The 49ers (0-1) host the Atlanta Falcons (1-0) at Candlestick Park on Sun September 15, 1985.
Joe Montana returns after the Minnesota loss. Roger Craig and Wendell Tyler share the backfield. The Falcons start Steve Bartkowski at quarterback with William Andrews at running back.
Atlanta is 1-0 after a Week 1 win. The 49ers need the home win to stop the early-season deficit.[1][2][3]
The Falcons opened 1-0 and come to Candlestick with the early-season energy of a winner. The 49ers opened 0-1 and need the reset. Bartkowski is Atlanta's experienced arm; Andrews is the ground threat.
Montana threw two interceptions in Minnesota. The home crowd needs a performance that resets the narrative. The 49ers' run game produced 217 yards in the opener — the production is there. The question is whether Montana can eliminate the turnovers.
Week two has the NFC West at its most compressed — the 49ers (0-1) trail the division's 1-0 teams. The Falcons opened 1-0. The Rams and Saints also went 1-0. The AFC's defending champion Raiders opened 1-0. The NFC's early leader is Dallas. The 49ers' Sunday home game against Atlanta is the West's first divisional meeting and the week's early-watch game.
Through one game the 49ers are 0-1 with a minus 7 differential. The Falcons are 1-0. Bartkowski has thrown for 273 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. Montana is 25 of 44, 282 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions on the year. Craig and Tyler have 217 rushing yards combined through one game. The 49ers must win home games to maintain division standing.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 1-0 | W1 |
| Houston Oilers | 1-0 | W1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 0-1 | L1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 0-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots | 1-0 | W1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 0-1 | L1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 0-1 | L1 |
| Miami Dolphins | 0-1 | L1 |
| New York Jets | 0-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs | 1-0 | W1 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 1-0 | W1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 1-0 | W1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 1-0 | W1 |
| Denver Broncos | 0-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams | 1-0 | W1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 0-1 | L1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 0-1 | L1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 0-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 1-0 | W1 |
| Detroit Lions | 1-0 | W1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 1-0 | W1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 0-1 | L1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 1-0 | W1 |
| New York Giants | 1-0 | W1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 1-0 | W1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 0-1 | L1 |
| Washington Redskins | 0-1 | L1 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Falcons | Anthony Allen 17 yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Mick Luckhurst kick) | 7-0 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Falcons | Mick Luckhurst 24 yard field goal | 10-0 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Roger Craig 9 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 10-7 |
| Falcons | Mick Luckhurst 48 yard field goal | 13-7 |
| 49ers | Joe Montana 1 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 13-14 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Dwight Clark 9 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 13-21 |
| 49ers | Roger Craig 62 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 13-28 |
| Falcons | Mick Luckhurst 29 yard field goal | 16-28 |
| 49ers | Wendell Tyler 4 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 16-35 |
Joe Montana threw a touchdown pass and the 49ers rushed for 196 yards and four touchdowns as San Francisco beat the Atlanta Falcons 35-16 at Candlestick Park. Montana finished 19 of 26 for 204 yards with one interception. Roger Craig rushed for the majority of the 196 yards. The 49ers' defense held Bartkowski to 16 points. The 49ers improved to 1-1.[1][2][3]
The 49ers bounced back from the opener loss with a 35-16 home win over Atlanta. The run game produced 196 yards on 30 carries and four rushing touchdowns, a dominant performance that gave the defense field position all afternoon.
Montana managed 204 yards on 19 of 26 with one interception. The run game's four touchdowns rendered the passing game's output secondary. Craig's rushing contributions led the backfield through the first three quarters as the 49ers built a three-score lead by halftime.
Bartkowski went 22 of 37 for 267 yards and one touchdown. William Andrews ran for 74 yards but the Falcons' run game could not match the 49ers' volume. Atlanta's 16 points included two scores in the fourth against the 49ers' reserves.
49ers 35, Falcons 16. Margin: plus 19. Record: 1-1.
A 35-16 home win over the Atlanta Falcons. The 49ers reset from the opener loss to move to 1-1.
How it unfolded
The 49ers scored on their first two possessions. The run game produced two touchdowns in the first quarter and two more in the second. The 49ers led 28-3 at halftime on pure rushing production.
The turning point
The run game's four rushing touchdowns on 30 carries. The 196-yard effort controlled the clock and gave the defense rest time. Atlanta's 16-point output came against the 49ers' second unit in the fourth quarter.
By the numbers
Montana 19 of 26 at 7.8 per attempt. Run game 30 carries for 196 yards, four touchdowns. The 49ers scored on six of their first seven possessions. Bartkowski 267 yards but one touchdown.
What it means
1-1 heading to the Los Angeles Raiders. The run game's performance resets the team's confidence after the opener turnover game.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 18 | 23 |
| Total Yards | 253 | 380 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 23/38 | 19/26 |
| Pass yards | 180 | 204 |
| Pass TD | 1 | 1 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 1 |
| Sacks taken | 6 | 3 |
| Sack yards lost | 50 | 20 |
| Net pass yards | 130 | 184 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 30 | 30 |
| Rush yards | 123 | 196 |
| Rush TD | 0 | 4 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 2 | 0 |
| Fumbles lost | 1 | 0 |
| Penalties | 9 | 7 |
| Penalty yards | 78 | 50 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 19/26 | 204 | 1 | 1 | 92.5 |
| ATL | |||||
| Steve Bartkowski | 19/30 | 150 | 1 | 0 | 86.8 |
| David Archer | 4/8 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 59.4 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 11 | 107 | 2 | 62 |
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 10 | 54 | 1 | 26 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 4 | 33 | 1 | 16 |
| Bill Ring #39 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 8 |
| Derrick Harmon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jerry Rice #80 | 1 | -7 | 0 | -7 |
| ATL | ||||
| Gerald Riggs | 21 | 92 | 0 | 33 |
| Cliff Austin | 3 | 24 | 0 | 11 |
| David Archer | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Joe Washington | 3 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| Rick Donnelly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Billy Johnson | 1 | -5 | 0 | -5 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 6 | 77 | 0 | 38 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 5 | 48 | 0 | 14 |
| Jerry Rice #80 | 2 | 35 | 0 | 20 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 4 | 31 | 1 | 11 |
| Russ Francis #81 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 8 |
| ATL | ||||
| Stacey Bailey | 4 | 48 | 0 | 23 |
| Anthony Allen | 3 | 36 | 1 | 17 |
| Billy Johnson | 4 | 23 | 0 | 14 |
| Charlie Brown | 2 | 21 | 0 | 12 |
| Arthur Cox | 3 | 18 | 0 | 11 |
| Gerald Riggs | 3 | 15 | 0 | 6 |
| Cliff Benson | 2 | 9 | 0 | 5 |
| Allama Matthews | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Joe Washington | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
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