1983 season · Week 15

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Sunday Sports Section · Week 15

49ers at Buffalo Bills

Sun December 11, 1983 · Rich Stadium, kickoff 1:00pm

Pregame

Beat report
AI summary based on verified facts

The 49ers (8-6) travel to Rich Stadium, Buffalo, for a 1:00 PM ET kickoff against the Buffalo Bills (7-7) on Sun December 11, 1983.

Joe Montana continues after the Tampa Bay win. Wendell Tyler at running back. The Bills start Joe Ferguson at quarterback with Joe Cribbs at running back.

Both teams need this game. The 49ers are chasing a Wild Card spot; the Bills are fighting for their playoff life in the AFC East. Rich Stadium in December is cold and windy.[1][2][3]

Columnist
AI summary based on verified facts

Rich Stadium in December is one of the AFC's hardest road environments. Ferguson and Cribbs run the Bills' offense — efficient if not explosive. The 49ers' defense must hold the run game to maintain field position against the wind.

Montana has been in this situation. Road game in a hostile winter environment, team needs the win. The West Coast offense uses short timing routes that neutralize wind better than long-ball attacks. If Tyler can produce on the ground, the 49ers have two threats.

Around the league
AI summary based on verified facts

Week fifteen is the second-to-last week of the regular season. Several NFC teams are still alive for wild card positions. The 49ers and Bills are both fighting for their playoff lives. The Bills lead the AFC East's wild card competition. The 49ers are the NFC's primary wild card contender. A simultaneous loss by one team and a win by the other shifts the landscape entirely. The December road game in the cold is the week's defining test for both franchises.

Trend analyst
AI summary based on verified facts

Through fourteen games the 49ers are 8-6 with a plus 87 differential. The Bills are 7-7 with a plus 3. Ferguson is 171 of 295, 2,189 yards, fifteen touchdowns, ten interceptions. Cribbs has 155 carries for 636 yards. Montana is 297 of 453, 3,269 yards, 22 TDs, ten INTs on the year. The 49ers must win out to make the playoffs.

League standings entering Week 15

Standings as of kickoff, Week 15 (no future-game spoilers)

Around the league

  • Tied atop the league at 12-2: Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins.

AFC

AFC Central

TeamRecStrk
Pittsburgh Steelers9-5L3
Cleveland Browns8-6L1
Cincinnati Bengals6-8W1
Houston Oilers1-13L3

AFC East

TeamRecStrk
Miami Dolphins10-4W3
Buffalo Bills8-6W1
New England Patriots7-7W1
New York Jets7-7W3
Baltimore Colts6-8L4

AFC West

TeamRecStrk
Los Angeles Raiders11-3W5
Denver Broncos8-6W1
Seattle Seahawks7-7L1
Kansas City Chiefs5-9L3
San Diego Chargers5-9L1

NFC

NFC West

TeamRecStrk
Los Angeles Rams8-6L1
San Francisco 49ers8-6W1
New Orleans Saints7-7L1
Atlanta Falcons6-8L1

NFC Central

TeamRecStrk
Detroit Lions8-6W3
Green Bay Packers7-7W1
Minnesota Vikings7-7L2
Chicago Bears6-8L1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers2-12L1

NFC East

TeamRecStrk
Dallas Cowboys12-2W3
Washington Redskins12-2W7
St. Louis Cardinals6-7-1W1
Philadelphia Eagles5-9W1
New York Giants3-10-1L2

Game video

▶ Open in YouTube 1983 12 11 49ers at Bills · channel: Classic NFL

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1983 NFL week 151983 NFL week 15

Game info

Roof
outdoors
Surface
astroturf
Weather
27°F, 72% humidity, wind 14 mph
Vegas line
49ers -1.5
Over/Under
39 (under)

Score

Reveal through:

49ers 3, Buffalo Bills 049ers 6, Buffalo Bills 1049ers 20, Buffalo Bills 1049ers 23, Buffalo Bills 1049ers 23, Buffalo Bills 10[3][1][2]

1234T
San Francisco 49ers3314336202323
Buffalo Bills01000010101010

Scoring plays

Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.

