The 49ers (6-0) host the Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) at Candlestick Park on Sun October 14, 1984.
Joe Montana continues after the Monday night win. The Steelers start Mark Malone at quarterback with Frank Pollard and Walter Abercrombie in the backfield. Pittsburgh's defense features Jack Lambert and Donnie Shell.
Pittsburgh is 4-2 and the AFC's physical team. The 49ers' first loss of the year arrives this afternoon.[1][2][3]
The Steelers bring a physical ground game to Candlestick and grind the clock. No timing routes, no quick releases — just runs until possession expires.
Montana has not thrown an interception at home this year. But this is the kind of game where accumulated mistakes matter more than individual plays. Pittsburgh's defense has beaten the Walsh system before. Candlestick's home field will not be enough if the Steelers control possession.
Week seven is the mid-October home game. The 49ers (6-0) lead the NFC and the NFL. The Steelers (4-2) are the AFC's physical contender. The Dolphins remain perfect in the AFC. The NFC East's Cowboys (4-2) and Redskins (3-3) are the conference's other power teams. The 49ers' Sunday home game against Pittsburgh is the week's key AFC-NFC measuring stick.
Through six games the 49ers are 6-0 with a plus 72 differential. The Steelers are 4-2 with a plus 24. Malone is 73 of 142, 993 yards, seven touchdowns, five interceptions. Pollard has 89 carries for 340 yards. Montana is 99 of 177, 1,367 yards, 13 TDs, one interception on the year. The 49ers are 2-0 all-time vs Pittsburgh at Candlestick.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 3-3 | L1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 1-5 | W1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 1-5 | L2 |
| Houston Oilers | 0-6 | L6 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 6-0 | W6 |
| New England Patriots | 4-2 | W2 |
| New York Jets | 4-2 | W1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 2-4 | L1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 0-6 | L6 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 5-1 | W4 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 5-1 | W1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 4-2 | W2 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 4-2 | L1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 3-3 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 6-0 | W6 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 3-3 | W1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 3-3 | L1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 3-3 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 4-2 | W1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 3-3 | W2 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 2-4 | L2 |
| Detroit Lions | 1-5 | L4 |
| Green Bay Packers | 1-5 | L5 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 4-2 | L1 |
| Washington Redskins | 4-2 | W4 |
| New York Giants | 3-3 | L2 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 3-3 | W1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 2-4 | W1 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Steelers | Rich Erenberg 2 yard rush (Gary Anderson kick) | 7-0 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Steelers | Gary Anderson 48 yard field goal | 10-0 |
| 49ers | Joe Montana 7 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 10-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| No scoring this quarter. | ||
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 30 yard field goal | 10-10 |
| 49ers | Wendell Tyler 7 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 10-17 |
| Steelers | John Stallworth 6 yard pass from Mark Malone (Gary Anderson kick) | 17-17 |
| Steelers | Gary Anderson 21 yard field goal | 20-17 |
Mark Malone threw a touchdown pass and the Pittsburgh Steelers ran for 175 yards on 47 carries to beat the 49ers 20-17 at Candlestick Park. Joe Montana threw for 241 yards and was intercepted once but did not throw a touchdown pass. The 49ers' run game provided both scores on two rushing touchdowns. Pittsburgh's defense held through four quarters. The 49ers fell to 6-1.[1][2][3]
The Steelers ground out a 20-17 win at Candlestick — the 49ers' only loss of the 1984 season. Pittsburgh's 47 carries for 175 yards controlled the clock and limited Montana's opportunities. The 49ers ran for two touchdowns but Montana's zero-touchdown-pass game was the afternoon's decisive line.
Montana went 24 of 35 for 241 yards and one interception. The Steelers' defense pressured Montana without sacking him repeatedly, instead forcing the kind of early throws that did not produce touchdowns. Malone managed 11 of 18 for 156 yards and one touchdown — efficient game management against a Candlestick crowd that expected a win.
The Steelers' 47 carries were the most by any opponent at Candlestick in Walsh's tenure. Pittsburgh's time-of-possession dominance in the second half produced the winning margin. The 49ers could not answer after trailing 20-17 in the fourth quarter.
Steelers 20, 49ers 17. Margin: minus 3. Record: 6-1.
A 17-20 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers — the 49ers' only loss of the 1984 regular season.
How it unfolded
The 49ers led 17-7 at halftime on two rushing touchdowns. Pittsburgh scored twice in the second half — a Malone touchdown pass and a field goal — to take a 20-17 lead. The 49ers' answering drive stalled in Pittsburgh territory.
The turning point
Pittsburgh's clock control in the second half. The Steelers ran 30 of their 47 carries in the third and fourth quarters, limiting the possessions available to Montana. With the 49ers' passing game the difference-maker all year, possession time became the critical variable.
By the numbers
Montana 24 of 35 at 6.9 per attempt — Montana's line without a touchdown pass against a defense that took it away. Pittsburgh's 47 carries were the most by any opponent in Candlestick this year. The 49ers' 117 rushing yards provided both scores.
What it means
6-1 heading to Houston. The loss is recoverable — the 49ers' schedule favors a long winning streak. But Pittsburgh showed the blueprint: control the clock, rush for 175, dare Montana to produce with limited opportunities.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 23 | 22 |
| Total Yards | 324 | 358 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 11/18 | 24/35 |
| Pass yards | 156 | 241 |
| Pass TD | 1 | 0 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 1 |
| Sacks taken | 1 | 0 |
| Sack yards lost | 7 | 0 |
| Net pass yards | 149 | 241 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 47 | 20 |
| Rush yards | 175 | 117 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 2 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 1 | 1 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 | 0 |
| Penalties | 11 | 8 |
| Penalty yards | 68 | 57 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 24/34 | 241 | 0 | 1 | 78.2 |
| Derrick Harmon | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39.6 |
| PIT | |||||
| Mark Malone | 11/18 | 156 | 1 | 1 | 84.5 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 11 | 59 | 1 | 11 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 3 | 29 | 1 | 11 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 6 | 29 | 0 | 21 |
| PIT | ||||
| Frank Pollard | 24 | 105 | 0 | 14 |
| Rich Erenberg | 11 | 44 | 1 | 15 |
| Walter Abercrombie | 8 | 23 | 0 | 9 |
| Mark Malone | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Elton Veals | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Dwight Clark #87 | 5 | 67 | 0 | 22 |
| Russ Francis #81 | 2 | 50 | 0 | 32 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 6 | 50 | 0 | 13 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 7 | 43 | 0 | 15 |
| Mike Wilson #85 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 8 |
| Carl Monroe | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| PIT | ||||
| John Stallworth | 6 | 78 | 1 | 22 |
| Weegie Thompson | 1 | 23 | 0 | 23 |
| Chris Kolodziejski | 1 | 22 | 0 | 22 |
| Rich Erenberg | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| Wayne Capers | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| Gregg Garrity | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
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