The 49ers (6-1) travel to the Astrodome for a 1:00 PM CT kickoff against the Houston Oilers (1-6) on Sun October 21, 1984.
Joe Montana continues after the Pittsburgh loss. Roger Craig and Wendell Tyler share the backfield. The Oilers start Warren Moon in his first NFL season at quarterback.
Houston is 1-6 and the AFC's struggling team. The 49ers need to bounce back after their only loss of the year.[1][2][3]
Warren Moon is in his first NFL season after five years in the CFL. The Oilers at 1-6 have not found the formula but Moon's arm is one of the league's most discussed.
Montana had zero touchdown passes and one interception in the Pittsburgh loss. The Astrodome is a controlled environment and the Oilers' defense is bottom-half of the AFC. This is the week for the 49ers' offense to reassert itself.
Week eight is the late October cross-conference schedule. The 49ers (6-1) are the NFC's leader after the Pittsburgh loss. The Oilers (1-6) are the AFC's bottom team. The Dolphins remain perfect at 8-0. The Cowboys and Redskins lead the NFC East. The 49ers' road game at the Astrodome is the week's most lopsided on-paper matchup. The game also serves as the 49ers' chance to reassert themselves after their first loss.
Through seven games the 49ers are 6-1 with a plus 69 differential. The Oilers are 1-6 with a minus 67. Moon is 100 of 201, 1,379 yards, eight touchdowns, ten interceptions. Montana is 123 of 212, 1,608 yards, 13 TDs, two INTs on the year. Craig has 62 carries for 219 yards. The 49ers are 3-1 all-time at the Astrodome.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 4-3 | W1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 1-6 | L1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 1-6 | L3 |
| Houston Oilers | 0-7 | L7 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 7-0 | W7 |
| New England Patriots | 5-2 | W3 |
| New York Jets | 5-2 | W2 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 2-5 | L2 |
| Buffalo Bills | 0-7 | L7 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 6-1 | W5 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 6-1 | W2 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 5-2 | W1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 4-3 | W1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 4-3 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 6-1 | L1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 4-3 | W1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 3-4 | L1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 3-4 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 4-3 | L1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 3-4 | L1 |
| Detroit Lions | 2-5 | W1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 2-5 | L3 |
| Green Bay Packers | 1-6 | L6 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Redskins | 5-2 | W5 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 4-3 | L2 |
| New York Giants | 4-3 | W1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 4-3 | W2 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 3-4 | W2 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Russ Francis 11 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 7-0 |
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 26 yard field goal | 10-0 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Oilers | Larry Moriarty 1 yard rush (Florian Kempf kick) | 10-7 |
| 49ers | Wendell Tyler 26 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 17-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 22 yard field goal | 20-7 |
| Oilers | Tim Smith 45 yard pass from Warren Moon (Florian Kempf kick) | 20-14 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Roger Craig 5 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 27-14 |
| Oilers | Jamie Williams 20 yard pass from Warren Moon (Florian Kempf kick) | 27-21 |
| 49ers | Dwight Clark 80 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 34-21 |
Joe Montana threw three touchdown passes and finished with 353 yards as the 49ers beat the Houston Oilers 34-21 at the Astrodome. Montana finished 25 of 35 and threw one interception. Roger Craig rushed for 88 yards and a score. The 49ers' defense held Moon to 356 yards but produced two interceptions. The 49ers moved to 7-1.[1][2][3]
Montana's 353-yard, three-touchdown performance restored the offense after the Pittsburgh shutout. The 49ers won 34-21 in a cross-conference road game with Craig's 88-yard rushing afternoon leading the ground attack.
Craig rushed for a touchdown and added receptions out of the backfield. Montana found four receivers for touchdowns across the three scoring plays. Moon went 25 of 33 for 356 yards and two touchdowns — a productive day from the rookie starter that kept Houston within a touchdown for the first half.
The 49ers scored on their first four possessions and the lead never dropped below seven. Two Moon interceptions in the third quarter converted into field goals that built the margin to 34-14. The Oilers' late touchdown made the final 34-21.
49ers 34, Oilers 21. Margin: plus 13. Record: 7-1.
A 34-21 road win at the Astrodome. The 49ers bounce back from the Pittsburgh loss to move to 7-1.
How it unfolded
Montana's first touchdown pass came on the opening drive. The 49ers scored on four consecutive possessions in the first half to build a 20-14 lead. Two second-half scores on Moon interceptions expanded the margin. The Oilers' late score made it 34-21.
The turning point
Montana's first-drive touchdown. After the Pittsburgh game where the first-half execution was off, the clean opening drive set the tone. The offense never trailed.
By the numbers
Montana 25 of 35 at 10.1 yards per attempt — the year's highest output. Three touchdowns and 353 yards restored the statistical line from before Pittsburgh. Craig 88 on the ground and out of the backfield.
What it means
7-1 heading home for the Rams shutout game. The Pittsburgh game was the detour; the Houston performance confirmed it.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 25 | 22 |
| Total Yards | 517 | 432 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 25/35 | 25/33 |
| Pass yards | 353 | 356 |
| Pass TD | 3 | 2 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 2 |
| Sacks taken | 1 | 2 |
| Sack yards lost | 0 | 6 |
| Net pass yards | 353 | 350 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 38 | 18 |
| Rush yards | 164 | 82 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 1 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 2 | 3 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 | 1 |
| Penalties | 8 | 7 |
| Penalty yards | 70 | 75 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 25/35 | 353 | 3 | 1 | 120.3 |
| HOU | |||||
| Warren Moon | 25/33 | 356 | 2 | 2 | 105.1 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 23 | 108 | 0 | 14 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 8 | 31 | 1 | 7 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 12 |
| Derrick Harmon | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| HOU | ||||
| Larry Moriarty | 9 | 36 | 1 | 11 |
| Warren Moon | 5 | 31 | 0 | 25 |
| Stan Edwards | 2 | 10 | 0 | 6 |
| Herkie Walls | 2 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Dwight Clark #87 | 5 | 127 | 1 | 80 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 7 | 61 | 0 | 12 |
| Mike Wilson #85 | 3 | 36 | 0 | 0 |
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 2 | 33 | 1 | 26 |
| Russ Francis #81 | 2 | 27 | 1 | 16 |
| Carl Monroe | 1 | 22 | 0 | 22 |
| Renaldo Nehemiah #82 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 20 |
| John Frank | 2 | 17 | 0 | 9 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 8 |
| HOU | ||||
| Tim Smith | 6 | 101 | 1 | 45 |
| Jamie Williams | 3 | 62 | 1 | 29 |
| Larry Moriarty | 5 | 50 | 0 | 14 |
| Chris Dressel | 2 | 48 | 0 | 42 |
| Herkie Walls | 3 | 29 | 0 | 18 |
| Eric Mullins | 2 | 28 | 0 | 20 |
| Stan Edwards | 2 | 21 | 0 | 12 |
| Carl Roaches | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| Steve Bryant | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Find or start the canonical thread for this game on r/49ers. The thread title is deterministic so anyone running this Rewatch lands on the same place.
Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1984 W8 - 49ers at Houston Oilers - Game Thread
