompaniment to the offensive mastermind of Bill Walsh. Both would be the cornerstones of future Super Bowl glories throughout the current decade and into the next.
After securing the coaching staff, Walsh turned his attention to the draft whereby he had one major gap in his depth chart to fill: Running back.
Before the first round had even started the 49ers sealed a trade for Rams running back Wendell Tyler, who was deemed surplus to requirements in Los Angeles. Then, with their second-round pick the 49ers selected Nebraska alum Roger Craig. Whilst the acquisition of Tyler would provide an underwhelming return, Craig would of course go onto have an illustrious career.
The 49ers performed at a much higher level in 1983 when compared to the previous season. Facing the Dallas Cowboys in the regular season finale, San Francisco had a 9-6 record and were looking to wrap up the NFC West and progress ahead into the playoffs.
Coming into Candlestick Park, Dallas had an impressive 12-3 record and were hoping for a big win as well as revenge against the team that had destroyed their Super Bowl chances when both teams last met in the bay area, during in the 1981 NFC Championship game. Coached by living legend Tom Landry, the Cowboys were led by exemplary running back Tony Dorsett and quarterback Danny White, who helped their side score the second highest number of points in the NFL during 1982.
The game
Starting with possession of the ball, Joe Montana and the 49ers settled quickly and effortlessly into a rhythm. Running the cerebral offensive scheme of Bill Walsh, the team quickly rattled down the field with both phases of the offense, the rush and the pass, working well against a Cowboys defense that had struggled all year. From six yards out Joe Montana found rookie back Roger Craig, who caught the short pass and went in for a quick score. 7-0 to the 49ers.
(Associated Press, 2014)
After the first Dallas offensive possession was stonewalled deep in their own half, it was apparent that the home side had come into the game with far more motivation than their visitors. Just to further emphasise this, following the ensuing Cowboy punt, 49er return man Dana McLemore picked up the ball at around the halfway line and returned the ball straight back to where it came from and beyond, penetrating the Dallas endzone for a fifty-six yard punt return for a touchdown. Barely had the game started and the 49ers had a two-touchdown lead.
The visitors had slightly more success on their next drive, with Danny White hitting various receivers. However, the drive faded and Dallas were forced to come away with just three points from a forty-seven yard field goal.
The scoring spree to start the game was not finished yet. Before the first quarter finished, Montana hit Freddie Solomon in stride and the elusive receiver was able to take it all the way to the house for a huge seventy-seven yard touchdown. Entering the second quarter, the 49ers led 21-3 and a blowout appeared to be on the cards.
The beleaguered Cowboys defense managed to stem the tide in the second quarter, stopping the home side from scoring further. Meanwhile, with Tony Dorsett being shut down by a dominant 49er defensive line, quarterback Danny White took it upon himself to lead the visitors, finishing off a good drive by running in to score from a yard out. As halftime arrived, the score was 21-10 in favour of San Francisco.
The 49ers reasserted themselves as the second half began by picking off Danny White in the third quarter. White would end the game with three interceptions to his name. Taking over following the take-away, Joe Montana orchestrated another drive that propelled the home side into the opposing red zone. From 18 yards out, he found tight end Russ Francis for the first points after halftime, making it 28-10 in San Franciscos favour.
Both teams had done sterling jobs of halting each others running games and with an 18-point lead to erode, the Cowboys virtually discarded their ground attack to try to claw themselves back into the game. Moving the ball steadily, Dallas found themselves thirteen yards from paydirt where receiver Tony Hill linked up with his quarterback to score. 28-17 to the 49ers, with the majority of the fourth quarter still to play.
The next home possession was thwarted and the 49ers were forced to punt the ball away. Sensing a slight opening back into contention for the win, Dallas again went on the attack through the air. Disaster would strike however, as Danny Whites pass was picked off by 49er cornerback Eric Wright, who scythed through the dumbstruck Cowboys offense to return the pick for a 48-yard touchdown. This all but extinguished any hopes that Dallas had of winning the game, with the score now 35-17 to San Francisco.
There was still time for the 49ers to stick the blade in further though, as another effective drive was rewarded with a 16-yard touchdown catch for Roger Craig, the second aerial touchdown of the game for the rookie running back. With their once-mighty foe finally succumbing, the game ended with an historic 42-17 win for the 49ers.
The win capped off a successful season for the 49ers, who topped the NFC West with a 10-6 record.
During the Cowboys game, Joe Montana threw for 223 yards and four touchdowns. Two of those touchdown passes were of course to Roger Craig. The Nebraska rookie finished the game with 97 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns, which completed a successful first year in professional league for Craig. He finished 1983 with eight rushing touchdowns and 725 yards on the ground, as well as another four receiving touchdowns and a very useful 427 yards through the air.
After squeezing past the Detroit Lions in the divisional round of the 1983 playoffs by a score of 24-23, San Francisco went onto the NFC Championship game to face the strongest side in the conference: The Washington Redskins.
In a remarkable game, the 49ers went behind by 21 points by the time the fourth quarter started, only to rally back to draw level with the Redskins at 21-21. Hearts were broken in the bay area when two inexplicable penalties were called against the 49ers in the dying minutes of the game, which allowed Washington to not only drive downfield and score the go-ahead field goal, but also to whittle away the clock to less than a minute to go before Montana and company could get back onto the field. They were unable to answer the Redskins and thus, the 49ers season ended in a distraught and unjust fashion.
With the 1983 injustice firmly lodged in their memories, San Francisco would return in 1984 with one of the most dominant seasons ever witnessed, capping it off with the demolition of a talented Miami Dolphins side in Super Bowl 19.
Photograph reference:
Roger Craig celebrates against Dallas, Associated Press, viewed 19 December 2014 <http://www.csnbayarea.com/49ers/candlestick-park-levis-stadium#slide-6>
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