49ers Warm to the Task

NEW ORLEANS —  Maybe frigid Lambeau Field can cool off Jeff Garcia.

Garcia warmed up for his playoff visit to Green Bay by throwing four touchdown passes for the second time this season against New Orleans, leading the San Francisco 49ers to a 38-0 victory over the Saints on Sunday.

“It got to a point where we basically were able to do what we wanted,” Garcia said.

Garcia, who came out after one series in the fourth quarter, completed 14 of 21 passes for 263 yards.

San Francisco (12-4), which recorded its third shutout in the last six games, had a chance to get a home game in the first round of the playoffs until a 27-21 upset loss to the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday.

Green Bay’s 34-25 victory over the New York Giants meant that the 49ers will play next weekend at Lambeau Field, where the Packers have never lost a playoff game.

“Hey, I grew up in the cold,” said San Francisco Coach Steve Mariucci, a Michigan native. “It doesn’t bother me a bit. We don’t care where we play or when we play.”

The Saints (7-9) finished the season with four straight losses and gave up an average of 40 points in those games.

“Any time you lose the last four straight, it’s a humbling experience,” Coach Jim Haslett said.

Aaron Brooks had four passes intercepted and was sacked three times as New Orleans, the 2000 NFC West champion, was shut out for the first time since the 49ers beat the Saints, 31-0, in 1998.

After struggling on their first two possessions, the 49ers took advantage of a fumble by Ricky Williams at the San Francisco 44. On first down, Garcia found Terrell Owens 10 yards behind Saint cornerback Fred Thomas for a 56-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

On the 49ers’ next possession, Garcia found Owens again for a 60-yard touchdown that made it 14-0. The two touchdowns were Owens’ only receptions of the day.

“Jeff was just being Jeff,” Owens said. “He ran when he had to, he threw when he had to. He got it going.”

In the second quarter, the 49ers recovered Williams’ second fumble, on the Saint 28, setting up Garcia’s third touchdown pass, a six-yarder to Terry Jackson that put San Francisco ahead, 21-0.

Midway through the third quarter, the 49ers’ third interception of Brooks led to a 39-yard field goal that made it 24-0

Garcia threw his fourth touchdown pass on the first play of the fourth quarter, hitting J.J. Stokes for a six-yard score that made it 31-0.

“I connected with Terrell on some deep balls where he blew by some guys,” Garcia said. “I hit J.J. a couple of times on the sidelines. We tried to open it up a little bit.”