The 49ers (14-3) host the Dallas Cowboys (13-4) at Candlestick Park for the NFC Championship game, 1:00 PM PT on Sun January 10, 1982.
Montana continues at quarterback. Danny White starts for Dallas. Tony Dorsett at running back. Drew Pearson, Tony Hill, and Doug Cosbie at the receiving corps.
The Cowboys come off the divisional win over Tampa Bay. The Sunday rematch of the W6 49ers 45-14 home blowout of Dallas.[1][2]
Danny White and the Cowboys are back. Tom Landry's franchise has won three of the last five NFC Championship games. Drew Pearson, Tony Hill, Tony Dorsett, and Cosbie are the names. The W6 49ers home win was 45-14; the Sunday rematch in the NFC Championship game.
The 49ers' first conference championship game since 1971. Joe Montana's second playoff start. The Walsh offense (Solomon, Clark, Young, the two-back rotation) against the Doomsday Defense, on a wet, cold afternoon at Candlestick.
Conference Championship Sunday begins the league's final weekend before the Super Bowl. The 49ers (NFC #1) host the Cowboys (NFC #2). The Bengals (AFC #1) host the Chargers (AFC #3). The Sunday-afternoon game is the year's primetime NFC playoff finale. The Cowboys won their fifth NFC Championship a year ago; the 49ers' last conference championship appearance was 1970.
Through the regular season the 49ers finished 13-3 and the Cowboys finished 12-4. The 49ers beat the Cowboys 45-14 in W6 at Candlestick. Danny White 226 of 391, 3,098, 22 TDs, 13 INTs reg season. Tony Dorsett 342 carries for 1,646. Drew Pearson 38 catches for 614. The 49ers won 38-24 over the Giants in the divisional. Montana 20 of 31 for 304 in the divisional win.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 12-4 | W2 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 8-8 | L3 |
| Houston Oilers | 7-9 | W1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 5-11 | L5 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 11-4-1 | W4 |
| New York Jets | 10-5-1 | W2 |
| Buffalo Bills | 10-6 | L1 |
| Baltimore Colts | 2-14 | W1 |
| New England Patriots | 2-14 | L9 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 10-6 | L1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 10-6 | W2 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 9-7 | W1 |
| Oakland Raiders | 7-9 | L2 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 6-10 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 13-3 | W5 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 7-9 | L3 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 6-10 | L1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 4-12 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 9-7 | W1 |
| Detroit Lions | 8-8 | L1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 8-8 | L1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 7-9 | L5 |
| Chicago Bears | 6-10 | W3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 12-4 | L1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 10-6 | W1 |
| New York Giants | 9-7 | W3 |
| Washington Redskins | 8-8 | W3 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 7-9 | L2 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Freddie Solomon 8 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-7 |
| Cowboys | Rafael Septien 44 yard field goal | 3-7 |
| Cowboys | Tony Hill 26 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick) | 10-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Dwight Clark 20 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 10-14 |
| Cowboys | Tony Dorsett 5 yard rush (Rafael Septien kick) | 17-14 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Johnny Davis 2 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 17-21 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Cowboys | Rafael Septien 22 yard field goal | 20-21 |
| Cowboys | Doug Cosbie 21 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septien kick) | 27-21 |
| 49ers | Dwight Clark 6 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 27-28 |
Joe Montana threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Dwight Clark with 51 seconds left and the 49ers beat the Dallas Cowboys 28-27 at Candlestick Park to win the NFC Championship. Montana finished 22 of 35 for 286 with three touchdowns (Solomon 8, Clark 20, Clark 6) and three interceptions. Lenvil Elliott and Earl Cooper led the run game. The 49ers advanced to Super Bowl XVI.[1][2][3]
Joe Montana threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Dwight Clark with 51 seconds left in the NFC Championship game Sunday afternoon at Candlestick Park. Clark stretched high in the back of the end zone to catch the throw. The 49ers beat the Dallas Cowboys 28-27 and advanced to Super Bowl XVI, the first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.
Montana finished 22 of 35 for 286 with three touchdowns and three interceptions. Clark caught eight for 120 and two touchdowns including The Catch. Solomon caught six for 75 and an 8-yard touchdown. Charle Young added four for 45. Lenvil Elliott ran 10 for 48; Earl Cooper added eight for 35; Bill Ring added six for 27.
