The 49ers (13-3) host the New York Giants (10-7) at Candlestick Park for the NFC divisional round, 12:30 PM PT on Sun January 3, 1982.
Montana continues at quarterback. The Giants come off a wild-card road win at Philadelphia. Scott Brunner at quarterback. Rob Carpenter at running back. Earnest Gray and Johnny Perkins lead the receivers.
The 49ers' first playoff game since 1972. The Giants come off the wild-card upset of the defending NFC champion Eagles. Scott Brunner threw two touchdowns in the wild-card win. Rob Carpenter ran for 161 yards.
The 49ers' Sunday at home is the year's first playoff test under Walsh. Joe Montana's first NFL playoff start. The defensive front (Dean, Stuckey, Pillers) and the secondary (Lott, Wright, Williamson, Hicks) get the postseason debut.
Divisional round Sunday begins the second weekend of the playoffs. The 49ers (NFC #1 seed) host the Giants (NFC #5 wild-card survivor). The Cowboys (NFC #2) host the Buccaneers. The AFC's Bengals (#1) host the Bills (wild-card winner). The Chargers (#3) host the Dolphins (#2). The Sunday-afternoon game is the 49ers' first home playoff game since 1972.
Through the regular season the 49ers finished 13-3 (best record in NFC, NFC West champs). The Giants finished 9-7 (NFC #5 wild-card berth). The two teams met in W13 at Candlestick where the 49ers won 17-10. Brunner 14 TDs and 18 INTs reg season. Rob Carpenter 748 rushing yards. Montana 311 of 488, 3,565, 19 TDs, 12 INTs reg season.
| 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 | Charle Young 8 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-7 |
| Giants | Earnest Gray 72 yard pass from Scott Brunner (Joe Danelo kick) | 7-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 22 yard field goal | 7-10 |
| 49ers | Freddie Solomon 58 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 7-17 |
| 49ers | Ricky Patton 25 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 7-24 |
| Giants | Joe Danelo 48 yard field goal | 10-24 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Giants | Johnny Perkins 59 yard pass from Scott Brunner (Joe Danelo kick) | 17-24 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Bill Ring 3 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 17-31 |
| 49ers | Ronnie Lott 20 yard interception return (Ray Wersching kick) | 17-38 |
| Giants | Johnny Perkins 17 yard pass from Scott Brunner (Joe Danelo kick) | 24-38 |
Joe Montana threw two touchdowns to Charle Young and Freddie Solomon and Ronnie Lott returned an interception 20 yards for a touchdown, and the 49ers beat the New York Giants 38-24 at Candlestick Park in the NFC divisional round. Montana finished 20 of 31 for 304. Bill Ring and Ricky Patton ran in goal-line touchdowns. The 49ers improved to 14-3.[1][2]
Joe Montana threw two touchdowns and ran the offense to 304 passing yards, and Ronnie Lott took an interception 20 yards back for a touchdown, and the 49ers won 38-24 over the Giants in the divisional round. The win advanced the 49ers to the NFC Championship game and pushed the team to 14-3.
Montana finished 20 of 31 for 304 with the touchdowns to Charle Young (8) and Freddie Solomon (58). Solomon caught six for 107. Dwight Clark added five for 104. Bill Ring ran in a 3-yard touchdown and Ricky Patton ran in a 25-yard touchdown. Earl Cooper added 52 rushing yards on seven carries.
Scott Brunner threw for 290 yards on 37 attempts with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Johnny Perkins caught seven for 121 with two touchdowns. Earnest Gray caught three for 118 and a 72-yard touchdown. Rob Carpenter ran for 61.
49ers 38, Giants 24. Margin: plus 14. NFC Divisional Round.
A 38-24 NFC divisional-round home win over the New York Giants at Candlestick Park. The 49ers improve to 14-3 in their first home playoff game since 1972.
How it unfolded
Montana hit Young for an 8-yard touchdown on the opening drive. Brunner answered with a 72-yard touchdown to Earnest Gray. Wersching's 22-yard field goal made it 10-7. Solomon caught a 58-yard touchdown to make it 17-7. Patton ran in a 25-yard score. Joe Danelo kicked a 48-yard field goal. Johnny Perkins caught a 59-yard touchdown from Brunner. Bill Ring's 3-yard rush made it 31-17. Lott's 20-yard interception return for a touchdown extended it to 38-17. Perkins caught a second 17-yard touchdown to make the final 38-24.
The turning point
Lott's interception return for a touchdown. With the lead at 31-17 and the Giants' offense looking to make a late comeback, Lott's pick of Brunner produced the score that effectively ended the divisional round.
By the numbers
Montana 20 of 31 for 304, 9.8 yards per attempt, two touchdowns and one interception. Solomon six catches for 107 with the long touchdown. Clark five for 104. Ring 29 rushing on 10 carries with a touchdown. Patton 32 rushing on seven with the 25-yard touchdown. Brunner 16 of 37 for 290 with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Carpenter 61 on 17. The 49ers' defense produced two interceptions plus the Lott return for a touchdown.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 13 | 24 |
| Total Yards | 346 | 423 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 1 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 16/37 | 20/31 |
| Pass yards | 290 | 304 |
| Pass TD | 3 | 2 |
| Interceptions | 2 | 1 |
| Sacks taken | 2 | 3 |
| Sack yards lost | 9 | 16 |
| Net pass yards | 281 | 288 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 22 | 34 |
| Rush yards | 65 | 135 |
| Rush TD | 0 | 2 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 4 | 2 |
| Fumbles lost | 2 | 0 |
| Penalties | 9 | 14 |
| Penalty yards | 61 | 145 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 20/31 | 304 | 2 | 1 | 104.8 |
| NYG | |||||
| Scott Brunner | 16/37 | 290 | 3 | 2 | 75.3 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Earl Cooper #49 | 7 | 52 | 0 | 20 |
| Ricky Patton #27 | 7 | 32 | 1 | 25 |
| Bill Ring #39 | 10 | 29 | 1 | 7 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| Walt Easley | 4 | 9 | 0 | 5 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Johnny Davis | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 3 | -9 | 0 | 2 |
| NYG | ||||
| Rob Carpenter | 17 | 61 | 0 | 13 |
| Leon Bright | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Leon Perry | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Scott Brunner | 2 | -2 | 0 | 0 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 6 | 107 | 1 | 58 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 5 | 104 | 0 | 39 |
| Ricky Patton #27 | 2 | 38 | 0 | 28 |
| Charle Young | 2 | 22 | 1 | 14 |
| Mike Wilson #85 | 2 | 21 | 0 | 15 |
| Eason Ramson | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| Lenvil Elliott #35 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Bill Ring #39 | 1 | -4 | 0 | -4 |
| NYG | ||||
| Johnny Perkins | 7 | 121 | 2 | 59 |
| Earnest Gray | 3 | 118 | 1 | 72 |
| Rob Carpenter | 3 | 18 | 0 | 10 |
| John Mistler | 1 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| Dave Young | 2 | 15 | 0 | 10 |
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 Divisional Round - New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers - Game Thread