The 49ers (5-4) travel to Mile High Stadium, Denver, for a 2:00 PM MT kickoff against the Denver Broncos (6-3) on Sun November 10, 1985.
Joe Montana continues. Roger Craig and Wendell Tyler share the backfield. The Broncos start John Elway at quarterback with Sammy Winder at running back.
Denver is 6-3 and the AFC West leader. Elway is in his third NFL season. Mile High Stadium's altitude is a factor for visiting offenses.[1][2][3]
John Elway in his third season leads the AFC West at 6-3. Mile High's altitude and the Broncos' physical run game make Denver one of the AFC's most difficult road venues. The 49ers come in at 5-4.
Montana has thrown zero interceptions in two straight games. The clean stretch needs to continue in thin air. Craig's dual-threat role and Tyler's complement give the offense the ground dimension that travels to altitude better than the deep passing game.
Week ten is the mid-November cross-conference road game. The 49ers (5-4) are the NFC's wild card contender. The Broncos (6-3) lead the AFC West. The Bears (10-0) remain perfect. The Rams (6-4) lead the NFC West. Mile High Stadium's altitude creates a unique challenge for visiting offenses in the second half. The 49ers' AFC road game tests the wild card push.
Through nine games the 49ers are 5-4 with a plus 44 differential. The Broncos are 6-3 with a plus 47. Elway is 148 of 239, 1,976 yards, 17 touchdowns, seven interceptions. Winder has 115 carries for 453 yards. Montana is 184 of 305, 2,119 yards, 14 TDs, seven INTs on the year. Craig has 174 carries for 778 yards and is on pace for the historic 1,000-1,000 season.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 4-5 | W2 |
| Cleveland Browns | 4-5 | L3 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 4-5 | W1 |
| Houston Oilers | 4-5 | W3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New York Jets | 7-2 | W2 |
| New England Patriots | 6-3 | W4 |
| Miami Dolphins | 5-4 | L2 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 3-6 | L1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 1-8 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 6-3 | L1 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 6-3 | L1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 5-4 | W1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 4-5 | W1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 3-6 | L5 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams | 8-1 | W1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 5-4 | W2 |
| New Orleans Saints | 3-6 | L4 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 1-8 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 9-0 | W9 |
| Detroit Lions | 5-4 | L1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 5-4 | W1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 3-6 | L3 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0-9 | L9 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 6-3 | L1 |
| New York Giants | 6-3 | W3 |
| Washington Redskins | 5-4 | W2 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 4-5 | L1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 4-5 | W1 |
1985-11-11 San Francisco 49ers vs Denver Broncos
San Francisco 49ers vs. Denver Broncos Highlights Week 10, 1985
NFL 1985 11 11 85 Denver Broncos vs San Francisco 49ers Pt 1 of 2
NFL 1985 11-11-85 Denver Broncos @ San Francisco 49ers pt 2 of 2
NFL 1985 11-11-85 Denver Broncos @ San Francisco 49ers pt 2 of 2Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Broncos | Gene Lang 3 yard pass from John Elway (Rich Karlis kick) | 0-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 26 yard field goal | 3-7 |
| Broncos | Steve Watson 6 yard pass from John Elway (Rich Karlis kick) | 3-14 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Mike Wilson 13 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 10-14 |
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 22 yard field goal | 13-14 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 45 yard field goal | 16-14 |
| Broncos | Rich Karlis 24 yard field goal | 16-17 |
John Elway threw a 4-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to give the Denver Broncos a 17-16 win over the 49ers at Mile High Stadium. Joe Montana threw for 222 yards on 17 of 41 with one touchdown and was sacked four times. The 49ers rushed for 138 yards. Elway threw for 261 yards. The 49ers fell to 5-5.[1][2][3]
The 49ers lost 17-16 on a fourth-quarter Elway touchdown pass at Mile High Stadium. Montana went 17 of 41 — the year's lowest completion percentage — for 222 yards while being sacked four times. The altitude and Denver's pass rush disrupted the timing game all afternoon.
Elway threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns while managing the Broncos' physical home-field advantage. The 49ers' 138-yard rushing afternoon kept them within a point entering the fourth before the Elway score.
Montana's 41 attempts reflected a game where the run game and the passing game were both operating below efficiency. The 49ers went three-and-out four times in the final half as the altitude reduced the team's second-half stamina. The 17-16 final left the 49ers at 5-5.
Broncos 17, 49ers 16. Margin: minus 1. Record: 5-5.
A 16-17 road loss at Mile High Stadium. The 49ers fall to 5-5 and their playoff position tightens.
How it unfolded
The 49ers led 16-10 entering the fourth quarter. Elway's 4-yard touchdown pass gave Denver a 17-16 lead with minutes left. Montana's answering drive reached Denver territory before stalling.
The turning point
Montana's altitude-affected second half. The thin air reduced efficiency across both teams but the 49ers' 41 attempts at 41.5% completion showed the game's difficulty. Elway's home-field familiarity with the conditions was the difference.
By the numbers
Montana 17 of 41 at 5.4 per attempt — the year's worst completion percentage. Four sacks disrupted every drive. Run game 29 carries for 138 yards. Elway 261 yards and the game-winning score.
What it means
5-5 heading home for Kansas City. Two more losses and the playoff push becomes extremely difficult. The 49ers win five straight to close the season.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 16 | 18 |
| Total Yards | 341 | 336 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 17/41 | 20/42 |
| Pass yards | 222 | 215 |
| Pass TD | 1 | 2 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 1 |
| Sacks taken | 2 | 0 |
| Sack yards lost | 19 | 0 |
| Net pass yards | 203 | 215 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 29 | 35 |
| Rush yards | 138 | 121 |
| Rush TD | 0 | 0 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 1 | 1 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 | 0 |
| Penalties | 3 | 2 |
| Penalty yards | 57 | 14 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 17/40 | 222 | 1 | 0 | 69 |
| Matt Cavanaugh | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39.6 |
| DEN | |||||
| John Elway | 20/42 | 215 | 2 | 1 | 69 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 22 | 117 | 0 | 9 |
| Derrick Harmon | 7 | 21 | 0 | 11 |
| DEN | ||||
| Sammy Winder | 18 | 51 | 0 | 5 |
| Gerald Willhite | 9 | 30 | 0 | 7 |
| Gene Lang | 3 | 26 | 0 | 18 |
| John Elway | 3 | 16 | 0 | 12 |
| Chris Norman | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vance Johnson | 1 | -2 | 0 | -2 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Jerry Rice #80 | 4 | 67 | 0 | 33 |
| Mike Wilson #85 | 2 | 57 | 1 | 44 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 3 | 26 | 0 | 13 |
| Russ Francis #81 | 1 | 25 | 0 | 25 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 3 | 21 | 0 | 13 |
| John Frank | 1 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| Derrick Harmon | 3 | 12 | 0 | 8 |
| DEN | ||||
| Vance Johnson | 6 | 92 | 0 | 50 |
| Steve Watson | 5 | 61 | 1 | 22 |
| Clarence Kay | 2 | 25 | 0 | 16 |
| Clint Sampson | 2 | 23 | 0 | 20 |
| James Wright | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Sammy Winder | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Gene Lang | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Gerald Willhite | 2 | -1 | 0 | 0 |
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Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1985 W10 - 49ers at Denver Broncos - Game Thread