The 49ers (5-2) travel to Anaheim Stadium for a 1:00 PM PT Sunday kickoff against the Los Angeles Rams (4-3) on Sun October 23, 1983.
Joe Montana continues after the defensive game in New Orleans. The Rams start Vince Ferragamo with Eric Dickerson as the featured back. The rematch comes three weeks after the Rams' 10-7 win at Candlestick.
The 49ers have a score to settle and the offensive firepower to make it count.[1][2][3]
Three weeks after the Rams held the 49ers to seven points, the rematch moves to Anaheim. Montana threw 316 yards in the first meeting without a touchdown. The adjustments will come from both staffs; the difference is venue and urgency.
Dickerson ran for 99 in Week 6. The 49ers' front has the blueprint. The question is whether the Rams' formula travels, where crowd noise is not pushing them and the 49ers' offense has its own momentum.
Week eight is the late-October NFC West sort. The 49ers (5-2) and Rams (4-3) are separated by a game with the Falcons (4-3) one game further back. The Redskins and Cowboys lead the NFC. The AFC's Dolphins (7-0) are the talk of the league. The 49ers' road rematch against the Rams is the week's key NFC West game and the most watched divisional game of the day.
Through seven games the 49ers are 5-2 with a plus 81 differential. The Rams are 4-3 with a plus 11. Ferragamo is 107 of 170, 1,308 yards, eight touchdowns, five interceptions. Dickerson has 119 carries for 555 yards. Montana is 141 of 207, 1,499 yards, 12 TDs, four INTs on the year. Tyler has five carries for a rushing touchdown in each of the last two games.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 5-2 | W3 |
| Cleveland Browns | 4-3 | L1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 1-6 | L3 |
| Houston Oilers | 0-7 | L7 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | 5-2 | W2 |
| Baltimore Colts | 4-3 | L1 |
| Miami Dolphins | 4-3 | W1 |
| New England Patriots | 3-4 | W1 |
| New York Jets | 3-4 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Raiders | 5-2 | L1 |
| Denver Broncos | 4-3 | W2 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 4-3 | W1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 3-4 | W1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 3-4 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams | 5-2 | W3 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 5-2 | W1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 4-3 | L1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 2-5 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | 5-2 | W2 |
| Green Bay Packers | 4-3 | W1 |
| Detroit Lions | 3-4 | W2 |
| Chicago Bears | 2-5 | L2 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0-7 | L7 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 7-0 | W7 |
| Washington Redskins | 5-2 | L1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 4-3 | L1 |
| New York Giants | 2-5 | L3 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 2-5 | W1 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rams | George Farmer 13 yard pass from Vince Ferragamo (Chuck Nelson kick) | 0-7 |
| 49ers | Roger Craig 4 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 7-7 |
| Rams | James McDonald 1 yard pass from Vince Ferragamo (Chuck Nelson kick) | 7-14 |
| 49ers | Dwight Clark 15 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 14-14 |
| Rams | Eric Dickerson 37 yard pass from Vince Ferragamo (Chuck Nelson kick) | 14-21 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 30 yard field goal | 17-21 |
| Rams | Eric Dickerson 10 yard pass from Vince Ferragamo (Chuck Nelson kick) | 17-28 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Renaldo Nehemiah 11 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 24-28 |
| Rams | Mike Barber 17 yard pass from Vince Ferragamo (Chuck Nelson kick) | 24-35 |
| 49ers | Dwight Clark 46 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 31-35 |
| 49ers | Dwaine Board defensive fumble recovery in end zone (Ray Wersching kick) | 38-35 |
| 49ers | Bill Ring 4 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 45-35 |
Joe Montana threw three touchdown passes and finished with 358 yards as the 49ers beat the Los Angeles Rams 45-35 at Anaheim Stadium. Roger Craig rushed 11 times for 55 yards and a score. Dwight Clark caught five for 88 yards. Eric Dickerson ran for 118 yards but the 49ers' offense outpaced everything the Rams' ground game could produce. The 49ers improved to 6-2.[1][2][3]
Three weeks after being held to seven points, the 49ers put 45 on the Rams in the rematch. Montana threw three touchdowns and 358 yards — his biggest passing total of the year — as the 49ers' offense answered every Rams scoring drive.
