49ers at Los Angeles Rams

Joe Montana ran in a touchdown and Johnny Davis added a 1-yard score, Ronnie Lott returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown, and the 49ers beat the Los Angeles Rams 33-31 at Anaheim Stadium in a wild back-and-forth game. Amos Lawrence returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. Ray Wersching kicked four field goals. The 49ers improved to 9-3.[1][2][3]

Amos Lawrence returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown, Ronnie Lott took a Rams interception 25 yards for another defensive score, Ray Wersching kicked four field goals, and the 49ers beat the Los Angeles Rams 33-31 in the kind of Sunday-afternoon shootout that the NFC West can produce on the road in November. The win pushed the 49ers to 9-3 and the divisional lead to three games over Atlanta.

Montana finished 19 of 30 for 283 with no touchdowns and one interception. Freddie Solomon caught five for 124. Dwight Clark four for 59. The 49ers' two-back rotation produced 23 carries for 59 yards. Johnny Davis ran in a 1-yard touchdown to give the 49ers the early lead.

The Rams rotated three quarterbacks (Pastorini, Haden, and a Mike Guman halfback option). Wendell Tyler ran for 97 yards and a touchdown. Preston Dennard caught five for 56 and a 7-yard touchdown. The Rams' final score was Tyler's 1-yard rushing touchdown with 1:50 left. The 49ers' defense forced two interceptions including the Lott return for a touchdown.

49ers 33, Rams 31. Margin: plus 2. Record: 9-3.

• Amos Lawrence: 92y kickoff return TD.
• Lott (DEF): 25y INT return TD.
• Montana: 19 of 30, 283, 0 TDs, 1 INT.
• Davis: 8 carries for 23, 1 rushing TD (1y).
• Solomon: 5 catches for 124.
• Clark: 4 catches for 59.
• Cooper: 5 catches for 55.
• Wersching: 4 FGs (47y, 34y, 32y, 37y).
• Pastorini (LAR): 8 of 18, 79, 1 TD, 1 INT.
• Haden (LAR): 9 of 13, 122, 1 TD, 0 INTs.
• 49ers 9-3; Rams 5-7.

A 33-31 road win over the Los Angeles Rams at Anaheim Stadium. The 49ers improve to 9-3 in a wild back-and-forth game.

How it unfolded

Wersching opened with a 47-yard field goal. Frank Corral matched it with a 44-yarder. Wendell Tyler caught a 22-yard touchdown from Pastorini to put the Rams up 10-3. Davis ran in a 1-yard touchdown to tie it 10-10. Dennard caught a 7-yard touchdown from Mike Guman on a halfback option to make it 17-10. Amos Lawrence returned the kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown to tie it 17-17. Wersching's 34-yard field goal made it 20-17. Lott's 25-yard interception return for a touchdown pushed it to 27-17. Walt Arnold caught a 2-yard touchdown from Haden to make it 27-24. Wersching's 32-yarder made it 30-24. Tyler's 1-yard rushing touchdown made it 31-30 Rams. Wersching's 37-yard field goal gave the 49ers the lead at 33-31 with 1:50 left. The Rams' final drive ended on a turnover on downs.

The turning point

Wersching's 37-yard field goal with 1:50 left. With the Rams ahead 31-30 and the 49ers' offense needing the kind of late-game scoring drive that the year-three Walsh project has been working on, Montana's 49-yard scoring possession into Wersching's range produced the year's first game-winning field goal.

By the numbers

Montana 19 of 30 for 283, 9.4 yards per attempt, no touchdowns and one interception. Solomon five catches for 124. Clark four for 59. Davis 23 on eight with a rushing touchdown. Lott's 25-yard interception return for...