European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 29, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 24 b the stars and stripes l sports sunday november 29, 199249ers seeking playoff clincher versus eagles by Dennis Georgatos san Francisco a it seems the More the san Francisco 49crs change the More they slay the same. Despite transition in such critical areas As quarterback running Back and defensive secondary the 49ers 9-2 find themselves on the Brink of another trip to playoffs. A win sunday against the Philadelphia eagles 7-4 would assure the 49er of at least an pfc wild card berth. An seb television at 10 . Get Quot this game could help us qualify for the Post season tournament a 49crs Center Jesse Sapolu said. Quot that a something that we have to try to accomplish especially coming off a year where we did t make the playoff and everybody was starting to say we might be a team on the  though hardly a failure in 1991, finishing i0t. The 49crs missed the playoffs for the first time in nine years. That still rankles a team that advanced to the postseason with regularity. So ensuring a return this season has been a top priority. Quot we certainly would like to Clinch the playoff spot a san Francisco defensive lineman Pierce Holt said. Quot and wed certainly like to end up winning our division and then getting Home Field. Sundays game is hopefully one of the Steps to All of the  in the 49ers, the eagles face the leagues most productive offence. There has been virtually no drop off at quarterback where Steve Young has taken Over for Joe Montana. Like Philadelphia a Randall Cunningham Young is an exceptional scrambler. But More than that Young has come on to Lead the league in passing efficiency. Philadelphia defenders also have to contend with Jerry Rice who is just one touchdown reception shy of Steve Lar go nth Sall time record of 100. Ricky Watters meanwhile needs just 35 Yards Rushing to reach 1,000 for the season. The first year pro would be the first san Francisco Back to achieve the feat since Roger Craig in 1989. Quot they be been on top for a number of years now and this year they arc a Little different than the last two or three years because they be got a running game Quot eagles cornerback Eric alien said. Quot they be finally got a Guy to replace Roger Craig. V a. A the Guy is running very Well and helped their offence a Little More. A big difference other than the running game is stability at the quarterback  san Francisco will be trying for its fifth straight win Over the eagles who Trail Dallas in the pfc East by two games. But  be going against one of the Best defences in the league with a defensive line capable of pressuring the passer and shut tin Down inc run. Quot when you have Guys double teaming Reggie White and he still has nine sacks that a very scary. We be got to go out there and play Quot Sapolu said. The eagles Reggie White Hopes to Hunt Down the 49crs and delay their playoff plans. File Colts travelling in different paths by Piank Lowenkron Indianapolis apr the last time they met. Jaek Trudeau May have thought buffaloes Bruce Smith wih lining up in the Baek Finkl of the Indianapolis Colts. Smith had a season High 11 tackles including eight tackles for a loss with three sacks and two quarterback pressures As the Bills Defeated Indianapolis 38-0 on sept. O. The learns meet again sunday heading in opposite directions. Buffalo 9-2 arrives in the Hoosier dome with a Fie game winning Streak while Indianapolis 47 has lost Lour straight. We re going to have to make an adjustment for Bruce because without question he a the outstanding it Cisne end in the league this year Quot said Indianapolis coach l de Marchibroda who has had ample Opportunity to watch the 6-foot-4, 275-Pounder terrorize opposing defensive in recent years when he was an assistant with the Bills Quot he shaving the Best year that in be seen him  statistically the game figures to be a major mismatch in a series that has seen Buffalo win six consecutive times outscoring the Colts 202-37 in that Span. The latest Bills Triumph was their largest margin of Victory Over the Colts since the teams began playing each other in 1970. Trudeau at quarterback in place of an injured Jeff Cgeorge when the teams met in september finds himself in the same situation this week. Trudeau had one of his worst Days in that game completing just six of 14 passes for 78 Yards with two interceptions and three sacks. Quot we be got to do a belter Joh of stopping him a Trudeau said of Smith. Quot our line has been doing a pretty Good Job of protecting lately so hopefully that wont be a  Smith has to be kept out of the Backfield for Indianapolis to have a Chance at Victory t Rudeau said. Quot there a a lot of ways to do it we be got a few different ways we re going to try a he said. Quot the key is that our Guys up front Are doing a lot better Job up front now than they were at that Point in the  Trudeau was playing in his second game of the season when they met in september having missed All of training Camp As a holdout and then bruising his Back the previous week. �?�1 probably  have been playing at All with my Back Quot Trudeau said. Quot things Are a lot different this time. Hopefully we can keep the game close and have a Chance to win it at the end. A the Colts go into the game 25th in the league in total offence including a 66.1-Yard Rushing average that is the worst among the a Fly a 28 teams. They tube operating against a defense has yielded just 82.8 Yards per game a the leagues second Best Mark and on offence the Bills Are second Overall while Indianapolis is 26th.saints look Forward to Marino Challenge by Mary Foster Nias Orleans air a while both Mas be in second place sundays game Between the Miami dolphins and the new Orleans saints matches a pair of no. Is in what should be quite a Battle an seb television at 7 . Get sunday the dolphins 83 Trail Buffalo by one game in the dec East and have the top rated pass Marino ing attack in the Lea Cue. Etc Samis 8-3 Are a game behind san Francisco in the pfc West and rank no. 1 in the conference in pass defense. While the dolphins have been averaging 264.2 Yards a game in the air the saints have held opponents to just 153.3. Quot we look at this As a big Challenge a Saint linebacker Rickey Jackson said. "1 consider Dan Marino a personal  Jackson who played for two years lit Pill with Marino said they became close friends during that time. That Friendship will give sunday s meeting an extra Edge Jackson said. Quot he has i great Quick release a Jackson said of Marino. Quot he s a very Tough competitor too. We just Hae to get after him real hard a Marino is  in the acc Basing completed 233 of 386 passes for 3,008 Yards 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He has thrown for 3,000 Yards in nine straight seasons for an nil record and has at least 20 touchdowns passes 10 seasons in a Row to Lead the league. Marino Only needs five touchdown passes to move by Johnny Unitas into second place on the nil All time list. Quot he a just incredible a Saint defensive end Wayne Martin said of Marino. Quot he a got the quickest release in the league. It makes if very Tough on  with that Quick release and Miami a Tough line. Marino was once almost untouchable. I hosed a s Are gone. The dolphins Hae allowed 19 sacks this season a eight in their last two games. Quot we Chad Sears when we did t disc up eight sacks then we give up four in each of the last two games a Miami coach Don Shula said. Quot its a disturbing  stopping the trend against new Orleans wont be easy. The saints have recorded 42 sacks to Lead the nil. Quot they have the Best set of linebackers in the league a Shula said. A their defense is great because they have great people a Good solid  the saints have held five of their past seven opponents to under 200 Yards total offence and All seven to under 100 Yards Rushing. They have not allowed a single 300-Yard passer or 100-Yard receiver this season. Quot we have to step up the pressure this week a Jackson said. Quot i Wou Dnn to do anything less than that for an old