Nothing Perfect About Them But Their Record

So where do the 49ers fit into the big picture? Right now the NFC West isn't a healthy division. Ram quarterback Vince Ferragamo is out for at least a month. Atlanta has lost its offensive cornerstone, fullback William Andrews; New Orleans still isn't sure about its quarterback. And the Niners? Well, they'll probably have Montana and Lott back this Sunday in Candlestick Park.

"We're existing from day to day," Walsh says, "from practice to practice, from game to game. We're not an overpowering team. We have to play at our best every week. At some point we're going to put our best team on the field."

At least they don't have an owner who guarantees victories—or contracts.