49ers Stop Saints From Marching In : Forced to Try Seven Field Goals, New Orleans Loses, 24-22

NEW ORLEANS —  It was pretty much business as usual Sunday in the first game after the NFL players strike--opportunistic offense and tough defense from San Francisco, self-destructive errors from New Orleans.

New Orleans marched up and down the field, but never could crack the 49ers’ goal line, and Morten Anderson, who kicked five field goals for the Saints, was wide on a 52-yard try with seven seconds left, allowing the 49ers to hold on for a 24-22 victory.

“We forced them to kick field goals all day,” San Francisco Coach Bill Walsh said. “Our defense played well.”

Twice, the Saints had the ball inside the 49ers 10-yard line and both times they had to settle for field goals.

“The goal-line defense was the difference,” San Francisco’s nose tackle Michael Carter said.

San Francisco is now 5-1, including 3-0 during the strike. New Orleans is 3-3, including a 2-1 record by the non-union team.

Andersen connected on 5 of 7 tries to take the NFL career lead in kicking accuracy (77%) from Gary Anderson of Pittsburgh. Andersen has made 104 of 126 pass attempts since entering the NFL in 1982.

“I noticed in the pregame warm-ups that I was hitting them all short,” Andersen said. “The 52-yarder is within my range.”

Joe Montana led San Francisco’s offense, completing 18 of 32 passes for 256 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Montana’s third touchdown pass, a 14-yarder to Mike Wilson in the fourth quarter, came after the Saints had taken a 19-17 lead on Alvin Toles’ touchdown return of a blocked punt.

The touchdown pass came one play after a 39-yard Montana completion to Jerry Rice that was augmented by a face-mask call against Saint cornerback Dave Waymer.

The play was typical of the day for New Orleans.

The Saints drew 83 yards in penalties, including 5 for 68 yards on either interference or defensive holding calls, as the 49ers built a 17-6 halftime lead. San Francisco got five first downs on penalties.

The 49ers, with Montana crisp on his third straight weekend of play, capitalized on a fumble recovery to get the game’s first touchdown. Ronnie Lott recovered a Rueben Mayes fumble and returned it 33 yards to the Saints’ 14, and three plays later Montana connected on an 8-yard touchdown pass to Rice, who had 6 catches for 89 yards.

Montana also hooked up with tight end Ron Heller on a 39-yard touchdown pass play in the second quarter to finish off a 96-yard drive aided by two interference calls against New Orleans.

Ray Wersching kicked a 31-yard field goal in the second quarter.

Andersen’s 39-yarder gave New Orleans a 3-0 first-quarter lead, and he hit from 49 yards near the end of the half. In the second half, he hit from 19, 19 and 37 yards.

But Andersen missed a 51-yard attempt in the second quarter in addition to the 52-yard try with two seconds to play.

Mayes gained 144 yards in 29 rushes for the Saints.

Attendance was 60,497 at the Superdome, about normal for a game against an NFC West opponent. There were 3,019 no-shows, also about normal.