The 49ers (1-0) host the Washington Redskins (1-0) at Candlestick Park on Mon September 10, 1984, in a Monday night rematch of the 1983 NFC Championship Game.
Joe Montana faces Joe Theismann and the Redskins on Candlestick's Monday night stage. Roger Craig and Wendell Tyler share the backfield. John Riggins is Washington's featured back.
The 49ers lost the NFC title game in Washington 21-24 nine months ago.[1][2][3]
Nine months after Riggins ran 45 times for 172 yards and ended the 49ers' season in Washington, the Redskins come to Candlestick for Monday night. Walsh spent the offseason with that game on film.
Montana threw for 347 yards and three touchdowns in the championship game and still lost. The defense gave up 172 yards rushing. The adjustment: hold Riggins under 100, pressure Theismann early. Candlestick's Monday crowd is the loudest home atmosphere of the year.
Monday night in Week 2 features the NFC Championship rematch. The Redskins won the conference title over the 49ers last January and return to Candlestick as defending NFC champions. The AFC's Dolphins opened 2-0. The NFC's early read is the 49ers and Cowboys as the conference's other powers. The Monday night stage makes this the week's most-watched game.
Through one game the 49ers are 1-0 with a plus 3 differential. The Redskins are 1-0. In last January's NFC Championship, Riggins ran 45 times for 172 yards and 2 TDs. Theismann completed 15 of 27 for 265 yards and a TD. Montana countered with 347 yards and 3 TDs in the loss. The 49ers' defense gave up 410 total yards in that game.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 0-1 | L1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 0-1 | L1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 0-1 | L1 |
| Houston Oilers | 0-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 1-0 | W1 |
| New England Patriots | 1-0 | W1 |
| New York Jets | 1-0 | W1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 0-1 | L1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 0-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 1-0 | W1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 1-0 | W1 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 1-0 | W1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 1-0 | W1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 1-0 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons | 1-0 | W1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 1-0 | W1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 0-1 | L1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 0-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 1-0 | W1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 1-0 | W1 |
| Detroit Lions | 0-1 | L1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 0-1 | L1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 1-0 | W1 |
| New York Giants | 1-0 | W1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 0-1 | L1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 0-1 | L1 |
| Washington Redskins | 0-1 | L1 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Wendell Tyler 1 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-7 |
| 49ers | Wendell Tyler 5 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-14 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 19 yard field goal | 0-17 |
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 46 yard field goal | 0-20 |
| 49ers | Dwight Clark 15 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-27 |
| Redskins | Mark Moseley 38 yard field goal | 3-27 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Redskins | Charlie Brown 14 yard pass from Joe Theismann (Mark Moseley kick) | 10-27 |
| Redskins | John Riggins 1 yard rush (Mark Moseley kick) | 17-27 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Joe Montana 7 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 17-34 |
| Redskins | John Riggins 1 yard rush (Mark Moseley kick) | 24-34 |
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 38 yard field goal | 24-37 |
| Redskins | Virgil Seay 12 yard pass from Joe Theismann (Mark Moseley kick) | 31-37 |
Joe Montana threw for 381 yards and two touchdowns and the 49ers ran for 167 yards on 40 carries as San Francisco beat Washington 37-31 at Candlestick Park on Monday night. Montana finished 24 of 40 with no interceptions. The 49ers rushed for two touchdowns. Theismann went 24 of 43 for 331 yards and two touchdowns for the Redskins. The 49ers improved to 2-0.[1][2][3]
The 49ers avenged the NFC Championship in the Monday night rematch, beating Washington 37-31 in a game that matched last January's offensive firepower. Montana's 381-yard, two-touchdown, zero-interception performance was the complete answer the Candlestick crowd demanded.
The run game was the supplement: 40 carries for 167 yards and two rushing touchdowns. The offensive balance pinned the Redskins' defense on both fronts. Theismann went 24 of 43 for 331 yards and two touchdowns — the Redskins moved the ball but the 49ers' offense outpaced them.
Riggins was held to manageable yardage as the 49ers' front committed to stopping the ground game early. The 37-31 final was closer than the performance suggested; the 49ers led by two scores for most of the second half.
49ers 37, Redskins 31. Margin: plus 6. Record: 2-0.
A 37-31 Monday night home win over Washington — the NFC Championship rematch on Candlestick's biggest stage.
How it unfolded
Montana's first touchdown pass came on the opening drive. The 49ers built a two-score lead by halftime. The Redskins cut it with Theismann's second touchdown in the fourth quarter. The 49ers held on by six.
The turning point
The 49ers' rush attack producing two touchdowns on 40 carries. The ground game's volume forced Washington to commit linebackers to stop the run, which opened the routes that Montana converted.
By the numbers
Montana 24 of 40 for 381 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions. The 49ers' 40-carry rushing game was the most attempts of any game this year. Theismann 331 yards but could not match Montana's output. Washington's defense that held Montana to 201 yards in the playoff gave up 381.
What it means
2-0 with the NFC Championship rematch settled. The 49ers' offense answered every question the playoff loss raised.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 20 | 30 |
| Total Yards | 371 | 534 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 24/43 | 24/40 |
| Pass yards | 331 | 381 |
| Pass TD | 2 | 2 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 0 |
| Sacks taken | 4 | 2 |
| Sack yards lost | 22 | 14 |
| Net pass yards | 309 | 367 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 21 | 40 |
| Rush yards | 62 | 167 |
| Rush TD | 2 | 2 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 3 | 3 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 | 2 |
| Penalties | 6 | 6 |
| Penalty yards | 60 | 50 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 24/40 | 381 | 2 | 0 | 108.4 |
| WAS | |||||
| Joe Theismann | 24/43 | 331 | 2 | 0 | 96.2 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 20 | 96 | 1 | 20 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 17 | 57 | 0 | 10 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 3 | 14 | 1 | 12 |
| WAS | ||||
| Joe Theismann | 7 | 35 | 0 | 9 |
| Joe Washington | 3 | 15 | 0 | 10 |
| John Riggins | 10 | 12 | 2 | 10 |
| Art Monk | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Dwight Clark #87 | 5 | 105 | 1 | 56 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 5 | 77 | 0 | 22 |
| Mike Wilson #85 | 2 | 58 | 0 | 44 |
| Russ Francis #81 | 5 | 55 | 0 | 21 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 3 | 44 | 0 | 21 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 3 | 37 | 0 | 18 |
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| WAS | ||||
| Art Monk | 10 | 200 | 0 | 32 |
| Virgil Seay | 3 | 44 | 1 | 16 |
| Don Warren | 3 | 37 | 0 | 25 |
| Joe Washington | 5 | 30 | 0 | 10 |
| Charlie Brown | 2 | 20 | 1 | 14 |
| John Riggins | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1984 W2 - 49ers vs Washington Redskins - Game Thread
