The 49ers (9-1) travel to Cleveland Municipal Stadium for a 1:00 PM ET kickoff against the Cleveland Browns (4-6) on Sun November 11, 1984.
Joe Montana continues. Roger Craig and Wendell Tyler share the backfield. The Browns start Paul McDonald at quarterback with Boyce Green at running back.
Cleveland is 4-6 and playing in the AFC's toughest environment. The 49ers come in needing a performance after the Cincinnati scare.[1][2][3]
The Browns at 4-6 are the AFC's underperforming team. Paul McDonald has been inconsistent. The 49ers come in after surviving four Montana interceptions against Cincinnati and need the blowout that pushes the point differential.
Craig's second NFL year has been steadily building. Today Craig rushes for 213 yards and three touchdowns — the season's single-game high. The 49ers' ground game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium is the week's defining individual performance.
Week eleven is the mid-November road game. The 49ers (9-1) lead the NFC by two games over the Cowboys and Bears. The Browns (4-6) are fighting for AFC wild card position. The Dolphins (10-0) remain the league's last perfect team. The NFC's Bears and Cowboys are the 49ers' conference rivals. The 49ers' road game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium is the week's most lopsided matchup.
Through ten games the 49ers are 9-1 with a plus 121 differential. The Browns are 4-6 with a minus 17. McDonald is 98 of 186, 1,293 yards, eight touchdowns, eight interceptions. Green has 100 carries for 469 yards. Montana is 197 of 321, 2,638 yards, 21 TDs, seven INTs on the year. Craig has 95 carries for 361 yards and three rushing scores.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 6-4 | W2 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 3-7 | L1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 2-8 | W1 |
| Houston Oilers | 0-10 | L10 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 10-0 | W10 |
| New England Patriots | 6-4 | L1 |
| New York Jets | 6-4 | L2 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 3-7 | L2 |
| Buffalo Bills | 0-10 | L10 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 9-1 | W8 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 8-2 | W4 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 7-3 | L2 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 5-5 | L1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 5-5 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 9-1 | W3 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 6-4 | W1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 4-6 | L1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 3-7 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 7-3 | W3 |
| Detroit Lions | 3-6-1 | T1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 3-7 | W2 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 3-7 | W1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 3-7 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 6-4 | L1 |
| New York Giants | 6-4 | W2 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 6-4 | L1 |
| Washington Redskins | 6-4 | W1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 4-5-1 | T1 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 47 yard field goal | 3-0 |
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 26 yard field goal | 6-0 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Roger Craig 20 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 13-0 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Roger Craig 2 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 20-0 |
| 49ers | Freddie Solomon 60 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 27-0 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Freddie Solomon 2 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 34-0 |
| 49ers | Bill Ring 5 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 41-0 |
| Browns | Bruce Davis 18 yard pass from Paul McDonald (Matt Bahr kick) | 41-7 |
Roger Craig rushed for 213 yards and three touchdowns as the 49ers demolished the Cleveland Browns 41-7 at Municipal Stadium. Joe Montana threw for 263 yards on 24 of 30 passing with two touchdown passes and one interception. The 49ers' ground game produced 213 yards on 39 carries. Paul McDonald was intercepted twice. The 49ers moved to 10-1.[1][2][3]
Craig's 213-yard, three-touchdown afternoon at Cleveland was the 1984 season's most dominant individual performance. The 49ers won 41-7 in one of the year's most complete performances.
Montana added 263 yards and two touchdowns on 24 of 30 completions. The 49ers scored on six of their first seven possessions. Craig's three rushing touchdowns came on runs of varying distances; each time the 49ers went to the ground against a Browns defense that could not stop the outside runs.
McDonald went 13 of 33 for 220 yards and was sacked once and intercepted twice. Boyce Green ran for 43 yards. The Browns' seven points came on a late touchdown against the 49ers' reserves. The 41-point margin was the year's widest.
49ers 41, Browns 7. Margin: plus 34. Record: 10-1.
A 41-7 road win at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Roger Craig's 213-yard rushing day is the season's individual highlight.
How it unfolded
Craig scored in the first quarter on a rushing touchdown. Montana added a passing touchdown on the same drive series. The 49ers built a 28-0 halftime lead and added two more scores in the second half. The Browns' lone score came against the 49ers' reserves.
The turning point
Craig's first run of 20 or more yards, which set the tone for his 213-yard afternoon. With the Browns' defense committed to stopping the quick passing game, Craig found lanes in the second level. Three touchdowns on three separate drives confirmed the ground game's dominance.
By the numbers
Craig 213 on 39 carries at 5.5 per attempt, three touchdowns. Montana 24 of 30 at 8.8 per attempt, two touchdowns. The 49ers' 41 points were the year's second-highest total. The Browns' defense allowed 220 total rushing yards.
What it means
10-1 heading home for Tampa Bay. The Cincinnati scare is behind them. Craig's Cleveland performance signals the running game is ready to carry games when the passing game needs support.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 23 | 10 |
| Total Yards | 468 | 251 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 4 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 24/30 | 13/33 |
| Pass yards | 263 | 220 |
| Pass TD | 2 | 1 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 1 |
| Sacks taken | 1 | 2 |
| Sack yards lost | 8 | 12 |
| Net pass yards | 255 | 208 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 39 | 20 |
| Rush yards | 213 | 43 |
| Rush TD | 3 | 0 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 1 | 5 |
| Fumbles lost | 1 | 3 |
| Penalties | 7 | 5 |
| Penalty yards | 45 | 32 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 24/30 | 263 | 2 | 1 | 111.5 |
| CLE | |||||
| Paul McDonald | 13/33 | 220 | 1 | 1 | 60.2 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 17 | 87 | 0 | 14 |
| Bill Ring #39 | 6 | 48 | 1 | 34 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 9 | 45 | 2 | 20 |
| Derrick Harmon | 5 | 29 | 0 | 13 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| CLE | ||||
| Boyce Green | 13 | 38 | 0 | 5 |
| Earnest Byner | 5 | 5 | 0 | 8 |
| Paul McDonald | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 5 | 105 | 2 | 60 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 8 | 49 | 0 | 16 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 2 | 35 | 0 | 18 |
| Renaldo Nehemiah #82 | 1 | 23 | 0 | 23 |
| John Frank | 1 | 21 | 0 | 21 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 2 | 19 | 0 | 11 |
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 9 |
| Bill Ring #39 | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 |
| CLE | ||||
| Bruce Davis | 4 | 64 | 1 | 19 |
| Ozzie Newsome | 2 | 56 | 0 | 47 |
| Brian Brennan | 1 | 52 | 0 | 52 |
| Willis Adams | 3 | 30 | 0 | 17 |
| Boyce Green | 2 | 11 | 0 | 7 |
| Earnest Byner | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
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