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Since 83 was my first real heartbreak, let me add some more bullet points here.
- In the season finale, where we lost 26-24, our defense only gave up 3 points (the field goal at the end). The rest was a safety, a punt return TD, and 2 pick sixes.
- Much like in 2017 vs. MIN, we failed to convert 3rd and short late. Before Bum made the fateful decision to punt instead of letting Morten try a 48-49 yarder, we had a 3rd and short we failed to convert, much as we failed to convert the 3rd down that would've let Lutz kick the go-ahead field goal as time expired vs. MIN in 17.
- Yeah, Bum probably should've let Morten kick it, but the choice was not as obvious as it seems now. In 83, Morten missed a 50-or-so yard field goal that could've sent the game into OT at the buzzer vs. the Jets. People rightfully remember Stabler's safety in our one-point loss to Dallas, but Morten also had a blocked field goal returned for a TD in that game. I imagine that was flashing through Bum's brain at the time he called for the punt. Morten Andersen was not quite MORTEN ANDERSEN, HALL OF FAMER!!! at that point in his career. In retrospect, probably a mistake but at least somewhat understandable given what happened that year (a 3rd option is we could've just tried going for it, but our offense was shaky and I think George Rogers might've gotten hurt during the game).
*Side note - we also blew a 2-score lead in the 2nd half to the Jets in the game I mention above. You're right that the 83 team lost a bunch of close games. The 49ers kicked our butts twice, but we hung tough w/ everyone else.
- In the Rams' final field goal drive, people say we went "prevent" but that's not technically true. What is true is that we went into a very safe, conservative zone D when Bum should've said "The defense hasn't allowed a point yet, let's just do what we've done the whole game (I remember a NFL films clip of Shanahan during the DEN/GB Super Bowl screaming at his DC before Green Bay's final drive "Just do what you've been doing! Don't change anything!" If the QB has forever to throw, he'll find open guys like the Rams did on that 3rd and 25.
- In the season finale, where we lost 26-24, our defense only gave up 3 points (the field goal at the end). The rest was a safety, a punt return TD, and 2 pick sixes.
- Much like in 2017 vs. MIN, we failed to convert 3rd and short late. Before Bum made the fateful decision to punt instead of letting Morten try a 48-49 yarder, we had a 3rd and short we failed to convert, much as we failed to convert the 3rd down that would've let Lutz kick the go-ahead field goal as time expired vs. MIN in 17.
- Yeah, Bum probably should've let Morten kick it, but the choice was not as obvious as it seems now. In 83, Morten missed a 50-or-so yard field goal that could've sent the game into OT at the buzzer vs. the Jets. People rightfully remember Stabler's safety in our one-point loss to Dallas, but Morten also had a blocked field goal returned for a TD in that game. I imagine that was flashing through Bum's brain at the time he called for the punt. Morten Andersen was not quite MORTEN ANDERSEN, HALL OF FAMER!!! at that point in his career. In retrospect, probably a mistake but at least somewhat understandable given what happened that year (a 3rd option is we could've just tried going for it, but our offense was shaky and I think George Rogers might've gotten hurt during the game).
*Side note - we also blew a 2-score lead in the 2nd half to the Jets in the game I mention above. You're right that the 83 team lost a bunch of close games. The 49ers kicked our butts twice, but we hung tough w/ everyone else.
- In the Rams' final field goal drive, people say we went "prevent" but that's not technically true. What is true is that we went into a very safe, conservative zone D when Bum should've said "The defense hasn't allowed a point yet, let's just do what we've done the whole game (I remember a NFL films clip of Shanahan during the DEN/GB Super Bowl screaming at his DC before Green Bay's final drive "Just do what you've been doing! Don't change anything!" If the QB has forever to throw, he'll find open guys like the Rams did on that 3rd and 25.
Watched it as an eight-year-old kid at my grandparents house in Marrero, whole family there. If Bum lets Morten attempt (and probably make) a 47-yard field goal on the final offensive possession, we win the game. It's that simple.
But looking back on '83 as an adult, there were two other games that season that blown in similar fashion. They blew a first-half lead in the road game vs. the Rams early in the season. And in a less-remembered gut-buster, Snake gave up a safety up by a point with about a minute to play on the road in Dallas when he couldn't get out of the way of a blitzing linebacker. Up by a point, then lost by a point -- in the blink of an eye. Six of the eight losses in '83 were by seven points or less. Only team to truly whip the Saints that year was Bill Walsh's 49ers.
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