The 49ers (5-3-1) host the St. Louis Cardinals (2-7) at Candlestick Park on Sun November 9, 1986.
Joe Montana continues. Roger Craig leads the backfield. Jerry Rice at receiver. The Cardinals start Neil Lomax at quarterback with Ottis Anderson at running back.
St. Louis is 2-7 and the NFC's worst team. Montana's second post-surgery start comes at home against a losing opponent.[1][2][3]
Neil Lomax and the Cardinals have been the NFC East's most disappointing team. Lomax's volume numbers suggest an active passing game, but nine losses reflect a defense unable to hold leads. The 49ers come in at 5-3-1 after Montana's return loss in New Orleans.
Candlestick against a 2-7 defense in November is the right environment for Montana to rebuild game-speed processing. The Cardinals have allowed 27 points per game. A performance here signals return to full offensive capacity.
Week ten is the mid-November home game. The 49ers (5-3-1) are two games behind the Rams (8-1) in the NFC West. The Cardinals (2-7) are the NFC East's worst team. The Bears (9-1) lead the NFC. The Giants (9-1) lead the NFC East. The 49ers' Sunday home game against St. Louis is the start of the season's second half at Candlestick and Montana's chance to reestablish full offensive efficiency in his second post-surgery start.
Through nine games the 49ers are 5-3-1 with a plus 64 differential. The Cardinals are 2-7. Neil Lomax is 174 of 268, 2,311 yards, sixteen touchdowns, eight interceptions. Montana is 23 of 40, 332 yards in W9. Craig has 267 carries for 913 yards — approaching 1,000 on the year. Rice has 43 catches for 628 yards and seven touchdowns.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 6-3 | W1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 6-3 | W2 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 3-6 | W2 |
| Houston Oilers | 1-8 | L8 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New York Jets | 8-1 | W7 |
| New England Patriots | 6-3 | W3 |
| Miami Dolphins | 4-5 | W2 |
| Buffalo Bills | 2-7 | L2 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 0-9 | L9 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 8-1 | W2 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 6-3 | W3 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 5-4 | L1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 5-4 | L2 |
| San Diego Chargers | 1-8 | L8 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams | 7-2 | W3 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 5-3-1 | L2 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 5-3-1 | L1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 4-5 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 7-2 | L1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 5-4 | L2 |
| Detroit Lions | 3-6 | L3 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2-7 | W1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 1-8 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New York Giants | 7-2 | W2 |
| Washington Redskins | 7-2 | W1 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 6-3 | L1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 3-6 | L1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 2-7 | W1 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 47 yard field goal | 0-3 |
| 49ers | Jerry Rice 45 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-10 |
| Cardinals | John Lee 37 yard field goal | 3-10 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 35 yard field goal | 3-13 |
| 49ers | Jerry Rice 40 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 3-20 |
| Cardinals | J.T. Smith 24 yard pass from Cliff Stoudt (John Lee kick) | 10-20 |
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 41 yard field goal | 10-23 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Jerry Rice 44 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 10-30 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Joe Cribbs 3 yard rush | 10-36 |
| 49ers | Tom Holmoe 78 yard interception return (Ray Wersching kick) | 10-43 |
| Cardinals | J.T. Smith 24 yard pass from Cliff Stoudt (John Lee kick) | 17-43 |
Joe Montana threw three touchdown passes and finished with 300 yards as the 49ers blew out the St. Louis Cardinals 43-17 at Candlestick Park. Montana finished 16 of 22 with one interception. Roger Craig rushed for 164 yards on 33 carries with one touchdown. The defense intercepted Lomax three times. The 49ers moved to 6-3-1.[1][2][3]
Montana's 16-of-22, 300-yard, three-touchdown performance was the year's most efficient single-game passing line. The 43-17 blowout combined Craig's 164-yard rushing afternoon with Montana's precision for the season's highest scoring total.
The defense held Lomax to 276 yards and intercepted him three times. The Cardinals' 17 points came on two late scoring drives against the 49ers' reserves — the first-unit defense held St. Louis scoreless through three quarters. Craig's 164-yard rushing day included a rushing touchdown and pushed his season total past 1,077 yards.
The 43-17 win was the offensive statement Candlestick needed. Montana's two post-surgery starts: 332 yards in a road loss, 300 yards in a home blowout. The home environment was the difference.
49ers 43, Cardinals 17. Margin: plus 26. Record: 6-3-1.
A 43-17 home win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Montana's most efficient game since returning from surgery.
How it unfolded
Montana's first touchdown pass came on the 49ers' second possession. Craig's rushing score built the lead to 17-0 in the second quarter. Three more touchdowns in the second and third quarters made it 37-7. The defense's three interceptions stopped every Cardinals scoring threat in the first half.
The turning point
Montana's completion rate. At 16 of 22 with three touchdowns, the efficiency was the year's best. The Cardinals had no answer for Walsh's quick-passing game.
By the numbers
Montana 16 of 22 at 13.6 per attempt — the year's highest efficiency. Craig 164 yards on 33 carries. Defense three interceptions of Lomax.
What it means
6-3-1 heading to Washington for Monday Night Football. The Cardinals blowout signals Montana's full return. RFK on Monday Night is the schedule's hardest remaining game.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 22 | 23 |
| Total Yards | 364 | 460 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 1 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 23/40 | 16/22 |
| Pass yards | 276 | 300 |
| Pass TD | 2 | 3 |
| Interceptions | 3 | 1 |
| Sacks taken | 1 | 1 |
| Sack yards lost | 7 | 4 |
| Net pass yards | 269 | 296 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 27 | 33 |
| Rush yards | 95 | 164 |
| Rush TD | 0 | 1 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 2 | 1 |
| Fumbles lost | 1 | 0 |
| Penalties | 6 | 6 |
| Penalty yards | 44 | 35 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 13/19 | 270 | 3 | 1 | 128.8 |
| Jerry Rice #80 | 1/1 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 118.7 |
| Mike Moroski | 2/2 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 95.8 |
| STL | |||||
| Cliff Stoudt | 23/40 | 276 | 2 | 3 | 64.2 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Joe Cribbs | 21 | 105 | 1 | 19 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 6 | 38 | 0 | 10 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 4 | 17 | 0 | 9 |
| Derrick Harmon | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| STL | ||||
| Stump Mitchell | 14 | 47 | 0 | 14 |
| Earl Ferrell | 10 | 31 | 0 | 9 |
| Cliff Stoudt | 3 | 17 | 0 | 8 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Jerry Rice #80 | 4 | 156 | 3 | 45 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 3 | 56 | 0 | 42 |
| Russ Francis #81 | 3 | 35 | 0 | 16 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 3 | 30 | 0 | 16 |
| Joe Cribbs | 3 | 23 | 0 | 13 |
| STL | ||||
| J.T. Smith | 10 | 154 | 2 | 24 |
| Roy Green | 4 | 44 | 0 | 21 |
| Earl Ferrell | 4 | 39 | 0 | 15 |
| Stump Mitchell | 4 | 23 | 0 | 21 |
| Vai Sikahema | 1 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
Find or start the canonical thread for this game on r/49ers. The thread title is deterministic so anyone running this Rewatch lands on the same place.
Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1986 W10 - 49ers vs St. Louis Cardinals - Game Thread