The 49ers (9-3) host the New York Giants (6-6) at Candlestick Park, a Sunday afternoon kickoff on Sun November 29, 1981.
Montana continues at quarterback. Scott Brunner starts for the Giants. Rob Carpenter at running back. The 49ers' year is on track for the NFC's #2 seed.
Scott Brunner and the Giants are 6-6 in Ray Perkins' third year as head coach. Brunner has been the QB1 since the offseason; the rotation includes Phil Simms when healthy. Rob Carpenter, Earnest Gray, and the Giants' run-heavy offense have been the team's identity.
The 49ers' Sunday at home against the Giants is the schedule's closer's second game. The team's three-game stretch (Rams, Giants, Bengals) is the closer's first weeks; the Houston-and-New Orleans close to follow.
Week thirteen is the late-November NFC sort. The 49ers (9-3) lead the NFC West. The Eagles (10-2) lead the conference; the Cowboys (9-3), Falcons (7-5), Vikings (6-6), Rams (5-7), and Giants (6-6) compete. Around the AFC the Bengals (10-2) and Chargers (9-3) lead. The 49ers' Sunday at home against the Giants is the kind of NFC matchup the year-three Walsh project handles to extend the closing run.
Through 12 games the 49ers are 9-3 with a plus 50 differential. The Giants are 6-6 with a plus 8. Scott Brunner 119 of 220, 1,479, eight touchdowns, 12 interceptions. Rob Carpenter 178 carries for 762. The Giants' defense produces three sacks per game. Montana 234 of 376, 2,834, 12 touchdowns, 11 interceptions through 12.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 9-3 | W4 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 7-5 | W2 |
| Cleveland Browns | 5-7 | L1 |
| Houston Oilers | 5-7 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 7-4-1 | L2 |
| New York Jets | 7-4-1 | W4 |
| Buffalo Bills | 7-5 | W1 |
| New England Patriots | 2-10 | L5 |
| Baltimore Colts | 1-11 | L11 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 8-4 | L1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 8-4 | W2 |
| San Diego Chargers | 7-5 | W1 |
| Oakland Raiders | 5-7 | L1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 4-8 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 9-3 | W1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 6-6 | W1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 5-7 | L3 |
| New Orleans Saints | 4-8 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | 7-5 | L1 |
| Detroit Lions | 6-6 | W2 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 6-6 | W1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 5-7 | L1 |
| Chicago Bears | 3-9 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 9-3 | W1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 9-3 | L1 |
| New York Giants | 6-6 | W1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 5-7 | W2 |
| Washington Redskins | 5-7 | L1 |
On the call: Brent Musburger (via MJSIII)
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Johnny Davis 1 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Joe Montana 20 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-14 |
| Giants | Joe Danelo 52 yard field goal | 3-14 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| No scoring this quarter. | ||
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Giants | Rob Carpenter 3 yard rush (Joe Danelo kick) | 10-14 |
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 23 yard field goal | 10-17 |
Joe Montana ran for a 20-yard touchdown and Johnny Davis added a 1-yard score and the 49ers beat the New York Giants 17-10 at Candlestick Park. Montana finished 27 of 39 for 234 with no interceptions. Rob Carpenter ran 13 times for 40 and a 3-yard score. The 49ers' defense produced three interceptions of Scott Brunner. The 49ers improved to 10-3 with their second-straight home win.[1][2][3]
Joe Montana ran 20 yards for a touchdown and Johnny Davis added a 1-yard rushing score, and the 49ers' defense intercepted Scott Brunner three times in a 17-10 home win at Candlestick. The win pushed the 49ers to 10-3 and into the playoff field for the first time since 1972.
Montana finished 27 of 39 for 234 with no touchdowns and no interceptions. Dwight Clark caught seven for 87. Earl Cooper four for 37. Charle Young three for 33. The 49ers' two-back rotation managed 71 yards on 23 carries; Montana added 24 on two scrambles including the 20-yard touchdown run.
