The 49ers (6-4) host the New Orleans Saints (5-5) at Candlestick Park on Sun November 13, 1983.
Joe Montana continues. Wendell Tyler at running back. The Saints start Dave Wilson at quarterback with George Rogers at running back.
The 49ers have lost three of four and need a win to stay in the NFC West race. The Saints at 5-5 are in the same position — a loss effectively ends their season.[1][2][3]
Three losses in four weeks. The 49ers' NFC West lead has evaporated. Walsh needs the bounce-back win that November requires. The Saints at 5-5 are the right opponent, but George Rogers has 114 carries and over 500 yards through 10 weeks.
Montana needs the kind of game that does not depend on the run for its productivity. If he can carry the production and the defense holds Rogers, the 49ers get the win they need.
Week eleven is the mid-November sort. The NFC's West race is the conference's tightest: the 49ers (6-4), Rams (5-4), and Falcons (5-4) are separated by a game and a half. The Redskins lead the conference at 9-2. The Saints (5-5) are fighting for wild card position. The 49ers' home game against New Orleans is the day's most important NFC West result.
Through ten games the 49ers are 6-4 with a plus 60 differential. The Saints are 5-5 with a minus 3. Wilson is 115 of 212, 1,428 yards, eight touchdowns, 14 interceptions — the year's most turnover-prone starting quarterback. Rogers has 137 carries for 587 yards. Montana is 203 of 308, 2,322 yards, 17 TDs, six INTs on the year.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 8-2 | W6 |
| Cleveland Browns | 5-5 | L1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 4-6 | W3 |
| Houston Oilers | 0-10 | L10 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 7-3 | W4 |
| Buffalo Bills | 6-4 | L1 |
| Baltimore Colts | 6-4 | W2 |
| New England Patriots | 5-5 | W1 |
| New York Jets | 4-6 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Raiders | 7-3 | W1 |
| Denver Broncos | 6-4 | L1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 6-4 | W2 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 4-6 | L2 |
| San Diego Chargers | 3-7 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams | 6-4 | W1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 6-4 | W1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 6-4 | L2 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 4-6 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | 6-4 | L2 |
| Detroit Lions | 5-5 | W2 |
| Green Bay Packers | 5-5 | W1 |
| Chicago Bears | 3-7 | L2 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1-9 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 9-1 | W2 |
| Washington Redskins | 8-2 | W3 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 4-6 | L4 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 3-6-1 | L1 |
| New York Giants | 2-7-1 | L2 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Eason Ramson 1 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Dwight Clark 14 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-14 |
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 33 yard field goal | 0-17 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Russ Francis 2 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-24 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 25 yard field goal | 0-27 |
Joe Montana threw three touchdown passes and the 49ers shut out the New Orleans Saints 27-0 at Candlestick Park. Montana finished 26 of 43 for 283 yards with two interceptions. Dwight Clark caught six passes for 87 yards. Wendell Tyler rushed 15 times for 92 yards. The 49ers moved to 7-4 with their first shutout of the Walsh era.[1][2][3]
The 49ers shut out the Saints 27-0 — the Walsh era's first shutout — in a game where the offense accumulated 27 points despite two Montana interceptions. The defense was the day's story: the Saints managed only 163 total yards and Dave Wilson was sacked four times.
Montana's three touchdowns came on drives of 55, 62, and 80 yards. His two interceptions came on deep throws the Saints' secondary was positioned to intercept. Clark's six catches for 87 yards were the offense's consistent thread. Tyler ran 15 times for 92 yards, the most efficient rushing afternoon in three weeks.
Wilson finished 13 of 33 for 102 yards and two interceptions. George Rogers was held to 46 yards on 20 carries. The 49ers' defensive front created four sacks and the secondary produced three total takeaways — the most in any game this year.
49ers 27, Saints 0. Margin: plus 27. Record: 7-4.
A 27-0 home shutout of the New Orleans Saints — the first shutout in the Walsh era at San Francisco.
How it unfolded
The 49ers scored first in the second quarter and extended the lead on each subsequent drive. The defense produced three takeaways to go with four sacks. The Saints' offense managed 163 total yards for the game, their lowest output of the year.
The turning point
The 49ers' defense. Rogers was held to 46 yards, Wilson was sacked four times, and the secondary's three takeaways turned the game into a one-sided affair well before the fourth quarter.
By the numbers
Montana 26 of 43 for 283 yards and three touchdowns. Clark six catches for 87, the day's steady receiving performance. Tyler 92 on 15 carries. The Saints' offensive totals: 102 passing yards, 46 rushing yards — the defense's best performance of the year.
What it means
7-4 heading to Atlanta. The shutout resets the team's defensive identity after three losses in four weeks.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 10 | 28 |
| Total Yards | 129 | 397 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 3 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 16/29 | 26/44 |
| Pass yards | 132 | 283 |
| Pass TD | 0 | 3 |
| Interceptions | 2 | 2 |
| Sacks taken | 9 | 2 |
| Sack yards lost | 77 | 10 |
| Net pass yards | 55 | 273 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 20 | 34 |
| Rush yards | 74 | 124 |
| Rush TD | 0 | 0 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 4 | 1 |
| Fumbles lost | 1 | 1 |
| Penalties | 4 | 6 |
| Penalty yards | 82 | 34 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 26/43 | 283 | 3 | 2 | 83.8 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39.6 |
| NOR | |||||
| Dave Wilson | 16/29 | 132 | 0 | 2 | 38.3 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 15 | 92 | 0 | 25 |
| Bill Ring #39 | 10 | 26 | 0 | 7 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 8 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Jeff Moore | 4 | -8 | 0 | 3 |
| NOR | ||||
| George Rogers | 14 | 52 | 0 | 15 |
| Wayne Wilson | 3 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| Dave Wilson | 2 | 7 | 0 | 5 |
| Hokie Gajan | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Dwight Clark #87 | 6 | 87 | 1 | 15 |
| Bill Ring #39 | 4 | 53 | 0 | 24 |
| Russ Francis #81 | 5 | 52 | 1 | 14 |
| Mike Wilson #85 | 4 | 31 | 0 | 12 |
| Eason Ramson | 4 | 28 | 1 | 15 |
| Jeff Moore | 2 | 22 | 0 | 18 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| NOR | ||||
| Hoby Brenner | 3 | 46 | 0 | 21 |
| Eugene Goodlow | 4 | 40 | 0 | 14 |
| Cliff Austin | 2 | 25 | 0 | 18 |
| Lindsay Scott | 2 | 11 | 0 | 6 |
| Hokie Gajan | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Tyrone Young | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| John Tice | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| George Rogers | 1 | -2 | 0 | -2 |
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