Season opener at the Louisiana Superdome against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday September 4, 1988. Year 10 of Bill Walsh.
Joe Montana takes the first snap. Steve Young available in relief. Roger Craig at lead back. Tom Rathman at fullback. Jerry Rice and John Frank at the perimeter. The Saints start Bobby Hebert. Dalton Hilliard at running back. Eric Martin at receiver. Jim Mora in year three as head coach.
Bill Walsh enters his 10th and final season as head coach. The roster returns its core: Montana, Craig, Rice, Wesley Walls in the tight-end rotation, Ronnie Lott in the secondary. The opener at New Orleans is the kind of road test the schedule produced for a 13-2 1987 finish ended by the Vikings in the divisional round. The Saints are the NFC West's other contender and the 49ers' rival in three of the last four seasons.
Opening Sunday begins the year. Around the league the AFC's contenders return: Bills, Bengals, Broncos. The NFC's Cowboys, Giants, Rams compete in the conference's tier underneath. The 49ers' Sunday at New Orleans is one of two NFC West openers; the Rams at Falcons is the other. The conference's opening slate features eight matchups between teams that finished 9-plus wins a year ago.
Through zero games the 49ers reset to the 13-2 1987 finish that closed in a 36-24 divisional loss to the Vikings at Candlestick. Joe Montana 31 of 167, 3,054, 31 TDs, 13 INTs reg season 1987. Jerry Rice 65 catches for 1,078, 22 TDs (NFL record reg-season receiving TDs). Roger Craig 215 carries for 815 yards reg season. Bobby Hebert reg season 1987: 15 TDs, 9 INTs. Vegas opens the 49ers as 1-point road favorites with the total at 43.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 0-0 | -- |
| Cleveland Browns | 0-0 | -- |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 0-0 | -- |
| Houston Oilers | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | 0-0 | -- |
| Indianapolis Colts | 0-0 | -- |
| Miami Dolphins | 0-0 | -- |
| New England Patriots | 0-0 | -- |
| New York Jets | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 0-0 | -- |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 0-0 | -- |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 0-0 | -- |
| San Diego Chargers | 0-0 | -- |
| Seattle Seahawks | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons | 0-0 | -- |
| Los Angeles Rams | 0-0 | -- |
| New Orleans Saints | 0-0 | -- |
| San Francisco 49ers | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 0-0 | -- |
| Detroit Lions | 0-0 | -- |
| Green Bay Packers | 0-0 | -- |
| Minnesota Vikings | 0-0 | -- |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 0-0 | -- |
| New York Giants | 0-0 | -- |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 0-0 | -- |
| Phoenix Cardinals | 0-0 | -- |
| Washington Redskins | 0-0 | -- |
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Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Roger Craig 1 yard rush (Mike Cofer kick) | 7-0 |
| Saints | Eric Martin 2 yard pass from Bobby Hebert (Morten Andersen kick) | 7-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Saints | Robert Clark 21 yard pass from Bobby Hebert (Morten Andersen kick) | 7-14 |
| Saints | Morten Andersen 20 yard field goal | 7-17 |
| 49ers | Mike Cofer 25 yard field goal | 10-17 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | John Frank 9 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick) | 17-17 |
| 49ers | Mike Wilson 17 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick) | 24-17 |
| 49ers | John Frank 17 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick) | 31-17 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Saints | Lonzell Hill 18 yard pass from Bobby Hebert (Morten Andersen kick) | 31-24 |
| Saints | Safety, Swilling tackled Young in end zone | 31-26 |
| 49ers | Mike Cofer 32 yard field goal | 34-26 |
| Saints | Brett Perriman 15 yard pass from Bobby Hebert (Morten Andersen kick) | 34-33 |
Joe Montana threw three touchdowns in the third quarter and the 49ers came back from a 10-17 halftime deficit to beat the New Orleans Saints 34-33 at the Louisiana Superdome in the season opener. Montana finished 13 of 23 for 161 yards. John Frank caught two touchdown passes. Mike Wilson caught a 17-yard score. Roger Craig ran in a 1-yard touchdown. Bobby Hebert threw four touchdowns. The 49ers improved to 1-0.[1][2][3]
Joe Montana's three-touchdown third quarter pushed the 49ers to a 34-33 road opener win at the Louisiana Superdome. The 49ers came back from a 10-17 halftime deficit on three consecutive Montana touchdown drives.
