Reminder of the ’80s: 49ers don’t whine, they win

By Art Spander

This one was reminiscent of the way the 49ers played in the ’80s, responding to adversity with a win, not a whine.

This one told us all we need to know about Kyle Shanahan’s leadership and his players’ character. 

This one told us that despite the changes and the passing of years, the Niners retain a link to those teams of the ’80s, the team of the decade.

In those great seasons of long ago, with men such as Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and Ronnie Lott, nothing seemed to get in the Niners’ way.

They overcame bad breaks and bad flight connections. They played in the ice of Chicago and the humidity of Miami. They had injuries. They had dropped passes.

They never had misgivings.

It was as if their unspoken motto was “Shut up and play,” words that after this weekend would perfectly fit the current team, which Saturday was in effect evicted from its facility and stadium and then Sunday in Inglewood beat the Rams, 23-20, in the final seconds.

“What our team went through really the last two weeks, then a week off, the Covid stuff,” said Shanahan, “I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

What they went through were consecutive defeats, three of them, a bye, then a declaration from Santa Clara County that, because of a spike in coronavirus cases, they weren’t permitted to hold games or workouts at their team's normal venue.

What they went through were doubts about where the team would move temporarily — Texas? Arizona? — and questions about being separated from families.

But the doubts and worries didn’t throw them off the task at hand, playing and winning a football game. Beating the Rams.

Which they did for a fourth straight time, Robbie Gould’s field goal over the crossbar with 0:00 on the clock breaking the 20-20 tie.

The story of the game that pushed the Niners’ record for this confusion of a season to 5-6 was defense.

Along with the unending Covid-19 threat. Along with the return of Raheem Mostert and Richard Sherman. Along with turnovers (four for the Rams, three for the Niners).

Niners defensive coordinator Robert Saleh had a brilliant game plan. (“He’ll be a head coach very shortly,” said Shanahan, as rumors circulated of Saleh replacing the fired Matt Patricia at Detroit.)

The Rams early on seemed incapable when they had the ball, trailing 17-3 midway through the third quarter. It was when the 49ers had the ball that problems started.

Mostert, who had been out the last couple of games — isn’t everyone on the Niners injured, or does it just seem that way? — scored a touchdown for a 7-3 lead in the first quarter.

That went to 14-3 when rookie tackle Javon Kinlaw, the first-round draft pick, swatted a Jared Goff pass, grabbed it and carried the interception 27 yards for a TD. A pick-six, as they say.

Mostert was carrying in the third quarter when the Rams’ Aaron Donald, the best defensive lineman in the league, reached around and extricated the ball. It was brought back 20 yards for a score by Troy Hill. Oops.

After a 61-yard run by rookie Cam Akers, the Rams then scored another touchdown, and the Niners were behind, 20-17. When you’re figuratively homeless for some three weeks plus, and then possibly have to be quarantined to get back where you’re supposed to be, a scoreboard deficit is trivial.

Shanahan said he was impressed the way occasionally maligned QB Nick Mullens (252 yards, one INT) rallied the Niners down the stretch. He said he was no less impressed with the arrangements by the Niners organization in what the TV announcers say “are challenging times.”

“Everyone here has been so committed to keeping safe,” Shanahan said. “We know how big a deal the virus is.”

Without saying so, Shanahan implied the Niners were blindsided by the Santa Clara decision to halt contact sports — is there any sport which has more contact than the NFL? Hockey maybe, but the Sharks aren’t practicing yet.         

The unexpected happens. It’s happening to the 49ers.

They didn’t whine, they won. Like the teams of the past.