Bono, Streaking 49ers to Meet Chiefs Today

There is something familiar about the way the San Francisco 49ers have fashioned a four-game winning streak.

“What’s encouraging, especially the past two weeks, is the wins have been Joe Montana-like,” special teams captain Spencer Tillman said as San Francisco (8-6) prepared for today’s game against the playoff-bound Kansas City Chiefs (9-5).

Last season, the 49ers were 8-1 in games decided by seven points or fewer. But with Montana sidelined this year because of an elbow injury, the 49ers seemingly had lost an edge.

They went 0-6 in close games before finally holding on to beat the Phoenix Cardinals, 14-10, on Nov. 17.

That started the four-game streak, all guided by third-string quarterback Steve Bono, who won the past two weeks with last-minute, go-ahead touchdown passes against the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks.

“We just have to keep winning,” Bono said. “We know that.”

The performance of Bono, 4-1 as a starter, has diminished the urgency of Steve Young’s return from damaged left knee ligaments suffered Nov. 3 at Atlanta.

Although Young said he is ready to play, Coach George Seifert said he is not satisfied Young has regained the mobility that would allow him to perform at his peak.

Seifert is staying with Bono for a sixth consecutive week with Young in the reserve role he played the past four years behind Montana.

While the Chiefs clinched at least a wild-card berth by beating the San Diego Chargers, 20-17, in overtime last Sunday, the 49ers must win their final two games for the chance to qualify for postseason play.

“We’ve been under that pressure for a while,” 49ers linebacker Darin Jordan said. “We know that every game is a playoff game.”

San Francisco, which will finish the season Dec. 23 against the Chicago Bears, has not missed the playoffs since the strike-shortened 1982 season.

The Chiefs will be playing to earn the home-field advantage during the playoffs.