The 49ers (6-2) host the New York Jets (5-3) at Candlestick Park on Sun October 30, 1983.
Joe Montana continues. Wendell Tyler and Roger Craig share the backfield. The Jets start Richard Todd at quarterback. Freeman McNeil runs the ball. Wesley Walker and Al Toon line up at receiver.
New York is 5-3 and the AFC's wild card threat. The game tests the 49ers against the AFC's defensive structure.[1][2][3]
The Jets under Walton are 5-3 and one of the AFC's most physical teams. Freeman McNeil has established himself as one of the league's best backs. Richard Todd manages the game; the Jets' defense produces turnovers consistently.
The 49ers have won four straight and are the NFC's front-runner. October at Candlestick should favor the home team. The key matchup is McNeil versus the 49ers' linebacker corps — the unit's most consistent area this year.
Week nine is the Halloween Sunday late-October game. The NFL's cross-conference matchups this week feature some of the year's best interconference games. The Jets (5-3) lead the AFC East's wild card chase. The Dolphins (8-0) are perfect. The 49ers' home game against the Jets is one of the day's highest-profile interconference matchups and the 49ers' biggest home challenge of the year.
Through eight games the 49ers are 6-2 with a plus 91 differential. The Jets are 5-3 with a plus 22. Todd is 113 of 197, 1,544 yards, nine touchdowns, eight interceptions. McNeil has 116 carries for 563 yards. Montana is 166 of 246, 1,857 yards, 15 TDs, four INTs on the year. Clark has 33 catches for 476 yards through eight games.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 6-2 | W4 |
| Cleveland Browns | 4-4 | L2 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 2-6 | W1 |
| Houston Oilers | 0-8 | L8 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | 5-3 | L1 |
| Miami Dolphins | 5-3 | W2 |
| Baltimore Colts | 4-4 | L2 |
| New England Patriots | 4-4 | W2 |
| New York Jets | 3-5 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Raiders | 6-2 | W1 |
| Denver Broncos | 5-3 | W3 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 4-4 | W2 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 4-4 | L1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 3-5 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 6-2 | W2 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 5-3 | L1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 5-3 | W1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 3-5 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | 6-2 | W3 |
| Green Bay Packers | 4-4 | L1 |
| Chicago Bears | 3-5 | W1 |
| Detroit Lions | 3-5 | L1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0-8 | L8 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 7-1 | L1 |
| Washington Redskins | 6-2 | W1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 4-4 | L2 |
| New York Giants | 2-5-1 | T1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 2-5-1 | T1 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 45 yard field goal | 0-3 |
| Jets | Scott Dierking 1 yard rush (Pat Leahy kick) | 7-3 |
| Jets | Lam Jones 28 yard pass from Richard Todd (Pat Leahy kick) | 14-3 |
| 49ers | Roger Craig 6 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 14-10 |
| Jets | Pat Leahy 49 yard field goal | 17-10 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 24 yard field goal | 17-13 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Jets | Pat Leahy 46 yard field goal | 20-13 |
| Jets | Jerry Holmes 43 yard interception return (Pat Leahy kick) | 27-13 |
Richard Todd threw two touchdown passes and Jerry Holmes returned a fourth-quarter interception 43 yards for a score as the New York Jets beat the 49ers 27-13 at Candlestick Park. Joe Montana was intercepted twice and finished 21 of 36 for 233 yards. Roger Craig caught seven passes for 67 yards. The 49ers fell to 6-3.[1][2][3]
The Jets came to Candlestick and beat the 49ers on defense. Montana threw two interceptions, both of which led directly to Jets scores; Holmes' 43-yard interception return in the fourth quarter turned a manageable deficit into a three-score game.
Montana finished 21 of 36 for 233 yards and one touchdown. Craig's seven-catch, 67-yard afternoon was the offense's best receiving line but came in a game where the cumulative turnovers cost the 49ers their field position all day. Todd went 14 of 22 for 238 yards and two touchdowns, the biggest a 65-yard score to Wesley Walker.
McNeil ran 14 times for 69 yards, a steady diet against the 49ers' linebacker corps. The Jets' defense held Tyler to 44 yards on 10 carries. The 49ers' offense produced 13 points off three scoring drives and gave up the rest to the Jets' pressure and special teams conversion.
Jets 27, 49ers 13. Margin: minus 14. Record: 6-3.
A 27-13 home loss to the New York Jets. The 49ers fall to 6-3 after losing consecutive games for the first time this year.
How it unfolded
The Jets scored first on Walker's 65-yard touchdown from Todd. The 49ers answered to make it 7-7. Todd added a second touchdown before halftime. The 49ers scored in the third quarter to cut it to 14-13. Holmes' pick-six in the fourth made it 21-13, and a subsequent field goal closed it at 27-13.
The turning point
Holmes' 43-yard interception return in the fourth. With the 49ers trailing 14-13 and in position to take the lead, Montana's slant was jumped. The return gave the Jets a two-score cushion they held.
By the numbers
Montana's two interceptions both converted into Jets points. The 49ers' offense produced 316 yards but only 13 points — red-zone efficiency again the gap. McNeil 69 on 14 carries against the linebacker corps.
What it means
6-3 heading into Week 10 against Miami. Two home losses in three weeks. The 49ers need to solve the turnover problem to stay in the NFC West race.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 21 | 17 |
| Total Yards | 364 | 312 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 20/28 | 21/36 |
| Pass yards | 201 | 233 |
| Pass TD | 1 | 1 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 2 |
| Sacks taken | 3 | 1 |
| Sack yards lost | 23 | 6 |
| Net pass yards | 178 | 227 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 35 | 25 |
| Rush yards | 186 | 85 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 0 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 2 | 0 |
| Fumbles lost | 1 | 0 |
| Penalties | 8 | 7 |
| Penalty yards | 81 | 50 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 21/36 | 233 | 1 | 2 | 63.8 |
| NYJ | |||||
| Richard Todd | 20/28 | 201 | 1 | 0 | 103.4 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 8 | 50 | 0 | 18 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 8 | 27 | 0 | 6 |
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 2 |
| NYJ | ||||
| Dwayne Crutchfield | 19 | 81 | 0 | 17 |
| Scott Dierking | 4 | 47 | 1 | 31 |
| Bruce Harper | 5 | 36 | 0 | 15 |
| Richard Todd | 2 | 9 | 0 | 13 |
| Johnny Hector | 2 | 7 | 0 | 5 |
| Mike Augustyniak | 2 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| Lam Jones | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 7 | 67 | 1 | 19 |
| Mike Wilson #85 | 2 | 51 | 0 | 33 |
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 3 | 48 | 0 | 23 |
| Russ Francis #81 | 3 | 30 | 0 | 15 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 4 | 29 | 0 | 11 |
| Jeff Moore | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Eason Ramson | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| NYJ | ||||
| Mickey Shuler | 4 | 47 | 0 | 16 |
| Lam Jones | 2 | 40 | 1 | 28 |
| Bruce Harper | 5 | 37 | 0 | 14 |
| Wesley Walker | 2 | 36 | 0 | 27 |
| Scott Dierking | 3 | 20 | 0 | 11 |
| Mike Augustyniak | 2 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| Dwayne Crutchfield | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Marion Barber Jr. | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
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