European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 06, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The stars and stripes Page 23 to  rfcs it up v v. -. /. Herschel Walker Here against the rams in november averaged just 38 Yards the lust five games of the season. Walker or passer san Francisco a when Herschel Walker Steps on the Field at candlestick Park it will be the first playoff game of his four year of career. But Walker whose Only pro playoff experience came with the new Jersey generals of the Usel is More Likely to be a sideshow than the main attraction. And that could work to the advantage of Walker and the Minnesota Vikings when they play san Francisco in an pfc semifinal saturday the third straight season the teams have met at the same site at the same stage of the nil playoffs. For us to have Success in the playoffs we have to revolve our game around Anthony Carter Quarter Back Wade Wilson said of the receiver who caught 10passes for 227 Yards in a 36-24 Minnesota Victory two years ago. We went away from that trying to get Herschel 20 carries a game. In turn that got us away from our passing  Walker is the one major difference in the game be tween teams meeting for the fourth time in three years. San Francisco won 24-21 in the regular season last year and then routed Minnesota 34-9 in the playoffs. But the barometer for the game could be the january 1988 contest when a 13-2 san Francisco team that had outscored its previous three opponents by a combined 135-7 was upset by Wilson Carter and friends. That Minnesota team was an underachieving 8-7, although three of the losses belonged to a dismal strike replacement team. This year s Vikings with an nil High seven pro bowlers Are also considered underachiever at 10-6, particularly since they were awarded the super bowl after getting Walker for a combination of 12 players and draft choices on oct. 12. Now they re underdogs by a touchdown against the 14-2 49crs. Who have inherited the favorite s Mantle and appear to have the Best Chance since Pittsburgh a decade ago to repeat As nil  reason is the perception that Walker has either been misused or in t what he was cracked up to be. After getting 148 Yards in his first game against firemen Bas. He became less a pan of the Vikings of sense. In his last five games he has averaged just 38 Sards and 13 carries. For the season he is a Era Gimi about 4 Yards a earn just about the same As fullback Rick Fenney Soho has won no Heisman trophy and whose Trade value is considerably less than 12 bodies. Then again. Walker s potential along with the receiving Trio of Carter. Hassan Jones and tight end Steve Jordan gives the 49ers something to think about. Defensively we re up to our tear ends in alligators said coach George Scifert. Who was Bill Walsh s offensive coordinator when the Vikings pulled their i pct two years ago. Carter has benefited most by Walker s diminished role. In Walker s first five games with the Vikings. Carter averaged less than three catches and 40 Yards a game. In the last five games he has averaged just Over four catches and 85 Yards. That s primarily because the Vikings changed their offence to take advantage of Walker and got away from what they did Best pass. It s still anyone s guess though As to Host Walker will be used saturday. It s unlikely hell be out of the game at key moments As he was in a 10-9 loss in Philadelphia when the Vikings reached the eagles 36 with two minutes left took Walker out of the Gam and threw four straight passes. If for no other reason he keeps the defense thinking. Mihi a he hmm Himml Jymm 49ers will top vikes by Day Goldberg a football writer now the fun starts Wall to Wall football and All competitive games. Well at least sort of competitive according to the Odds makers. Who Hae made san Francisco a 7-Pointfavorite Over Minnesota and Denver an 8-Point favor Ite Over Pittsburgh. Naturally the Home teams Are favored despite Victo Ries by the visitors in both wild card games. Here s How the weekend looks. Saturday Minnesota plus 7 at san Francisco Bill Walsh used to Sav the 49crs were always heavier favorite than they should be because san Francisco is near Las vegas. Wrong san Francisco is favored because it s Good and it knows How to win Don t give Joe Montana the bal with any time left and a workable margin. And san Francisco is favored because Minnesota is predictions one of lie two most underachieving teams in the league. The other is Houston and we know what happened to the oilers last weekend. Yes. Minnesota beat a 13-2 san Francisco team a candlestick iwo years ago. It also lost 34-9 last season to a 10-6 san Francisco team. The Vikings May hav belter personnel but. Buffalo plus 3 i at Cleveland it would be Nice to say that both teams come into the Battle for the championship of Lake Eric on a High hut beating the Els 37-0 after three straight losses hardly qualifies. There s nothing to indicate the Bills Aren t still bickering among them selves the Victory Over the moribund Jet notwithstanding. The one plus both Cornelius Bennett and Shane con Ian Are healthy together a rarity this year. But Kevin Mack seems Kevin Mack healthy for the Browns and that s the key. It provides a running game that Cleveland lacked most of the sea son. If Eric Melc Alfs foot comes around and Borni Kosar s Elbow is of. That s a bigger plus. Browns 17-7. Sunday los am vles rams plus 3 i at new York giants this spread makes Little sense if you take into account that the rams have scored 76 Points against the a giants in their last two meetings. That s More than the Cardi nals have against new York in six games. It makes More sense if you take into account that in the giants last three Home games the wind chill has averaged minus-10 and the wind around 25 Mph. By that measurement the windless 35 degrees Jim Everett had in Philadelphia is tropical. So this game could be decided by the weather. The King Range forecast is for temperatures in the 20s. Wind it s almost always swirling at giants stadium meaning Ottis Anderson running into a five linebacker front May mean More than Everett who completed 18 straight in a 31-10 win Over the giants in Anaheim nov. 5 giants 9.7. Pittsburgh plus 8 at Denver the St clerk Are a Nice Story. The Steeles arc also in on a pass. They be won six of seven but the Only Good team they be beaten is Houston which died in Cincinnati three weeks ago. You can win in mile High stadium if you re a Tough experienced pfc team like the giants and eagles the Only two visitors to win there this season. A Young. Eight Yards deep and hand it to him. We can throw it to him or trap with him or do things like  Walker he does t seem concerned. I be been of he said. There s no doubt i can play a lot better. But that s the Way i feel about life. You can always get  but the St clerk Are better. Nice season and wait till next year. Broncos 20-7. Last week 2-0 spread1-1 straight up. Regular season 105-115-4 spread153-70-1 straight up