The 49ers (9-5-1) host the Los Angeles Rams (10-5) at Candlestick Park on Fri December 19, 1986. Regular-season Friday night finale.
Joe Montana continues. Roger Craig leads the backfield. Jerry Rice at receiver, needing 187 yards to break the NFL's single-season receiving record. The Rams start Dieter Brock with Eric Dickerson at running back.
Win and the 49ers clinch. Rice chases history on the same night.[1][2][3]
The regular season closes Friday night at Candlestick. The Rams come in at 10-5 playing for seeding. Dickerson works toward his third consecutive 1,000-yard season. Rice needs 187 yards to break the NFL's single-season receiving record.
Montana has produced three straight wins with the run game carrying the load. The Candlestick Friday night crowd provides the closing environment Walsh's offense has won in all year.
Week sixteen closes the 1986 regular season. The 49ers (9-5-1) clinch the NFC West with a win. The Rams (10-5) have clinched mathematically but the 49ers' win takes the title on tiebreakers. The Giants (14-1) have the NFC's top playoff seed. Jerry Rice needs 187 receiving yards to break the NFL's single-season record. The 49ers' Friday home game against the Rams is the most-watched West Coast regular-season finale since the 1985 Dallas closer.
Through fifteen games the 49ers are 9-5-1 with a plus 117 differential. The Rams are 10-5. Dickerson has 274 carries for 1,171 yards. Brock is 174 of 310, 2,349 yards through fifteen games. Joe Montana is 148 of 251, 2,017 yards, nine touchdowns, nine interceptions in eight post-surgery starts. Craig has 469 carries for 1,827 yards. Rice has 80 catches for 1,383 yards and fourteen touchdowns — 187 yards from the NFL receiving record.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns | 11-4 | W4 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 9-6 | L1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 6-9 | W2 |
| Houston Oilers | 4-11 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots | 10-5 | L2 |
| New York Jets | 10-5 | L4 |
| Miami Dolphins | 8-7 | W2 |
| Buffalo Bills | 4-11 | L2 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 2-13 | W2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 11-4 | W1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 9-6 | W2 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 9-6 | W4 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 8-7 | L3 |
| San Diego Chargers | 4-11 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams | 10-5 | L1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 9-5-1 | W2 |
| New Orleans Saints | 7-8 | W1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 6-8-1 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 13-2 | W6 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 8-7 | L1 |
| Detroit Lions | 5-10 | L3 |
| Green Bay Packers | 4-11 | W1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2-13 | L6 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New York Giants | 13-2 | W8 |
| Washington Redskins | 11-4 | L2 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 7-8 | L4 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 5-9-1 | W1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 3-11-1 | L1 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 30 yard field goal | 0-3 |
| 49ers | Jerry Rice 44 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-10 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Rams | Eric Dickerson 15 yard rush (Mike Lansford kick) | 7-10 |
| 49ers | Joe Cribbs 2 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 7-17 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Russ Francis 1 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 7-24 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Rams | Mike Young 13 yard pass from Jim Everett (Mike Lansford kick) | 14-24 |
Jerry Rice caught 10 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns to set the NFL single-season receiving record as the 49ers beat the Los Angeles Rams 24-14 at Candlestick Park on Friday night. Joe Montana finished 23 of 36 for 238 yards with two touchdowns. Roger Craig rushed for 170 yards. Eric Dickerson was held to 101 yards. The 49ers finished 10-5-1 and clinched the NFC West.[1][2][3]
Rice's 204-yard, two-touchdown Friday night performance against the Rams broke the NFL's single-season receiving yards record, passing the mark set by Charlie Hennigan in 1961. Rice finished the year with 1,570 yards and 15 touchdowns on 86 catches. The 49ers won 24-14 behind Montana's 238-yard, two-touchdown performance and Craig's 170-yard rushing afternoon.
The run game's 45 carries for 170 yards was the closing blueprint's final iteration: control possession, set up the play-action, let Rice make the plays that define the year. Montana's two touchdown passes to Rice came in the second and fourth quarters on the crossing routes Rice ran better than any receiver of his era.
The 24-14 final completed the three-game closing run: 24-10 over the Jets, 29-24 at New England, 24-14 over the Rams. The 10-5-1 record won the NFC West on tiebreakers.
49ers 24, Rams 14. Margin: plus 10. Record: 10-5-1 (NFC West).
A 24-14 Friday-night home win over the Los Angeles Rams. Rice sets the NFL receiving record. The 49ers clinch the NFC West.
How it unfolded
Montana's first touchdown pass to Rice came in the second quarter. Craig's ground game built the halftime lead. The Rams' two touchdowns came in the second and third quarters. Montana's fourth-quarter touchdown to Rice sealed it and the record.
The turning point
Rice's 204-yard record-breaking performance. The historical moment came on the fourth-quarter touchdown that gave Rice 1,570 yards and broke Charlie Hennigan's 1961 record.
By the numbers
Rice 10 catches for 204 yards, two touchdowns; 1,570 yards on the season. Montana 23 of 36, two touchdowns. Craig 170 yards on 45 carries. Dickerson held to 101 yards on 22 carries.
Personnel watch
Jerry Rice's record season: 86 catches, 1,570 yards, 15 touchdowns. Montana's post-surgery return: 9-3-1 in games he started after W1. The franchise goes to the playoffs at 10-5-1 as NFC West champions.
What it means
10-5-1. NFC West champions. The Divisional round opponent is the New York Giants at Giants Stadium — a rematch of the 1985 Wild Card that ended the 49ers' year.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 12 | 27 |
| Total Yards | 229 | 408 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 13/35 | 23/36 |
| Pass yards | 151 | 238 |
| Pass TD | 1 | 2 |
| Interceptions | 3 | 1 |
| Sacks taken | 3 | 0 |
| Sack yards lost | 23 | 0 |
| Net pass yards | 128 | 238 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 22 | 45 |
| Rush yards | 101 | 170 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 1 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 1 | 3 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 | 1 |
| Penalties | 2 | 5 |
| Penalty yards | 25 | 35 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 23/36 | 238 | 2 | 1 | 89.8 |
| RAM | |||||
| Jim Everett | 13/35 | 151 | 1 | 3 | 24.8 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 21 | 80 | 0 | 10 |
| Joe Cribbs | 18 | 62 | 1 | 14 |
| Jerry Rice #80 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 17 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| RAM | ||||
| Eric Dickerson | 18 | 68 | 1 | 15 |
| Barry Redden | 4 | 33 | 0 | 18 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Jerry Rice #80 | 3 | 71 | 1 | 44 |
| Russ Francis #81 | 5 | 50 | 1 | 17 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 3 | 39 | 0 | 17 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 4 | 35 | 0 | 19 |
| Joe Cribbs | 6 | 35 | 0 | 13 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| John Frank | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| RAM | ||||
| David Hill | 2 | 45 | 0 | 33 |
| Henry Ellard | 3 | 41 | 0 | 20 |
| Mike Young | 2 | 28 | 1 | 15 |
| Kevin House | 1 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| Darren Long | 2 | 16 | 0 | 12 |
| Barry Redden | 3 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
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Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1986 W16 - 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams - Game Thread