The 49ers (7-2) host the Atlanta Falcons (6-3) at Candlestick Park, 4:00 PM ET kickoff on Sun November 8, 1981.
Montana continues at quarterback. Bartkowski returns for Atlanta. The 49ers' W3 loss to the Falcons in Atlanta produced a 34-17 score and a 101-yard pick-six. The rematch at Candlestick.
Steve Bartkowski and Alfred Jenkins and Alfred Jackson return to Candlestick. The 49ers' Sunday home game against the Falcons is the rematch from the Pridemore-pick-six road loss in September. The Falcons are 6-3 and in the NFC West chase.
The 49ers' five-game winning streak and the secondary's interception rate (eight in nine games) suggest the unit is the year's most-improved defensive group in the league. The rematch is the home opportunity to flip the W3 result.
Week ten is the early-November NFC sort. The 49ers (7-2) lead the NFC West. The Falcons (6-3) and Rams (4-5) compete. The Eagles (8-1) lead the conference; the Cowboys (7-2), Vikings (5-4), and Bears (3-6) compete. Around the AFC the Bengals (7-3), Chargers (7-2), and Bills (7-3) lead. The 49ers' Sunday home rematch against the Falcons is the year's NFC West rematch.
Through nine games the 49ers are 7-2 with a plus 54 differential. The Falcons are 6-3 with a plus 38. Steve Bartkowski 124 of 217, 1,684, 14 touchdowns, eight interceptions. Alfred Jenkins 35 catches for 698. Andrews 174 carries for 695. Montana 175 of 274, 2,115, 10 touchdowns, seven interceptions through nine. The 49ers' defense has produced 10 interceptions in nine games.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 6-3 | W1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 5-4 | L1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 4-5 | L1 |
| Houston Oilers | 4-5 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 6-2-1 | W1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 6-3 | W2 |
| New York Jets | 4-4-1 | W1 |
| New England Patriots | 2-7 | L2 |
| Baltimore Colts | 1-8 | L8 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 6-3 | W1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 6-3 | L1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 6-3 | W1 |
| Oakland Raiders | 4-5 | W1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 2-7 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 7-2 | W6 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 5-4 | W1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 5-4 | W1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 2-7 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | 5-4 | L2 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 5-4 | W1 |
| Detroit Lions | 4-5 | L1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 3-6 | W1 |
| Chicago Bears | 2-7 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 7-2 | W3 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 7-2 | L1 |
| New York Giants | 5-4 | L1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 3-6 | L1 |
| Washington Redskins | 3-6 | W2 |
On the call: Brent Musburger, Lindsey Nelson, Phil Simms (via The Music Brothers)
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| No scoring this quarter. | ||
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Freddie Solomon 14 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-7 |
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 48 yard field goal | 0-10 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Falcons | William Andrews 1 yard rush (Mick Luckhurst kick) | 7-10 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Charle Young 3 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 7-17 |
| Falcons | Alfred Jackson 25 yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Mick Luckhurst kick) | 14-17 |
Charle Young and Freddie Solomon caught touchdowns from Joe Montana and the 49ers beat the Atlanta Falcons 17-14 at Candlestick Park in the home rematch. Montana finished 16 of 30 for 223 with one interception. The 49ers' defense produced three interceptions of Steve Bartkowski. The 49ers improved to 8-2 with their sixth straight win.[1][2][3]
Joe Montana threw two touchdowns and the 49ers' defense intercepted Steve Bartkowski three times, and the 49ers beat the Atlanta Falcons 17-14 at Candlestick Park. The home rematch flipped the W3 result and pushed the winning streak to six.
Montana finished 16 of 30 for 223 with the touchdowns to Solomon (14) and Young (3). Dwight Clark caught seven for 128 in the kind of mid-route target line that Atlanta's defensive structure produces for him. Walt Easley's 15 carries for 31 yards was the day's most-active running back line; Patton added 26 on nine.
Bartkowski threw for 236 yards and a touchdown to Alfred Jackson. Alfred Jenkins caught seven for 134. William Andrews ran for 61 and a 1-yard touchdown. The 49ers' defense produced three interceptions of Bartkowski (Wright, Hicks, Lott) and one sack of the Falcons' quarterback.
49ers 17, Falcons 14. Margin: plus 3. Record: 8-2.
A 17-14 home win over the Atlanta Falcons. The 49ers improve to 8-2 with their sixth straight win.
How it unfolded
Montana hit Solomon for a 14-yard touchdown on the first possession. Wersching's 48-yard field goal made it 10-0. William Andrews ran in a 1-yard touchdown to cut it to 10-7. Montana threw a 3-yard touchdown to Young in the second quarter to push it to 17-7. Alfred Jackson caught a 25-yard touchdown from Bartkowski in the third quarter to make it 17-14. The 49ers' defense closed out the rest of the way.
The turning point
The Young 3-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. With the score 10-7 after Andrews' goal-line touchdown and the Falcons looking to tie, Young's catch on a delayed-cross route gave the 49ers back the two-score lead and the rest of the day was defensive.
By the numbers
Montana 16 of 30 for 223, 7.4 yards per attempt, two touchdowns and one interception. Clark seven catches for 128, his second 100-yard receiving game of the year. Solomon three for 56 with a touchdown. Young one for 3 with a touchdown. Bartkowski 20 of 42 for 236 with one touchdown and three interceptions. Alfred Jenkins seven for 134 (no touchdowns). Andrews 61 on 18.
What it means
8-2 with the Browns at home next Sunday. The home rematch win confirms the W3 road loss was a result of Pridemore's pick-six rather than a true talent gap. The Browns at home are the next test.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 19 | 17 |
| Total Yards | 292 | 287 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 20/42 | 16/30 |
| Pass yards | 236 | 223 |
| Pass TD | 1 | 2 |
| Interceptions | 3 | 1 |
| Sacks taken | 3 | 2 |
| Sack yards lost | 20 | 18 |
| Net pass yards | 216 | 205 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 26 | 34 |
| Rush yards | 76 | 82 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 0 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 2 | 4 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 | 0 |
| Penalties | 8 | 11 |
| Penalty yards | 82 | 74 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 16/30 | 223 | 2 | 1 | 85.8 |
| ATL | |||||
| Steve Bartkowski | 20/42 | 236 | 1 | 3 | 43.4 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Walt Easley | 15 | 31 | 0 | 7 |
| Ricky Patton #27 | 9 | 26 | 0 | 7 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 7 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Paul Hofer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ATL | ||||
| William Andrews | 18 | 61 | 1 | 14 |
| Lynn Cain | 5 | 10 | 0 | 12 |
| Alfred Jackson | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Steve Bartkowski | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Dwight Clark #87 | 7 | 128 | 0 | 44 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 3 | 56 | 1 | 24 |
| Paul Hofer | 1 | 21 | 0 | 21 |
| Walt Easley | 2 | 9 | 0 | 6 |
| Charle Young | 2 | 9 | 1 | 6 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ATL | ||||
| Alfred Jenkins | 7 | 134 | 0 | 31 |
| Alfred Jackson | 2 | 35 | 1 | 25 |
| William Andrews | 6 | 31 | 0 | 10 |
| Lynn Cain | 4 | 24 | 0 | 8 |
| Junior Miller | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
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