The 49ers (2-1) travel to the Miami Orange Bowl for a 1:00 PM ET kickoff against the Miami Dolphins (1-2) on Sun September 28, 1986.
Jeff Kemp continues at quarterback. Roger Craig leads the backfield. The Dolphins start Dan Marino. The 49ers beat the Dolphins 38-16 in Super Bowl XIX. The Orange Bowl road game is Kemp's most demanding start.[1][2][3]
Dan Marino against the 49ers' defense is the year's first cross-conference premier matchup. Marino threw for 5,084 yards in 1984; the Dolphins are built around his arm. The 49ers beat Miami 38-16 in Super Bowl XIX; the rematch comes with Kemp at quarterback.
Kemp has been serviceable. The Orange Bowl in late September tests whether the backup's efficiency holds in the AFC's loudest home venue. The defense's turnover margin is what carries Kemp in the hardest road environments.
Week four is the late September cross-conference road game. The 49ers (2-1) face the Dolphins (1-2) in a rematch of Super Bowl XIX. The Bears (4-0) and Giants (3-0) lead the NFC. The AFC's Browns (3-1) and Patriots (4-0) are the conference's early contenders. The 49ers' road game at the Orange Bowl is the season's first signature interconference matchup and the measuring stick for Kemp's offense against the AFC's best passer.
Through three games the 49ers are 2-1 with a plus 30 differential. The Dolphins are 1-2. Marino has thrown for 1,022 yards, 10 touchdowns, six interceptions through three games. Jeff Kemp is 48 of 68, 584 yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions in two starts. Craig has 70 carries for 214 yards through three games. Rice has 12 catches for 158 yards. The 49ers beat Miami 38-16 in Super Bowl XIX.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 2-1 | W2 |
| Cleveland Browns | 1-2 | L1 |
| Houston Oilers | 1-2 | L2 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 0-3 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots | 2-1 | L1 |
| New York Jets | 2-1 | W1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 1-2 | W1 |
| Miami Dolphins | 1-2 | L1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 0-3 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 3-0 | W3 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 3-0 | W3 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 2-1 | W1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 1-2 | L2 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 0-3 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons | 3-0 | W3 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 3-0 | W3 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 2-1 | W1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 1-2 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 3-0 | W3 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 2-1 | W2 |
| Detroit Lions | 1-2 | L2 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1-2 | W1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 0-3 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Redskins | 3-0 | W3 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 2-1 | L1 |
| New York Giants | 2-1 | W2 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 0-3 | L3 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 0-3 | L3 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Jerry Rice 18 yard pass from Jeff Kemp (Ray Wersching kick) | 7-0 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 36 yard field goal | 10-0 |
| Dolphins | Fuad Reveiz 34 yard field goal | 10-3 |
| Dolphins | Mark Clayton 14 yard pass from Dan Marino | 10-9 |
| 49ers | Jerry Rice 50 yard pass from Jeff Kemp (Ray Wersching kick) | 17-9 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| No scoring this quarter. | ||
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Roger Craig 5 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 24-9 |
| 49ers | Tom Holmoe 66 yard interception return (Ray Wersching kick) | 31-9 |
| Dolphins | Nat Moore 9 yard pass from Don Strock (Fuad Reveiz kick) | 31-16 |
Jeff Kemp threw two touchdown passes and the 49ers' defense intercepted Dan Marino four times in a 31-16 road win over the Miami Dolphins at the Orange Bowl. Kemp finished 14 of 29 for 168 yards with one interception. Roger Craig rushed for 146 yards on 34 carries with one touchdown. The 49ers moved to 3-1.[1][2][3]
The 49ers won 31-16 in Miami by intercepting Marino four times and converting the turnovers into field-position leads the run game sustained. Kemp managed 168 yards on 14 of 29 — modest volume — but the defense's four interceptions generated the field position for the run game to exploit.
Marino went 35 of 58 for 383 yards and two touchdowns — volume reflecting the Dolphins' attempts to pass their way back into a game after the 49ers built a first-half lead. The 49ers' 146-yard rushing game on 34 carries was the most physically dominant ground performance of Kemp's early starts.
Craig's rushing touchdown in the second quarter and the defense's turnovers produced a 24-3 halftime lead the Dolphins could not close.
49ers 31, Dolphins 16. Margin: plus 15. Record: 3-1.
A 31-16 road win at the Miami Orange Bowl. The defense's four Marino interceptions carry the game.
How it unfolded
The defense's first Marino interception came in the first quarter. Craig's rushing touchdown in the second gave the 49ers a 17-3 lead. Two more interception-driven scoring drives built the halftime lead to 24-3. Marino's volume in the second half reduced the final margin to 31-16.
The turning point
The defense's four interceptions. Marino threw for 383 yards but zero touchdowns came in the first three quarters. The 49ers converted three of the four interceptions into scoring drives.
By the numbers
Kemp 14 of 29, two touchdowns. Craig 146 yards on 34 carries. Defense four interceptions of the AFC's best quarterback in his home building.
What it means
3-1 heading home for Indianapolis. The Miami road win is the year's early signature result.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 16 | 24 |
| Total Yards | 314 | 437 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 4 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 14/29 | 35/58 |
| Pass yards | 168 | 383 |
| Pass TD | 2 | 2 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 4 |
| Sacks taken | 0 | 2 |
| Sack yards lost | 0 | 18 |
| Net pass yards | 168 | 365 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 34 | 15 |
| Rush yards | 146 | 72 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 0 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 4 | 4 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 | 0 |
| Penalties | 5 | 8 |
| Penalty yards | 30 | 64 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Jeff Kemp | 14/29 | 168 | 2 | 1 | 75.1 |
| MIA | |||||
| Dan Marino | 27/46 | 301 | 1 | 4 | 49.3 |
| Don Strock | 8/12 | 82 | 1 | 0 | 113.9 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 11 | 69 | 1 | 13 |
| Tony Cherry | 8 | 25 | 0 | 6 |
| Derrick Harmon | 7 | 21 | 0 | 8 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 5 | 16 | 0 | 6 |
| Jeff Kemp | 3 | 15 | 0 | 12 |
| MIA | ||||
| Lorenzo Hampton | 12 | 47 | 0 | 18 |
| Woody Bennett | 2 | 21 | 0 | 16 |
| Tony Nathan | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Jerry Rice #80 | 3 | 76 | 2 | 50 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 4 | 41 | 0 | 16 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 4 | 24 | 0 | 11 |
| Russ Francis #81 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| Derrick Harmon | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| Carl Monroe | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| MIA | ||||
| Mark Duper | 7 | 102 | 0 | 24 |
| Tony Nathan | 10 | 101 | 0 | 18 |
| Mark Clayton | 7 | 86 | 1 | 17 |
| Nat Moore | 5 | 39 | 1 | 9 |
| Lorenzo Hampton | 4 | 29 | 0 | 9 |
| James Pruitt | 1 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| Bruce Hardy | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
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Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1986 W4 - 49ers at Miami Dolphins - Game Thread
