The 49ers (1-1) travel to Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium for a 1:00 PM ET kickoff against the Atlanta Falcons (2-0) on Sun September 20, 1981.
Montana continues at quarterback. Patton at lead back. Atlanta returns Steve Bartkowski, William Andrews, Alfred Jenkins, and Alfred Jackson. The Falcons start the year 2-0 with wins over Kansas City and at Green Bay.
The NFC West schedule begins with the trip to Atlanta.[1][2][3]
Atlanta is the conference's hottest start. Bartkowski has thrown four touchdowns through two games; Andrews has 41 carries for 165. The Falcons' offense is the year's early breakthrough behind a passing attack with two thousand-yard receivers in Jenkins and Jackson. The 49ers' Sunday at Fulton County is the kind of road game that lays out exactly where Walsh's project sits relative to a conference contender.
Week three is the early conference sort. The Falcons (2-0), Eagles (2-0), Lions (2-0), Cowboys (1-1), and Rams (1-1) lead the NFC. Around the AFC the Chargers (2-0), Buffalo (2-0), and Bengals (2-0) sit at the top. The Falcons' Sunday at home against the 49ers is one of the year's first marquee divisional matchups The schedule's next week is the next test.
Through two games the 49ers are 1-1 with a plus 4 differential. The Falcons are 2-0 with a plus 32. Bartkowski 35 of 56, 463 yards, four touchdowns through two starts. Andrews 165 rushing yards on 41 carries. Alfred Jenkins three receiving touchdowns. Montana 38 of 60, 482, four touchdowns through two starts. Patton 162 rushing yards on 29 carries.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 2-0 | W2 |
| Houston Oilers | 2-0 | W2 |
| Cleveland Browns | 0-2 | L2 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 0-2 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | 2-0 | W2 |
| Miami Dolphins | 2-0 | W2 |
| Baltimore Colts | 1-1 | L1 |
| New England Patriots | 0-2 | L2 |
| New York Jets | 0-2 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs | 2-0 | W2 |
| San Diego Chargers | 2-0 | W2 |
| Denver Broncos | 1-1 | L1 |
| Oakland Raiders | 1-1 | W1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 1-1 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons | 2-0 | W2 |
| New Orleans Saints | 1-1 | W1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 1-1 | W1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 0-2 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions | 1-1 | L1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 1-1 | L1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1-1 | L1 |
| Chicago Bears | 0-2 | L2 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 0-2 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 2-0 | W2 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 2-0 | W2 |
| New York Giants | 1-1 | W1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 0-2 | L2 |
| Washington Redskins | 0-2 | L2 |
On the call: Brent Musburger, Lindsey Nelson (via MJSIII)
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Falcons | Alfred Jackson 29 yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Mick Luckhurst kick) | 0-7 |
| Falcons | Mick Luckhurst 47 yard field goal | 0-10 |
| Falcons | Lynn Cain 18 yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Mick Luckhurst kick) | 0-17 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Charle Young 11 yard pass from Joe Montana (Matt Bahr kick) | 7-17 |
| 49ers | Matt Bahr 47 yard field goal | 10-17 |
| Falcons | Alfred Jenkins 15 yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Mick Luckhurst kick) | 10-24 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Falcons | Tom Pridemore 101 yard interception return (Mick Luckhurst kick) | 10-31 |
| Falcons | Mick Luckhurst 18 yard field goal | 10-34 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Freddie Solomon 12 yard pass from Joe Montana (Matt Bahr kick) | 17-34 |
Steve Bartkowski threw three touchdowns and Tom Pridemore returned an interception 101 yards for a score as the Atlanta Falcons beat the 49ers 34-17 at Fulton County Stadium. Joe Montana went 24 of 34 for 274 with two touchdowns and two interceptions including the pick-six. The 49ers fell to 1-2 in their first divisional road game of the year.[1][2][3]
Joe Montana's third start produced 274 passing yards and two touchdowns and two interceptions, and Atlanta's Tom Pridemore returned the second pick 101 yards for a score that put the road game out of reach. Bartkowski added three touchdown passes. The Falcons won 34-17.