Scott Brunner threw for 162 yards on 34 attempts with three interceptions and no touchdowns. Rob Carpenter ran 13 for 40 and a 3-yard touchdown. The 49ers' defense produced the three interceptions plus one sack of Brunner. The Giants' offense managed just one sustained touchdown drive across 60 minutes.
49ers 17, Giants 10. Margin: plus 7. Record: 10-3.
A 17-10 home win over the New York Giants at Candlestick. The 49ers improve to 10-3 and clinch their first playoff berth since 1972.
How it unfolded
Johnny Davis ran in a 1-yard touchdown to give the 49ers an early lead. Montana ran for a 20-yard touchdown to make it 14-0. Joe Danelo kicked a 52-yard field goal. Rob Carpenter ran in a 3-yard touchdown to make it 14-10. Wersching's 23-yard field goal pushed it to 17-10. The 49ers' defense closed out the rest of the way.
The turning point
Montana's 20-yard rushing touchdown. With the lead at 7-0 and the Giants' defense looking to bring the game close, the quarterback's keeper around the right edge pushed the score to 14-0 and the rest of the day was a defensive grind. Brunner's three interceptions ended any sustained Giants drives.
By the numbers
Montana 27 of 39 for 234, 6.0 yards per attempt, no touchdowns and no interceptions. The second turnover-free game of his career as a starter. Clark seven catches for 87. Cooper four for 37. Brunner 13 of 34 for 162 with three interceptions and no touchdowns. Carpenter 40 on 13 with a touchdown. The defense's three interceptions plus the sack of Brunner gave the unit its fourth multi-takeaway game in the last six.
What it means
10-3 and into the playoffs for the first time since 1972. The Bengals on the road next Sunday is the next test. Cincinnati is the AFC's hottest team; the cross-conference road game is the schedule's biggest test of the closing run.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 12 | 19 |
| Total Yards | 223 | 337 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 0 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 13/34 | 27/40 |
| Pass yards | 162 | 234 |
| Pass TD | 0 | 0 |
| Interceptions | 3 | 0 |
| Sacks taken | 2 | 3 |
| Sack yards lost | 19 | 20 |
| Net pass yards | 143 | 214 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 22 | 39 |
| Rush yards | 80 | 123 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 2 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 3 | 1 |
| Fumbles lost | 2 | 0 |
| Penalties | 9 | 5 |
| Penalty yards | 65 | 48 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 27/39 | 234 | 0 | 0 | 84.8 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39.6 |
| NYG | |||||
| Scott Brunner | 13/34 | 162 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Paul Hofer | 8 | 33 | 0 | 9 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 2 | 24 | 1 | 20 |
| Johnny Davis | 11 | 21 | 1 | 4 |
| Ricky Patton #27 | 7 | 20 | 0 | 5 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 6 |
| Bill Ring #39 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 5 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Amos Lawrence | 2 | -7 | 0 | -3 |
| NYG | ||||
| Rob Carpenter | 13 | 40 | 1 | 13 |
| Ike Forte | 7 | 31 | 0 | 12 |
| Johnny Perkins | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| Scott Brunner | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Dwight Clark #87 | 7 | 87 | 0 | 16 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 4 | 37 | 0 | 26 |
| Charle Young | 3 | 33 | 0 | 13 |
| Paul Hofer | 4 | 31 | 0 | 17 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 1 | 25 | 0 | 25 |
| Ricky Patton #27 | 5 | 23 | 0 | 9 |
| Amos Lawrence | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Johnny Davis | 2 | -4 | 0 | -2 |
| NYG | ||||
| Rob Carpenter | 5 | 55 | 0 | 23 |
| Earnest Gray | 2 | 40 | 0 | 29 |
| Johnny Perkins | 2 | 28 | 0 | 15 |
| Mike Friede | 2 | 21 | 0 | 13 |
| Tom Mullady | 1 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| Ike Forte | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
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 W13 - 49ers vs New York Giants - Game Thread