The 49ers (5-2-1) travel to the Louisiana Superdome for a 1:00 PM CT kickoff against the New Orleans Saints (4-4) on Sun November 2, 1986.
Joe Montana returns to start after his back surgery rehabilitation. Roger Craig leads the backfield. The Saints start Dave Wilson with Rueben Mayes at running back.
Montana's return comes at the Superdome — the NFC's most hostile road venue for the West Coast offense.[1][2][3]
Montana's return from six weeks of rehabilitation comes in the year's most hostile road environment. The Superdome's noise disrupts West Coast timing routes that depend on rhythm and pre-snap reads. Rueben Mayes, the rookie from Washington State, is the Saints' ground game anchor.
The Superdome tests whether Montana's reads are fully restored after surgery. The 49ers need the road win to stay in the West and wild card picture heading into the season's second half.
Week nine is the early November road game marking Montana's return. The 49ers (5-2-1) are 1.5 games behind the Rams (7-1) in the NFC West. The Saints (4-4) are in the NFC wild card picture. The Bears (8-1) lead the NFC. The Giants (8-1) lead the NFC East. The 49ers' road game at the Superdome is Montana's first regular season start since the Tampa opener and the test of whether the post-surgery recovery holds in the NFC's loudest venue.
Through eight games the 49ers are 5-2-1 with a plus 77 differential. The Saints are 4-4. Rueben Mayes has 151 carries for 882 yards — the NFC's leading rookie. Dave Wilson is 94 of 179, 1,133 yards through eight games. Montana threw 366 yards before injury in W1; Kemp went 5-2-1 as starter in W2-W8. Craig has 247 carries for 861 yards. Rice has 37 catches for 554 yards and six touchdowns.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 5-3 | L1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 5-3 | W1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 2-6 | W1 |
| Houston Oilers | 1-7 | L7 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New York Jets | 7-1 | W6 |
| New England Patriots | 5-3 | W2 |
| Miami Dolphins | 3-5 | W1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 2-6 | L1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 0-8 | L8 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 7-1 | W1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 5-3 | W2 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 5-3 | W5 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 5-3 | L1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 1-7 | L7 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams | 6-2 | W2 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 5-2-1 | L1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 5-2-1 | W1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 3-5 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 7-1 | W1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 5-3 | L1 |
| Detroit Lions | 3-5 | L2 |
| Green Bay Packers | 1-7 | L1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1-7 | L5 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 6-2 | W3 |
| New York Giants | 6-2 | W1 |
| Washington Redskins | 6-2 | L1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 3-5 | W1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 1-7 | L2 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Saints | Rueben Mayes 4 yard rush (Morten Andersen kick) | 0-7 |
| Saints | Rueben Mayes 27 yard rush (Morten Andersen kick) | 0-14 |
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 50 yard field goal | 3-14 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | John Frank 3 yard pass from Mike Moroski (Ray Wersching kick) | 10-14 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Saints | Morten Andersen 45 yard field goal | 10-17 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Saints | Morten Andersen 50 yard field goal | 10-20 |
| Saints | Morten Andersen 23 yard field goal | 10-23 |
Rueben Mayes ran for 154 yards and two touchdowns as the New Orleans Saints beat the returning Joe Montana 23-10 at the Louisiana Superdome. Montana finished 23 of 40 for 332 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. The 49ers were held to 52 rushing yards on 20 carries. The 49ers fell to 5-3-1.[1][2][3]
Montana's return produced 332 yards and one touchdown — respectable volume for a six-week absence — but two interceptions in the second half stopped the comeback drives the 49ers needed. Mayes' 154-yard, two-touchdown performance controlled possession and limited Montana's attempts all afternoon.
The Superdome's 38-carry Mayes workload was the Saints' blueprint: run the ball, minimize Wilson's decisions. Wilson went 12 of 17 for 165 yards and zero touchdowns — enough for the game plan. The 49ers' 52 rushing yards on 20 carries was the year's worst ground performance.
Montana's first post-surgery game on the road in the Superdome was the hardest possible return scenario. The defense allowing 154 Mayes yards and two touchdowns reflected the difficulty.
Saints 23, 49ers 10. Margin: minus 13. Record: 5-3-1.
A 10-23 road loss at the Superdome. Montana's return start produces 332 yards but two interceptions in the loss.
How it unfolded
New Orleans scored on its first two possessions. Montana's touchdown pass in the second quarter cut it to 17-7. The Saints extended to 23-7 in the third. A 49ers field goal was the final score.
The turning point
Mayes' 38-carry ground game. The volume controlled possession and limited Montana's rhythm in his first post-surgery game. Two Montana interceptions in the third and fourth quarters stopped the best comeback opportunities.
By the numbers
Montana 23 of 40 at 8.3 per attempt — solid volume but two interceptions. Craig held to 52 yards on 20 carries. Mayes 154 yards on 38 carries. Wilson 165 yards and zero touchdowns were sufficient.
What it means
5-3-1 heading home for St. Louis. Montana's return loss is the year's fourth. The Cardinals home game starts the closing stretch.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 18 | 14 |
| Total Yards | 349 | 291 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 1 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 23/40 | 12/17 |
| Pass yards | 332 | 165 |
| Pass TD | 1 | 0 |
| Interceptions | 2 | 1 |
| Sacks taken | 4 | 3 |
| Sack yards lost | 35 | 28 |
| Net pass yards | 297 | 137 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 20 | 38 |
| Rush yards | 52 | 154 |
| Rush TD | 0 | 2 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 4 | 1 |
| Fumbles lost | 2 | 0 |
| Penalties | 7 | 8 |
| Penalty yards | 55 | 49 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Mike Moroski | 23/40 | 332 | 1 | 2 | 72.1 |
| NOR | |||||
| Dave Wilson | 12/16 | 165 | 0 | 1 | 81.5 |
| Dalton Hilliard | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39.6 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 3 | 18 | 0 | 14 |
| Joe Cribbs | 7 | 9 | 0 | 7 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 12 |
| Mike Moroski | 2 | 8 | 0 | 12 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Jerry Rice #80 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| NOR | ||||
| Rueben Mayes | 28 | 128 | 2 | 27 |
| Buford Jordan | 5 | 16 | 0 | 6 |
| Dalton Hilliard | 4 | 12 | 0 | 5 |
| Dave Wilson | 1 | -2 | 0 | -2 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Joe Cribbs | 4 | 87 | 0 | 33 |
| Russ Francis #81 | 2 | 62 | 0 | 52 |
| Jerry Rice #80 | 4 | 44 | 0 | 21 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 2 | 36 | 0 | 26 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 2 | 26 | 0 | 14 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 3 | 25 | 0 | 18 |
| John Frank | 3 | 23 | 1 | 17 |
| Derrick Crawford | 2 | 15 | 0 | 9 |
| Mike Wilson #85 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| NOR | ||||
| Buford Jordan | 2 | 63 | 0 | 37 |
| Eugene Goodlow | 1 | 29 | 0 | 29 |
| Eric Martin | 2 | 18 | 0 | 10 |
| Herbert Harris | 1 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| Rueben Mayes | 2 | 14 | 0 | 10 |
| John Tice | 2 | 12 | 0 | 7 |
| Mike Jones | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Dalton Hilliard | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
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Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1986 W9 - 49ers at New Orleans Saints - Game Thread