The 49ers (4-1) travel to the Louisiana Superdome for a Sunday kickoff against the New Orleans Saints (3-2) on Sun October 25, 1987. The NFLPA regular players return to action.
Joe Montana returns to start. Roger Craig at lead back. The Saints start Bobby Hebert. Jim Mora in year second.
New Orleans was 12-3 in 1987 (incl 3 strike games).[1][2][3]
Jim Mora's Saints come into Sunday at 3-2 with the regular players returning. Bobby Hebert leads an offense that ranks 12th in the conference in points. Dalton Hilliard, Reuben Mayes, and Earl Howard share the backfield. Eric Martin at receiver. The Sunday at the Superdome is the year's first regular-roster matchup since the W2 Cincinnati game. The 49ers come into Sunday with Joe Montana back under center. The 4-1 strike record will count toward the season. Roger Craig returns from the strike rest.
Week 7 begins the post-strike portion of the season. The NFLPA regulars return; the replacement games count toward the standings. The 49ers' Sunday at New Orleans is one of two NFC matchups on the slate; the Cardinals at Cowboys is the other. Inside the division the NFC West contenders compete for the divisional slot and the inside track on the conference's seeding picture.
Through six games the 49ers are 4-1 with a plus 21 differential. The Saints are 3-2 with a plus 2. Bobby Hebert 940 yards across 4 starts (regular and strike combined). Dalton Hilliard 36 carries for 174. Joe Montana 682 yards across 2 regular-season starts. Jerry Rice 17 catches for 267 across W1-W2. Vegas lists the 49ers as 4-point road favorites with the total at 42. Today the metric is: 49ers' regular-roster offense in the year's first post-strike game.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns | 3-2 | W1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 3-2 | W1 |
| Houston Oilers | 3-2 | L1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 2-3 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots | 3-2 | W2 |
| New York Jets | 3-2 | W1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 2-3 | W1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 2-3 | L1 |
| Miami Dolphins | 2-3 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Chargers | 4-1 | W4 |
| Denver Broncos | 3-1-1 | W2 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 3-2 | L2 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 3-2 | W1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 1-4 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 4-1 | W4 |
| New Orleans Saints | 3-2 | W1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 2-3 | W1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 1-4 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 4-1 | L1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 3-2 | W1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 2-2-1 | W1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 2-3 | L3 |
| Detroit Lions | 1-4 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Redskins | 4-1 | W3 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 3-2 | L1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 2-3 | L1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 1-4 | L3 |
| New York Giants | 0-5 | L5 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Saints | Morten Andersen 39 yard field goal | 0-3 |
| 49ers | Jerry Rice 8 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 7-3 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Ron Heller 39 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 14-3 |
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 31 yard field goal | 17-3 |
| Saints | Morten Andersen 49 yard field goal | 17-6 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Saints | Morten Andersen 19 yard field goal | 17-9 |
| Saints | Morten Andersen 19 yard field goal | 17-12 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Saints | Alvin Toles 11 yard blocked punt return (Morten Andersen kick) | 17-19 |
| 49ers | Mike Wilson 14 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 24-19 |
| Saints | Morten Andersen 37 yard field goal | 24-22 |
Joe Montana threw a 17-yard touchdown to Jerry Rice with 0:42 left and the 49ers came back from a 17-7 fourth-quarter deficit to beat the New Orleans Saints 24-22 at the Louisiana Superdome. Montana finished 22 of 36 for 280 yards. Rice caught seven for 96 with two touchdowns. Roger Craig ran for 87. The 49ers improved to 5-1.[1][2][3]
Joe Montana led a 5-play 80-yard drive that ended in Jerry Rice's 17-yard touchdown with 0:42 left and the 49ers came back from a 7-17 fourth-quarter deficit to beat the New Orleans Saints 24-22. Montana finished 22 of 36 for 280 yards with two touchdowns. Rice caught seven for 96 with two touchdowns.
Montana's first regular-roster game after the strike produced the year's second walk-off finish. Rice's two-touchdown afternoon was the receiver's first multi-touchdown game in the post-strike season. Roger Craig 19 carries for 87. The 49ers' offensive line did not give up a sack.
Bobby Hebert finished 19 of 35 for 211 with one touchdown and two interceptions. Dalton Hilliard ran 17 for 76. The Saints' offense produced two touchdown drives plus three Morten Andersen field goals.
49ers 24, Saints 22. Margin: plus 2. Record: 5-1.
A 24-22 road win at the Louisiana Superdome. The 49ers move to 5-1 with Joe Montana's first post-strike walk-off finish.
How it unfolded
The Saints led 17-7 in the third quarter. Montana led two scoring drives in the fourth quarter that ended in Rice's two touchdowns. The 17-yard winner with 0:42 left was Rice's eighth career game-winning touchdown reception.
The turning point
The Rice 17-yard touchdown with 0:42 left. With the 49ers trailing 17-22 and 1:38 remaining, Montana led a 5-play 80-yard drive that ended in Rice's slant for the touchdown.
By the numbers
Montana 22 of 36 for 280, 7.8 yards per attempt, two touchdowns and one interception. Rice seven catches for 96 with the two touchdowns. Craig 87 on 19. Defense produced two interceptions of Hebert and one sack.
Personnel watch
Montana's post-strike return produced the year's second walk-off win. Rice's two-touchdown game was his first multi-touchdown afternoon in the post-strike season.
What it means
5-1 with the Rams at Anaheim next Sunday.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 23 | 20 |
| Total Yards | 303 | 379 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 18/32 | 14/27 |
| Pass yards | 256 | 202 |
| Pass TD | 3 | 0 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 1 |
| Sacks taken | 4 | 0 |
| Sack yards lost | 28 | 0 |
| Net pass yards | 228 | 202 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 26 | 43 |
| Rush yards | 75 | 177 |
| Rush TD | 0 | 0 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 2 | 4 |
| Fumbles lost | 2 | 1 |
| Penalties | 4 | 7 |
| Penalty yards | 36 | 83 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 18/32 | 256 | 3 | 0 | 113.5 |
| NOR | |||||
| Bobby Hebert | 14/27 | 202 | 0 | 1 | 61 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 15 | 55 | 0 | 9 |
| Doug DuBose | 3 | 9 | 0 | 4 |
| Terrence Flagler | 4 | 8 | 0 | 5 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 7 |
| NOR | ||||
| Rueben Mayes | 29 | 144 | 0 | 38 |
| Dalton Hilliard | 6 | 18 | 0 | 6 |
| Bobby Hebert | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Barry Word | 5 | 7 | 0 | 3 |
| Mel Gray | 2 | -1 | 0 | 2 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Jerry Rice #80 | 6 | 89 | 1 | 39 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 5 | 50 | 0 | 14 |
| Ron Heller #85 | 1 | 39 | 1 | 39 |
| Mike Wilson #85 | 3 | 38 | 1 | 14 |
| Terrence Flagler | 1 | 24 | 0 | 24 |
| John Taylor #82 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| Russ Francis #81 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| NOR | ||||
| Lonzell Hill | 4 | 93 | 0 | 36 |
| Mike Jones | 3 | 67 | 0 | 33 |
| Hoby Brenner | 2 | 22 | 0 | 15 |
| Rueben Mayes | 2 | 8 | 0 | 6 |
| Mel Gray | 2 | 8 | 0 | 4 |
| John Tice | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
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Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1987 W7 - 49ers at New Orleans Saints - Game Thread