The 49ers (10-3) travel to Riverfront Stadium for a an afternoon kickoff kickoff against the Cincinnati Bengals (10-3) on Sun December 6, 1981.
Montana continues at quarterback. Ken Anderson starts for Cincinnati. Pete Johnson at running back. Cris Collinsworth and Dan Ross at receiver and tight end. The 49ers' first playoff berth since 1972 is now secured.
Ken Anderson is the AFC MVP frontrunner. Cris Collinsworth is the rookie of the year favorite. Pete Johnson at running back. Dan Ross at tight end. The Bengals' Sunday at home is the year's marquee cross-conference matchup between the AFC Central leader and the NFC West leader.
The 49ers' clinching of a playoff berth a week ago gives the Sunday at Riverfront the kind of measuring-stick atmosphere that the year-three Walsh project has been working toward.
Week fourteen is the early-December cross-conference summit. The 49ers (10-3), Cowboys (10-3), Eagles (10-3) compete at the top of the NFC. The Bengals (10-3), Chargers (10-3), and Steelers (8-5) lead the AFC. The 49ers' Sunday at Riverfront is the year's marquee cross-conference matchup The schedule's next week is the next test The schedule's closing stretch is the next test.
Through 13 games the 49ers are 10-3 with a plus 57 differential. The Bengals are 10-3 with a plus 95. Ken Anderson 226 of 354, 2,866, 22 touchdowns, eight interceptions. Pete Johnson 240 carries for 1,002. Cris Collinsworth 60 catches for 991. Dan Ross 65 catches for 805. Montana 261 of 415, 3,068, 12 touchdowns, 11 interceptions through 13.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 10-3 | W5 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 8-5 | W3 |
| Cleveland Browns | 5-8 | L2 |
| Houston Oilers | 5-8 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 8-4-1 | W1 |
| New York Jets | 8-4-1 | W5 |
| Buffalo Bills | 8-5 | W2 |
| New England Patriots | 2-11 | L6 |
| Baltimore Colts | 1-12 | L12 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 8-5 | L2 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 8-5 | L1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 8-5 | W2 |
| Oakland Raiders | 6-7 | W1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 4-9 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 10-3 | W2 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 7-6 | W2 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 5-8 | L4 |
| New Orleans Saints | 4-9 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit Lions | 7-6 | W3 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 7-6 | L2 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 7-6 | W2 |
| Green Bay Packers | 6-7 | W1 |
| Chicago Bears | 3-10 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 10-3 | W2 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 9-4 | L2 |
| New York Giants | 6-7 | L1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 6-7 | W3 |
| Washington Redskins | 5-8 | L2 |
On the call: John Madden, Brent Musburger (via 80s Football Cards)
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Bill Ring 4 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 7-0 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Bengals | Jim Breech 30 yard field goal | 7-3 |
| 49ers | Dwight Clark 15 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 14-3 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| No scoring this quarter. | ||
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Joe Montana 1 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 21-3 |
Joe Montana threw two touchdowns to Bill Ring and Dwight Clark and Joe Montana ran in a 1-yard score, and the 49ers beat the Cincinnati Bengals 21-3 at Riverfront Stadium. Montana finished 23 of 36 for 187 with one interception. The 49ers' defense produced three interceptions of Ken Anderson and Jack Thompson. The 49ers improved to 11-3 with their fourth-straight win.[1][2][3]
Joe Montana threw two touchdowns and ran in another and the 49ers beat the AFC's hottest team. The 49ers won 21-3 at Riverfront Stadium and pushed the win streak to four with the marquee cross-conference performance.
Montana finished 23 of 36 for 187 with the two touchdowns to Bill Ring (4) and Dwight Clark (15) and the 1-yard rush score of his own. Clark caught six for 78 with the touchdown. Cooper added six for 34. The two-back rotation produced 22 carries for 98 yards.
Ken Anderson was pulled in the fourth quarter for Jack Thompson; the two combined for 21 of 38, 211 yards, no touchdowns, three interceptions. Pete Johnson ran for 86 yards but no touchdowns. Cris Collinsworth caught five for 53. Dan Ross seven for 69. The 49ers' defense produced the three interceptions plus one sack. Jim Breech's 30-yard field goal was Cincinnati's only score.
49ers 21, Bengals 3. Margin: plus 18. Record: 11-3.
A 21-3 cross-conference road win over the Cincinnati Bengals at Riverfront Stadium. The 49ers improve to 11-3 with their fourth-straight win.
How it unfolded
Montana hit Bill Ring on a 4-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter for the opening score. Jim Breech kicked a 30-yard field goal. Clark caught a 15-yard touchdown to make it 14-3 in the second quarter. Montana ran in a 1-yard touchdown in the third to push it to 21-3. The 49ers' defense closed out the rest of the way.
The turning point
The Bill Ring touchdown reception in the first quarter. With the Bengals' offense expected to produce the kind of multi-touchdown afternoon that has defined Anderson's MVP run, the early defensive stop and the answering touchdown pushed the 49ers ahead and the rest of the day was the defense's.
By the numbers
Montana 23 of 36 for 187, 5.2 yards per attempt, two touchdowns and one interception, plus the rushing touchdown. Clark six catches for 78 and the touchdown. Cooper six for 34 plus 12 carries for 62. Ken Anderson and Jack Thompson combined for 21 of 38 for 211 with no touchdowns and three interceptions. Pete Johnson 86 on 12 carries. The Bengals were held without an offensive touchdown for the first time in the year.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 24 | 24 |
| Total Yards | 325 | 345 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 6 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 23/36 | 21/38 |
| Pass yards | 187 | 211 |
| Pass TD | 2 | 0 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 3 |
| Sacks taken | 1 | 3 |
| Sack yards lost | 8 | 21 |
| Net pass yards | 179 | 190 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 35 | 20 |
| Rush yards | 146 | 155 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 0 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 0 | 4 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 | 3 |
| Penalties | 7 | 9 |
| Penalty yards | 55 | 70 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 23/36 | 187 | 2 | 1 | 83.9 |
| CIN | |||||
| Jack Thompson | 10/18 | 114 | 0 | 1 | 51.6 |
| Ken Anderson | 11/20 | 97 | 0 | 2 | 28.5 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Earl Cooper #49 | 12 | 62 | 0 | 18 |
| Ricky Patton #27 | 10 | 36 | 0 | 14 |
| Johnny Davis | 8 | 21 | 0 | 8 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 13 |
| Bill Ring #39 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 9 |
| Amos Lawrence | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| CIN | ||||
| Pete Johnson | 12 | 86 | 0 | 17 |
| Ken Anderson | 4 | 45 | 0 | 19 |
| Charles Alexander | 4 | 24 | 0 | 16 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Dwight Clark #87 | 6 | 78 | 1 | 20 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 6 | 34 | 0 | 18 |
| Mike Wilson #85 | 2 | 28 | 0 | 16 |
| Charle Young | 3 | 22 | 0 | 9 |
| Ricky Patton #27 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 6 |
| Mike Shumann | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Bill Ring #39 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| Eason Ramson | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| CIN | ||||
| Dan Ross | 7 | 69 | 0 | 11 |
| Steve Kreider | 4 | 57 | 0 | 20 |
| Cris Collinsworth | 3 | 32 | 0 | 19 |
| Pete Johnson | 4 | 26 | 0 | 13 |
| M.L. Harris | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| Isaac Curtis | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| Charles Alexander | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
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Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1981 W14 - 49ers at Cincinnati Bengals - Game Thread