Season finale at Candlestick Park on Sun January 2, 1983. The 49ers (3-5) host the Los Angeles Rams (2-6) in the final game of the 1982 season.
Vince Ferragamo starts for the Rams with Wendell Tyler at running back. Joe Montana continues for the 49ers. Renaldo Nehemiah and Dwight Clark line up at receiver. Dana McLemore at punt returner.
Neither team is in the Super Bowl Tournament. The final Sunday of an unusual year.[1][2][3]
The last Sunday of the 1982 season delivers a Candlestick divisional game between two teams that found the year harder than planned. The Rams won two games, the 49ers three. Neither goes to the tournament.
Montana gets one more start to close the book on an unusual year. Walsh uses this game to see what pieces survived intact and which need to be addressed before camp opens.
The final regular-season Sunday of the tournament year. The Super Bowl Tournament begins next week with the eight seeded teams from each conference. Around the league the Cowboys, Redskins, Falcons, Saints, and Packers lead the NFC field. The AFC's Chargers and Raiders are the conference's highest-powered offenses. The 49ers and Rams finish the year as the NFC West's bottom two teams.
Through eight games the 49ers are 3-5 with a minus 10 differential. The Rams are 2-6 with a minus 36. Ferragamo threw for 1,002 yards through eight games. Tyler has 113 carries for 476 yards on the year. Montana's year line: 172 of 266, 2,169 yards, 12 TDs, 9 INTs. Clark has 41 catches for 622 yards. The 49ers have won two of three games since the loss to the Chargers.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 6-2 | W1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 5-3 | W1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 4-4 | W2 |
| Houston Oilers | 1-7 | L6 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 6-2 | W2 |
| New York Jets | 6-2 | W1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 4-4 | L2 |
| New England Patriots | 4-4 | L1 |
| Baltimore Colts | 0-7-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Raiders | 7-1 | W4 |
| San Diego Chargers | 6-2 | W5 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 3-5 | L2 |
| Denver Broncos | 2-6 | L2 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 2-6 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons | 5-3 | L1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 3-5 | L4 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 3-5 | W1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 1-7 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Green Bay Packers | 5-2-1 | W1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 4-4 | L1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 4-4 | W2 |
| Chicago Bears | 3-5 | W1 |
| Detroit Lions | 3-5 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Redskins | 7-1 | W3 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 6-2 | L1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 5-3 | W2 |
| New York Giants | 3-5 | L2 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 3-5 | W2 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Dana McLemore 93 yard punt return (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-7 |
| Rams | Wendell Tyler 3 yard pass from Vince Ferragamo (Mike Lansford kick) | 7-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Mike Wilson 19 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 7-14 |
| 49ers | Renaldo Nehemiah 29 yard pass from Joe Montana | 7-20 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Rams | Wendell Tyler 1 yard rush (Mike Lansford kick) | 14-20 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Rams | George Farmer 42 yard pass from Vince Ferragamo (Mike Lansford kick) | 21-20 |
Dana McLemore returned the opening kickoff — a punt return — 93 yards for a touchdown and the 49ers led 20-7 going into the third quarter, but Vince Ferragamo threw a 42-yard touchdown to George Farmer in the fourth quarter and the Los Angeles Rams won 21-20 at Candlestick Park. Montana threw two touchdowns. The 49ers fell to 3-6 on the year.[1][2][3]
The 49ers led 20-7 at halftime after Dana McLemore's 93-yard punt return touchdown, a Mike Wilson 19-yard score, and a Renaldo Nehemiah 29-yard touchdown. The Rams came back: two Wendell Tyler touchdowns and George Farmer's 42-yard reception from Ferragamo in the fourth gave Los Angeles a 21-20 win at Candlestick to close the year.
Montana threw for 200 yards on 38 attempts and two touchdowns. Nehemiah's 29-yard score was a no-extra-point play — which proved decisive in the final margin. Wilson's 19-yard reception gave the 49ers what looked like a commanding second-quarter lead. McLemore's return was the highlight of the year's final home game.
Ferragamo responded after a quiet first half, throwing 23 of 35 for 227 yards. Farmer's 42-yard catch in the fourth was the game-winner. Tyler ran 15 times for 98 yards and two touchdowns, answering a first-half deficit with two third-quarter scores before Farmer's long gain finished the comeback.
Rams 21, 49ers 20. Margin: minus 1. Record: 3-6.
A 21-20 home loss to the Rams on the final Sunday of 1982. The 49ers close at 3-6.
How it unfolded
McLemore opened the scoring with a 93-yard punt return. Tyler caught a 3-yard pass from Ferragamo to tie it. Wilson's 19-yard reception restored the lead. Nehemiah's 29-yard touchdown — without the extra point — made it 20-7 at halftime. Tyler's 1-yard rush in the third cut it to 20-14. Farmer caught a 42-yard touchdown from Ferragamo in the fourth for the 21-20 lead the Rams held.
The turning point
Nehemiah's missed extra point. The failed PAT left the margin at 13 rather than 14. When the Rams scored twice in the second half, they needed only two scores. The final margin was one.
By the numbers
Montana 20 of 38 for 200 yards — the year's quietest game. The 49ers scored 20 points but converted only two offensive touchdowns. Tyler's 98 yards came entirely in the second half.
What it means
3-6. The defending champion finishes below .500 for the first time in Walsh's tenure. The 1983 offseason begins with the defense as the primary rebuild target. Montana, Clark, Francis, and Lott are the foundation.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 17 | 18 |
| Total Yards | 374 | 324 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 23/35 | 20/38 |
| Pass yards | 227 | 200 |
| Pass TD | 2 | 2 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 1 |
| Sacks taken | 0 | 0 |
| Sack yards lost | 0 | 0 |
| Net pass yards | 227 | 200 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 25 | 24 |
| Rush yards | 147 | 124 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 0 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 3 | 0 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 | 0 |
| Penalties | 10 | 3 |
| Penalty yards | 88 | 30 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 20/38 | 200 | 2 | 1 | 74.5 |
| RAM | |||||
| Vince Ferragamo | 23/35 | 227 | 2 | 0 | 102.9 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Jeff Moore | 11 | 49 | 0 | 13 |
| Bill Ring #39 | 11 | 49 | 0 | 11 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 1 | 21 | 0 | 21 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| RAM | ||||
| Wendell Tyler | 15 | 98 | 1 | 54 |
| Mike Guman | 8 | 40 | 0 | 14 |
| Jewerl Thomas | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| Vince Ferragamo | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Dwight Clark #87 | 4 | 54 | 0 | 21 |
| Russ Francis #81 | 2 | 36 | 0 | 23 |
| Renaldo Nehemiah #82 | 1 | 29 | 1 | 29 |
| Jeff Moore | 5 | 25 | 0 | 14 |
| Mike Wilson #85 | 2 | 24 | 1 | 19 |
| Charle Young | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| Bill Ring #39 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 8 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 8 |
| RAM | ||||
| George Farmer | 3 | 97 | 1 | 42 |
| Mike Guman | 8 | 53 | 0 | 21 |
| Preston Dennard | 4 | 53 | 0 | 20 |
| Wendell Tyler | 4 | 11 | 1 | 9 |
| Mike Barber | 2 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Jewerl Thomas | 2 | 6 | 0 | 5 |
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Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1982 W17 - 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams - Game Thread
