Quick Kicks

The battle never took place

So much for Jerry vs. Deion.

The Jerry Rice-Deion Sanders matchup turned out to be no match at all on Sunday. In fact, Rice vs. the entire Dallas defense was no match in San Francisco’s 38-20 victory over the Cowboys.

The 49ers threw to Rice only once when Sanders was covering him, and it was a poorly thrown incompletion.

But when the 49ers outsmarted the Cowboys and got Rice lined up against linebackers, it was no contest. Rice had five catches for 161 yards - 81 coming on a down-the-middle touchdown on the second play of the game.

“Hey, hats off to Jerry,” Sanders said. “He showed today why he is probably the best receiver ever to play the game.”

The buildup between these two alone was enough to help hype this game. It became even juicier a few weeks ago when Sanders became a Cowboy and Rice screamed that the 49ers didn’t need him.

Then Sanders got into it this week, saying that Rice was acting ignorant and childish about the matter.

Tags blows off showdown

NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue took a break from the disputes dogging the league to watch the 150th meeting of the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers.

Before a 35-28 victory gave the Packers a second straight sweep in the league’s oldest rivalry, Tagliabue was asked why he wasn’t at the San Francisco-Dallas showdown instead.

“There are a lot of people interested in the game in Dallas today. But this is THE football game, as far as tradition, history and rivalry,” Tagliabue said.

There is no truth to the rumor that Dallas owner Jerry Jones wouldn’t let Tagliabue into Texas Stadium.

Carmen, gloating? Naahhh…

Said San Francisco 49ers president Carmen Policy after his team’s win over the ‘Boys: “They (Dallas) were convinced they were going to win this game, the only issue was by how much. I’m glad they decided not to run up the score.”

Local watch

Former Washington State quarterback Drew Bledsoe completed 14 of 25 passes for 209 yards with two TDs and no interceptions as New England beat Miami 34-17 on the road.

Former Central Valley and Idaho kicker Mike Hollis connected on field goals of 26 and 50 yards and was 3 for 3 on PATs.

Former Eastern Washington University standout Kurt Schulz intercepted Atlanta QB Jeff George in the end zone to end the Falcons comeback attempt in Buffalo’s 23-17 win.

Pullman High grad Wil Furrer of the Houston Oilers came on in relief of injured quarterback Chris Chandler and was 8 for 18 for 56 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in the Oilers’ 32-25 loss against Cincinnati.

Monday night matchup

The “Lame Duck Browns,” alias Cleveland Browns don’t want to lethargically play out their string of seven remaining games and throw in one of the Terrible Towels tonight (KXLY, Channel 4, 6 p.m.) when the Browns play the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“We have to become focused again,” said Cleveland coach Bill Belichick. “Last week was initially a shock, but in some degree, it has worn off.”

, DataTimes