Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Ranking the top 10 teams in franchise history

By Robert Morrison

JAN 1990: THE VINCE LOMBARDI TROPHY PRIOR TO THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 55-10 SUPER BOWL XXIV VICTORY OVER THE DENVER BRONCOS. MANDATORY CREDIT: RICK STEWART/ALLSPORT
JAN 1990: THE VINCE LOMBARDI TROPHY PRIOR TO THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 55-10 SUPER BOWL XXIV VICTORY OVER THE DENVER BRONCOS. MANDATORY CREDIT: RICK STEWART/ALLSPORT /
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No. 9: 1949 49ers

Record: 9-3, lost AAFC championship game

9 points for wins

10 for semifinal

15 points for top 5 offense

5 points for No. 1 offense

15 points for top 5 defense

2 points for Joe Perry as leading rusher

Total: 56

One of the original 49ers teams, and fittingly, its best team from the AAFC days comes in the year 1949.

The formula was a little difficult to apply here, as the playoffs worked a little differently in those days. But one thing is certain: these 49ers were strong on both sides of the ball, but especially on offense.

Led by AAFC leading rusher and Hall of Famer Joe Perry, the 49ers racked up over 4,700 yards (1995 through the air, 2798 on the ground) and scored 416 points (34.7/game).

But after defeating the New York Yankees 17-7 in the semifinal at Kezar Stadium, the team ran into the Cleveland Browns in the championship game, who not only featured the league’s second-best offense (led by quarterback Otto Graham), but also the top defense in the league.

The 49ers lost 21-7 in Cleveland.

The only non-Super Bowl championship game appearance in team history, along with the presence of Perry, one of the great 49ers of all time, and the strength of the offense pushes them into the top 10.