European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 26, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 22 the stars and stripes Friday january 26,1990 super bowl xxiv Road to the super bowl sunday dec 31 saturday Jan. 6 sunday Jan. 7 sunday pfc wild card game los Angeles rams 21 Philadelphia 7 at Philadelphia pfc playoffs pfc semifinal game san Francisco 49ers 41 Minnesota Vikings 13 at san Francisco pfc semifinal game los Angeles rams new York giants at new York pfc championship san Francisco 49ers 30 los Angeles 3 at san Francisco acc wild card game Pittsburgh Steeles 26 Houston oilers 23 at Houston acc playoffs acc semifinal game Cleveland Browns Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Denver Broncos Pittsburgh Steeles at Denver sunday Jan. 28 super bowl xxiv at new Orleans acc championship Denver Broncos 37 Cleveland Browns 21 at Denver a How things Are Likely to go sunday editor s note Jack Faulkner is administrator of football operations for the Las Angeles rams who lost to the 4vers 30-3 in the a pc championship game. He wrote this super Huml scouting report with a spurts editor Darrell Christian. By Jack Faulkner of the los Angeles ram for the associated press Don t look for the san Francisco 49crs to jazz up this super bowl. They Don t take chances on the Field or on Bourbon Street. They la leave that to the Denver Broncos who have not found the big easy so easy. In their Only two trips since 1970, they lost the super bowl to the Dallas cowboys in 1978 and were blown out 42-0 by the saints during the 1988 season. Now. As double digit undergoes the Broncos will have to throw off Joe Montana s rhythm and catch the 49crs out of position if they Are to become the first acc winners in six years. No big easy task. The 49crs have so Many weapons and they know just How to use them. Give credit for that to their owner Edward j. De Bartolo or. He did t take any chances by going outside the organization to replace Bill Walsh As coach and that kept the continuity going. Otherwise the 49crs would have had to adjust to a new system and new terminology. The 49crs have All the big advantages Quarter Back secondary wide receivers depth but the out come could Well turn on big plays. For instance Don t be surprised if John Taylor Breaks a punt return for the 49crs. That s one of the big pluses for san Francisco. Taylor who runs the 40-Yard dash in 4.3 seconds averaged 11.6 Yards on 36 returns this season and the artificial turf in the sup Rome will just make him faster. Denver blocks a 49ers punt. Chuck Thomas the Long snapper for the miners is slow and punter Barry Helton s net average this season was Only 31.2 Yards. Denver tries a fake punt or Field goal or Elway tries a Quick kick Ofta Shotgun formation. The passing game is the big Factor. The 49crs had the no. 2 passing offence in the nil while the Bron cos had the no. 3 defense against the pass. Montana set the nil record for passing efficiency completing 70.3 percent while Elway struggled through his worst season since he was a Rookie hitting just 53.6 percent and ranking 23rd in the league. Ana the most glaring statistic Montana threw just eight interceptions Elway had 18. Otherwise the keys to Denver s offence Are Bobby analysis injury report new York a the updated injury report Lor super bowl xxiv As provided by the league san Francisco 49ers of Montana right Elbow. Re Craig flu. 0 Mclntyre Llu. S Lott thigh Are probable. Denver Bron cos the Kelly Hoe is out re Humphrey ribs is questionable the Kay thigh is questionable s Coral Nylon thigh. De Holmes thigh. Var Nattiel knee Are probable. Humphrey the Rookie running Back with the cracked ribs and Vance Johnson the leading receiver who la have to be a big return Man As Well. Humphrey especially has to be effective to keep san Francisco s de sense honest enough to open up the passing game for Elway. On defense the Broncos will have to take away the Short 8 to 12-Yard passing game and Force Montana to throw outside and deep. Tackling Well is a must. Jerry Rice Roger Craig and Taylor arc among the Best in the game at breaking tackles. And Montana can be had. He was sacked 33 times this season Only two fewer than Elway in two fewer games a startling statistic for a quarterback in a controlled passing game. The key to san Francisco s offence is its versatility especially blocking Back Tom Rathman. He caught 73 passes More than most receivers. Compare that with just 46 combined by Denver s running Trio of Humphrey Melvin Bratton and Sammy Winder. And Don t forget Craig who had 49 catches himself. On defense the 49ers will try to keep Elway in the pocket and take away his deep passing threat. A key will be nose tackle Michael Carter who came Back in the pfc championship game after missing More than two months with a sprained right foot. If he s healthy he can almost single hand edly ruin the Broncos inside running game and give the 49crs the inside pass Rush they need to disrupt Elway. The Broncos really can t match Rice and Taylor. Between them they caught 142 passes averaging 18 Yards a catch and scored 27 touchdowns. Their counterparts on the Broncos Vance Johnson and Mark Jackson combined for 104 catches 14.4 Yards perform Johnson and 15.9 for Jackson but Only nine touchdowns. The Broncos will counter with a lot of different formations. If they can t beat Rice and Taylor they can at least outnumber them. Their third and fourth super bowl on an to pregame show 9p.m. Sunday Kickoff 11p.m. Sunday Usis Sharon Kulhay receivers Michael Young and Steve Scwll combined for 47 catches and five  Jones had 40 of the 47 catches and four of the five ads by the 49crs tight ends. For the Broncos Clarence Kay had 21 catches and two ads Orson Moulcy 17 with no  Francisco has a decided Edge in the secondary. Free safety Ronnie loll is the Montana of the de sense a master Al the big play and the backup Corners Eric Wright and Tim Mckyer Are belter than the Broncos starters. If Elway decides to pick on anybody it might be left Corner Darryl Pollard. On the other Side. Broncos right Corner Wymon Henderson could be in for a hard time against  it comes Down to a kicking game the Broncos May have � slight Edge. Denver s David tread will and san Francisco s Mike Cofer were about even most of the season but Cofer had a bad december com pounded by two missed Field goals and a missed extra Point against the Vikings in the playoffs. On paper the 49ers Are much the better team but this one comes Down to Montana is. Elway smart an steady is. Strong and scrambling. If both play Well it could be close after All