Dickerson ran for 118 yards and was the Rams' most productive weapon but the 49ers scored on their first five possessions. Craig rushed for 55 yards and a touchdown. Bill Ring added a 4-yard score in the fourth quarter. Montana's three receivers combined for 225 yards.
Ferragamo went 25 of 43 for 309 yards and three touchdowns. The Rams' offense produced 35 points, the 49ers' highest-scoring defeat-total of the year, but the 49ers matched every score and then some. The final 45-35 confirmed the Walsh offense had found its Week 6 answer.
49ers 45, Rams 35. Margin: plus 10. Record: 6-2.
A 45-35 road win at Anaheim Stadium. The 49ers avenge the Week 6 home loss and move to 6-2.
How it unfolded
The 49ers scored on their opening drive and on the next four possessions. Montana threw his first touchdown in the first quarter and added two more in the second. The Rams answered each time but the 49ers built a 38-21 lead entering the fourth. The Rams scored twice in the fourth to narrow it to 38-35 before Ring's rushing score put it away at 45-35.
The turning point
Montana's second-quarter surge. Three separate touchdown drives in the second quarter turned a 7-7 game into a 28-21 halftime lead. The pace was too fast for the Rams to match.
By the numbers
Montana 25 of 39 at 9.2 yards per attempt, three touchdowns, zero interceptions — the clean line that was absent in Week 6. Dickerson 118 on 29 carries, impressive in a losing effort. The 49ers' 45 points were their season high through eight games.
What it means
6-2 heading home for the Jets. The rematch answered the Week 6 deficit. The 49ers' offense is the NFC's most productive at this point of the year.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 22 | 28 |
| Total Yards | 460 | 441 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 3 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 25/39 | 26/35 |
| Pass yards | 358 | 327 |
| Pass TD | 3 | 5 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 2 |
| Sacks taken | 0 | 3 |
| Sack yards lost | 0 | 25 |
| Net pass yards | 358 | 302 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 27 | 32 |
| Rush yards | 102 | 139 |
| Rush TD | 2 | 0 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 4 | 4 |
| Fumbles lost | 2 | 1 |
| Penalties | 5 | 3 |
| Penalty yards | 30 | 20 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 25/39 | 358 | 3 | 0 | 119.4 |
| RAM | |||||
| Vince Ferragamo | 26/35 | 327 | 5 | 2 | 118.7 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 11 | 55 | 1 | 20 |
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 7 | 31 | 0 | 12 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 7 |
| Bill Ring #39 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 4 |
| RAM | ||||
| Eric Dickerson | 25 | 144 | 0 | 24 |
| Vince Ferragamo | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Barry Redden | 2 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| Nolan Cromwell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Henry Ellard | 2 | -5 | 0 | 7 |
| Otis Grant | 1 | -11 | 0 | -11 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Dwight Clark #87 | 5 | 88 | 2 | 46 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 4 | 88 | 0 | 43 |
| Renaldo Nehemiah #82 | 5 | 65 | 1 | 27 |
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 3 | 31 | 0 | 16 |
| Mike Wilson #85 | 2 | 29 | 0 | 23 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 2 | 28 | 0 | 23 |
| Russ Francis #81 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| Jeff Moore | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| Eason Ramson | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| RAM | ||||
| Mike Barber | 8 | 113 | 1 | 20 |
| Gordon Jones | 4 | 65 | 0 | 24 |
| Eric Dickerson | 3 | 46 | 2 | 37 |
| George Farmer | 4 | 36 | 1 | 19 |
| Preston Dennard | 3 | 34 | 0 | 14 |
| Henry Ellard | 3 | 32 | 0 | 17 |
| James McDonald | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1983 W8 - 49ers at Los Angeles Rams - Game Thread
