The 49ers (13-1) host the Minnesota Vikings (7-7) at Candlestick Park on Sat December 8, 1984.
Joe Montana continues after the Atlanta win. Roger Craig and Wendell Tyler share the backfield. The Vikings start Tommy Kramer at quarterback with Ted Brown at running back.
Minnesota is 7-7 and fighting for a wild card spot. The 49ers have two home games left in the regular season.[1][2][3]
Minnesota at 7-7 needs wins to make the playoffs. Kramer is the Vikings' experienced arm; Ted Brown remains the primary back. The 49ers at 13-1 are the NFC's top seed and the league's most dominant team.
This is the afternoon where the 49ers put up 51 points — the season high and one of the biggest offensive outputs in Candlestick history. Montana throws three touchdowns and 346 yards on 25 of 35. The 51-7 blowout is the 1984 season's most complete offensive statement.
Saturday afternoon in December at Candlestick. The 49ers (13-1) have the NFC's top seed and the league's best record. The Vikings (7-7) need a win to stay alive for the wild card. The Dolphins (14-0) and Bears (10-4) are the other conference stories. The NFC playoff seedings are set except for the wild card spots. The 49ers' Saturday home game against Minnesota is the week's most-watched result.
Through fourteen games the 49ers are 13-1 with a plus 212 differential. The Vikings are 7-7 with a plus 8. Kramer is 186 of 331, 2,481 yards, 17 touchdowns, 10 interceptions. Brown has 145 carries for 614 yards. Montana is 267 of 430, 3,514 yards, 27 TDs, ten INTs on the year. The 49ers are 7-0 at Candlestick this season.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 7-7 | L1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 6-8 | W2 |
| Cleveland Browns | 4-10 | L1 |
| Houston Oilers | 3-11 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 12-2 | L1 |
| New England Patriots | 8-6 | L2 |
| New York Jets | 6-8 | L6 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 4-10 | L3 |
| Buffalo Bills | 2-12 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle Seahawks | 12-2 | W8 |
| Denver Broncos | 11-3 | L2 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 10-4 | W3 |
| San Diego Chargers | 7-7 | W1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 6-8 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 13-1 | W7 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 9-5 | W2 |
| New Orleans Saints | 6-8 | L2 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 3-11 | L8 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 9-5 | L1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 6-8 | W1 |
| Detroit Lions | 4-9-1 | L1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 4-10 | L3 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 3-11 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 9-5 | W2 |
| New York Giants | 9-5 | W3 |
| Washington Redskins | 9-5 | W2 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 8-6 | W2 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 5-8-1 | L2 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Dwight Clark 44 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-7 |
| 49ers | Freddie Solomon 3 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-14 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Vikings | Darrin Nelson 5 yard rush (Jan Stenerud kick) | 7-14 |
| 49ers | Wendell Tyler 5 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 7-21 |
| 49ers | Renaldo Nehemiah 59 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 7-28 |
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 41 yard field goal | 7-31 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 25 yard field goal | 7-34 |
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 38 yard field goal | 7-37 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Derrick Harmon 3 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 7-44 |
| 49ers | Bill Ring 15 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 7-51 |
Joe Montana threw three touchdown passes and finished with 346 yards as the 49ers blew out the Minnesota Vikings 51-7 at Candlestick Park. Montana finished 25 of 35 with no interceptions. Roger Craig and Wendell Tyler shared the rushing touchdowns on 184 yards. Tommy Kramer was intercepted once and sacked three times. The 49ers improved to 14-1.[1][2][3]
The 49ers' 51-7 blowout of Minnesota was the season's statement game for the offense. Montana threw three touchdowns and 346 yards on 25 of 35 with zero interceptions. The run game added 184 yards on 40 carries with multiple rushing touchdowns.
Craig and Tyler each scored rushing touchdowns as the 49ers found the end zone on their first five possessions. By halftime the game was effectively over. Montana's four-week passing sequence had been: 263 yards (Cleveland), 247 yards (Tampa Bay), 201 yards (New Orleans), 165 yards (Atlanta), and now 346 yards against Minnesota.
Kramer went 21 of 39 for 233 yards and was sacked three times. Brown ran for 45 yards on 12 carries. The Vikings' seven points came on a garbage-time touchdown against the 49ers' second-team defense. The 51 points were the most by any team in Candlestick history.
49ers 51, Vikings 7. Margin: plus 44. Record: 14-1.
A 51-7 home blowout of the Minnesota Vikings — the season's most complete offensive performance.
How it unfolded
The 49ers scored on their first five possessions. Montana's three touchdown passes came in the first half. The 49ers led 37-0 at halftime and added two more touchdowns in the third quarter before playing reserves in the fourth.
The turning point
Montana's first-drive efficiency. The opening drive touchdown set a tempo the Vikings could never match. Five consecutive scoring drives in the first half eliminated any competitive element.
By the numbers
Montana 25 of 35 at 9.9 yards per attempt, three touchdowns, zero interceptions. The 49ers' 51 points were the year's highest total and among the most in Candlestick history. The run game's 184 yards on 40 carries was the offense's third dimension. The Vikings were shut out for 54 minutes.
What it means
14-1 heading into the season finale against the Rams. The 49ers will enter the playoffs as the NFC's top seed with the conference's best record. The 51-point game is the statement the home crowd needed before the postseason.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 18 | 29 |
| Total Yards | 265 | 521 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 21/39 | 25/35 |
| Pass yards | 233 | 346 |
| Pass TD | 0 | 3 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 0 |
| Sacks taken | 6 | 1 |
| Sack yards lost | 58 | 9 |
| Net pass yards | 175 | 337 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 24 | 40 |
| Rush yards | 90 | 184 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 3 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 0 | 1 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 | 0 |
| Penalties | 7 | 4 |
| Penalty yards | 65 | 25 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 15/21 | 246 | 3 | 0 | 150 |
| Matt Cavanaugh | 10/14 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 91.4 |
| MIN | |||||
| Wade Wilson | 18/32 | 212 | 0 | 1 | 63.5 |
| Archie Manning | 3/7 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 50.3 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Derrick Harmon | 11 | 56 | 1 | 19 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 7 | 45 | 0 | 17 |
| Bill Ring #39 | 7 | 44 | 1 | 15 |
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 13 | 36 | 1 | 9 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Matt Cavanaugh | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 |
| MIN | ||||
| Darrin Nelson | 7 | 38 | 1 | 19 |
| Alfred Anderson | 12 | 33 | 0 | 11 |
| Wade Wilson | 2 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Leo Lewis | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Allen Rice | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Archie Manning | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Renaldo Nehemiah #82 | 6 | 125 | 1 | 59 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 3 | 73 | 1 | 44 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 3 | 46 | 0 | 25 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 3 | 32 | 1 | 21 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 4 | 31 | 0 | 17 |
| Russ Francis #81 | 2 | 21 | 0 | 14 |
| Mike Wilson #85 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 12 |
| Derrick Harmon | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Carl Monroe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| MIN | ||||
| Leo Lewis | 3 | 55 | 0 | 23 |
| Mike Jones | 3 | 53 | 0 | 37 |
| Mike Mularkey | 3 | 50 | 0 | 26 |
| Joe Senser | 6 | 36 | 0 | 14 |
| Darrin Nelson | 3 | 26 | 0 | 17 |
| Alfred Anderson | 2 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| Dwight Collins | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
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Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1984 W15 - 49ers vs Minnesota Vikings - Game Thread
