Rice Back To Spark 49ers’ Win Receiver Catches Td Pass Before Hobbling Off

Jerry Rice completed a remarkable return from a severe knee injury and then, with his rebuilt leg aching, watched the San Francisco 49ers’ defense torment John Elway.

Rice, flashing his old form in the first half in an early return from knee surgery, beat double coverage to make a touchdown catch in the 49ers’ 34-17 win over Denver on Monday night.

And unlike the Aug. 31 season opener, when he agonized on the Tampa Bay turf with a shredded left knee, Rice bounced back up after taking a hard hit in the end zone from Steve Atwater after the second-quarter score.

The defense took over in the second half, capitalizing on a disastrous outing by Elway, who had two interceptions and a fumble leading to 17 San Francisco points.

Merton Hanks’ 55-yard interception return for a touchdown broke a 17-all tie in the third quarter, Lee Woodall’s 55-yard interception return set up Gary Anderson’s second field goal and Kevin Greene sacked Elway, forcing a fumble that he returned 40 yards for the final score.

The win clinched home field in the NFC playoffs for San Francisco (13-2) and also gave Kansas City the home field over Denver (11-4) in the AFC.

“It seems like two seasons, maybe three,” Young said. “Now we just have to get everyone healthy.”

Denver, which lost Terrell Davis to a separated right shoulder in the first half, lost its second straight and heads into the playoffs as a wild card.

Rice’s touchdown proved to be his last play. He spent the rest of the second quarter talking with team physician Michael Dillingham, who operated on Rice the day after the injury. Rice watched the second half from the sidelines with a bandage around what the 49ers said was a bruise to his surgically repaired knee.

Rice, who had three catches for 40 yards, was greeted by a wild ovation when he ran onto the field during pregame introductions and another rousing cheer when he entered as the third receiver on the third play of the game.

On San Francisco’s second offensive series, he caught a 16-yard pass from Young and then made a diving 10-yard catch during the 92-yard march Young finished by threading a 14-yard pass to Rice. He made the catch between Atwater and Darrien Gordon for San Francisco’s first touchdown with 6:53 left in the second quarter.

The score was Rice’s 166th career TD, an ongoing NFL record, and gave him 1,000 points for his career, the first non-kicker to reach that milestone. But Rice took a hard hit from Atwater and landed on his left knee. He headed to the sidelines favoring the knee slightly.

With Rice applauding from the sideline, Terry Kirby scored from a yard out with 22 seconds left in the second quarter and San Francisco went in front 14-10 at halftime.

Vaughn Hebron, playing in place of the injured Davis, took a pitch and cut back across the field for a 46-yard gain to the San Francisco 4. He scored on a fourth-down run from the 1, giving Denver a 17-14 lead.

Denver scored the game’s first 10 points, getting a 4-yard scoring run from Davis two plays after Iheanyi Uwaezuoke muffed a punt that was recovered at the San Francisco 6 by Dedrick Dodge. Jason Elam also kicked a 49-yard field goal.

As for the Chiefs, they are 7-0 in Arrowhead Stadium going into their regular season finale Sunday against New Orleans. That game, mathematically, does not mean a thing now. And with the need to win erased, it could give the Chiefs an opportunity to let Elvis Grbac get some action.

Grbac has been out with a broken collarbone since Nov. 3.