Montana finished 13 of 23 for 161 with the three touchdowns (John Frank 9, Mike Wilson 17, John Frank 17). Frank's two-touchdown game was the tight end's first multi-touchdown effort of his career. Roger Craig ran 18 for 67 with a 1-yard touchdown opener. Tom Rathman 8 carries for 10 plus a catch for 5. Jerry Rice two for 41 with no touchdowns.
Bobby Hebert finished 22 of 31 for 245 with four touchdowns to Eric Martin (2), Robert Clark (21), Lonzell Hill (18), and Brett Perriman (15). Hebert's four touchdowns came on the Saints' four scoring drives. The 49ers' defensive front produced two interceptions of Hebert plus a safety in the fourth quarter when Pat Swilling tackled Steve Young in the end zone (the only Saints points across the second-half stretch).
49ers 34, Saints 33. Margin: plus 1. Record: 1-0. • Montana: 13 of 23, 161, 3 TDs (Frank 9, Wilson 17, Frank 17), 1 INT, 0 sacks. • John Frank: 5 catches for 59, 2 TDs. • Mike Wilson: 1 catch for 17, 1 TD. • Jerry Rice: 2 catches for 41. • Craig: 18 carries for 67, 1 rushing TD (1y). • Rathman: 8 carries for 10, plus 1 for 5. • Cofer: 2-for-2 (25, 32). • Defense safety: Swilling tackled Young in EZ (4y backfire).
A 34-33 road opener win at the Louisiana Superdome. The 49ers move to 1-0 in Bill Walsh's 10th season.
How it unfolded
Roger Craig opened with a 1-yard rush. Eric Martin caught a 2-yarder for Hebert to tie it 7-7. Robert Clark's 21-yard touchdown made it 7-14. Morten Andersen kicked a 20-yarder for 7-17. Cofer's 25-yarder cut it to 10-17 at the half. Frank's 9-yard touchdown reception tied it 17-17. Wilson's 17-yard touchdown made it 24-17. Frank's 17-yard touchdown extended it to 31-17. Lonzell Hill's 18-yarder cut it to 31-24. Swilling tackled Young in the end zone for a safety. Cofer's 32-yarder made it 34-26. Brett Perriman's 15-yard touchdown made the final 34-33.
The turning point
The Frank-to-Frank-to-Wilson three-touchdown third quarter. After trailing 10-17 at the half, Montana's three scoring throws in 11 minutes turned a one-score deficit into a two-touchdown lead. The seven-point swing margin held through the Saints' fourth-quarter comeback attempt.
By the numbers
Montana 13 of 23 for 161, 7.0 yards per attempt, three touchdowns and one interception. Frank five catches for 59 with the two touchdowns. Wilson one for 17 with the touchdown. Rice two for 41. Craig 67 on 18 with the rushing touchdown. Rathman 10 on eight. Defense produced two interceptions of Hebert and the safety.
Personnel watch
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 21 | 23 |
| Total Yards | 289 | 344 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 3 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 14/26 | 22/31 |
| Pass yards | 165 | 245 |
| Pass TD | 3 | 4 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 2 |
| Sacks taken | 0 | 5 |
| Sack yards lost | 0 | 48 |
| Net pass yards | 165 | 197 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 32 | 31 |
| Rush yards | 124 | 147 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 0 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 1 | 2 |
| Fumbles lost | 1 | 1 |
| Penalties | 2 | 10 |
| Penalty yards | 12 | 77 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 13/23 | 161 | 3 | 1 | 99.8 |
| Steve Young #8 | 1/3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 42.4 |
| NOR | |||||
| Bobby Hebert | 22/31 | 245 | 4 | 2 | 106.9 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 18 | 67 | 1 | 10 |
| Jerry Rice #80 | 2 | 29 | 0 | 29 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 3 | 20 | 0 | 10 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 5 |
| Steve Young #8 | 1 | -2 | 0 | -2 |
| NOR | ||||
| Dalton Hilliard | 19 | 95 | 0 | 22 |
| Craig Heyward | 8 | 27 | 0 | 11 |
| Bobby Hebert | 1 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| Lonzell Hill | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Rueben Mayes | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| John Frank | 5 | 59 | 2 | 17 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 5 | 43 | 0 | 14 |
| Jerry Rice #80 | 2 | 41 | 0 | 29 |
| Mike Wilson #85 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 17 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| NOR | ||||
| Lonzell Hill | 7 | 74 | 1 | 18 |
| Eric Martin | 7 | 68 | 1 | 19 |
| Brett Perriman | 2 | 48 | 1 | 33 |
| Robert Clark | 3 | 45 | 1 | 21 |
| Dalton Hilliard | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| John Tice | 2 | 5 | 0 | 8 |
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