The 49ers (11-3) host the Houston Oilers (5-9) at Candlestick Park, a Sunday window on Sun December 13, 1981.
Montana continues at quarterback. The Oilers start Gifford Nielsen. Earl Campbell at running back. The 49ers' four-game winning streak meets a Houston team out of the playoff race.
Gifford Nielsen has been the Oilers' QB1 since Ken Stabler's late-November benching. Earl Campbell, the league's leading rusher a year ago, is at 1,176 yards on the year. The Oilers come into Sunday at 5-9 with three losses in the last four.
The 49ers' Sunday home game is the kind of late-season favorite-handles-business spot where the year-three Walsh project can clinch the NFC West.
Week fifteen is the December cross-conference sort. The 49ers (11-3), Cowboys (11-3), and Eagles (10-4) lead the NFC. The Bengals (10-4), Chargers (10-4), and Bills (10-4) lead the AFC. The Oilers (5-9) compete in the AFC Central's bottom tier. The 49ers' Sunday at home against the Oilers is the schedule's penultimate game The schedule's next week is the next test.
Through 14 games the 49ers are 11-3 with a plus 75 differential. The Oilers are 5-9 with a minus 21. Gifford Nielsen 64 of 110, 711, three touchdowns, two interceptions. Earl Campbell 296 carries for 1,176, 4.0 per attempt. The 49ers' defense produced 22 interceptions through 14 games. Montana 284 of 451, 3,255, 14 touchdowns, 12 interceptions through 14.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 10-4 | L1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 8-6 | L1 |
| Houston Oilers | 6-8 | W1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 5-9 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 9-4-1 | W2 |
| Buffalo Bills | 9-5 | W3 |
| New York Jets | 8-5-1 | L1 |
| New England Patriots | 2-12 | L7 |
| Baltimore Colts | 1-13 | L13 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 9-5 | W1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 8-6 | L2 |
| San Diego Chargers | 8-6 | L1 |
| Oakland Raiders | 7-7 | W2 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 5-9 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 11-3 | W3 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 7-7 | L1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 5-9 | L5 |
| New Orleans Saints | 4-10 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 8-6 | W3 |
| Detroit Lions | 7-7 | L1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 7-7 | W2 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 7-7 | L3 |
| Chicago Bears | 4-10 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 11-3 | W3 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 9-5 | L3 |
| New York Giants | 7-7 | W1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 7-7 | W4 |
| Washington Redskins | 6-8 | W1 |
On the call: Dick Enberg (via MJSIII)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| No scoring this quarter. | ||
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ricky Patton 3 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-7 |
| 49ers | Earl Cooper 3 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-14 |
| 49ers | Dwight Clark 2 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-21 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Mike Wilson 27 yard pass from Guy Benjamin (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-28 |
| Oilers | Earl Campbell 1 yard rush | 6-28 |
Joe Montana threw a 2-yard touchdown to Dwight Clark and Guy Benjamin came in for relief and threw a 27-yard touchdown to Mike Wilson and the 49ers beat the Houston Oilers 28-6 at Candlestick Park. Ricky Patton and Earl Cooper both ran in goal-line touchdowns. Montana finished 18 of 26 for 204 with one touchdown. The 49ers improved to 12-3 and clinched the NFC West with their fifth-straight win.[1][2][3]
The 49ers clinched the NFC West with a 28-6 home win over the Houston Oilers. Ricky Patton's 3-yard touchdown run opened the scoring. Earl Cooper added a 3-yard rushing touchdown. Joe Montana threw a 2-yard touchdown to Dwight Clark. Guy Benjamin came in for the fourth quarter and threw a 27-yard touchdown to Mike Wilson.
Montana finished 18 of 26 for 204 with one touchdown and no interceptions; Benjamin added 7 of 9 for 82 and the long touchdown to Wilson. Patton ran 9 for 57 with the touchdown. Cooper ran 7 for 38 with a touchdown plus six catches for 77. The 49ers' offense produced 21 first downs and converted 7 of 14 third downs.
