Niner Noise
FanSided

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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Running back Garrison Hearst #20 of the San Francisco 49ers Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport
Running back Garrison Hearst #20 of the San Francisco 49ers Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport /

No. 8: 1997 49ers

Record: 13-3, lost NFC Championship game

13 points for wins

5 points for division title

5 points for divisional-round win

15 points for top 5 offense

15 points for top 5 defense

5 points for Dana Stubblefield DPOY

Total: 58

Between 1981 and 1998, the San Francisco 49ers only won fewer than 10 games once, and it was the strike-shortened 1982 campaign where they won three games in just nine tries. It is, without a doubt, the most successful run in team history.

While the 17-year span featured all five of the franchise’s Super Bowl victories, there is one team that was one of the best of the non-champions: the 1997 team.

A year after winning the Super Bowl in 1994 (more on that team later), the 49ers began a stretch of three straight playoff seasons which were ended by the Green Bay Packers (divisional round in 1995 and 1996, NFC championship in 1997).

And while this 1997 squad once again saw their season end at the hands of Packers quarterback Brett Favre and Co., the regular season stands out as one of the best in franchise history.

After losing the opener to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the 49ers rattled off 11 wins in a row, before getting throttled by the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 14. A lot of this was led by the offense, which finished the year fifth in the league in scoring at 23.4 points per game, as quarterback Steve Young, running back Garrison Hearst, wide receivers Terrell Owens and J.J. Stokes and tight end Brent Jones were one of the top groups in the league.

(Note: wide receiver Jerry Rice tore ligaments in his knee in Week 1, returned in Week 16, but went down again, and had only eight passes for 78 yards on the season).

The defense, however, was on another level, finishing third in scoring and first in yards, forcing 54 turnovers and scoring two touchdowns.

Paced by Defensive Player of the Year and All-Pro defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield (who ended the year with 61 tackles, 15 sacks and three forced fumbles), the unit also featured defensive tackle Bryant Young, linebacker Ken Norton, safeties Tim McDonald and Merton Hanks, cornerback Rod Woodson, pass-rushers Chris Doleman and Kevin Green, who combined for 22.5 sacks.

The terrifying defense combined with the efficiency of the offense was almost enough to get the Niners over the hump against the Packers but was sufficient to get them into the 49ers’ top 10.