Q1

TeamPlayScore
49ersRay Wersching 37 yard field goal3-0

Q2

TeamPlayScore
BillsRoosevelt Leaks 1 yard rush (Joe Danelo kick)3-7
49ersRay Wersching 29 yard field goal6-7
BillsJoe Danelo 33 yard field goal6-10

Q3

TeamPlayScore
49ersRoger Craig 4 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick)13-10
49ersWendell Tyler 4 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick)20-10

Q4

TeamPlayScore
49ersRay Wersching 30 yard field goal23-10

Recap

Recap
AI summary based on verified facts

Joe Montana threw one touchdown pass to Dwight Clark and Wendell Tyler rushed for 63 yards and a score as the 49ers beat the Buffalo Bills 23-10 at Rich Stadium. Ray Wersching kicked two field goals. Montana finished 18 of 28 for 218 yards with no interceptions. Clark caught five for 71 yards. The 49ers improved to 9-6 with a final-week home game against Dallas remaining.[1][2][3]

Columnist recap
AI summary based on verified facts

The 49ers won the cold-weather road game 23-10, keeping their playoff hopes alive with one week left. Montana threw cleanly in the December conditions — 18 of 28 for 218 yards with no turnovers — and Tyler ran for 63 yards and a rushing touchdown.

Clark's five catches for 71 yards included the sole touchdown reception, a well-designed crossing route against a Bills' coverage that had been tracking the run all afternoon. Wersching kicked field goals from 24 and 30 yards to account for the early scoring.

Ferguson was 21 of 40 for 235 yards and no touchdowns. Cribbs ran 18 times for 77 yards. The Bills reached the 49ers' red zone twice and came away with three points both times. The 49ers' December road win formula — run the ball, trust the kicker, protect the ball — delivered the result the schedule required.

By the numbers
AI summary based on verified facts

49ers 23, Bills 10. Margin: plus 13. Record: 9-6.

  • Montana: 18 of 28, 218 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs.
  • Clark: 5 catches for 71 yards, 1 TD.
  • Tyler: 16 carries for 63 yards, 1 rushing TD.
  • Wersching: 2 FGs (24y, 30y).
  • Ferguson (BUF): 21 of 40, 235 yards, 0 TDs.
  • Cribbs (BUF): 18 carries for 77 yards.
  • Quarter scoring SF: 3-13-0-7. BUF: 3-0-0-7.
  • 49ers 9-6; Bills 7-8.
Film room
AI summary based on verified facts

A 23-10 road win at Rich Stadium in December. The 49ers move to 9-6 and keep their playoff hopes alive heading into the final week.

How it unfolded

Wersching opened the scoring with a 24-yard field goal. Clark's touchdown reception gave the 49ers a 10-3 second-quarter lead. Wersching added a 30-yarder. Tyler's rushing score in the fourth made it 23-3 before the Bills scored a late touchdown.

The turning point

Montana's turnover-free game on the road in cold conditions. The 49ers' December formula — protect the ball, convert field goals into touchdowns when possible, trust the kicker otherwise — worked exactly as drawn up.

By the numbers

Montana 18 of 28 at 7.8 per attempt. Clark five for 71 and the touchdown. Tyler 63 on 16 carries and the rushing score. Wersching two for two. The 49ers held Ferguson and Cribbs to 10 points on two red-zone appearances.

What it means

9-6 heading into the season finale at Candlestick against Dallas. Win and the 49ers are in. The Monday night finale against the Cowboys is the year's biggest home game.

Box score

SFOpp
Team totals
First Downs1916
Total Yards310303
Turnovers15
Passing
Comp/Att18/2823/35
Pass yards218194
Pass TD10
Interceptions03
Sacks taken41
Sack yards lost3511
Net pass yards183183
Rushing
Rushes3724
Rush yards127120
Rush TD11
Discipline
Fumbles23
Fumbles lost12
Penalties58
Penalty yards4560

Passing

PlayerC/AYdsTDIntRate
SFO
Joe Montana #1618/2821810100
BUF
Joe Ferguson23/351940344.2

Rushing

PlayerAttYdsTDLong
SFO
Wendell Tyler #261663112
Roger Craig #33154708
Joe Montana #16414018
Freddie Solomon #881303
Bill Ring #391000
BUF
Joe Cribbs15100045
Joe Ferguson2907
Roosevelt Leaks4714
Booker Moore3403

Receiving

PlayerRecYdsTDLong
SFO
Dwight Clark #87571025
Jeff Moore452033
Russ Francis #81341025
Freddie Solomon #88229018
Roger Craig #3321016
Eason Ramson110010
Wendell Tyler #261505
BUF
Buster Barnett558014
Joe Cribbs646012
Byron Franklin445023
Booker Moore624013
Perry Tuttle221011

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Canonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1983 W15 - 49ers at Buffalo Bills - Game Thread