The 49ers (2-1) host the Atlanta Falcons (2-1) at Candlestick Park on Sun September 25, 1983.
Joe Montana continues. Wendell Tyler at running back. The Falcons start Steve Bartkowski. William Andrews runs the ball. Alfred Jenkins and Alfred Jackson line up at receiver.
Atlanta is 2-1 and the NFC West's other contender. Divisional points start being sorted today.[1][2][3]
The Falcons have been here before. Bartkowski, Andrews, and Jenkins made Atlanta the NFC West's preseason co-favorite. The 49ers have won two straight on the road; the home game against the division rival tests whether Candlestick can match the road confidence.
Montana has seven touchdowns and one interception in three games. Tyler runs, Solomon and Clark get the intermediate routes, Francis the seam. The Falcons' defense picks one piece to take away. There is no answer that covers all of them.
Week four is the mid-September divisional sort. The 49ers (2-1) and Falcons (2-1) are the NFC West's co-leaders with the Rams (2-1) one game back. The Cowboys and Redskins lead the NFC East. The AFC's Dolphins (3-0) and Raiders (3-0) are undefeated. The 49ers' Sunday divisional home game is the week's key NFC West result and the first direct matchup between the division's co-leaders.
Through three games the 49ers are 2-1 with a plus 41 differential. The Falcons are 2-1 with a plus 15. Bartkowski is 54 of 90, 743 yards, five touchdowns through three games. Andrews has 43 carries for 245 yards. Montana is 44 of 68, 489 yards, seven touchdowns, one interception on the year. Tyler has 288 rushing yards and two touchdowns through three games.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns | 2-1 | W2 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 2-1 | W2 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 0-3 | L3 |
| Houston Oilers | 0-3 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | 2-1 | W2 |
| Miami Dolphins | 2-1 | L1 |
| Baltimore Colts | 1-2 | L2 |
| New England Patriots | 1-2 | W1 |
| New York Jets | 1-2 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Raiders | 3-0 | W3 |
| Denver Broncos | 2-1 | L1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 2-1 | W2 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 1-2 | L2 |
| San Diego Chargers | 1-2 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons | 2-1 | W1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 2-1 | L1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 2-1 | W1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 2-1 | W2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Green Bay Packers | 2-1 | W1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 2-1 | W1 |
| Chicago Bears | 1-2 | L1 |
| Detroit Lions | 1-2 | L2 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0-3 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 3-0 | W3 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 2-1 | W1 |
| Washington Redskins | 2-1 | W2 |
| New York Giants | 1-2 | L1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 0-3 | L3 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Dwight Clark 21 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Dwight Clark 12 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-14 |
| Falcons | Billy Johnson 20 yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Mick Luckhurst kick) | 7-14 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Falcons | Floyd Hodge 76 yard pass from Steve Bartkowski | 13-14 |
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 24 yard field goal | 13-17 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Falcons | Steve Bartkowski 3 yard rush (Mick Luckhurst kick) | 20-17 |
| 49ers | Earl Cooper 1 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 20-24 |
Joe Montana threw three touchdown passes and the 49ers held off the Atlanta Falcons 24-20 at Candlestick Park. Montana finished 27 of 32 for 261 yards with two interceptions. Freddie Solomon caught six passes for 103 yards. A 1-yard Earl Cooper touchdown reception in the fourth quarter proved to be the winner. The 49ers improved to 3-1.[1][2][3]
Montana threw three touchdowns and two interceptions in a game that came down to the final possession. Cooper's 1-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter gave the 49ers a 24-20 lead they protected for the home win.
Solomon was Montana's primary outlet: six catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns. The 49ers' offense executed with 27 of 32 completions — Montana's highest completion percentage of the year — but the two interceptions both led to Falcons points and kept Atlanta in the game.
Bartkowski went 22 of 35 for 260 yards and two touchdowns for Atlanta. Andrews ran 18 times for 90 yards. The Falcons' offense reached the red zone four times and converted three of them. The 49ers' defense forced one interception and held on for the home win.
49ers 24, Falcons 20. Margin: plus 4. Record: 3-1.
A 24-20 home win over the Atlanta Falcons. The 49ers take sole possession of first in the NFC West at 3-1.
How it unfolded
The game stayed within a possession for four quarters. Both offenses scored on early drives. The 49ers led 17-13 entering the fourth. Cooper's 1-yard receiving score gave the 49ers a 24-13 cushion. The Falcons' responding touchdown drive made it 24-20 but the 49ers held in the final minutes.
The turning point
Cooper's 1-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. The short-yardage conversion gave the 49ers a two-score lead that gave the defense a margin to work with. The Falcons cut it to four but ran out of time.
By the numbers
Montana 27 of 32, 84% completion rate. Solomon six catches for 103 yards, the offense's most productive receiving performance of the year. The two interceptions by Montana both led to Falcons scoring drives. Andrews 90 yards on 18 carries for Atlanta.
What it means
3-1 heading to New England. The home win over Atlanta establishes the 49ers as the NFC West's frontrunner. The defense needs one more stop the next time.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 19 | 28 |
| Total Yards | 319 | 418 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 19/24 | 27/32 |
| Pass yards | 243 | 261 |
| Pass TD | 2 | 3 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 2 |
| Sacks taken | 8 | 0 |
| Sack yards lost | 59 | 0 |
| Net pass yards | 184 | 261 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 31 | 31 |
| Rush yards | 135 | 157 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 0 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 1 | 0 |
| Fumbles lost | 1 | 0 |
| Penalties | 5 | 4 |
| Penalty yards | 32 | 47 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 27/32 | 261 | 3 | 2 | 105.9 |
| ATL | |||||
| Steve Bartkowski | 19/23 | 243 | 2 | 0 | 139.7 |
| Billy Johnson | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39.6 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Bill Ring #39 | 10 | 52 | 0 | 10 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 7 | 44 | 0 | 9 |
| Jeff Moore | 6 | 28 | 0 | 14 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 4 | 19 | 0 | 16 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| ATL | ||||
| William Andrews | 28 | 126 | 0 | 27 |
| Lynn Cain | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Steve Bartkowski | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Billy Johnson | 1 | -3 | 0 | -3 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 6 | 103 | 0 | 31 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 7 | 66 | 2 | 21 |
| Bill Ring #39 | 3 | 26 | 0 | 14 |
| Jeff Moore | 4 | 15 | 0 | 7 |
| Mike Wilson #85 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 8 |
| Russ Francis #81 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 9 |
| ATL | ||||
| Floyd Hodge | 4 | 89 | 1 | 76 |
| Alfred Jenkins | 8 | 81 | 0 | 20 |
| Billy Johnson | 3 | 34 | 1 | 20 |
| William Andrews | 2 | 26 | 0 | 14 |
| Alfred Jackson | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Junior Miller | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
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