I didn't think it was possible, but this one was worse than the Steeler loss.
Three first half Wade Wilson interceptions killed the Saints early as the
49ers scored an embarrassingly easy victory.  San Francisco was obviously
angered by New Orleanian Will Clark's decision to leave the Giants.  8)

The Saints now find themselves effectively 2 games out of first place in
the NFC West and on the bubble for a wildcard spot at 6-4.


The tone for the night was set when Wilson was sacked on the first play
from scrimmage.  After two unsuccessful plays, Barnhardt's punt was 
returned to midfield.

Vaughn Johnson stymied th Niners' first drive by jumping on Steve Young
immediately after a third down snap.  Cofer missed a 51 yard FG.

After the team reached the SF 46, Wilson threw behind a well-covered Eric
Martin and logged his first completion to a Niner, who ran the ball back 67 
yards for a TD.

A poor decision by Fred McAfee on the ensuing kickoff gave the Saints the
ball at the 9 yard line.  After two runs netted a first down, Chris Port
delayed the inevitable Forty Niner onslaught somewhat by falling on a 
Wilson fumble at the 15.  Two plays later the Niners fair caught a punt
at their own 40.

The defense once again tried to keep the Saints in the game by forcing
and recovering a fumble at the NO 39.  The offense managed a pretty good
drive consisting of a Derrick Ned end-around for 13, an 18 yard Brad Muster
run, a 5 yard McAfee run, a 16 yard catch by Floyd Turner, and a 4 yard
Muster run to reach the SF 12.  However, Wilson found another Forty Niner
to throw to.    

The defense halted the Niners at midfield to give the ball to the offense
once more.  However, Wilson threw his third INT of the night, giving
San Francisco the ball at the NO 23.  At this point the defense seemed
to give up (the next 49er punt came with 3 minutes left in the game), which
might have been a good thing.  John Taylor caught a TD pass on the next play.

Assorted runs and passes moved the Saints to the SF 47 but no further.  A 30
yard Jerry Rice reception and a 33 yard Ricky Watters run set up an eleven 
yard Rice TD reception.

A 3 & punt Saint series gave the ball back to SF, who promptly marched down
the field and scored on a 7 yard Young TD run just before the half.

In the second half the Niners picked up where they left off, methodically
moving down the field to a 5 yard TD run by Logan.  Two consecutive sacks
ended the next Saint drive, and the punt was returned to the NO 47.  Another 
Rice TD pass (a 12 yarder) was no surprise.

Mike Buck came in at QB and moved the team to the SF 30 (with a completion to
Eric Martin on the way there) before throwing an interception of his own.
San Francisco countered with Steve Bono, who moved the Niners to a 28 yard
FG opportunity (which Cofer missed).

The Saints couldn't reach Forty Niner territory and booted it to SF.  San Fran
kicked it back a while later, giving the Saints one last chance to avoid a
shutout.  A 19 yard pass to Irv Smith and a 38 yard toss to Quinn Early moved
the team to the Niner 28.  A roughing-the-passer penalty negated what would
have been a game-ending interception and allowed Floyd Turner to subsequently
catch a 6 yard TD pass with a few ticks left on the clock.


The team is just about where I expected them to be when I made my pre-season
predictions.  I still expect the Saints to sneak into they playoffs, where
they'll have another chance to get the postseason monkey off their back.


*******************************************************************************
Frank Serpas III