NFL 49ers, out of playoff contention, seek 8-8 season

San Francisco has two games remaining and hopes to avoid a losing season.
VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT
Even though the San Francisco 49ers have been eliminated from postseason contention, coach Dennis Erickson plans to stick with his veterans in an effort to avoid a losing season.
Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, the 49ers (6-8) were knocked out of the playoffs with a 41-38 loss to the Bengals (8-6), combined with the Dallas Cowboys' 27-0 victory over the Washington Redskins.
Although the 49ers could finish with an 8-8 record, their conference record, including losses to the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings, add up to a tie-breaker disadvantage that can't be overcome.
With the playoffs out of reach, Erickson said he will send out the team's best players against the Eagles (11-2) in Philadelphia on Sunday, and the Seattle Seahawks (8-6) in San Francisco two days after Christmas.
"We need a win, so we're going to use the best available," said Erickson, who referred to the Eagles' stadium as a "buzz saw."
"We're gonna put out the best team we can, we're not going to start playing a lot of young guys just to see them play."
Eagles riding a streak
After a 2-3 start, the Eagles have rattled off nine consecutive wins, including Monday's 34-27 triumph over the Dolphins in Miami.
"They're not just winning them, but their kicking everyone's rear ends," Erickson said. "They've got the momentum to make a Super Bowl run."
The Eagles lead the St. Louis Rams (10-3) for the NFC home-field advantage, and if they defeat the 49ers and Redskins (5-9), they'll be at home throughout the NFC playoffs.
Erickson is pleased that one of his former coaches has done so well in Philadelphia. Jim Johnson is the defensive coordinator for Eagles coach Andy Reid and was Erickson's linebackers coach in Seattle in 1998, Erickson's final year there.
"[Reid] has done a great job and he's hired a good coaching staff," Erickson said. "That franchise has great structure with a lot of good young players -- it's an organization that seems to be going forward."
Third time in 5 years
The 49ers will sit out the postseason for the third time in five seasons. San Francisco's inability to win on the road and in close contests are the reasons.
The 49ers are 0-7 away from 3Com Park and have lost five games by three points or less, including a 13-12 defeat at home to the Cleveland Browns.
"I have never lost so many close games in all my coaching experience," said Erickson, who won two NCAA national championships with Miami before coaching the Seahawks from 1995-98. "Except for two games, we've been in the rest."
Turnovers were the 49ers' undoing in Cincinnati -- three giveaways led to 17 points.
"Two times, we turned it over inside the 10-yard line and the other was knocked out for a touchdown," said Erickson, referring to linebacker Kevin Hardy knocking the ball from quarterback Jeff Garcia and scoring a 10-yard touchdown.
The 49ers' offense recorded 502 yards, led by Garcia, who completed 26-of-33 passes for 344 yards.
"He only had [seven] incompletions and about four of them were dropped," Erickson said.