The 49ers (8-5-1) travel to Sullivan Stadium, Foxboro, for a 1:00 PM ET kickoff against the New England Patriots (9-5) on Sun December 14, 1986.
Joe Montana continues. Roger Craig leads the backfield. The Patriots start Tony Eason at quarterback with Craig James at running back.
New England is 9-5 and in the AFC wild card picture. Sullivan Stadium in December is cold and the year's hardest remaining road game.[1][2][3]
Tony Eason led the Patriots to Super Bowl XX before the Bears held them scoreless. The 49ers face an AFC team with playoff personnel in a cold weather road game in December. Craig James has been the Patriots' most consistent offensive weapon.
Montana has produced run-game victories in the last two elimination games. The Patriots' run defense is among the AFC's better units. Walsh's ground-game blueprint carries the second straight elimination game in a cold road venue.
Week fifteen is the second-to-last week. The 49ers (8-5-1) need wins in Weeks 15 and 16 to reach the playoffs. The Patriots (9-5) are in the AFC wild card race. The Giants (13-1) have clinched the NFC's top seed. The Rams (10-5) have clinched the NFC West. Sullivan Stadium in Foxboro in December is one of the AFC's most difficult cold-weather road venues. The 49ers' game in New England is the second of three must-win closing games.
Through fourteen games the 49ers are 8-5-1 with a plus 112 differential. The Patriots are 9-5. Tony Eason is 140 of 233, 1,754 yards, ten touchdowns, eight interceptions. Craig James has 204 carries for 1,168 yards. Joe Montana is 134 of 225, 1,815 yards, nine touchdowns, eight interceptions in seven post-surgery starts. Craig has 422 carries for 1,629 yards. Rice has 75 catches for 1,383 yards and fourteen touchdowns.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns | 10-4 | W3 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 9-5 | W1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 5-9 | W1 |
| Houston Oilers | 3-11 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots | 10-4 | L1 |
| New York Jets | 10-4 | L3 |
| Miami Dolphins | 7-7 | W1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 4-10 | L1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 1-13 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 10-4 | L1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 8-6 | W1 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 8-6 | L2 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 8-6 | W3 |
| San Diego Chargers | 4-10 | W2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams | 10-4 | W3 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 8-5-1 | W1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 6-7-1 | L1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 6-8 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 12-2 | W5 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 8-6 | W2 |
| Detroit Lions | 5-9 | L2 |
| Green Bay Packers | 3-11 | L1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2-12 | L5 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New York Giants | 12-2 | W7 |
| Washington Redskins | 11-3 | L1 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 7-7 | L3 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 4-9-1 | T1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 3-10-1 | T1 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Patriots | Greg Baty 8 yard pass from Tony Eason (Tony Franklin kick) | 0-7 |
| 49ers | Joe Cribbs 3 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 7-7 |
| Patriots | Tony Franklin 41 yard field goal | 7-10 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Roger Craig 1 yard rush | 13-10 |
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 46 yard field goal | 16-10 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Patriots | Tony Collins 4 yard rush (Tony Franklin kick) | 16-17 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 31 yard field goal | 19-17 |
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 20 yard field goal | 22-17 |
| 49ers | Joe Cribbs 10 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 29-17 |
| Patriots | Stanley Morgan 15 yard pass from Tony Eason (Tony Franklin kick) | 29-24 |
The 49ers rushed for 198 yards and three touchdowns as San Francisco beat the New England Patriots 29-24 at Sullivan Stadium. Joe Montana finished 14 of 26 for 202 yards with one interception. Tony Eason threw two touchdowns. The Patriots led twice in the fourth quarter before the 49ers' final rushing touchdown secured the win. The 49ers moved to 9-5-1.[1][2][3]
The 49ers won 29-24 in Foxboro with the run game producing 198 yards and three rushing touchdowns on 47 carries — the second consecutive 198-yard rushing game, matching the Jets' output exactly. Montana managed 202 yards on 14 of 26 with no passing touchdowns; the ground game carried every score.
Eason went 22 of 37 for 227 yards and two touchdowns. The Patriots scored 24 points — twice going ahead in the fourth quarter — but the 49ers' final rushing touchdown gave them the lead they held to the end. Craig's carries in the fourth quarter consumed the clock after the final score.
Back-to-back 198-yard rushing games in elimination stakes — against the Jets and then in Foxboro — was the season's most dramatic run-game performance. The 29-24 final set up the Rams home finale.
49ers 29, Patriots 24. Margin: plus 5. Record: 9-5-1.
A 29-24 road win at Sullivan Stadium. Back-to-back 198-yard rushing games in elimination games define the closing stretch.
How it unfolded
The 49ers scored on their first possession. The Patriots tied it in the second and third quarters twice. The 49ers' final rushing touchdown gave them a five-point lead late in the fourth. The Patriots' final drive fell short.
The turning point
The run game's third rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter. With the 49ers trailing by three entering the fourth, the sustained ground game converted the last scoring drive. Craig's carries after the score consumed the remaining clock.
By the numbers
Run game 47 carries for 198 yards, three rushing touchdowns — back-to-back 198-yard elimination games. Montana 14 of 26, no passing touchdowns. Eason 227 yards and two touchdowns but the Patriots needed a comeback that fell short.
What it means
9-5-1 heading home for the Rams. Win Friday night and the 49ers clinch the NFC West. Rice needs 187 receiving yards to break the NFL's single-season receiving record.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 23 | 16 |
| Total Yards | 400 | 267 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 14/26 | 22/37 |
| Pass yards | 202 | 227 |
| Pass TD | 0 | 2 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 2 |
| Sacks taken | 0 | 3 |
| Sack yards lost | 0 | 20 |
| Net pass yards | 202 | 207 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 47 | 20 |
| Rush yards | 198 | 60 |
| Rush TD | 3 | 1 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 0 | 1 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 | 1 |
| Penalties | 4 | 3 |
| Penalty yards | 35 | 25 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 14/25 | 202 | 0 | 1 | 65.7 |
| Jeff Kemp | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39.6 |
| NWE | |||||
| Tony Eason | 22/37 | 227 | 2 | 2 | 72.7 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Joe Cribbs | 23 | 107 | 2 | 12 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 16 | 86 | 1 | 25 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NWE | ||||
| Tony Collins | 12 | 29 | 1 | 8 |
| Reggie Dupard | 5 | 22 | 0 | 10 |
| Mosi Tatupu | 3 | 9 | 0 | 8 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 6 | 89 | 0 | 48 |
| Jerry Rice #80 | 4 | 35 | 0 | 22 |
| Russ Francis #81 | 1 | 31 | 0 | 31 |
| Joe Cribbs | 1 | 26 | 0 | 26 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 2 | 21 | 0 | 13 |
| NWE | ||||
| Stanley Morgan | 8 | 121 | 1 | 38 |
| Greg Baty | 8 | 58 | 1 | 17 |
| Mosi Tatupu | 3 | 25 | 0 | 15 |
| Stephen Starring | 1 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| Irving Fryar | 2 | 10 | 0 | 8 |
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 W15 - 49ers at New England Patriots - Game Thread
