The 49ers (3-3) travel to the Pontiac Silverdome for a 1:00 PM ET kickoff against the Detroit Lions (3-3) on Sun October 20, 1985.
Joe Montana continues after the Bears loss. Roger Craig and Wendell Tyler share the backfield. The Lions start Eric Hippel at quarterback with Billy Sims at running back.
Both teams are 3-3 and need wins to stay relevant in their respective division races.[1][2][3]
The Lions at 3-3 are the NFC North's mid-table team. Both clubs are below .500 through six weeks. The Silverdome turf suits Detroit's run-first approach; Sims is the ground game's anchor. The 49ers come in off the Bears loss and need the grind-it-out win that rebuilds confidence.
The 49ers' run game produced 217 yards in Minnesota but only 67 in Chicago. With Detroit's front less physical than the Bears, the run game should return to its early efficiency on the turf.
Week seven is the mid-October road game. The 49ers (3-3) are in a crowded NFC West that the Rams (4-2) currently lead. The Lions (3-3) are in the NFC North behind the Bears. The Bears (7-0) remain the conference's dominant team. The Dolphins (6-1) and Raiders (5-1) lead the AFC. The 49ers' road game at the Silverdome is the week's NFC crossover matchup.
Through six games the 49ers are 3-3 with a plus 38 differential. The Lions are 3-3 with a plus 7. Hippel is 80 of 141, 989 yards, seven touchdowns, six interceptions. Sims has 73 carries for 355 yards. Montana is 125 of 208, 1,461 yards, ten touchdowns, five interceptions on the year. Craig has 123 carries for 499 yards through six games.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns | 4-2 | W3 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 2-4 | W1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 2-4 | L3 |
| Houston Oilers | 1-5 | L5 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New York Jets | 5-1 | W5 |
| Miami Dolphins | 4-2 | L1 |
| New England Patriots | 3-3 | W1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 2-4 | L1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 0-6 | L6 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 4-2 | W2 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 4-2 | W3 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 4-2 | W2 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 3-3 | L2 |
| San Diego Chargers | 3-3 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams | 6-0 | W6 |
| New Orleans Saints | 3-3 | L1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 3-3 | L1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 0-6 | L6 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 6-0 | W6 |
| Detroit Lions | 3-3 | L2 |
| Green Bay Packers | 3-3 | W2 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 3-3 | L2 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0-6 | L6 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 5-1 | W4 |
| New York Giants | 3-3 | L2 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 3-3 | L2 |
| Washington Redskins | 3-3 | W2 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 2-4 | W1 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Lions | Pete Mandley 63 yard punt return (Eddie Murray kick) | 0-7 |
| 49ers | Joe Montana 1 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 7-7 |
| 49ers | Guy McIntyre special teams fumble recovery in end zone (Ray Wersching kick) | 14-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Lions | James Jones 2 yard rush (Eddie Murray kick) | 14-14 |
| Lions | Eddie Murray 24 yard field goal | 14-17 |
| Lions | Eddie Murray 41 yard field goal | 14-20 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Lions | Eddie Murray 45 yard field goal | 14-23 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Roger Craig 11 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 21-23 |
Billy Sims rushed for 129 yards and a touchdown and the Detroit Lions beat the 49ers 23-21 at the Pontiac Silverdome. Joe Montana threw for 100 yards on 16 of 29 with one interception. The 49ers rushed for 208 yards on 37 carries but scored only two touchdowns on the ground. Detroit scored in the final quarter to win. The 49ers fell to 3-4.[1][2][3]
The 49ers ran for 208 yards at the Silverdome and still lost 23-21. Montana threw only 100 yards — the season's lowest passing total — while the run game carried both touchdowns. Sims matched the 49ers' ground efficiency with 129 yards of his own, and Detroit's passing game added just enough.
Montana's 16-of-29, 100-yard day was the year's quietest performance. The run game's 208 yards on 37 carries produced two rushing touchdowns that put the 49ers in position to win, but the Detroit score in the fourth quarter — with the 49ers' defense unable to hold — produced the 23-21 final.
Hippel went 20 of 36 for 195 yards and two touchdowns. The 49ers' fourth loss dropped them to 3-4, effectively out of the division race and fighting for a wild card spot.
Lions 23, 49ers 21. Margin: minus 2. Record: 3-4.
A 21-23 road loss at the Silverdome. The 49ers fall to 3-4 — the deepest the defending champions have been in any season under Walsh.
How it unfolded
The 49ers' run game scored in each of the first three quarters. Detroit answered each time. A field goal and a late Lions touchdown in the fourth quarter gave Detroit a two-point lead the 49ers could not answer.
The turning point
The 49ers' running game carrying the offense without Montana's passing contribution. With Montana at 100 yards on 29 attempts, the ground game's two touchdowns were not enough to offset the Lions' two passing scores.
By the numbers
Montana 16 of 29 at 3.4 per attempt — the year's lowest. Run game 37 carries for 208 yards — the year's second-highest rushing total in a loss. Sims 129 yards matched the 49ers' efficient running day.
What it means
3-4 heading home for the Rams. The 49ers have lost four of seven. The wild card is now the goal; the division lead is the Rams'. Seven games to turn it around.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 21 | 15 |
| Total Yards | 304 | 292 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 16/29 | 10/20 |
| Pass yards | 100 | 141 |
| Pass TD | 0 | 0 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 0 |
| Sacks taken | 1 | 2 |
| Sack yards lost | 4 | 11 |
| Net pass yards | 96 | 130 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 37 | 40 |
| Rush yards | 208 | 162 |
| Rush TD | 2 | 1 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 0 | 1 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 | 1 |
| Penalties | 3 | 4 |
| Penalty yards | 15 | 45 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 15/26 | 97 | 0 | 1 | 49.7 |
| Matt Cavanaugh | 1/3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 42.4 |
| DET | |||||
| Eric Hipple | 4/8 | 80 | 0 | 0 | 85.4 |
| Joe Ferguson | 6/12 | 61 | 0 | 0 | 64.9 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 16 | 107 | 0 | 15 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 16 | 80 | 1 | 11 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 3 | 17 | 1 | 14 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 1 | -2 | 0 | -2 |
| DET | ||||
| James Jones | 30 | 116 | 1 | 12 |
| Mark Nichols | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| Alvin Moore | 3 | 14 | 0 | 9 |
| Joe Ferguson | 3 | 11 | 0 | 15 |
| Wilbert Montgomery | 2 | 6 | 0 | 5 |
| Mike Black | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 6 | 43 | 0 | 16 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 2 | 23 | 0 | 14 |
| Russ Francis #81 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 6 |
| Mike Wilson #85 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 7 |
| Carl Monroe | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Jerry Rice #80 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| DET | ||||
| Mark Nichols | 3 | 53 | 0 | 40 |
| David Lewis | 2 | 32 | 0 | 19 |
| Leonard Thompson | 2 | 29 | 0 | 21 |
| Pete Mandley | 1 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| Alvin Moore | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| James Jones | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Find or start the canonical thread for this game on r/49ers. The thread title is deterministic so anyone running this Rewatch lands on the same place.
Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1985 W7 - 49ers at Detroit Lions - Game Thread