The San Francisco Examiner from San Francisco, California • 53

TTT anfranttero Examiner On I 1 1 I Welcome rest after rout of L.A. i rare? riMtmit? cv4 fa Examiner Mark Costantini After three first-half touchdowns, 49er Steve Young went back undercover as a substitute for Joe Montana, who played in the second half Why Walsh decided to go with Montana By Mark Soltau Of THE EXAMINER STAFF Having outscored their last three opponents, 124-7, you'd think the 49ers would want the playoffs to begin this weekend. They don't To a man, players welcomed the extra week of rest If you think they're hot now, wait until Jan. 10. "It's important we get everyone "rested and our heads together," said free safety Ronnie Lott after Sunday night's lopsided victory over the Rams sutfflArsscea 49ERS 48 RAMS 0 the worst defeat in the Los Angeles club's history.

"It will be great to get away from football. We're on a mission." The win at Candlestick Park secured San Francisco's fifth NFC West Division title since 1981 and assured the 49ers the home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They will play wild-card qualifier Minnesota or NFC East champion Washington in the NFC playoffs, likely Jan. 10. How important is home sweet home? In the 1980s, every NFC team reaching the Super Bowl had the home-field advantage.

Five of seven teams went on to win. "The most important thing is to stay home," said wide receiver Mike Wilson. "Our objective was not to get on another plane." It's hard to imagine any team with a hotter hand than the 49ers except the New Orleans Saints. While the 49ers closed with six consecutive wins, the Saints rolled up nine and kept the heat on. "I'm relieved," said nose tackle Michael Carter.

"They kept the pressure on us and kept us going. We didn't fall apart or go to sleep." Not hardly. The 49er defense has not allowed a touchdown in 13 quarters or a TD pass in 18. The offense has scored at least three TDs in 13 consecutive games. We have an explosive offense and a sound defense," said Carter, -See49ERF-5 RE PORT Fahnhorst, Turner deliver magic words before the game.

Page F-3 Jerry Rice says the team means more than personal records. Page F-3 The game in photographs: The 49ers reigned in the rain. Page F-4 Rams agree: 49ers are the best team in pro football. Page F-5 THE PLAYOFFS WILD CARD GAMES (Sunday, Jan. 3) I NFC: Minnesota at New Orleans I AFC: Seattle at Houston DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF GAMES (Saturday, Jan.

9 Sunday, Jan. 10) Minnesota or Washington at 49ers I New Orleans or Wash, at Chicago Houston or Indianapolis at Denver I Indianapolis or Seattle at Cleveland CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP (Sunday, Jan. 17) SUPER BOWL XXII (Jan 31, 3 p.m. in San Diego) SATURDAY'S GAMES Browns 19 Steelers 13 Redskins 27 Vikings 24 SUNDAY'S GAMES 49ers48 Rams 0 Saints 33 Packers 24 Bears 6 Raiders 3 Colts 24 Buccaneers 6 Oilers 21 Bengals 17 Broncos 24 Chargers 0 Cowboys 21 Cardinals 16 Chiefs 41 Seahawks 20 Lions 30 Falcons 13 Eagles 17 Bills 7 Giants 20 Jets 7 MONDAY'S GAME Patriots vs. Dolphins 6 p.m.

(Channels 7, 11, 13) stay sharp physically and mentally because if he didn't play against the Rams he would have been out of action for about a month going into his first playoff contest. If Montana came in during the second half, rather than start, then there was less chance for concern about fatigue. Walsh's conclusions were applauded by such experts on the subject as Montana and Montana's father, who revealed how a similar situation was handled differently in college and resulted in some problems for the great quarterback. "1 agonized the whole week trying to decide how to do it," Walsh said. "That's the first time we've ever had to do something like Bronco Ilinek," 49ers coach Bill Walsh said, naming the team's 5-foot-fi, 150-pound equipment manager.

But that humorous, flippant response hardly ref lected the difficulty Walsh had deciding if, how, and when to use Montana. By the time Montana slushed onto the muddy field, Walsh had considered so many ramifications that he probably should have used a computer to solve the sensitive issue. But it was Walsh who many believe has an IBM-compatible mind anyway who arrived at these conclusions: Montana's hamstring was in jeopardy of being reinjured only if he became fatigued. Montana needed game time to 1 HY GO with Joe? That was the question many fans and even players had Sunday night after 49ers quarterback Joe Montana, who had been sidelined two weeks by a bad hamstring, went on Candlestick Park's muddy field at the beginning of the second half. At the time, quarterback Steve Young had led the 49ers to an easy 27-0 lead on the way to their 48-0 rout.

Realistically, the 49ers already had locked up the NFC West title, the best record in pro football and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. So why even jeopardize Montana's health at that time by caring organization is secret of 49er success that and I certainly don't intend for it to be any kind of precedent. I hope it's the last time we're in that position." Now for how Walsh arrived at his conclusions. "The doctors told me fatigue was the greatest concern in regards to reinjuring the hamstring," Walsh said. "So it would be best to start Steve so we could have him do the things we wanted him to do, like run.

If Joe had to go in then, he would be fresh and we wouldn't have to worry about fatigue. But if we started Joe, then used Steve in the second half and he became hurt we would have been concerned about sending Joe back with more -See COONEY.F-6 Examiner MarK Costantmi Frank Cconey Onthe49ers putting him on the field? Why not just keep him safe on the sidelines so he would be definitely healthy for the playoffs? "Well we couldn't go with Art Spender jogging off the field Sunday evening while Eddie DeBartolo jogged his memory. It only takes money to own a sports franchise, but it takes so much more to own a successful franchise. Dollars and cents are no substitute forcommon sense. Or perception.

Or affinity. Or genuine affection. "Nothing's more important to me than my family," said DeBartolo, "and I consider this team a part of my family." DeBartolo not only understands his role, he relisties it. You acquire the best people available and then step back and allow them to weave their magic. Laisspz-faire football.

See SPANDER F-5 Iggyj HE MUSIC POUNDED into tne downpour. "They built this they built this they built this city on rock and roll." It was San Francisco's song for San Francisco's team, the 49ers, who were built, on the contrary, on muscle and sweat and brains. Another division championship, another dominating in, and another appearance, down on the field, by the man at the top, the owner who cares, Eddie DeBartolo Jr. Any organization, sports or business, is only as good as its leader. And leadership.

You're not permitted room at the top, only direction. The 49ers have it. And so, with a frighteningly easy victory over the Los Angeles Rams, 48-0, at Candlestick Park Sunday night, they have the best record in the NFL for 1987, 13-2. Vignettes: The 49ers humbled at Giants Stadium, 49-3, in a playoff game last season. The 49ers searching for answers during training camp.

The 49ers beaten in the opening game by Pittsburgh. The 49ers inning on the final play against Cincinnati. The 49ers 49er cornerback Don Griffin is congratulated following interception during 48-0 win over Rams I I it irl fl rTjft (Hirt A iff ft irt rfr -Tj l'1 A.