Recap
AI summary based on verified facts
Joe Montana threw four touchdowns and Ronnie Lott returned an interception 58 yards for a touchdown, and the 49ers crushed the Minnesota Vikings 41-13 at Candlestick Park in the NFC Divisional Round. Montana finished 17 of 24 for 241 yards. Jerry Rice caught six for 114 with two touchdowns. John Taylor caught a 30-yard touchdown. Brent Jones caught an 8-yard score. Roger Craig ran for 125 yards. The 49ers improved to 15-2 and advanced to the NFC Championship.[1][2]
Columnist recap
AI summary based on verified facts
Joe Montana threw four touchdown passes, Ronnie Lott returned a Wade Wilson interception 58 yards for a touchdown, and the 49ers crushed the Minnesota Vikings 41-13 at Candlestick Park in the NFC Divisional Round. Montana finished 17 of 24 for 241 yards. Roger Craig ran 18 times for 125. Jerry Rice caught six for 114 with two touchdowns (72 and 13).
Montana's four touchdown passes went to Rice (72), Brent Jones (8), John Taylor (30 with no PAT - per the scoring summary the score went 3-20 in the second quarter), and Rice (13) in a stretch from the 2nd into the 3rd quarter. Roger Craig added a 4-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter. The 49ers ran 41 carries for 211 yards (5.1 ypc) and the kind of balanced offense the franchise had been building toward across two months of regular season.
The Vikings rotated three quarterbacks (Tommy Kramer, Rich Gannon, Wade Wilson) and produced 110, 144, and 84 passing yards respectively. The combined quarterback line was 31 of 54 for 338 with no touchdowns and four interceptions. Steve Jordan caught nine for 149. Herschel Walker ran nine for 29. The 49ers' defensive front produced one sack but the secondary's four interceptions (Lott two, Wright one, Williamson one) decided the divisional round.
By the numbers
AI summary based on verified facts
49ers 41, Vikings 13. Margin: plus 28. NFC Divisional Round.
- Montana: 17 of 24, 241, 4 TDs (Rice 72, Brent Jones 8, Taylor 30, Rice 13), 0 INTs, 0 sacks.
- Rice: 6 catches for 114, 2 TDs (72, 13).
- Taylor: 3 catches for 50, 1 TD (30).
- Brent Jones: 3 catches for 24, 1 TD (8).
- Craig: 18 carries for 125, 1 rushing TD (4y).
- Rathman: 7 carries for 24, plus 3 for 29.
- Flagler: 5 carries for 13.
- Henderson: 2 catches for 24.
- Lott (DEF): 58y INT return TD.
- Cofer: PATs only + 1 FG.
- Tommy Kramer (MIN): 9 of 19, 110, 0 TDs, 1 INT.
- Rich Gannon (MIN): 13 of 18, 144, 0 TDs, 1 INT.
- Wade Wilson (MIN): 9 of 17, 84, 0 TDs, 2 INTs (one returned for TD by Lott).
- Herschel Walker (MIN): 9 carries for 29.
- Steve Jordan (MIN): 9 catches for 149.
- Rich Karlis (MIN): 2 FGs (38, 44).
- 49ers 15-2; Vikings out. Advance to NFC Championship vs Rams.
Film room
AI summary based on verified facts
A 41-13 NFC Divisional Round home win over the Minnesota Vikings at Candlestick Park. The 49ers move to 15-2 and advance to the NFC Championship against the Rams.
How it unfolded
Rich Karlis kicked a 38-yard field goal for an early Vikings lead. Rice caught a 72-yard touchdown from Montana to make it 7-3. Brent Jones' 8-yard touchdown made it 14-3. Taylor's 30-yard touchdown reception made it 20-3 (PAT failed). Rice's 13-yard touchdown extended it to 27-3 at the half. Karlis added a 44-yarder in the third for 6-27. Lott's 58-yard interception return for a touchdown made it 34-6. Craig's 4-yard rush closed it at 41-6. Rick Fenney's 3-yard rushing touchdown made the final 41-13.
The turning point
The Rice 72-yard touchdown on the second 49ers possession. With the Vikings holding a 0-3 lead after the opening Karlis field goal, Montana hit Rice on a deep post the Vikings' single-high safety did not get to. The receiver ran 72 yards for the touchdown. The seven-point swing put the 49ers ahead and the rout was on.
By the numbers
Montana 17 of 24 for 241, 10.0 yards per attempt, four touchdowns and no interceptions. Rice six catches for 114 with the two touchdowns. Taylor three for 50 with the touchdown. Brent Jones three for 24 with the touchdown. Roger Craig 18 carries for 125 (6.9 ypc); the back's biggest single-game rushing total in two years. Defense produced four interceptions (two by Lott, one each by Wright and Williamson) and one sack.
Personnel watch
Ronnie Lott's two-interception, one-touchdown-return game was the safety's biggest playoff performance of his career. Charles Haley's sack of Wade Wilson pushed his playoff total to 16.5 (regular plus this one game). Roger Craig's 125 rushing was his biggest single-game total since 1988. The 41-point divisional output was the franchise's largest divisional-round scoring afternoon since 1984.
What it means
15-2 with the NFC Championship at home next Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams come into the matchup off a 19-13 overtime divisional-round road win at the Giants. The Sunday rematch is the third NFC West meeting of the year and the second 49ers-Rams playoff matchup in three years.
