Painful

That’s what it’s like to watch the San Francisco 49ers play this year. Next to the Carolina Panthers, the 49ers are my favorite NFL team.

In case you’re fortunate enough *not* to be watching, here’s the latest: It’s 35-7 Redskins over the 49ers …. with :57 seconds to go in the first half.

Oh how I miss these days. Big sigh:

NFC Championship Game, 49ers versus Cowboys, January 10, 1982,

Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CA

Trailing 27-21 to the Dallas Cowboys, the San Francisco 49ers took over the ball on their own 11-yard line with under five minutes to play. Quarterback Joe Montana methodically drove the 49ers down the field to eventually reach the Dallas 6-yard line with only 58 seconds remaining. Coach Bill Walsh decided to throw for the touchdown and picked a play that was intended to go to WR Freddie Soloman, with WR Dwight Clark as a secondary choice. Montana rolled to the right to avoid a heavy pass rush by the Dallas defenders. Running out of time, and not seeing Soloman open, Montana just threw the ball up to the back of the endzone, where he knew from experience Clark should be. The throw was very high though. Clark leaped over DB Everson Walls to make “The Catch” giving the 49ers a 28-27 victory and a trip to the Super Bowl. Pictured above, quarterback Joe Montana avoiding the Dallas pass rush and Clark leaping high over Dallas’ Everson Walls.

From Joe to Dwight – those were the days.

Dwight Clark, BTW, was a graduate of Garinger HS here in Charlotte.

Update: Final score: 52-17. Ouch.