The simple truth was established early. The Washington Native Americans are simply not a very good football squad, and the 49ers are among the best in all of wage- earning sport. The Washingtonians put together a few feints and respectable moments, but there was a daunting sense of inevitability to their efforts.
Sure, they might put together a critical drive, like the one in the second half that appeared to be preparing to make a game of it, but that spirit-crushing error was always just around the corner. In this case, rookie quarterback Gus Frerotte did the honors, firing a bullet pass to 49ers safety Tim McDonald so the eight-year veteran could sashay 70- something yards to set a personal record for longest interception return for a touchdown.
Actually, the whole afternoon had the look of a track meet for the boys in the throwback jerseys. Brent Jones scored on a 69-yard reception from Steve Young. And even Dexter Carter, a kind of human victory cigar, got into the act, romping 95-yards with a kickoff for another score.
That's 21 points on shots from beyond halfcourt, a sure sign of a team having its way. For all the worry about the 49ers coming out flat for this one, and giving Washington a chance to surprise them, the late lunch at RFK Stadium went exactly according to the form sheets.
Which is fine, because that means we can forget this scrimmage as soon as possible and begin concentrating on the earth-rending, globally important, end-of-the-civilized-world-as-we- know-it showdown between the 49ers and the Cowboys next Sunday at Candlestick Park.
There is only one lesson to be drawn from the game in Washington, and that is a reminder of what a perfectly arranged schedule the San Franciscans have drawn this year. It is a nearly ideal balance of cream puffs and red meat, with a vacation week pleasantly placed at about the time the dinged up offensive line needed some time to heal.
Even the Dallas faceoff does the 49ers some good. It should be a demanding test, but falls 10 games into the season so there will be plenty of time to re-load the hype when the NFC's reigning tyrants hold their expected rematch in the conference championship before the formality of kicking the living stuffing out of whomever the AFC heaves out on the field for the Super Bowl.
The shank of the schedule may be the toughest stretch of the season, but at that point, who cares? The 49ers should have the NFC West locked up by then, and although there will be much hand-wringing about the home-field advantage, the fact is that of the three playoff games San Francisco has lost in the last four years, two have been at home at Candlestick Park. No, this has more to do with the better team, not the friendlier location.
And how do the 49ers stack up this year? Well, after Sunday's game, you'd have to say they haven't looked so impressive since before the star-crossed Roger Craig fumble in the 1990 NFC title game that started the curse of the playoffs.
The defense appears to have found itself -- although high-salaried Ken Norton is still missing in action. Deion Sanders has solidified the secondary, Merton Hanks is at free safety where he belongs and Dana Stubblefield is shoring up the middle of the field.
The offense is clicking better than ever. Steve Young can sometimes go 10-15 minutes at a stretch without being compared to Joe Montana, Jerry Rice is simply sensational, and Rickey Watters is finally finding daylight now that fullback William Floyd and the rehabilitated offensive line are blocking for him.
Coach George Seifert looks as if he has weathered the storm. Even his new, poofy hairdo is gettting critical approval. It's all coming together, the team of the next decade, rounding into shape just before the biggest game of the season. Sunday's game proved it conclusively. They are playoff, and Super Bowl, bound.
Unless they lose next Sunday.