The 49ers (8-5) host the Los Angeles Rams (9-5) at Candlestick Park on Sun December 8, 1985.
Joe Montana continues after the Washington win. Roger Craig and Wendell Tyler share the backfield. The Rams start Dieter Brock at quarterback with Eric Dickerson at running back.
The Rams lead the NFC West at 9-5. Dickerson needs 76 yards to clinch a second straight 1,000-yard season. The divisional game has playoff seeding implications.[1][2][3]
The Rams at 9-5 lead the division and come to Candlestick after the 49ers' best defensive road win of the year. Dickerson is one game from a second straight 1,000-yard season. Brock has managed the Rams' offense efficiently if not explosively.
Montana threw zero interceptions in Washington. The 49ers need this divisional win to control their own playoff seeding. A loss here puts San Francisco in a tighter wild card situation with two games left.
Week fourteen is the December divisional game. The Rams (9-5) lead the NFC West. The 49ers (8-5) are the NFC's primary wild card contender. The Bears have clinched the NFC's top seed. The Rams' lead in the NFC West determines the division winner with two weeks left. The 49ers' Sunday home game against the Rams at Candlestick is the week's NFC West title game.
Through thirteen games the 49ers are 8-5 with a plus 95 differential. The Rams are 9-5 with a plus 77. Dickerson has 238 carries for 1,110 yards. Brock is 149 of 256, 2,018 yards, eleven touchdowns, nine interceptions. Montana is 255 of 441, 2,966 yards, 20 TDs, ten INTs on the year. Craig needs 83 more rushing yards to reach 1,000 for the season.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns | 7-6 | W3 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 6-7 | W1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 6-7 | L2 |
| Houston Oilers | 5-8 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 9-4 | W4 |
| New England Patriots | 9-4 | W1 |
| New York Jets | 9-4 | L1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 3-10 | L5 |
| Buffalo Bills | 2-11 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 9-4 | W1 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 9-4 | W3 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 7-6 | W1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 6-7 | W1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 4-9 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams | 9-4 | L1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 8-5 | W3 |
| New Orleans Saints | 5-8 | W2 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 2-11 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 12-1 | L1 |
| Detroit Lions | 7-6 | W1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 6-7 | W1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 6-7 | W1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2-11 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 9-4 | W2 |
| New York Giants | 8-5 | L1 |
| Washington Redskins | 7-6 | L1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 6-7 | L2 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 4-9 | L4 |
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 | Dwight Clark 7 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-7 |
| Rams | Mike Lansford 25 yard field goal | 3-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Rams | Ron Brown 86 yard kickoff return (Mike Lansford kick) | 10-7 |
| 49ers | Jerry Rice 66 yard pass from Joe Montana | 10-13 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Rams | Mike Lansford 29 yard field goal | 13-13 |
| 49ers | Roger Craig 1 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 13-20 |
| Rams | Henry Ellard 39 yard pass from Dieter Brock (Mike Lansford kick) | 20-20 |
| Rams | Gary Green 41 yard interception return (Mike Lansford kick) | 27-20 |
Eric Dickerson rushed for 130 yards and the Los Angeles Rams beat the 49ers 27-20 at Candlestick Park. Joe Montana threw three touchdown passes and finished with 328 yards on 26 of 36 but was intercepted twice. The 49ers' defense could not stop Dickerson in the fourth quarter. The 49ers fell to 8-6.[1][2][3]
Montana threw three touchdowns and 328 yards but the 49ers lost 27-20 as Dickerson ran for 130 yards and the Rams' defense made two late interceptions count. The game came down to the fourth quarter with the 49ers trailing by seven and unable to overcome the deficit.
Montana went 26 of 36 for 328 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions — productive line that the turnovers undermined. Dickerson's 130 yards were below his peak but enough to control the clock in a game where the Rams led throughout the second half.
Brock went 20 of 30 for 238 yards and one touchdown. The Rams' defense held the 49ers' run game to 110 yards on 31 carries. The 27-20 loss left the 49ers at 8-6 and needing two wins to reach the playoffs.
Rams 27, 49ers 20. Margin: minus 7. Record: 8-6.
A 20-27 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The 49ers fall to 8-6 and need to win their final two games to make the playoffs.
How it unfolded
Both teams scored in the first quarter. The Rams went ahead 21-14 by halftime. Montana's third touchdown cut the deficit to seven in the fourth before the Rams' defense sealed it with an interception.
The turning point
Montana's two interceptions. Each turnover converted into a Rams field position advantage. The three touchdowns could not offset the two turnovers against a team that played tight defense in the second half.
By the numbers
Montana 26 of 36 at 9.1 per attempt, three touchdowns, two interceptions. Dickerson 130 on 30 carries — consistent production that the 49ers' front seven could not stop. The 49ers' run game's 110 yards were not enough to complement Montana's passing.
What it means
8-6 with two games left. Both must be wins: at New Orleans, then Dallas at home. The wild card is still available.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 12 | 22 |
| Total Yards | 264 | 410 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 16/22 | 26/36 |
| Pass yards | 160 | 328 |
| Pass TD | 1 | 3 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 2 |
| Sacks taken | 2 | 4 |
| Sack yards lost | 10 | 28 |
| Net pass yards | 150 | 300 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 24 | 31 |
| Rush yards | 114 | 110 |
| Rush TD | 0 | 0 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 1 | 1 |
| Fumbles lost | 1 | 1 |
| Penalties | 4 | 7 |
| Penalty yards | 17 | 76 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 26/36 | 328 | 3 | 2 | 104.9 |
| RAM | |||||
| Dieter Brock | 16/22 | 160 | 1 | 0 | 108.1 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 19 | 56 | 0 | 11 |
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 9 | 43 | 0 | 9 |
| Jerry Rice #80 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 10 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 1 | -3 | 0 | -3 |
| RAM | ||||
| Eric Dickerson | 16 | 97 | 0 | 41 |
| Barry Redden | 7 | 15 | 0 | 8 |
| Dieter Brock | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Jerry Rice #80 | 10 | 241 | 1 | 66 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 7 | 41 | 1 | 11 |
| Carl Monroe | 5 | 22 | 0 | 6 |
| Russ Francis #81 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 7 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| RAM | ||||
| Henry Ellard | 7 | 98 | 1 | 39 |
| David Hill | 4 | 25 | 0 | 11 |
| Ron Brown | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| Tony Hunter | 2 | 10 | 0 | 8 |
| Eric Dickerson | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| Mike Young | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
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Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1985 W14 - 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams - Game Thread