The 49ers (8-1) host the Cincinnati Bengals (4-5) at Candlestick Park on Sun November 4, 1984.
Joe Montana continues after the Rams shutout. The Bengals start Boomer Esiason at quarterback with James Brooks at running back.
Cincinnati is 4-5 and the AFC's middle team. The 49ers come in as the NFC's clear frontrunner. Montana's four interceptions this game will be the year's aberration.[1][2][3]
Boomer Esiason is in his first full season as the Bengals' starter, bringing an aggressive downfield attack. James Brooks and the run game provide the two-dimension threat that tests the 49ers' defense. The 49ers at 8-1 are the clear conference leader.
Montana has thrown only three interceptions in nine games. This is the afternoon where the count spikes — four picks — and the 49ers survive 23-17 anyway. The offense produces enough despite the turnovers.
Week ten is the early November home game. The 49ers (8-1) lead the NFC. The Bengals (4-5) are below .500 but have the AFC's most productive passing offense through nine weeks. Esiason has 16 touchdown passes on the season. The Dolphins (9-0) remain perfect. The NFC's other contenders are the Cowboys and Bears at 8-2. The 49ers' Sunday home game at Candlestick is the week's NFC showcase.
Through nine games the 49ers are 8-1 with a plus 115 differential. The Bengals are 4-5 with a plus 8. Esiason is 156 of 256, 2,116 yards, 16 touchdowns, 10 interceptions. Brooks has 87 carries for 430 yards. Montana is 170 of 279, 2,337 yards, 19 TDs, three INTs on the year. The 49ers have not allowed a shutout since the Pittsburgh game.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 5-4 | W1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 3-6 | W2 |
| Cleveland Browns | 1-8 | L5 |
| Houston Oilers | 0-9 | L9 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 9-0 | W9 |
| New England Patriots | 6-3 | W1 |
| New York Jets | 6-3 | L1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 3-6 | L1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 0-9 | L9 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 8-1 | W7 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 7-2 | L1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 7-2 | W3 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 5-4 | W1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 4-5 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 8-1 | W2 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 5-4 | L1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 4-5 | W1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 3-6 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 6-3 | W2 |
| Detroit Lions | 3-6 | L1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 3-6 | L3 |
| Green Bay Packers | 2-7 | W1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 2-7 | L5 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 6-3 | W2 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 6-3 | W4 |
| New York Giants | 5-4 | W1 |
| Washington Redskins | 5-4 | L2 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 4-5 | L1 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Bengals | Jim Breech 39 yard field goal | 3-0 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Earl Cooper 15 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 3-7 |
| Bengals | Larry Kinnebrew 6 yard rush (Jim Breech kick) | 10-7 |
| Bengals | Cris Collinsworth 7 yard pass from Ken Anderson (Jim Breech kick) | 17-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 29 yard field goal | 17-10 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 35 yard field goal | 17-13 |
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 24 yard field goal | 17-16 |
| 49ers | Freddie Solomon 4 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 17-23 |
Joe Montana threw two touchdown passes but had four interceptions as the 49ers held off the Cincinnati Bengals 23-17 at Candlestick Park. Montana finished 27 of 42 for 301 yards. The 49ers' defense held Esiason to 21 of 34 for 269 yards with an interception. James Brooks ran for 79 yards. Ray Wersching kicked two field goals in the fourth quarter to seal the win. The 49ers improved to 9-1.[1][2][3]
Montana threw four interceptions and the 49ers escaped with a 23-17 win. The four picks were the season's most in a single game, but two touchdown passes and 301 yards gave the offense enough production to survive.
The 49ers led 23-10 entering the fourth before the Bengals scored a touchdown to cut it to 23-17. Wersching's two fourth-quarter field goals were the defensive margin — both came after Montana turnovers led to Bengals possessions that produced nothing.
Esiason went 21 of 34 for 269 yards and one touchdown. Brooks ran for 79 yards and the Bengals' offense moved the ball but could not convert the Montana turnovers into more than seven points. The 49ers survived a self-inflicted test.
49ers 23, Bengals 17. Margin: plus 6. Record: 9-1.
A 23-17 home win over the Cincinnati Bengals — the 49ers survive Montana's four-interception game.
How it unfolded
Montana's touchdown passes gave the 49ers a 23-10 lead entering the fourth. The Bengals scored to cut it to 23-17. The 49ers did not score again but held on as Cincinnati's final drive stalled.
The turning point
Wersching's two fourth-quarter field goals. After Montana's third and fourth interceptions, the Bengals needed touchdowns; Wersching's makes kept the margin at six when the Bengals scored. The field goals created the cushion.
By the numbers
Montana 27 of 42 at 7.2 per attempt, two touchdowns, four interceptions — the year's outlier game. The defense held Esiason to one touchdown. The run game's 91 yards on 31 carries was not enough to carry the load.
What it means
9-1 heading to Cleveland. The Bengals game is the season's warning: the 49ers can survive Montana's worst day but cannot afford it consistently. The next four games are wins by a combined 130 points.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 21 | 26 |
| Total Yards | 346 | 385 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 4 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 21/34 | 27/42 |
| Pass yards | 269 | 301 |
| Pass TD | 1 | 2 |
| Interceptions | 2 | 4 |
| Sacks taken | 6 | 1 |
| Sack yards lost | 39 | 7 |
| Net pass yards | 230 | 294 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 25 | 31 |
| Rush yards | 116 | 91 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 0 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 0 | 0 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 | 0 |
| Penalties | 6 | 5 |
| Penalty yards | 46 | 30 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 27/42 | 301 | 2 | 4 | 61.8 |
| CIN | |||||
| Ken Anderson | 21/34 | 269 | 1 | 2 | 71.8 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 14 | 52 | 0 | 15 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 12 | 34 | 0 | 14 |
| Derrick Harmon | 2 | 10 | 0 | 9 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 3 | -5 | 0 | 1 |
| CIN | ||||
| Charles Alexander | 8 | 48 | 0 | 22 |
| Larry Kinnebrew | 11 | 41 | 1 | 8 |
| James Brooks | 6 | 27 | 0 | 9 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Dwight Clark #87 | 7 | 124 | 0 | 39 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 7 | 44 | 0 | 11 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 3 | 38 | 1 | 19 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 3 | 33 | 1 | 17 |
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 4 | 29 | 0 | 15 |
| Bill Ring #39 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| Renaldo Nehemiah #82 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| Carl Monroe | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| CIN | ||||
| Cris Collinsworth | 4 | 71 | 1 | 49 |
| M.L. Harris | 5 | 59 | 0 | 21 |
| Isaac Curtis | 3 | 40 | 0 | 22 |
| Larry Kinnebrew | 2 | 33 | 0 | 22 |
| James Brooks | 3 | 33 | 0 | 22 |
| David Verser | 1 | 20 | 0 | 20 |
| Charles Alexander | 2 | 12 | 0 | 9 |
| Rodney Holman | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
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