The 49ers (7-5) travel to RFK Stadium, Washington, for a 1:00 PM ET kickoff against the Washington Redskins (6-6) on Sun December 1, 1985.
Joe Montana continues. Roger Craig and Wendell Tyler share the backfield. The Redskins start Joe Theismann at quarterback with John Riggins at running back.
Washington is 6-6 and in the NFC wild card race alongside the 49ers. Both teams need wins to reach the postseason.[1][2][3]
Joe Theismann and John Riggins are familiar opponents. The Redskins beat the 49ers in the 1983 NFC Championship. Washington at 6-6 is struggling but Theismann's experience and Riggins' ground game remain the offense's identity.
The 49ers need this road win. A loss and the wild card tightens into the final two weeks with almost no margin. Montana has been clean in the last two games. The RFK Stadium environment is loud; the West Coast timing routes must work under noise.
Week thirteen is the December road game with playoff implications. Both the 49ers (7-5) and Redskins (6-6) are in the NFC wild card race. The Bears (13-0) remain the conference's undefeated team. The Rams (8-5) are the NFC West leader. RFK Stadium is one of the NFC's loudest environments. The 49ers' road win here is critical for the wild card picture.
Through twelve games the 49ers are 7-5 with a plus 68 differential. The Redskins are 6-6 with a plus 21. Theismann is 203 of 344, 2,657 yards, seventeen touchdowns, twelve interceptions. Riggins has 177 carries for 589 yards. Montana is 242 of 416, 2,832 yards, 19 TDs, ten INTs on the year. Craig needs 81 more rushing yards to reach 1,000 for the season.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns | 6-6 | W2 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 6-6 | L1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 5-7 | L2 |
| Houston Oilers | 5-7 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New York Jets | 9-3 | W2 |
| Miami Dolphins | 8-4 | W3 |
| New England Patriots | 8-4 | L1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 3-9 | L4 |
| Buffalo Bills | 2-10 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 8-4 | L1 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 8-4 | W2 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 6-6 | L2 |
| San Diego Chargers | 5-7 | L2 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 4-8 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams | 9-3 | W1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 7-5 | W2 |
| New Orleans Saints | 4-8 | W1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 2-10 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 12-0 | W12 |
| Detroit Lions | 6-6 | L1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 5-7 | L1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 5-7 | L3 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2-10 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 8-4 | W1 |
| New York Giants | 8-4 | W1 |
| Washington Redskins | 7-5 | W2 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 6-6 | L1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 4-8 | L3 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Carl Monroe 95 yard kickoff return (Ray Wersching kick) | 7-0 |
| Redskins | Mark Moseley 25 yard field goal | 7-3 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Redskins | Safety, Montana called for intentional grounding in end zone | 7-5 |
| 49ers | Wendell Tyler 1 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 14-5 |
| 49ers | Keena Turner 65 yard defensive fumble return (Ray Wersching kick) | 21-5 |
| Redskins | Mark Moseley 21 yard field goal | 21-8 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Wendell Tyler 4 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 28-8 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Russ Francis 8 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 35-8 |
Joe Montana threw one touchdown pass and the 49ers rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns as San Francisco beat Washington 35-8 at RFK Stadium. Montana finished 13 of 25 for 134 yards with no interceptions. Roger Craig rushed for 68 yards. The defense held Theismann to eight points and intercepted him twice. The 49ers improved to 8-5.[1][2][3]
The 49ers dominated at RFK 35-8 with the defense holding Theismann to eight points. Montana managed 134 yards and one touchdown — modest passing numbers — while the run game provided two rushing touchdowns on 32 carries for 107 yards.
Craig's 68-yard rushing afternoon pushed him to 917 yards on the season — 83 from the 1,000-yard mark. The two rushing touchdowns came on a 12-yard Craig run and a 14-yard Tyler score. The 49ers scored on five of their eight possessions.
Theismann went 20 of 39 for 244 yards and no touchdowns with two interceptions. Riggins ran for 74 yards. Washington's 8 points came on a late touchdown and a field goal — the defense was dominant throughout. The 35-8 road win put the 49ers at 8-5 with three games remaining.
49ers 35, Redskins 8. Margin: plus 27. Record: 8-5.
A 35-8 road win at RFK Stadium. The 49ers move to 8-5 and control their wild card destiny.
How it unfolded
Montana's touchdown pass gave the 49ers a first-quarter lead. Two rushing touchdowns built the halftime lead to 21-0. Two more scores in the second half closed it at 35-8. The Redskins' 8 points came against the 49ers' second unit in the fourth quarter.
The turning point
The defense's complete shutdown of Theismann. Two interceptions and consistent pressure held Washington scoreless for three quarters. The 49ers' defensive performance at RFK was the season's most dominant road defensive outing.
By the numbers
Montana 13 of 25 at 5.4 per attempt, one touchdown, zero interceptions. Craig 68 rushing yards — 83 away from 1,000. The defense held Washington to 8 points in the final three quarters.
What it means
8-5 heading home for the Rams. Win two of three to close the season and the playoffs are secured. The RFK win is the most complete defensive road performance of the year.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 15 | 21 |
| Total Yards | 224 | 398 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 5 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 13/25 | 30/58 |
| Pass yards | 134 | 348 |
| Pass TD | 1 | 0 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 2 |
| Sacks taken | 1 | 4 |
| Sack yards lost | 17 | 37 |
| Net pass yards | 117 | 311 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 32 | 22 |
| Rush yards | 107 | 87 |
| Rush TD | 2 | 0 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 2 | 3 |
| Fumbles lost | 1 | 3 |
| Penalties | 3 | 5 |
| Penalty yards | 25 | 35 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 11/22 | 119 | 1 | 0 | 81.4 |
| Matt Cavanaugh | 2/3 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 78.5 |
| WAS | |||||
| Jay Schroeder | 30/58 | 348 | 0 | 2 | 55.8 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 15 | 61 | 0 | 21 |
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 13 | 50 | 2 | 8 |
| Derrick Harmon | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 2 | -3 | 0 | 0 |
| Matt Cavanaugh | 1 | -3 | 0 | -3 |
| WAS | ||||
| Keith Griffin | 11 | 48 | 0 | 13 |
| John Riggins | 10 | 39 | 0 | 23 |
| Art Monk | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Russ Francis #81 | 4 | 48 | 1 | 20 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 1 | 39 | 0 | 39 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 3 | 21 | 0 | 9 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 6 |
| Carl Monroe | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| John Frank | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| WAS | ||||
| Art Monk | 8 | 150 | 0 | 53 |
| Gary Clark | 10 | 116 | 0 | 32 |
| Clint Didier | 5 | 38 | 0 | 9 |
| Keith Griffin | 5 | 31 | 0 | 15 |
| Don Warren | 2 | 13 | 0 | 7 |
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Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1985 W13 - 49ers at Washington Redskins - Game Thread