The 49ers (2-1) host the New Orleans Saints (1-2) at Candlestick Park on Sun September 29, 1985.
Joe Montana continues. Roger Craig and Wendell Tyler share the backfield. The Saints start Dave Wilson at quarterback with George Rogers at running back.
New Orleans is 1-2 and the NFC South's bottom team. The 49ers enter as home favorites after the Raiders road win.[1][2][3]
The Saints at 1-2 are a familiar opponent without a consistent identity. Dave Wilson has been turnover-prone all year; George Rogers runs the ball well but the surrounding cast limits what the Saints can achieve. The 49ers come in 2-1 with the Raiders win's momentum.
Montana has zero interceptions in the last game. The home matchup against a struggling defense should produce a clean passing day. The risk is complacency — the Saints have beaten the 49ers at Candlestick before.
Week four is the late-September divisional check. The NFC West's standings are compressed after three weeks. The 49ers (2-1) lead with the Rams (2-1) close behind. The Saints (1-2) and Falcons (1-2) are below .500. The AFC's Raiders (1-2) and Dolphins (3-0) define the conference's early range. The 49ers' Sunday home game against the Saints is the West's divisional result of the week.
Through three games the 49ers are 2-1 with a plus 36 differential. The Saints are 1-2 with a minus 14. Wilson is 47 of 90, 531 yards, three touchdowns, seven interceptions. Rogers has 56 carries for 264 yards. Montana is 59 of 96, 752 yards, five touchdowns, three interceptions on the year. Craig has 61 carries for 266 yards through three games.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 2-1 | W1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 1-2 | L1 |
| Houston Oilers | 1-2 | L2 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 0-3 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 2-1 | W2 |
| New England Patriots | 2-1 | W1 |
| New York Jets | 2-1 | W2 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 1-2 | W1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 0-3 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 2-1 | W2 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 2-1 | L1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 2-1 | W1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 2-1 | L1 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 1-2 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams | 3-0 | W3 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 2-1 | W2 |
| New Orleans Saints | 1-2 | W1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 0-3 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 3-0 | W3 |
| Detroit Lions | 2-1 | L1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 2-1 | L1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 1-2 | L1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0-3 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 2-1 | W1 |
| New York Giants | 2-1 | W1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 2-1 | L1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 1-2 | W1 |
| Washington Redskins | 1-2 | L1 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| No scoring this quarter. | ||
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Wendell Tyler 8 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-7 |
| Saints | Hokie Gajan 5 yard rush (Morten Andersen kick) | 7-7 |
| Saints | Morten Andersen 39 yard field goal | 10-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 42 yard field goal | 10-10 |
| Saints | Morten Andersen 39 yard field goal | 13-10 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Roger Craig 2 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 13-17 |
| Saints | Eugene Goodlow 43 yard pass from Dave Wilson (Morten Andersen kick) | 20-17 |
Dave Wilson threw two interceptions and George Rogers was held to 73 yards but the New Orleans Saints beat the 49ers 20-17 at Candlestick Park in a stunning upset. Joe Montana finished 12 of 26 for 120 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. The 49ers rushed for 150 yards on 27 carries with two rushing touchdowns. The Saints scored the game-winning touchdown with 1:24 remaining. The 49ers fell to 2-2.[1][2][3]
The Saints came to Candlestick and won 20-17 in a game the 49ers' offense lost in the passing game. Montana threw no touchdowns and two interceptions on 12 of 26 for 120 yards — the year's quietest passing output. The run game's 150 yards and two rushing touchdowns kept the 49ers in it, but the quarterback's efficiency dip was the game.
The Saints scored on a drive with 1:24 remaining to take the lead. Wilson went 14 of 26 for 153 yards and one touchdown — modest numbers but enough. Rogers ran for 73 yards and the Saints' ground game won its one-on-one matchups.
The 49ers led 17-13 entering the fourth before the Saints' winning drive. Montana's 4.6 yards per attempt was the worst of the young season. The 20-17 home loss put the 49ers at 2-2.
Saints 20, 49ers 17. Margin: minus 3. Record: 2-2.
A 17-20 home loss to the New Orleans Saints. The 49ers fall to 2-2 after a quiet passing day.
How it unfolded
The 49ers led 17-13 entering the fourth. The Saints drove 70 yards with 1:24 remaining to take a 20-17 lead. The 49ers' final drive reached midfield before stalling.
The turning point
Montana's zero-touchdown performance on 12 of 26. The run game's two touchdowns kept the team competitive but could not offset the passing game's complete shutdown. The Saints' defense took away Montana's first reads all afternoon.
By the numbers
Montana 12 of 26 at 4.6 per attempt, zero touchdowns, two interceptions — the year's worst passing line. Run game 150 on 27 carries, two scores. Wilson 153 yards for New Orleans, enough.
What it means
2-2 heading to Atlanta. The 49ers have lost twice in four games. The Atlanta road trip is the schedule's response — Montana's 5-touchdown, 429-yard performance at the Falcons is three weeks away.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 19 | 15 |
| Total Yards | 354 | 231 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 3 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 15/30 | 12/26 |
| Pass yards | 189 | 120 |
| Pass TD | 1 | 0 |
| Interceptions | 2 | 2 |
| Sacks taken | 1 | 6 |
| Sack yards lost | 10 | 39 |
| Net pass yards | 179 | 81 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 41 | 27 |
| Rush yards | 175 | 150 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 2 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 3 | 1 |
| Fumbles lost | 1 | 1 |
| Penalties | 6 | 8 |
| Penalty yards | 44 | 56 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 12/26 | 120 | 0 | 2 | 27.7 |
| NOR | |||||
| Dave Wilson | 15/30 | 189 | 1 | 2 | 53.3 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 17 | 85 | 1 | 13 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 8 | 37 | 1 | 12 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| NOR | ||||
| Wayne Wilson | 24 | 108 | 0 | 38 |
| Hokie Gajan | 7 | 28 | 1 | 7 |
| Earl Campbell | 6 | 26 | 0 | 11 |
| Dave Wilson | 4 | 13 | 0 | 12 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Dwight Clark #87 | 4 | 48 | 0 | 18 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 3 | 24 | 0 | 12 |
| Russ Francis #81 | 2 | 24 | 0 | 16 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 11 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| NOR | ||||
| Eugene Goodlow | 3 | 59 | 1 | 43 |
| Hoby Brenner | 4 | 57 | 0 | 18 |
| Eric Martin | 2 | 25 | 0 | 13 |
| Jeff Groth | 2 | 15 | 0 | 8 |
| Wayne Wilson | 2 | 14 | 0 | 8 |
| Hokie Gajan | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| Larry Hardy | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
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