Gifford Nielsen threw for 140 yards on 30 attempts with no touchdowns. Earl Campbell ran 18 for 45 yards and a goal-line touchdown. The 49ers' defense produced two sacks and held Campbell to 2.5 yards per attempt across his 18 carries.
49ers 28, Oilers 6. Margin: plus 22. Record: 12-3.
A 28-6 home win over the Houston Oilers at Candlestick. The 49ers improve to 12-3 and clinch the NFC West with their fifth-straight win.
How it unfolded
Patton ran in a 3-yard touchdown on the opening drive. Earl Cooper ran in another 3-yard score. Clark caught a 2-yard touchdown from Montana to make it 21-0 by halftime. Mike Wilson caught a 27-yard touchdown from Guy Benjamin in the fourth quarter. Earl Campbell ran in a 1-yard touchdown to close out the scoring.
The turning point
The Earl Cooper 3-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter. With the lead at 7-0 and the home crowd watching the NFC West clinching scenario unfold, Cooper's second-possession score doubled the lead and the rest of the day was a closer's grind.
By the numbers
Montana 18 of 26 for 204, 7.8 yards per attempt, one touchdown and no interceptions. Cooper six catches for 77 plus seven carries for 38 and a rushing touchdown. Patton 57 on nine with a rushing touchdown. Clark four catches for 27 plus a 2-yard touchdown reception plus an 18-yard carry. Guy Benjamin 7 of 9 in relief with the long touchdown to Wilson. Nielsen 21 of 30 for 140 with no touchdowns. Earl Campbell 45 on 18 (2.5 yards per attempt).
What it means
12-3 and the NFC West champions. The road trip to New Orleans next Sunday closes the regular season and finalizes the playoff seeding.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 11 | 22 |
| Total Yards | 186 | 414 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 21/30 | 25/35 |
| Pass yards | 140 | 286 |
| Pass TD | 0 | 2 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 0 |
| Sacks taken | 1 | 3 |
| Sack yards lost | 10 | 20 |
| Net pass yards | 130 | 266 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 22 | 29 |
| Rush yards | 56 | 148 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 2 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 2 | 3 |
| Fumbles lost | 2 | 0 |
| Penalties | 8 | 8 |
| Penalty yards | 47 | 77 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 18/26 | 204 | 1 | 0 | 105.3 |
| Guy Benjamin | 7/9 | 82 | 1 | 0 | 141.7 |
| HOU | |||||
| Gifford Nielsen | 21/30 | 140 | 0 | 0 | 79.9 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Ricky Patton #27 | 9 | 57 | 1 | 28 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 7 | 38 | 1 | 21 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| Bill Ring #39 | 5 | 18 | 0 | 9 |
| Johnny Davis | 5 | 15 | 0 | 7 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| HOU | ||||
| Earl Campbell | 18 | 45 | 1 | 7 |
| Adger Armstrong | 3 | 11 | 0 | 7 |
| Gifford Nielsen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Earl Cooper #49 | 6 | 77 | 0 | 41 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 3 | 56 | 0 | 34 |
| Charle Young | 4 | 36 | 0 | 16 |
| Mike Wilson #85 | 2 | 36 | 1 | 27 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 5 | 35 | 1 | 12 |
| Bill Ring #39 | 2 | 24 | 0 | 21 |
| Eason Ramson | 1 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| Paul Hofer | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| Ricky Patton #27 | 1 | -3 | 0 | -3 |
| HOU | ||||
| Adger Armstrong | 9 | 62 | 0 | 25 |
| Dave Casper | 3 | 44 | 0 | 20 |
| Ken Burrough | 4 | 14 | 0 | 7 |
| Ronnie Coleman | 2 | 11 | 0 | 7 |
| Mike Holston | 2 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| Earl Campbell | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
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 W15 - 49ers vs Houston Oilers - Game Thread