The 49ers (4-2) travel to Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium for a 1:00 PM ET kickoff against the Atlanta Falcons (3-3) on Sun October 19, 1986.
Jeff Kemp continues at quarterback. Roger Craig leads the backfield. The Falcons start David Archer at quarterback with Gerald Riggs at running back.
Atlanta is 3-3 under first-year coach Dan Henning. Gerald Riggs is the NFC's leading rusher through six weeks.[1][2][3]
Gerald Riggs is the NFC South's defining back in 1986. The Washington State product has carried between 25 and 35 times in each game, grinding yardage that wears defensive fronts down. The 49ers' run defense has allowed fewer than 100 yards in two of the last three games.
Kemp comes in at 4-2 after the Vikings overtime loss. David Archer is Atlanta's second-year starter, capable of managing but not creating mismatches. If the defense holds Riggs below 100, the Falcons have limited scoring options.
Week seven is the mid-October road game. The 49ers (4-2) are two games behind the Rams (6-0) in the NFC West. The Falcons (3-3) are the NFC South's middle team. The Bears (6-0) remain undefeated. The Giants (6-0) lead the NFC East. The NFC's wild card picture is already taking shape behind the Bears and Giants. The 49ers' road game at Fulton County Stadium is a division-adjacent game with implications for the West standings.
Through six games the 49ers are 4-2 with a plus 63 differential. The Falcons are 3-3 with a plus 5. Riggs has 141 carries for 785 yards and nine touchdowns through six games. Archer is 132 of 244, 1,694 yards, eight touchdowns, nine interceptions. Jeff Kemp is 103 of 168, 1,385 yards, eleven touchdowns, six interceptions in five starts. Craig has 157 carries for 535 yards through six games.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 4-2 | W2 |
| Cleveland Browns | 4-2 | W3 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 1-5 | L2 |
| Houston Oilers | 1-5 | L5 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New York Jets | 5-1 | W4 |
| New England Patriots | 3-3 | L1 |
| Miami Dolphins | 2-4 | W1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 1-5 | L3 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 0-6 | L6 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 6-0 | W6 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 4-2 | L1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 3-3 | L2 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 3-3 | W3 |
| San Diego Chargers | 1-5 | L5 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons | 5-1 | W1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 4-2 | L1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 4-2 | L1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 2-4 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 6-0 | W6 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 4-2 | W1 |
| Detroit Lions | 3-3 | W2 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1-5 | L3 |
| Green Bay Packers | 0-6 | L6 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New York Giants | 5-1 | W5 |
| Washington Redskins | 5-1 | L1 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 4-2 | W1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 2-4 | L1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 1-5 | W1 |
Video missing for this game. If you find one, please report it.
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Roger Craig 1 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 7-0 |
| Falcons | Mick Luckhurst 47 yard field goal | 7-3 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 24 yard field goal | 10-3 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| No scoring this quarter. | ||
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Falcons | Sylvester Stamps 39 yard pass from David Archer (Mick Luckhurst kick) | 10-10 |
Gerald Riggs ran for 217 yards on 52 carries and the Atlanta Falcons tied the 49ers 10-10 in overtime at Fulton County Stadium. Jeff Kemp finished 13 of 30 for 146 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. The 49ers rushed for 115 yards and one touchdown. Neither team scored in overtime. The 49ers fell to 4-2-1.[1][2][3]
Riggs ran 52 times for 217 yards — one of the largest single-game rushing outputs by any back in the decade — and the Falcons held for a 10-10 overtime tie. Kemp's 146-yard, zero-touchdown, two-interception performance was the year's worst passing efficiency game. With the offense struggling to score, the tie was the outcome the defense's solid performance earned.
The 49ers rushed for 115 yards on 32 carries with one rushing touchdown — enough to stay in the game, but not enough to overcome Kemp's passing struggles. Archer went 16 of 35 for 176 yards and one touchdown; the Falcons did not need to throw with Riggs controlling the game.
The overtime stalemate left the 49ers at 4-2-1, still two games behind the Rams.
49ers 10, Falcons 10 (OT). Final record: 4-2-1.
A 10-10 overtime tie at Fulton County Stadium. Riggs' 217-yard, 52-carry afternoon prevents the 49ers from winning.
How it unfolded
The Falcons scored first on Archer's touchdown. The 49ers tied it on a rushing score in the second quarter. Field goals in the fourth tied it at 10. Overtime produced no scoring.
The turning point
Riggs' second-half ground control. The 52-carry workload limited Kemp's possessions and kept the 49ers from the multiple-drive scoring they needed. Two Kemp interceptions stopped the scoring drives that did get started.
By the numbers
Kemp 13 of 30 at 4.9 per attempt — the year's lowest. Zero touchdowns. Riggs 217 yards on 52 carries. The 49ers' defense held Archer to one touchdown on 35 attempts.
What it means
4-2-1 heading to Milwaukee. The tie costs one half-game in the West standings. The Packers road game in Milwaukee County Stadium is next.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 17 | 21 |
| Total Yards | 254 | 356 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 5 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 13/30 | 16/35 |
| Pass yards | 146 | 176 |
| Pass TD | 0 | 1 |
| Interceptions | 2 | 3 |
| Sacks taken | 1 | 5 |
| Sack yards lost | 7 | 37 |
| Net pass yards | 139 | 139 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 32 | 52 |
| Rush yards | 115 | 217 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 0 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 4 | 2 |
| Fumbles lost | 1 | 2 |
| Penalties | 3 | 6 |
| Penalty yards | 22 | 54 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Jeff Kemp | 13/29 | 146 | 0 | 2 | 31.7 |
| Mike Moroski | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39.6 |
| ATL | |||||
| David Archer | 16/35 | 176 | 1 | 3 | 34.9 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 12 | 51 | 1 | 16 |
| Joe Cribbs | 13 | 39 | 0 | 12 |
| Jerry Rice #80 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| Jeff Kemp | 5 | 10 | 0 | 4 |
| John Frank | 1 | -3 | 0 | -3 |
| ATL | ||||
| Gerald Riggs | 29 | 74 | 0 | 14 |
| Sylvester Stamps | 6 | 43 | 0 | 20 |
| David Archer | 5 | 35 | 0 | 10 |
| William Andrews | 5 | 29 | 0 | 10 |
| Billy Johnson | 4 | 20 | 0 | 10 |
| Cliff Austin | 2 | 13 | 0 | 10 |
| Floyd Dixon | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Jerry Rice #80 | 3 | 58 | 0 | 27 |
| Joe Cribbs | 4 | 51 | 0 | 23 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 11 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 6 |
| Derrick Crawford | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| ATL | ||||
| Sylvester Stamps | 3 | 63 | 1 | 39 |
| Charlie Brown | 3 | 43 | 0 | 18 |
| Billy Johnson | 3 | 35 | 0 | 27 |
| Gerald Riggs | 6 | 31 | 0 | 11 |
| Ron Middleton | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
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Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1986 W7 - 49ers at Atlanta Falcons - Game Thread