EAST TO WEST, 49ERS THE BEST : SAN FRANCISCO 24, PHILADELPHIA 12.

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

The San Francisco 49ers spent the first two months of the season shredding the NFC West. Now the 49ers have turned their attention to the NFC East.

The 49ers scored first-half touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams to coast to a 24-12 victory Monday night over the Philadelphia Eagles. The 49ers also defeated the Dallas Cowboys this month in building their NFC-best 9-1 record.

The 49ers won seven in a row in September and October against their NFC West lodge brothers and now have an NFL-best nine-game winning streak.

They were led by defense and special teams - Merton Hanks returned a fumble for a touchdown, Chuck Levy scored on a 73-yard punt return, and Curtis Buckley's disputed hit and fumble recovery set up a third TD.

If the 49ers beat Carolina on Sunday, they clinch the division with five games left in the regular season and move on to bigger things - like pursuing their sixth Super Bowl victory since 1981.

``There wasn't a soul that I heard who said we'd finish over 8-8,'' said Steve Young, who completed 13 of 23 for 103 yards as the 49ers left the offense to the defense and special teams.

``I'd like to dig up all the articles from the first two weeks.''

But not all the 49ers were as aware how close they are to a title they've won 13 of 17 times since 1981.

``Is that right?'' asked defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield, who had 3-1/2 of San Francisco's eight sacks. ``It's good to be that close.''

This was hardly a typical 49ers win - they gained just 213 yards of offense. But they hardly needed any more.

``With our defense, we don't need to score a lot of points to win,'' said Young. ``That's how we won championships in the past.''

``Ever since I've been here we've played a good rushing defense,'' said Stubblefield. ``That's what we hang our hat on. That's what we take pride in.''

For Philadelphia (4-6), the playoffs are fast becoming a long shot.

``It hurts a lot,'' coach Ray Rhodes said. ``They took us apart from a defensive standpoint. There were two touchdowns scored before our defense even got on the field and that's disappointing.''

It was the Eagles' first home loss in five home games this season and left them in fourth place in the NFC East, behind Washington, the New York Giants and Dallas.

The 49ers got their first break just 1 minute, 7 seconds into the game, when Lee Woodall stripped the ball from Ricky Watters. Hanks picked it up and took it untouched to the end zone.

The Eagles moved up and down the field but had to settle for Chris Boniol field goals of 28 and 34 yards that cut the lead to 7-6. Then came the game's key play.

Three-and-half minutes into the second quarter, the Niners' Tommy Thompson punted to Philadelphia's Freddie Solomon. He signaled for a fair catch, but just as the ball got to him Buckley came crashing in. The ball came loose, and Buckley fell on it at the Philadelphia 26.

The officials ruled that Solomon never had possession, making it a muff and making him fair game for Buckley.

Buckley said that he actually hit an Eagles player, Tim McTyer, who bumped Solomon.

``It was a high punt. I saw him make the fair-catch signal,'' Buckley said. ``Usually when a guy does that, the rest of his teammates move out the way. I make my living on special teams, so knowing the rules is an advantage for me. It gives me the edge.''

Three plays later, following a 19-yard pass from Young to Terrell Owens, Garrison Hearst took the ball in from the 1, and it was 14-6. Then Tommy Hutton punted to Levy - returning punts because Iheanyi Uwaezuoke was out with a knee injury. Levy took the ball, split two Philadelphia defenders, and sped untouched to the end zone for a 21-6 lead.

``I don't know if there are enough guys who understand the importance of special teams,'' safety Michael Zordich, an 11-year veteran, said of a unit that's allowed the highest average per return in the NFL.

``After 10 games, you think we'd understand.''

Just for good measure, San Francisco got a 3-point gift just before the half when Darnell Walker intercepted Ty Detmer's pass and returned it 10 yards to the 36. Young's 23-yard pass to Owens set up Gary Anderson's 31-yard field goal that made it 24-6.

The second half was simply a matter of running out the clock for the 49ers and letting the defense hold.

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Photo

PHOTO 49ers defensive back Merton Hanks runs for a touchdown after picking up a Ricky Watters' fumble during the first quarter.

Associated Press