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GAME DAY PREVIEW Game time: 1:00pm ET San Francisco (3-8-0) at Cincinnati (2-10-0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Records
However, the 1990's will not end on a fitting note for the Niners, who have lost seven straight, their longest since an eight-game slide in 1980. While San Francisco is in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 1991, the Bengals will miss the postseason for the ninth straight year. Cincinnati and the expansion Cleveland Browns are tied for the worst record in the NFL at 2-10. In the 1990's, the 49ers set an amazing standard with a regular-season record of 112-43 with six division titles. The Bengals have floundered along with a 50-106 record, one loss shy of tying the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the 1980s for the most losses in a decade. The Bengals snapped a six-game losing streak with a 27-20 win at Pittsburgh last Sunday. Jeff Blake threw for one touchdown and ran for another score and rookie cornerback Rodney Heath had two interceptions, including one he returned 58 yards for a touchdown. Blake went 15-for-28 for 241 yards. His favorite target was Darnay Scott, who collected 123 yards on four catches, including a 76-yard touchdown. Scott leads the Bengals with 56 catches for 764 yards and five touchdowns. The 49ers' inept offense struggled again in Monday's 20-3 loss to the Green Bay Packers. The loss marked the fifth time this season that the 49ers failed to record an offensive touchdown. That had happened to them on just five occasions over the last nine seasons. San Francisco has just one touchdown in its last 54 offensive series and the team that introduced the fabled "West Coast" offense has not scored more than seven points in a game since October 24. "I, as the coach, hold myself responsible," said 49ers coach Steve Mariucci. "I am searching for ways to improve our football team every week." Niners quarterback Steve Stenstrom was just 19-of-35 for 195 yards and an interception. Charlie Garner rushed for 90 yards and caught six passes for 36 more. San Francisco's streak of 16 consecutive winning seasons -- the longest of any team in the NFL, NBA, NHL and baseball -- came to an end with Monday's loss. The Niners are 1-7 without star quarterback Steve Young, who remains bothered by the effects of a concussion suffered in a September 27 at Arizona. San Francisco leads the interconference series with Cincinnati, 7-1. The Niners also beat the Bengals in Super Bowl XVI and XXIII.
Records source: STATS, Inc. Copyright 1999 STATS, Inc. Commercial distribution without the express written consent of STATS is prohibited. | ALSO SEE NFL Scoreboard San Francisco Clubhouse Cincinnati Clubhouse NFL Week 13 previews
War Room preview: 49ers at Bengals
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