Dwight Clark caught nine balls for 77, mostly on intermediate routes. Charle Young's 11-yard touchdown and Freddie Solomon's 12-yard touchdown both came on second-half drives that did not produce enough to climb back from the 17-7 hole the first half had built. The 49ers' three-back rotation was held to 30 attempts and 90 yards combined. Cooper led the group with 40 on nine.
The defense gave up explosive plays on the Atlanta perimeter: a 29-yard touchdown to Alfred Jackson, a 15-yard touchdown to Alfred Jenkins, and an 18-yard scoring drive cap by Lynn Cain on a pass over the middle. Bartkowski went 13 of 22 for 208. The Falcons' offense produced 34 points and the 49ers' secondary continues its rookie-heavy growing-pains tour.
Falcons 34, 49ers 17. Margin: minus 17. Record: 1-2.
A 34-17 road loss in Atlanta. The 49ers fall to 1-2 with their first NFC West game of the year.
How it unfolded
Atlanta opened with a 29-yard touchdown to Alfred Jackson. Mick Luckhurst kicked a 47-yard field goal. Lynn Cain caught an 18-yard touchdown to make it 17-0. Charle Young's 11-yard touchdown reception cut it to 17-7 right before halftime. Matt Bahr made a 47-yard field goal to push it to 17-10. Alfred Jenkins caught a 15-yard touchdown to make it 24-10. Tom Pridemore returned a Montana pick 101 yards to extend it to 31-10. Luckhurst added an 18-yard field goal. Solomon's 12-yard touchdown made the final 34-17.
The turning point
The Pridemore pick-six. With the 49ers trailing 24-10 and a touchdown drive looking possible, Montana's slant got jumped by the safety and Pridemore went the length of the field. The seven-point swing turned a one-score deficit into a three-score margin.
By the numbers
Montana 24 of 34 for 274, 8.1 yards per attempt, two touchdowns and two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown). Clark nine catches for 77. Young three for 55 with the touchdown. Cooper 40 on nine carries. Atlanta's Bartkowski 13 of 22 for 208 and three touchdowns. Jenkins two catches for 82 and a touchdown. The defense produced one sack of Bartkowski and three turnovers given up by the offense.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 23 | 18 |
| Total Yards | 386 | 363 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 24/34 | 14/23 |
| Pass yards | 274 | 222 |
| Pass TD | 2 | 3 |
| Interceptions | 2 | 0 |
| Sacks taken | 1 | 2 |
| Sack yards lost | 1 | 22 |
| Net pass yards | 273 | 200 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 30 | 34 |
| Rush yards | 113 | 163 |
| Rush TD | 0 | 0 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 1 | 2 |
| Fumbles lost | 1 | 0 |
| Penalties | 3 | 4 |
| Penalty yards | 25 | 50 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 24/34 | 274 | 2 | 2 | 89.6 |
| ATL | |||||
| Steve Bartkowski | 13/22 | 208 | 3 | 0 | 130.3 |
| June Jones | 1/1 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 118.7 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Earl Cooper #49 | 9 | 40 | 0 | 7 |
| Ricky Patton #27 | 12 | 30 | 0 | 9 |
| Walt Easley | 4 | 18 | 0 | 6 |
| Lenvil Elliott #35 | 4 | 17 | 0 | 9 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| ATL | ||||
| William Andrews | 12 | 85 | 0 | 29 |
| Lynn Cain | 12 | 48 | 0 | 21 |
| Bo Robinson | 6 | 19 | 0 | 5 |
| James Mayberry | 3 | 12 | 0 | 6 |
| June Jones | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Dwight Clark #87 | 9 | 77 | 0 | 21 |
| Charle Young | 3 | 55 | 1 | 27 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 3 | 36 | 1 | 23 |
| Mike Wilson #85 | 2 | 34 | 0 | 21 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 3 | 29 | 0 | 11 |
| Paul Hofer | 1 | 22 | 0 | 22 |
| Ricky Patton #27 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 13 |
| Brian Peets | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| ATL | ||||
| Alfred Jenkins | 2 | 82 | 1 | 67 |
| Alfred Jackson | 2 | 42 | 1 | 29 |
| William Andrews | 4 | 37 | 0 | 14 |
| Lynn Cain | 3 | 28 | 1 | 18 |
| Junior Miller | 2 | 22 | 0 | 14 |
| Wallace Francis | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
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 W3 - 49ers at Atlanta Falcons - Game Thread
