The 49ers (3-0) travel to Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, for a 1:00 PM ET kickoff against the Philadelphia Eagles (1-2) on Sun September 23, 1984.
Joe Montana continues. Roger Craig and Wendell Tyler share the backfield. The Eagles start Ron Jaworski at quarterback with Wilbert Montgomery at running back.
Philadelphia is 1-2 and the NFC East's struggling team. Veterans Stadium is one of the NFC's toughest road environments.[1][2][3]
Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia is a unique environment: loud, adversarial, and built for the defensive style the Eagles bring every week. Jaworski is the NFC's steadiest veteran. The 49ers come in 3-0 and the conference leader.
Montana has thrown zero interceptions through three games. If the 49ers can run the ball, the passing game needs fewer explosive plays to win. The Eagles' defensive front is one of the conference's best. The challenge is sustaining drives on the road.
Week four is the late-September away trip. The 49ers lead the NFC West at 3-0. The Eagles are in the NFC East behind the Cowboys and Redskins. The Dolphins lead the AFC at 4-0. The NFC's 3-0 teams are San Francisco and Dallas. The 49ers' road game at Veterans Stadium is the week's key NFC measuring stick. Veterans Stadium produces one of the NFC's loudest road environments and the Eagles' defense ranks among the conference's toughest fronts.
Through three games the 49ers are 3-0 with a plus 30 differential. The Eagles are 1-2 with a minus 14. Jaworski is 56 of 99, 715 yards, five touchdowns, four interceptions. Montgomery has 46 carries for 213 yards. Montana is 53 of 91, 748 yards, five touchdowns, one interception on the year. The 49ers are 4-2 all-time at Veterans Stadium.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 2-1 | W2 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 0-3 | L3 |
| Cleveland Browns | 0-3 | L3 |
| Houston Oilers | 0-3 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 3-0 | W3 |
| New England Patriots | 2-1 | W1 |
| New York Jets | 2-1 | W1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 1-2 | L1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 0-3 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Raiders | 3-0 | W3 |
| Denver Broncos | 2-1 | W1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 2-1 | L1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 2-1 | W1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 2-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 3-0 | W3 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 1-2 | L2 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 1-2 | L1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 1-2 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 3-0 | W3 |
| Detroit Lions | 1-2 | L1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 1-2 | L2 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 1-2 | W1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1-2 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 2-1 | W1 |
| New York Giants | 2-1 | L1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 2-1 | W2 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 1-2 | L1 |
| Washington Redskins | 1-2 | W1 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Roger Craig 35 yard pass from Matt Cavanaugh (Ray Wersching kick) | 7-0 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Eagles | Paul McFadden 35 yard field goal | 7-3 |
| Eagles | Paul McFadden 32 yard field goal | 7-6 |
| 49ers | Freddie Solomon 2 yard pass from Matt Cavanaugh (Ray Wersching kick) | 14-6 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Eagles | Paul McFadden 33 yard field goal | 14-9 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Dwight Clark 51 yard pass from Matt Cavanaugh (Ray Wersching kick) | 21-9 |
Joe Montana threw three touchdown passes and the 49ers' ground game produced 177 yards as San Francisco beat the Philadelphia Eagles 21-9 at Veterans Stadium. Montana finished 17 of 34 for 252 yards with no interceptions. Roger Craig and Wendell Tyler split the rushing duties on 37 carries. The Eagles' offense managed nine points on two field goals and a late touchdown. The 49ers improved to 4-0.[1][2][3]
The 49ers won 21-9 in Philadelphia with a run-oriented game plan that produced 177 yards on 37 carries and three Montana touchdown passes. The completion percentage was not Montana's best at 17 of 34, but three touchdowns and zero interceptions on a tough road surface was exactly what Walsh drew up.
Craig and Tyler split the 37 carries, each contributing to a ground game that controlled field position. The Eagles' defense held the 49ers to three touchdown drives but could not pressure Montana enough to create turnovers.
Jaworski managed 16 of 41 for 187 yards and no touchdowns; Montgomery ran for 62 yards. The Eagles' nine points came on two early field goals and a late touchdown that did not affect the margin. The 49ers left Philadelphia 4-0.
49ers 21, Eagles 9. Margin: plus 12. Record: 4-0.
A 21-9 road win at Veterans Stadium. The 49ers move to 4-0 and remain the NFC's only undefeated team.
How it unfolded
The 49ers scored touchdowns in the first three quarters on Montana's three scoring passes. The run game managed the game in between, producing 177 yards. The Eagles' nine points came early; the 49ers' lead was three scores by the end of the third.
The turning point
Montana's third touchdown pass in the third quarter. With the Eagles at two field goals and a touchdown through three quarters, the 49ers' third scoring drive put the game out of reach.
By the numbers
Montana 17 of 34 at 7.4 per attempt, three touchdowns, zero interceptions. The run game's 37-carry, 177-yard output was the offense's most productive rushing day of the year. The Eagles were held to 9 points on a defense that was one of the NFC's strongest units.
What it means
4-0 heading home for Atlanta. The 49ers have not thrown an interception in two of the last three games. The offense is operating at a level that can win close games or blow teams out.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 23 | 15 |
| Total Yards | 398 | 241 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 17/34 | 16/41 |
| Pass yards | 252 | 187 |
| Pass TD | 3 | 0 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 1 |
| Sacks taken | 4 | 2 |
| Sack yards lost | 31 | 18 |
| Net pass yards | 221 | 169 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 37 | 20 |
| Rush yards | 177 | 72 |
| Rush TD | 0 | 0 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 2 | 0 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 | 0 |
| Penalties | 12 | 4 |
| Penalty yards | 141 | 30 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Matt Cavanaugh | 17/34 | 252 | 3 | 0 | 104 |
| PHI | |||||
| Ron Jaworski | 16/40 | 187 | 0 | 1 | 44.5 |
| Wilbert Montgomery | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39.6 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 21 | 113 | 0 | 16 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 10 | 39 | 0 | 15 |
| Bill Ring #39 | 3 | 18 | 0 | 8 |
| Carl Monroe | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Derrick Harmon | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Matt Cavanaugh | 1 | -3 | 0 | -3 |
| PHI | ||||
| Wilbert Montgomery | 12 | 51 | 0 | 14 |
| Hubie Oliver | 5 | 13 | 0 | 7 |
| Michael Haddix | 3 | 8 | 0 | 7 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Dwight Clark #87 | 3 | 84 | 1 | 51 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 4 | 58 | 1 | 35 |
| Renaldo Nehemiah #82 | 2 | 32 | 0 | 20 |
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 2 | 28 | 0 | 23 |
| Carl Monroe | 3 | 24 | 0 | 12 |
| Russ Francis #81 | 2 | 24 | 0 | 13 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| PHI | ||||
| Kenny Jackson | 4 | 87 | 0 | 43 |
| Wilbert Montgomery | 7 | 46 | 0 | 12 |
| Mike Quick | 2 | 36 | 0 | 21 |
| Michael Haddix | 2 | 9 | 0 | 6 |
| Tony Woodruff | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
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