For 49ers, It’s All About Owens

SAN FRANCISCO —  Jerry Rice complained about the San Francisco 49ers’ erratic play, and offered to jump start the offense. Instead, it was Terrell Owens who provided the spark.

Owens turned a short pass from Steve Young into a 79-yard touchdown and Garrison Hearst ran for 166 yards in 20 carries to go over 1,000 yards rushing for the second consecutive season as San Francisco beat the New York Giants, 31-7, Monday night for their 15th consecutive regular-season home win.

The victory clinched a 16th consecutive winning season for the 49ers (9-3) and kept them a game behind first-place Atlanta in the NFC West with four remaining.

But the win was costly. The 49ers lost star defensive tackle Bryant Young midway through the fourth quarter to a right leg injury. Replays showed the leg bent backward as he collided with linebacker Ken Norton Jr. as they closed in for a tackle. He was wheeled off the field on a gurney.

The Giants (4-8) started fast but then faded, much as they have this season after winning the NFC East last year. Kent Graham had a 48-yard completion to Ike Hilliard on their first play and three plays later, Gary Brown bolted 11 yards up the middle for a touchdown.

Owens, who had five catches for 140 yards, turned a short flat pass from Young into a touchdown to pull the 49ers into a 7-7 tie with 2:39 left in the first quarter.

The 49ers took the lead for good with an 90-yard drive that Young finished with a one-yard scoring pass to Irv Smith for a 14-7 halftime lead.