Danny White threw for 173 yards on 24 attempts with two touchdowns to Tony Hill (26) and Doug Cosbie (21) and one interception. Tony Dorsett ran for 91 yards and a touchdown. The Cowboys' defense produced three interceptions.
49ers 28, Cowboys 27. Margin: plus 1. NFC Championship.
A 28-27 NFC Championship home win over the Dallas Cowboys at Candlestick Park. The 49ers improve to 15-3 and advance to Super Bowl XVI.
How it unfolded
Montana hit Solomon for an 8-yard touchdown on the opening drive. Rafael Septien kicked a 44-yard field goal. Tony Hill caught a 26-yard touchdown from Danny White to give the Cowboys a 10-7 lead. Clark caught a 20-yard touchdown from Montana to push the 49ers back ahead 14-10. Dorsett ran in a 5-yard touchdown. Johnny Davis ran in a 2-yard score to make it 21-17. Septien added a 22-yard field goal. Doug Cosbie caught a 21-yard touchdown from White to give the Cowboys a 27-21 lead late in the fourth quarter. With 4:54 left, Montana led an 89-yard 13-play drive that ended in Clark's 6-yard touchdown reception with 51 seconds left. The Cowboys' final drive ended when White was sacked and fumbled with Lawrence Pillers recovering at the Cowboys' 44.
The turning point
The Clark touchdown with 51 seconds left. Montana rolled right on third-and-3 from the Dallas 6-yard line with pressure coming from Larry Bethea and Ed Jones. The throw was high and in the back of the end zone. Clark stretched. The catch became the franchise-defining play in 49ers history.
By the numbers
Montana 22 of 35 for 286, 8.2 yards per attempt, three touchdowns and three interceptions. Clark eight catches for 120 with the two touchdowns including The Catch. Solomon six for 75 with the opening touchdown. The Cowboys' defense forced three in...
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 16 | 26 |
| Total Yards | 250 | 393 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 6 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 16/24 | 22/35 |
| Pass yards | 173 | 286 |
| Pass TD | 2 | 3 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 3 |
| Sacks taken | 4 | 3 |
| Sack yards lost | 38 | 20 |
| Net pass yards | 135 | 266 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 32 | 31 |
| Rush yards | 115 | 127 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 1 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 4 | 3 |
| Fumbles lost | 2 | 3 |
| Penalties | 5 | 7 |
| Penalty yards | 39 | 106 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 22/35 | 286 | 3 | 3 | 81.4 |
| DAL | |||||
| Danny White | 16/24 | 173 | 2 | 1 | 98.1 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Lenvil Elliott #35 | 10 | 48 | 0 | 11 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 8 | 35 | 0 | 11 |
| Bill Ring #39 | 6 | 27 | 0 | 11 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| Walt Easley | 2 | 6 | 0 | 4 |
| Johnny Davis | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 3 | -5 | 0 | 2 |
| DAL | ||||
| Tony Dorsett | 22 | 91 | 1 | 11 |
| James Jones | 4 | 14 | 0 | 7 |
| Ron Springs | 5 | 10 | 0 | 3 |
| Danny White | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Dwight Clark #87 | 8 | 120 | 2 | 38 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 6 | 75 | 1 | 21 |
| Charle Young | 4 | 45 | 0 | 17 |
| Lenvil Elliott #35 | 1 | 24 | 0 | 24 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 6 |
| Mike Shumann | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| DAL | ||||
| Tony Hill | 2 | 43 | 1 | 26 |
| Drew Pearson | 1 | 31 | 0 | 31 |
| Doug Cosbie | 1 | 21 | 1 | 21 |
| Butch Johnson | 1 | 20 | 0 | 20 |
| James Jones | 3 | 17 | 0 | 10 |
| Billy Joe DuPree | 3 | 15 | 0 | 7 |
| Ron Springs | 3 | 13 | 0 | 12 |
| Jay Saldi | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Doug Donley | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
Find or start the canonical thread for this game on r/49ers. The thread title is deterministic so anyone running this Rewatch lands on the same place.
Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1981 Conference Championships - Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers - Game Thread