The 49ers (5-2) host the Los Angeles Rams (4-3) at Candlestick Park, 1:00 PM PT on Sun October 25, 1981.
Montana continues at quarterback. The Rams start Pat Haden. Wendell Tyler at running back. Preston Dennard at receiver. Mike Guman in the rotation. The 49ers' three-game winning streak meets the conference's NFC West co-leader.
Pat Haden and the Rams have been the NFC West's most-tested team. Wendell Tyler and Eric Dickerson rotate (Dickerson is in his rookie year). Preston Dennard runs the deep middle. The 49ers' home opener against the Rams is the kind of divisional game that, in a year three of Walsh, decides the rest of the schedule. The schedule's next stretch begins with this game and three more before the closer.
Week eight is the late-October NFC West sort. The 49ers (5-2) and Rams (4-3) lead the division. The Falcons (5-2) and Saints (3-5) compete. The Eagles (6-1) lead the conference; the Cowboys (5-2), Vikings (5-2), and Bears (3-4) compete. Around the AFC the Chargers (6-1) and Bengals (6-2) lead. The 49ers' Sunday at home against the Rams is the year's NFC West showdown.
Through seven games the 49ers are 5-2 with a plus 48 differential. The Rams are 4-3 with a plus 28. Pat Haden 115 of 199, 1,498, 11 touchdowns, eight interceptions. Wendell Tyler 96 carries for 432. Preston Dennard 32 catches for 558, the kind of explosive-play line that the 49ers' secondary will face. Montana 135 of 205, 1,623, seven touchdowns, five interceptions through seven.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 5-2 | W2 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 4-3 | L1 |
| Houston Oilers | 4-3 | L1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 3-4 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 5-1-1 | W1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 4-3 | L1 |
| New York Jets | 3-3-1 | W2 |
| New England Patriots | 2-5 | W1 |
| Baltimore Colts | 1-6 | L6 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 5-2 | L1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 5-2 | W2 |
| San Diego Chargers | 5-2 | W1 |
| Oakland Raiders | 3-4 | W1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 1-6 | L5 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 5-2 | W4 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 4-3 | W1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 4-3 | L1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 1-6 | L5 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | 5-2 | W5 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 4-3 | L1 |
| Detroit Lions | 3-4 | W1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 2-5 | L2 |
| Chicago Bears | 1-6 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Eagles | 6-1 | L1 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 5-2 | W1 |
| New York Giants | 4-3 | W2 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 2-5 | L2 |
| Washington Redskins | 1-6 | L1 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Freddie Solomon 14 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-7 |
| 49ers | Dwight Clark 41 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-14 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Rams | Frank Corral 25 yard field goal | 3-14 |
| Rams | Mike Guman 2 yard rush (Frank Corral kick) | 10-14 |
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 42 yard field goal | 10-17 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 18 yard field goal | 10-20 |
| Rams | Wendell Tyler 16 yard pass from Pat Haden (Frank Corral kick) | 17-20 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| No scoring this quarter. | ||
Joe Montana threw two touchdowns to Freddie Solomon and Dwight Clark and Ray Wersching kicked two field goals as the 49ers beat the Los Angeles Rams 20-17 at Candlestick Park. Montana finished 18 of 32 for 287. Clark caught eight for 109 and a 41-yard score. Solomon caught five for 79 and a 14-yard touchdown. The 49ers improved to 6-2 with their fourth straight win.[1][2][3]
Joe Montana threw two touchdowns and Ray Wersching kicked two field goals, and the 49ers held off the Rams 20-17 at Candlestick. The win pushed the streak to four games and the NFC West lead to a game and a half over Los Angeles.
Montana went 18 of 32 for 287 with the two scores. Dwight Clark caught eight for 109 with a 41-yard touchdown. Freddie Solomon caught five for 79 and a 14-yard touchdown that opened the scoring. The 49ers' two-back rotation managed 50 yards on 20 carries against the Rams' interior defensive line.
Pat Haden threw for 310 yards on 39 attempts and one touchdown. Preston Dennard caught six for 119. Wendell Tyler ran for 90 on 22 carries and caught a 16-yard touchdown from Haden. The 49ers' defense forced one interception and held the Rams to one rushing touchdown despite Tyler's yardage. The secondary's third multi-takeaway game of the year was the deciding unit.
49ers 20, Rams 17. Margin: plus 3. Record: 6-2.
A 20-17 home win over the Los Angeles Rams at Candlestick. The 49ers improve to 6-2 with their fourth straight win.
How it unfolded
Montana hit Solomon for a 14-yard touchdown on the opening drive. Clark caught a 41-yard touchdown to push it to 14-0 in the second quarter. Frank Corral kicked a 25-yard field goal. Mike Guman ran in a 2-yard touchdown to make it 14-10 at halftime. Wersching's 42-yard field goal made it 17-10. Wersching's 18-yarder pushed it to 20-10. Wendell Tyler caught a 16-yard touchdown from Haden to make the final 20-17.
The turning point
Clark's 41-yard touchdown from Montana in the second quarter. With the lead at 7-0 and the Rams' offense looking to answer, the long touchdown pushed the lead to two scores and the 49ers' defense was able to play in front of the Rams' offense for the rest of the half.
By the numbers
Montana 18 of 32 for 287, 9.0 yards per attempt, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Clark eight catches for 109 with the long touchdown. Solomon five for 79 with the opening score. Cooper two for 57 on the wheel route. Wersching two field goals. Haden 310 passing on 39 attempts with one touchdown and one interception. Tyler 90 rushing plus 55 receiving and a touchdown. Dennard 119 on six catches.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 25 | 14 |
| Total Yards | 401 | 325 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 20/39 | 18/32 |
| Pass yards | 310 | 287 |
| Pass TD | 1 | 2 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 0 |
| Sacks taken | 6 | 3 |
| Sack yards lost | 54 | 22 |
| Net pass yards | 256 | 265 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 37 | 28 |
| Rush yards | 145 | 60 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 0 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 0 | 0 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 | 0 |
| Penalties | 7 | 5 |
| Penalty yards | 39 | 45 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 18/32 | 287 | 2 | 0 | 107.2 |
| RAM | |||||
| Pat Haden | 20/39 | 310 | 1 | 1 | 75.8 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Paul Hofer | 8 | 23 | 0 | 11 |
| Johnny Davis | 6 | 14 | 0 | 4 |
| Ricky Patton #27 | 6 | 13 | 0 | 9 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 3 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| Walt Easley | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| RAM | ||||
| Wendell Tyler | 22 | 90 | 0 | 18 |
| Mike Guman | 7 | 34 | 1 | 15 |
| Cullen Bryant | 7 | 13 | 0 | 5 |
| Pat Haden | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Dwight Clark #87 | 8 | 109 | 1 | 41 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 5 | 79 | 1 | 40 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 2 | 57 | 0 | 50 |
| Charle Young | 1 | 29 | 0 | 29 |
| Ricky Patton #27 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| Mike Wilson #85 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| RAM | ||||
| Preston Dennard | 6 | 119 | 0 | 34 |
| Wendell Tyler | 4 | 55 | 1 | 21 |
| Billy Waddy | 4 | 52 | 0 | 19 |
| Cullen Bryant | 1 | 39 | 0 | 39 |
| Walt Arnold | 3 | 19 | 0 | 12 |
| Mike Guman | 1 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| Drew Hill | 1 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
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Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1981 W8 - 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams - Game Thread