The 49ers (6-3) host the Miami Dolphins (9-0) at Candlestick Park on Sun November 6, 1983.
Joe Montana continues. Wendell Tyler and Roger Craig share the backfield. The Dolphins start Dan Marino in his rookie season at quarterback. Tony Nathan and Andra Franklin run the ball. Mark Duper and Mark Clayton lead the receivers.
Miami is the NFL's last undefeated team. The 49ers need to stop a three-game losing trend before it compounds.[1][2][3]
Dan Marino is 9-0 in his rookie year and Miami is the last undefeated team. Shula's Dolphins are the consensus Super Bowl favorite. The 49ers have lost two in a row and need a home win.
The Montana-Marino matchup is one the league is anticipating. Two signal callers at different points in their arcs. Candlestick in November is a different environment. The home crowd needs a lift and the team needs a performance.
Week ten is the marquee Sunday of the first half. The Dolphins (9-0) are the last undefeated team in the NFL and the game's most-watched matchup. The 49ers at 6-3 are the NFC's second-best team by record. The conference is watching whether San Francisco can hand Miami its first loss. The Redskins and Cowboys lead the NFC at 7-2. The Dolphins have not trailed by more than one possession in six weeks.
Through nine games the 49ers are 6-3 with a plus 77 differential. The Dolphins are 9-0 with a plus 111. Marino is 197 of 331, 2,440 yards, 20 touchdowns, six interceptions. Nathan has 80 carries for 362 yards. Montana is 187 of 282, 2,090 yards, 16 TDs, six INTs on the year. The Dolphins' defense has allowed under 17 points per game.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 7-2 | W5 |
| Cleveland Browns | 5-4 | W1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 3-6 | W2 |
| Houston Oilers | 0-9 | L9 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | 6-3 | W1 |
| Miami Dolphins | 6-3 | W3 |
| Baltimore Colts | 5-4 | W1 |
| New England Patriots | 4-5 | L1 |
| New York Jets | 4-5 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 6-3 | W4 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 6-3 | L1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 5-4 | W1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 4-5 | L1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 3-6 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 6-3 | L1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 5-4 | L2 |
| New Orleans Saints | 5-4 | L1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 4-5 | W2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | 6-3 | L1 |
| Detroit Lions | 4-5 | W1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 4-5 | L2 |
| Chicago Bears | 3-6 | L1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0-9 | L9 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 8-1 | W1 |
| Washington Redskins | 7-2 | W2 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 4-5 | L3 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 3-5-1 | W1 |
| New York Giants | 2-6-1 | L1 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Dwight Clark 39 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-7 |
| Dolphins | Nat Moore 24 yard pass from Dan Marino (Uwe von Schamann kick) | 7-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Roger Craig 10 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 7-14 |
| Dolphins | Nat Moore 19 yard pass from Dan Marino (Uwe von Schamann kick) | 14-14 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Dolphins | Uwe von Schamann 35 yard field goal | 17-14 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 36 yard field goal | 17-17 |
| Dolphins | Uwe von Schamann 23 yard field goal | 20-17 |
Uwe von Schamann kicked a 23-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to give the Miami Dolphins a 20-17 win over the 49ers at Candlestick Park, preserving the Dolphins' perfect record. Dan Marino threw for 201 yards and two touchdowns. Joe Montana went 16 of 26 for 232 yards and one touchdown. Roger Craig rushed 18 times for 85 yards and a score. The 49ers fell to 6-4.[1][2][3]
The Dolphins remained perfect on von Schamann's 23-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. The 49ers had the game tied at 17 entering the final period and could not make the last stop.
Montana threw for 232 yards and one touchdown on 16 of 26. Craig's 18-carry, 85-yard, one-touchdown day was the offense's most consistent contribution. The 49ers led 17-10 entering the fourth before Marino led two scoring drives that produced a touchdown and the game-winning field goal.
Marino threw for 201 yards and two touchdowns. Tony Nathan ran 14 times for 73 yards. The Dolphins managed the second half with precision and the game-winning drive began with 3:14 left and ended with von Schamann's kick. The 49ers' final drive reached midfield before stalling.
Dolphins 20, 49ers 17. Margin: minus 3. Record: 6-4.
A 20-17 home loss to the Miami Dolphins. The 49ers fall to 6-4 as the Dolphins improve to 10-0.
How it unfolded
The 49ers trailed 10-0 after the first quarter before Craig's rushing touchdown and a Mike Wilson 65-yard catch in the second quarter gave the 49ers a 14-10 lead. The 49ers added a Wersching field goal for 17-10. Marino led two fourth-quarter scoring drives — a touchdown and von Schamann's field goal — to decide it.
The turning point
Marino's fourth-quarter touchdown drive. With the 49ers ahead 17-10 and protecting a home lead against a perfect team, Marino engineered an eight-play drive that tied the game and set up the Dolphins' winning kick two possessions later.
By the numbers
Montana 16 of 26 at 8.9 per attempt, one touchdown, no interceptions. Craig 85 on 18 carries. Wilson's long catch was the day's biggest play from the 49ers' side. Marino managed the game without the big-number output; the Dolphins' 20 points were enough.
What it means
6-4 with six games left. The 49ers have lost three of four and face the Saints at home before a critical Atlanta road trip. The NFC West race is still open but the margin for error is gone.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 18 | 20 |
| Total Yards | 316 | 394 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 15/29 | 16/26 |
| Pass yards | 194 | 232 |
| Pass TD | 2 | 1 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 0 |
| Sacks taken | 1 | 3 |
| Sack yards lost | 11 | 22 |
| Net pass yards | 183 | 210 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 36 | 34 |
| Rush yards | 133 | 184 |
| Rush TD | 0 | 1 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 2 | 3 |
| Fumbles lost | 1 | 2 |
| Penalties | 3 | 6 |
| Penalty yards | 25 | 99 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 16/26 | 232 | 1 | 0 | 103.4 |
| MIA | |||||
| Dan Marino | 15/29 | 194 | 2 | 0 | 96 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 18 | 85 | 1 | 15 |
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 12 | 85 | 0 | 33 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 8 |
| Bill Ring #39 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| MIA | ||||
| Andra Franklin | 19 | 64 | 0 | 18 |
| Tony Nathan | 8 | 43 | 0 | 16 |
| Woody Bennett | 2 | 11 | 0 | 7 |
| Dan Marino | 5 | 10 | 0 | 8 |
| Mark Clayton | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| David Overstreet | 1 | -4 | 0 | -4 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Mike Wilson #85 | 3 | 65 | 0 | 45 |
| Russ Francis #81 | 3 | 46 | 0 | 24 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 5 | 44 | 0 | 12 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 1 | 39 | 1 | 39 |
| Jeff Moore | 1 | 34 | 0 | 34 |
| Eason Ramson | 2 | 9 | 0 | 5 |
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 1 | -5 | 0 | -5 |
| MIA | ||||
| Nat Moore | 6 | 85 | 2 | 29 |
| Joe Rose | 4 | 53 | 0 | 24 |
| Bruce Hardy | 2 | 29 | 0 | 16 |
| Mark Duper | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| Tony Nathan | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| Woody Bennett | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
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