The 49ers (2-2) travel to Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium for a 1:00 PM ET kickoff against the Atlanta Falcons (1-3) on Sun October 6, 1985.
Joe Montana continues after the Saints loss. Roger Craig and Wendell Tyler share the backfield. The Falcons start Steve Bartkowski at quarterback with William Andrews at running back.
Atlanta is 1-3 and struggling. The 49ers need a statement win to get back on track.[1][2][3]
Montana responds to the New Orleans loss with the best game of his 1985 season: 37 of 57, 429 yards, five touchdowns, zero interceptions. The Falcons at 1-3 are the right opponent for the reset — the defense is exposed and the route combinations that produced the 35-16 Week 2 win are still fresh.
Atlanta's home defense has been the NFC's most porous through four games. The 49ers' passing game is capable of the kind of game that resets a season's narrative in one afternoon. This is that afternoon.
Week five is the early October road trip. The NFC West's standings remain compressed: the Rams (3-1) lead with the 49ers (2-2) two games back. The Falcons (1-3) are the division's bottom team after four weeks. The Bears (5-0) are the NFC's dominant team at 5-0. The 49ers' road game in Atlanta is a must-win divisional game to stay relevant in the West.
Through four games the 49ers are 2-2 with a plus 33 differential. The Falcons are 1-3 with a minus 29. Montana is 71 of 122, 872 yards, five touchdowns, five interceptions on the year. Craig has 90 carries for 393 yards through four games. Bartkowski is 66 of 119, 873 yards, five touchdowns, five interceptions. Andrews has 76 carries for 319 yards.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns | 2-2 | W1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 2-2 | L1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 1-3 | W1 |
| Houston Oilers | 1-3 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 3-1 | W3 |
| New York Jets | 3-1 | W3 |
| New England Patriots | 2-2 | L1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 1-3 | L1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 0-4 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs | 3-1 | W1 |
| Denver Broncos | 2-2 | L1 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 2-2 | W1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 2-2 | L1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 2-2 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams | 4-0 | W4 |
| New Orleans Saints | 2-2 | W2 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 2-2 | L1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 0-4 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 4-0 | W4 |
| Detroit Lions | 3-1 | W1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 3-1 | W1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 1-3 | L2 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0-4 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 3-1 | W2 |
| New York Giants | 3-1 | W2 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 3-1 | W1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 1-3 | L1 |
| Washington Redskins | 1-3 | L2 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Roger Craig 46 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 7-0 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Falcons | Mick Luckhurst 45 yard field goal | 7-3 |
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 37 yard field goal | 10-3 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Wendell Tyler 14 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 17-3 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Falcons | David Archer 29 yard rush (Mick Luckhurst kick) | 17-10 |
| 49ers | Jerry Rice 25 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 24-10 |
| 49ers | John Frank 5 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 31-10 |
| Falcons | Bob Holly 20 yard rush (Mick Luckhurst kick) | 31-17 |
| 49ers | Dwight Clark 32 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 38-17 |
Joe Montana threw five touchdown passes and finished with 429 yards as the 49ers dominated the Atlanta Falcons 38-17 at Fulton County Stadium. Montana finished 37 of 57 with no interceptions. Roger Craig caught nine passes for 95 yards and added two rushing touchdowns. The 49ers' offense scored five touchdowns through the air and two on the ground. The 49ers improved to 3-2.[1][2][3]
Montana's 37-of-57, 429-yard, five-touchdown, zero-interception afternoon at Atlanta was one of the season's defining individual performances. The 38-17 blowout answered every question the New Orleans loss raised.
Craig's nine catches for 95 yards showed his dual-threat role in full — receiving out of the backfield and running for two touchdowns. Montana spread the ball to six receivers for the five touchdown passes. The Falcons' defense could not account for both the run and pass simultaneously.
Bartkowski went 22 of 43 for 267 yards and one touchdown. Andrews ran for 61 yards. The Falcons' 17 points came on late drives against the 49ers' secondary players. The 38-17 final confirmed that Montana's New Orleans game was the exception.
49ers 38, Falcons 17. Margin: plus 21. Record: 3-2.
A 38-17 road win at Fulton County Stadium. Montana's 429-yard, five-touchdown performance resets the 49ers after back-to-back losses.
How it unfolded
Montana threw two touchdown passes in the second quarter to build a 17-3 halftime lead. Two more scores in the third extended it. Craig's ground contributions and the five different receivers sharing touchdowns gave Atlanta no defensive focal point.
The turning point
Montana's zero-interception game after three interceptions in the previous two outings. The clean performance — 37 of 57, no mistakes — showed the New Orleans game was an aberration.
By the numbers
Montana 37 of 57 at 7.5 per attempt, five touchdowns, zero interceptions. Craig nine catches for 95 yards and two rushing scores. The 49ers' offense produced 38 points on seven separate scoring drives.
What it means
3-2 heading home for Chicago. The 429-yard game is the season's high-water mark. The Bears bring the NFC's most physical defense to Candlestick next week.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 30 | 22 |
| Total Yards | 499 | 386 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 37/57 | 31/45 |
| Pass yards | 429 | 335 |
| Pass TD | 5 | 0 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 0 |
| Sacks taken | 1 | 7 |
| Sack yards lost | 9 | 64 |
| Net pass yards | 420 | 271 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 19 | 18 |
| Rush yards | 79 | 115 |
| Rush TD | 0 | 2 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 1 | 2 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 | 2 |
| Penalties | 8 | 6 |
| Penalty yards | 60 | 45 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 37/57 | 429 | 5 | 0 | 116.8 |
| ATL | |||||
| Bob Holly | 11/16 | 132 | 0 | 0 | 93.7 |
| Steve Bartkowski | 11/18 | 116 | 0 | 0 | 79.9 |
| David Archer | 9/11 | 87 | 0 | 0 | 99.6 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 11 | 57 | 0 | 13 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 6 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 4 |
| Bill Ring #39 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| ATL | ||||
| Gerald Riggs | 13 | 43 | 0 | 9 |
| David Archer | 2 | 36 | 1 | 29 |
| Bob Holly | 2 | 32 | 1 | 20 |
| Joe Washington | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 12 | 167 | 1 | 46 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 6 | 80 | 1 | 32 |
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 6 | 56 | 1 | 14 |
| Russ Francis #81 | 5 | 49 | 0 | 14 |
| Jerry Rice #80 | 3 | 42 | 1 | 25 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 2 | 18 | 0 | 11 |
| John Frank | 2 | 14 | 1 | 9 |
| Derrick Harmon | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ATL | ||||
| Billy Johnson | 8 | 89 | 0 | 21 |
| Arthur Cox | 4 | 61 | 0 | 39 |
| Joe Washington | 6 | 51 | 0 | 14 |
| Gerald Riggs | 5 | 45 | 0 | 16 |
| Stacey Bailey | 3 | 33 | 0 | 15 |
| Anthony Allen | 2 | 26 | 0 | 15 |
| Cliff Austin | 1 | 21 | 0 | 21 |
| Ken Whisenhunt | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Cliff Benson | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
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Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1985 W5 - 49ers at Atlanta Falcons - Game Thread
