The 49ers (4-1) host the Los Angeles Rams (3-2) at Candlestick Park on Sun October 9, 1983.
Joe Montana returns. Wendell Tyler faces his former team for the first time. The Rams start Vince Ferragamo at quarterback with Eric Dickerson at running back in his rookie year.
The Rams have Eric Dickerson emerging as one of the NFC's most productive backs. Tyler at 4-1 faces Dickerson at 3-2 in a NFC West division game with first place implications.[1][2][3]
Wendell Tyler against his former club. Walsh obtained Tyler after the Rams failed to prioritize his contract. The real matchup is Dickerson versus the 49ers' front: the rookie has already proven he can carry a game plan. If Dickerson gets rolling, the Rams are simple and effective.
Montana threw no interceptions and 288 yards in New England. The Candlestick crowd has not seen a home loss yet. The Rams are 3-2 and need this divisional game to stay relevant.
Week six is the mid-October divisional sort. The 49ers (4-1) lead the NFC West with the Rams (3-2) and Falcons (3-2) one game back. The Redskins and Cowboys share the NFC East lead. The Dolphins and Raiders remain perfect in the AFC. The 49ers' divisional home game against the Rams is the week's key NFC West result and the Tyler-against-his-former-team subplot adds national interest.
Through five games the 49ers are 4-1 with a plus 65 differential. The Rams are 3-2 with a plus 22. Ferragamo is 88 of 143, 1,096 yards, seven touchdowns, four interceptions. Dickerson has 94 carries for 456 yards. Montana is 96 of 138, 1,038 yards, 12 TDs, three INTs on the year. Tyler has 330 rushing yards and a 100-yard game in each of the last three weeks.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns | 3-2 | L1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 3-2 | W1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 1-4 | L1 |
| Houston Oilers | 0-5 | L5 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | 3-2 | L1 |
| Baltimore Colts | 3-2 | W2 |
| Miami Dolphins | 3-2 | L1 |
| New York Jets | 3-2 | W2 |
| New England Patriots | 2-3 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Raiders | 4-1 | L1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 3-2 | W1 |
| Denver Broncos | 2-3 | L3 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 2-3 | W1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 2-3 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 4-1 | W4 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 3-2 | W1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 3-2 | W1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 2-3 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Green Bay Packers | 3-2 | W1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 3-2 | L1 |
| Chicago Bears | 2-3 | W1 |
| Detroit Lions | 1-4 | L4 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0-5 | L5 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 5-0 | W5 |
| Washington Redskins | 4-1 | W4 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 3-2 | W1 |
| New York Giants | 2-3 | L1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 1-4 | L1 |
Video missing for this game. If you find one, please report it.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rams | Eric Dickerson 15 yard rush (Chuck Nelson kick) | 7-0 |
| Rams | Chuck Nelson 41 yard field goal | 10-0 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Roger Craig 3 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 10-7 |
Eric Dickerson rushed for 99 yards and the Los Angeles Rams beat the 49ers 10-7 at Candlestick Park in a defensive game. Joe Montana threw for 316 yards on 42 attempts but had no touchdown passes. Roger Craig's 3-yard rushing score gave the 49ers their only points. Mike Lansford's 37-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter won it for Los Angeles. The 49ers fell to 4-2.[1][2][3]
The Rams came to Candlestick and ground out a 10-7 win. Eric Dickerson's 99 yards were the game's defining performance on one side; Montana's 316 yards on 42 attempts with no touchdowns were the frustrating story on the other.
The 49ers' offense outgained the Rams 336 to 310 but scored only one touchdown — Craig's 3-yard rush in the second quarter. The Walsh offense converted three red-zone trips into a combined three points from field goals and the one touchdown, leaving points behind against a Rams defense that held its position.
Ferragamo threw for 212 yards and one touchdown. Dickerson carried 25 times for 99 yards and a score. The Rams' physical approach in the second half limited the 49ers' running game and forced Montana into the kind of check-down route tree that produces yardage but not touchdowns. Lansford's 37-yard field goal in the fourth ended it.
Rams 10, 49ers 7. Margin: minus 3. Record: 4-2.
A 10-7 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The 49ers fall to 4-2 as Eric Dickerson's first divisional win over San Francisco costs them sole possession of first place.
How it unfolded
Dickerson's rushing score gave the Rams a 7-0 lead. Craig's 3-yard rush tied it. Both defenses dominated from the second quarter on. Montana moved the ball without finding the end zone. Lansford's 37-yard field goal in the fourth was the winner.
The turning point
Montana's four red-zone trips that produced one touchdown. The 49ers' offense was not stopped on the field but could not convert scoring opportunities into points. The final missed conversion left the game in the kicker's hands.
By the numbers
Montana 28 of 42 for 316 yards at 7.5 per attempt — the day's yardage leader but with zero touchdown passes. Dickerson 99 on 25 carries. Clark nine catches for 81 yards on check-down and intermediate routes. The 49ers' offense had 336 total yards and seven points.
What it means
4-2 heading to New Orleans. The home loss is the year's first. The offense needs to convert red-zone opportunities more efficiently. Dickerson is the Rams' long-term answer; the 49ers will see him again.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 13 | 20 |
| Total Yards | 307 | 381 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 3 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 13/26 | 28/42 |
| Pass yards | 118 | 316 |
| Pass TD | 0 | 0 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 0 |
| Sacks taken | 0 | 2 |
| Sack yards lost | 0 | 13 |
| Net pass yards | 118 | 303 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 28 | 25 |
| Rush yards | 189 | 78 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 1 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 2 | 4 |
| Fumbles lost | 1 | 3 |
| Penalties | 5 | 4 |
| Penalty yards | 35 | 30 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 28/42 | 316 | 0 | 0 | 89 |
| RAM | |||||
| Vince Ferragamo | 13/26 | 118 | 0 | 1 | 46.6 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 14 | 52 | 1 | 14 |
| Bill Ring #39 | 8 | 22 | 0 | 8 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| RAM | ||||
| Eric Dickerson | 22 | 142 | 1 | 49 |
| Barry Redden | 4 | 43 | 0 | 22 |
| Vince Ferragamo | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Robert Alexander | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Dwight Clark #87 | 9 | 81 | 0 | 12 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 3 | 74 | 0 | 29 |
| Eason Ramson | 4 | 44 | 0 | 16 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 2 | 32 | 0 | 21 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 3 | 27 | 0 | 11 |
| Bill Ring #39 | 3 | 25 | 0 | 24 |
| Russ Francis #81 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 8 |
| Renaldo Nehemiah #82 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| Mike Wilson #85 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| RAM | ||||
| Preston Dennard | 4 | 36 | 0 | 19 |
| Mike Barber | 3 | 32 | 0 | 14 |
| Gordon Jones | 2 | 23 | 0 | 13 |
| Henry Ellard | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| David Hill | 2 | 11 | 0 | 9 |
| Eric Dickerson | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
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