The 49ers (4-2) travel to the Louisiana Superdome for a 1:00 PM CT kickoff against the New Orleans Saints (2-4) on Sun October 16, 1983.
Joe Montana continues. Wendell Tyler at running back. The Saints start Dave Wilson at quarterback with George Rogers at running back.
The 49ers need a bounce-back win after the home loss to the Rams. New Orleans is struggling at 2-4.[1][2][3]
The Saints are 2-4 and the NFC South's bottom club. George Rogers is the best weapon; the surrounding cast has not found consistency.
The 49ers' road record through six weeks is 3-1. Walsh's team tends to play better away from Candlestick when home expectations create weight. The Superdome is loud but the 49ers have won at loud venues. This is the kind of game the schedule demands: bounce back and build momentum before tougher opponents arrive.
Week seven continues the NFC sort. The Redskins lead the conference. The Cowboys and 49ers are one game back. The NFC's West and South produce the week's divisional results. The AFC's Dolphins remain perfect. The Saints' home record at the Superdome has been the team's only bright spot in a 2-4 season. The 49ers' Sunday road game tests the ability to respond after a home loss.
Through six games the 49ers are 4-2 with a plus 62 differential. The Saints are 2-4 with a minus 35. Wilson is 81 of 142, 871 yards, five touchdowns, nine interceptions through six starts. Rogers has 104 carries for 444 yards. Montana is 124 of 180, 1,354 yards, 12 TDs, three INTs on the year. The 49ers are 5-1 all-time at the Superdome.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns | 4-2 | W1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 4-2 | W2 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 1-5 | L2 |
| Houston Oilers | 0-6 | L6 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | 4-2 | W1 |
| Baltimore Colts | 4-2 | W3 |
| Miami Dolphins | 3-3 | L2 |
| New York Jets | 3-3 | L1 |
| New England Patriots | 2-4 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Raiders | 5-1 | W1 |
| Denver Broncos | 3-3 | W1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 3-3 | W2 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 3-3 | L1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 2-4 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams | 4-2 | W2 |
| New Orleans Saints | 4-2 | W2 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 4-2 | L1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 2-4 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | 4-2 | W1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 3-3 | L1 |
| Chicago Bears | 2-4 | L1 |
| Detroit Lions | 2-4 | W1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0-6 | L6 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 6-0 | W6 |
| Washington Redskins | 5-1 | W5 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 4-2 | W2 |
| New York Giants | 2-4 | L2 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 1-5 | L2 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 23 yard field goal | 3-0 |
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 32 yard field goal | 6-0 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Saints | Morten Andersen 28 yard field goal | 6-3 |
| Saints | Morten Andersen 26 yard field goal | 6-6 |
| Saints | Wayne Wilson 1 yard rush (Morten Andersen kick) | 6-13 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 47 yard field goal | 9-13 |
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 52 yard field goal | 12-13 |
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 24 yard field goal | 15-13 |
| 49ers | Dwight Hicks 62 yard interception return (Ray Wersching kick) | 22-13 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 23 yard field goal | 25-13 |
| 49ers | Wendell Tyler 34 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 32-13 |
Joe Montana did not throw a touchdown pass but Wendell Tyler rushed for 87 yards and a 34-yard score and the 49ers beat the New Orleans Saints 32-13 at the Superdome. Ray Wersching kicked four field goals. The defense held Dave Wilson to 22 completions for 192 yards and two interceptions. The 49ers improved to 5-2 with their second road win in the South.[1][2][3]
The 49ers' defense held the Saints to 13 points and the offense accumulated 32 on four Wersching field goals and two touchdown runs. Tyler's 34-yard rushing touchdown was the game's most explosive play — a cutback on the left side that found open field.
Montana finished 17 of 27 for 145 yards with one interception. The air game was not the engine; the run game and field position were. Tyler's 87 yards on 19 carries kept the Saints' defense guessing all afternoon. The 49ers' defense produced two interceptions of Dave Wilson — both came on comeback routes that the 49ers' secondary jumped.
Wersching's four field goals came on four attempts, a perfect kicking day that made the most of drives that stalled inside the 20. The Saints managed only 13 points against a defense playing with urgency after the Rams loss at Candlestick.
49ers 32, Saints 13. Margin: plus 19. Record: 5-2.
A 32-13 road win at the Superdome. The 49ers bounce back from the Rams home loss to move to 5-2.
How it unfolded
Wersching opened the scoring with a field goal. Tyler's 34-yard rushing score in the second quarter gave the 49ers a two-score lead. Four Wersching field goals total built the margin. The defense intercepted Wilson twice, converting both into field positions that produced points.
The turning point
Tyler's 34-yard rushing touchdown. The cut-back run found daylight against a Saints defense that had been set for a shorter run. The 49ers expanded the lead from 3-0 to 13-7 and did not trail again.
By the numbers
Tyler 87 on 19 carries and the rushing score. Wersching four for four. Montana 145 yards with one interception — a quiet day from the quarterback while the supporting cast did the work. The 49ers' defense held Rogers to 80 yards and produced two turnovers.
What it means
5-2 heading back to Candlestick for the Rams rematch. The road win confirms the team's ability to respond after a home loss.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 15 | 20 |
| Total Yards | 328 | 288 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 5 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 17/27 | 22/37 |
| Pass yards | 145 | 231 |
| Pass TD | 0 | 0 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 3 |
| Sacks taken | 2 | 4 |
| Sack yards lost | 11 | 33 |
| Net pass yards | 134 | 198 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 35 | 25 |
| Rush yards | 194 | 90 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 1 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 0 | 3 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 | 2 |
| Penalties | 6 | 6 |
| Penalty yards | 54 | 57 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 17/27 | 145 | 0 | 1 | 61.5 |
| NOR | |||||
| Dave Wilson | 12/17 | 126 | 0 | 1 | 67.3 |
| Ken Stabler | 10/20 | 105 | 0 | 2 | 26 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 19 | 87 | 1 | 34 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 8 | 87 | 0 | 71 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 6 |
| Bill Ring #39 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Jeff Moore | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| NOR | ||||
| George Rogers | 14 | 52 | 0 | 13 |
| Wayne Wilson | 8 | 21 | 1 | 9 |
| Hokie Gajan | 2 | 15 | 0 | 14 |
| Jimmy Rogers | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Dwight Clark #87 | 3 | 36 | 0 | 14 |
| Bill Ring #39 | 3 | 36 | 0 | 23 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 2 | 34 | 0 | 25 |
| Jeff Moore | 3 | 19 | 0 | 7 |
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 4 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Eason Ramson | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NOR | ||||
| Eugene Goodlow | 5 | 74 | 0 | 24 |
| Hokie Gajan | 4 | 36 | 0 | 11 |
| Jeff Groth | 3 | 34 | 0 | 12 |
| Lindsay Scott | 3 | 25 | 0 | 13 |
| George Rogers | 1 | 22 | 0 | 22 |
| Hoby Brenner | 2 | 20 | 0 | 15 |
| Larry Hardy | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Wayne Wilson | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Kenny Duckett | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Tyrone Young | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
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Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1983 W7 - 49ers at New Orleans Saints - Game Thread
