The 49ers (3-1) host the Indianapolis Colts (0-4) at Candlestick Park on Sun October 5, 1986.
Jeff Kemp continues at quarterback. Roger Craig leads the backfield. Jerry Rice at receiver. The Colts start Gary Hogeboom at quarterback.
Indianapolis is 0-4 and the AFC's only winless team. The 49ers come off the Miami road win and face the week's clearest mismatch at Candlestick.[1][2][3]
The Colts at 0-4 are winless and the week's paper mismatch. Hogeboom is the former Cowboys backup getting his first start as a primary starter, limited by a surrounding cast that has not produced wins.
Candlestick in October is the right environment to extend offensive efficiency. Rice is developing into the deep-threat Walsh's system was designed around. The question against a winless defense is whether the passing game produces the volume that should follow against an 0-4 opponent at home.
Week five is the early October home game. The 49ers (3-1) trail the Rams (4-0) by one game in the NFC West. The Colts (0-4) are the league's only winless team. The Bears (5-0) are the NFC's undefeated power. The Giants (4-0) lead the NFC East. The 49ers' Sunday home game against Indianapolis is a performance game — a test of whether the offense produces the volume that should follow a winless opponent at Candlestick.
Through four games the 49ers are 3-1 with a plus 45 differential. The Colts are 0-4 with a minus 66. Hogeboom is 65 of 119, 770 yards, four touchdowns, ten interceptions. Jeff Kemp is 62 of 97, 752 yards, five touchdowns, four interceptions through three starts. Craig has 104 carries for 360 yards and three touchdowns through four games. Rice has 16 catches for 230 yards and four touchdowns.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 2-2 | L1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 2-2 | W1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 1-3 | W1 |
| Houston Oilers | 1-3 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New York Jets | 3-1 | W2 |
| New England Patriots | 2-2 | L2 |
| Buffalo Bills | 1-3 | L1 |
| Miami Dolphins | 1-3 | L2 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 0-4 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 4-0 | W4 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 3-1 | W2 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 3-1 | L1 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 1-3 | W1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 1-3 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons | 4-0 | W4 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 3-1 | L1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 3-1 | W2 |
| New Orleans Saints | 1-3 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 4-0 | W4 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 3-1 | W3 |
| Detroit Lions | 1-3 | L3 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1-3 | L1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 0-4 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Redskins | 4-0 | W4 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 3-1 | W1 |
| New York Giants | 3-1 | W3 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 1-3 | W1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 0-4 | L4 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Tim McKyer 21 yard interception return (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Colts | Owen Gill 1 yard rush (Dean Biasucci kick) | 7-7 |
| Colts | Bill Brooks 84 yard pass from Jack Trudeau (Dean Biasucci kick) | 14-7 |
| 49ers | Joe Cribbs 9 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 14-14 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Jerry Rice 45 yard pass from Jeff Kemp (Ray Wersching kick) | 14-21 |
| 49ers | Jerry Rice 16 yard pass from Jeff Kemp (Ray Wersching kick) | 14-28 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Jerry Rice 58 yard pass from Jeff Kemp (Ray Wersching kick) | 14-35 |
Jeff Kemp threw three touchdown passes and the 49ers held Indianapolis to 14 points in a 35-14 home win over the Colts at Candlestick Park. Kemp finished 18 of 28 for 274 yards with no interceptions. Roger Craig rushed for 110 yards on 25 carries with one touchdown. The defense intercepted Hogeboom three times. The 49ers moved to 4-1.[1][2][3]
Kemp's 18-of-28, 274-yard, three-touchdown, zero-interception game was the cleanest passing performance of his starting stretch. The 35-14 final was never competitive after the first quarter — the 49ers led 21-0 at halftime on three touchdown passes and Craig's rushing touchdown.
The defense held Hogeboom to 252 yards and intercepted him three times. The Colts' 14 points came on two late scoring drives against the 49ers' reserves. The defensive three turnovers matched the season's emerging pattern: when the defense generates three or more turnovers, the 49ers win comfortably.
Craig's 110-yard rushing afternoon extended his season total to 470 yards through five games. Rice's third-quarter touchdown reception was the kind of route against a slower cornerback Walsh drew up for the matchup.
49ers 35, Colts 14. Margin: plus 21. Record: 4-1.
A 35-14 home win over the Indianapolis Colts. Kemp's three-touchdown, zero-interception game is the starting stretch's cleanest performance.
How it unfolded
Kemp's first touchdown pass came on the 49ers' second possession. Two more scores in the second quarter gave the 49ers a 21-0 halftime lead. Craig's rushing touchdown in the third extended it. The Colts scored twice in garbage time.
The turning point
Kemp's zero-interception game. The clean performance — 18 of 28, three touchdowns — showed the Miami and Saints games' efficiency was sustainable at home.
By the numbers
Kemp 18 of 28 at 9.8 per attempt, three touchdowns, zero interceptions. Craig 110 yards on 25 carries. Defense three interceptions of Hogeboom.
What it means
4-1 heading home for Minnesota. The Vikings come to Candlestick next week as the first competitive home opponent since the Rams loss.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 17 | 16 |
| Total Yards | 323 | 358 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 1 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 18/39 | 18/28 |
| Pass yards | 252 | 274 |
| Pass TD | 1 | 3 |
| Interceptions | 3 | 0 |
| Sacks taken | 2 | 4 |
| Sack yards lost | 24 | 26 |
| Net pass yards | 228 | 248 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 29 | 25 |
| Rush yards | 95 | 110 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 1 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 4 | 3 |
| Fumbles lost | 2 | 1 |
| Penalties | 10 | 9 |
| Penalty yards | 60 | 45 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Jeff Kemp | 18/27 | 274 | 3 | 0 | 137 |
| Mike Moroski | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39.6 |
| IND | |||||
| Jack Trudeau | 18/39 | 252 | 1 | 3 | 44 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Joe Cribbs | 19 | 75 | 1 | 18 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 2 | 22 | 0 | 18 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| Jeff Kemp | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| IND | ||||
| Owen Gill | 8 | 37 | 1 | 8 |
| Randy McMillan | 11 | 27 | 0 | 8 |
| George Wonsley | 5 | 16 | 0 | 9 |
| Albert Bentley | 3 | 15 | 0 | 8 |
| Jack Trudeau | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Jerry Rice #80 | 6 | 172 | 3 | 58 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 5 | 47 | 0 | 21 |
| Joe Cribbs | 3 | 20 | 0 | 8 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 8 |
| Russ Francis #81 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| IND | ||||
| Bill Brooks | 2 | 95 | 1 | 84 |
| Matt Bouza | 6 | 80 | 0 | 24 |
| Randy McMillan | 4 | 25 | 0 | 11 |
| Tim Sherwin | 2 | 25 | 0 | 15 |
| Albert Bentley | 3 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| Owen Gill | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
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