Season opener on the road at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, on Sun September 8, 1985. The 49ers (0-0) travel to face the Minnesota Vikings (0-0).
Joe Montana returns after the 15-1 dynasty season. Roger Craig and Wendell Tyler share the backfield. The Vikings start Tommy Kramer at quarterback with Ted Brown at running back.
Minnesota seeks revenge after the 49ers blew them out 48-17 in Week 2 of 1983.[1][2][3]
Opening on the road after a 15-1 season. The 49ers come in as defending champions but the Metrodome crowd does not care about last year's record. Minnesota went 7-9 in 1984 but Kramer is capable of a big day when the defense gives him time.
Montana's first test of 1985 is in a loud dome against a defense that will pressure from the edges. Craig's dual-threat identity is now the offense's central asset; the 49ers' ability to use him as a receiver sets up the route combinations Montana prefers.
The NFL's opening weekend sets the 1985 conference map. The 49ers enter as defending champions and the NFC's top seed from 1984. Minnesota went 7-9 in the prior year but owns the home-field Metrodome advantage on opening day. The AFC's Dolphins (14-2 in 1984) and Raiders (11-5) are the conference's powers. The 49ers' road opener is the week's most-watched NFC game.
Through zero games. The 49ers won Super Bowl XIX 38-16 over Miami. Montana threw 35 TDs in 1984. Roger Craig is entering his third NFL season. Craig rushed for 649 yards and caught 675 yards in 1984. The Vikings went 7-9 in 1984. Kramer threw for 2,464 yards in 14 games. The 49ers are 3-1 all-time at the Metrodome including the 1983 regular season blowout.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 0-0 | -- |
| Cleveland Browns | 0-0 | -- |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 0-0 | -- |
| Houston Oilers | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | 0-0 | -- |
| Indianapolis Colts | 0-0 | -- |
| Miami Dolphins | 0-0 | -- |
| New England Patriots | 0-0 | -- |
| New York Jets | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 0-0 | -- |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 0-0 | -- |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 0-0 | -- |
| San Diego Chargers | 0-0 | -- |
| Seattle Seahawks | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons | 0-0 | -- |
| Los Angeles Rams | 0-0 | -- |
| New Orleans Saints | 0-0 | -- |
| San Francisco 49ers | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 0-0 | -- |
| Detroit Lions | 0-0 | -- |
| Green Bay Packers | 0-0 | -- |
| Minnesota Vikings | 0-0 | -- |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 0-0 | -- |
| New York Giants | 0-0 | -- |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 0-0 | -- |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 0-0 | -- |
| Washington Redskins | 0-0 | -- |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Roger Craig 10 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 7-0 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| No scoring this quarter. | ||
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Vikings | Allen Rice 1 yard rush (Jan Stenerud kick) | 7-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Roger Craig 18 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 14-7 |
| Vikings | Mike Jones 44 yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Jan Stenerud kick) | 14-14 |
| 49ers | Roger Craig 19 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 21-14 |
| Vikings | Alfred Anderson 1 yard rush (Jan Stenerud kick) | 21-21 |
| Vikings | Ted Brown 10 yard rush (Jan Stenerud kick) | 21-28 |
Tommy Kramer threw for 282 yards and two touchdowns and the Minnesota Vikings beat the 49ers 28-21 in the season opener at the Metrodome. Joe Montana threw for 282 yards on 25 of 44 with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The 49ers rushed for 217 yards on 39 carries with one touchdown. Kramer's 21-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter proved to be the game-winner. The 49ers fell to 0-1.[1][2][3]
The 49ers lost the opener 28-21 in a game where both teams passed for identical yardage. Montana threw for 282 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted twice, and both picks led to Vikings scoring drives. Kramer matched Montana's 282 yards and had the better touchdown-to-interception ratio.
The run game produced 217 yards on 39 carries — the largest rushing output of the early year — but the two Montana interceptions converted into 14 Minesota points that offset the ground advantage. Craig and Tyler split the carries. The rushing touchdown came on a goal-line run in the third quarter.
Kramer's 21-yard score in the fourth proved decisive. The 49ers' final drive reached the Vikings' 35 before stalling. The defending champions opened 0-1.
Vikings 28, 49ers 21. Margin: minus 7. Record: 0-1.
A 21-28 road loss to open 1985. The defending champions fall to 0-1 in the season opener at the Metrodome.
How it unfolded
Minnesota scored on its opening drive. The 49ers tied it in the second quarter on Montana's first touchdown. Both teams exchanged scores. Kramer's 21-yard touchdown in the fourth gave the Vikings a two-score lead the 49ers could not overcome.
The turning point
Montana's two interceptions. Each pick converted into a Vikings touchdown drive, adding 14 points directly from turnovers. The run game's 217 yards were not enough to overcome the turnover deficit.
By the numbers
Montana 25 of 44 at 6.4 per attempt, two touchdowns, two interceptions. The run game's 39-carry, 217-yard output was the offense's strongest element. Kramer matched Montana's yardage with fewer interceptions.
What it means
0-1 heading home for Atlanta. The opener loss is the defending champion's first real test. Atlanta at Candlestick is the reset.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 29 | 15 |
| Total Yards | 489 | 268 |
| Turnovers | 7 | 1 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 25/44 | 12/25 |
| Pass yards | 282 | 191 |
| Pass TD | 2 | 1 |
| Interceptions | 2 | 0 |
| Sacks taken | 2 | 1 |
| Sack yards lost | 10 | 9 |
| Net pass yards | 272 | 182 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 39 | 32 |
| Rush yards | 217 | 86 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 3 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 7 | 1 |
| Fumbles lost | 5 | 1 |
| Penalties | 10 | 7 |
| Penalty yards | 69 | 59 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 24/39 | 265 | 2 | 2 | 77.4 |
| Matt Cavanaugh | 1/5 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 41.2 |
| MIN | |||||
| Tommy Kramer | 12/25 | 191 | 1 | 0 | 87.2 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 21 | 125 | 0 | 13 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 13 | 78 | 1 | 15 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 8 |
| Derrick Harmon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| MIN | ||||
| Darrin Nelson | 14 | 43 | 0 | 8 |
| Alfred Anderson | 8 | 23 | 1 | 9 |
| Ted Brown | 1 | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Allen Rice | 5 | 7 | 1 | 6 |
| Tommy Kramer | 4 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 7 | 72 | 2 | 19 |
| Jerry Rice #80 | 4 | 67 | 0 | 23 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 3 | 49 | 0 | 29 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 5 | 40 | 0 | 18 |
| Mike Wilson #85 | 2 | 20 | 0 | 13 |
| John Frank | 2 | 14 | 0 | 9 |
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| MIN | ||||
| Mike Jones | 2 | 48 | 1 | 44 |
| Alfred Anderson | 2 | 46 | 0 | 41 |
| Steve Jordan | 2 | 33 | 0 | 22 |
| Leo Lewis | 2 | 32 | 0 | 24 |
| Anthony Carter | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| Darrin Nelson | 2 | 13 | 0 | 8 |
| Ted Brown | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
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