The 49ers (2-0) host the Atlanta Falcons (1-1) at Candlestick Park, Sun September 18, 1988.
Montana continues at quarterback. The Falcons start Chris Miller. Gerald Riggs at running back. Floyd Dixon and Stacey Bailey at receiver. Marion Campbell in year third as head coach.
Marion Campbell's Falcons are 1-1 and a year-three rebuild ahead of the Sunday matchup. Chris Miller has thrown for 396 across two starts. Gerald Riggs has 32 carries for 113. The Falcons' offense ranks 18th in the conference; the defense gave up 30 to the Lions in the opener. The Sunday game at Candlestick is the kind of soft-stretch matchup the schedule produces after the two-game road slate.
Week 3 has the conference's openers all 2-0 or 1-1. The Bears 3-0 lead. The Cowboys 1-2 in the NFC East. The Bills 3-0 lead the AFC. The Bengals 3-0 in the AFC Central. The 49ers' home matchup against the Falcons is one of three NFC matchups on the slate; the Saints at Vikings is the marquee Sunday game. Inside the division the NFC West contenders compete for the divisional slot and the inside track on the conference's seeding picture.
Through two games the 49ers are 2-0 with a plus 4 differential. The Falcons are 1-1 with a minus 9. Chris Miller has thrown for 396 yards. Gerald Riggs 32 carries for 113. Floyd Dixon 5 catches for 96. Joe Montana 309 yards across two games. Roger Craig 110 rushing across two games. Jerry Rice 6 catches for 150 with one touchdown. Vegas lists the 49ers as 10-point home favorites with the total at 41. Number to track today: how the 49ers' defensive front handles Gerald Riggs.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 2-0 | W2 |
| Houston Oilers | 2-0 | W2 |
| Cleveland Browns | 1-1 | L1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 1-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | 2-0 | W2 |
| New England Patriots | 1-1 | L1 |
| New York Jets | 1-1 | W1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 0-2 | L2 |
| Miami Dolphins | 0-2 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle Seahawks | 2-0 | W2 |
| Denver Broncos | 1-1 | W1 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 1-1 | L1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 0-2 | L2 |
| San Diego Chargers | 0-2 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams | 2-0 | W2 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 2-0 | W2 |
| New Orleans Saints | 1-1 | W1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 0-2 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 2-0 | W2 |
| Detroit Lions | 1-1 | L1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 1-1 | W1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1-1 | W1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 0-2 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 1-1 | W1 |
| New York Giants | 1-1 | L1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 1-1 | L1 |
| Washington Redskins | 1-1 | W1 |
| Phoenix Cardinals | 0-2 | L2 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Mike Cofer 38 yard field goal | 0-3 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Falcons | Gerald Riggs 3 yard rush (Greg Davis kick) | 7-3 |
| Falcons | James Primus 29 yard rush (Greg Davis kick) | 14-3 |
| Falcons | Chris Miller 1 yard rush (Greg Davis kick) | 21-3 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Falcons | Greg Davis 47 yard field goal | 24-3 |
| 49ers | Guy McIntyre 17 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick) | 24-10 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Falcons | Robert Moore 47 yard interception return (Greg Davis kick) | 31-10 |
| 49ers | Mike Wilson 13 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick) | 31-17 |
| Falcons | Greg Davis 41 yard field goal | 34-17 |
Gerald Riggs ran for 115 yards and a touchdown, Chris Miller scrambled for a 1-yard score, and the Atlanta Falcons beat the 49ers 34-17 at Candlestick Park. Joe Montana finished 32 of 48 for 343 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Roger Craig ran 13 times for 57. Robert Moore returned a Jerry Rice interception 47 yards for a touchdown. The 49ers fell to 2-1.[1][2][3]
The Atlanta Falcons crushed the 49ers 34-17 at Candlestick Park. Gerald Riggs ran for 115 yards and a touchdown; the Falcons' three-touchdown second quarter gave them a 21-3 lead the 49ers never closed. Joe Montana threw for 343 but also threw three interceptions and the kind of inefficient yards-per-attempt afternoon the offense had not produced in 1988.
Montana finished 32 of 48 for 343 with two touchdowns (Guy McIntyre 17, Mike Wilson 13) and three interceptions. Jerry Rice caught eight for 163 with no touchdowns. Roger Craig ran 13 for 57 with no touchdowns. Tom Rathman two for 23 plus five for 29. The 49ers' offensive line gave up no sacks but the run game produced 80 rushing yards on 19 carries.
Falcons 34, 49ers 17. Margin: minus 17. Record: 2-1. • Montana: 32 of 48, 343, 2 TDs (McIntyre 17, Wilson 13), 3 INTs, 0 sacks. • Rice: 8 catches for 163, 0 TDs (1 INT thrown on option pass). • Mike Wilson: 2 catches for 18, 1 TD. • Guy McIntyre (OL): 1 catch for 17, 1 TD (tackle-eligible). • Craig: 13 carries for 57, plus 10 for 61. • Rathman: 2 carries for 23, plus 5 for 29. • Cofer: 1-for-1 (38).
A 34-17 home loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The 49ers fall to 2-1 in the year's first home defeat.
How it unfolded
Cofer's 38-yard field goal opened the scoring. Gerald Riggs ran in a 3-yarder for the Falcons. James Primus ran 29 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-3. Chris Miller's 1-yard rush extended it to 21-3 at the half. Greg Davis kicked a 47-yarder for 24-3. Guy McIntyre's 17-yard touchdown reception (tackle-eligible play) made it 24-10. Robert Moore's 47-yard interception return for a touchdown made it 31-10. Wilson's 13-yard touchdown reception cut it to 31-17. Greg Davis added a 41-yarder for the final 34-17.
The turning point
The Robert Moore 47-yard interception return for a touchdown. With the 49ers driving and Rice taking a reverse handoff and attempting to throw an option pass, Moore intercepted the throw and returned it 47 yards for the touchdown that extended the lead to 31-10. The seven-point defensive swing effectively ended the game.
By the numbers
Montana 32 of 48 for 343, 7.1 yards per attempt, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Rice eight catches for 163 with no touchdowns. Craig 57 on 13 plus 61 receiving on 10. Falcons produced 80 rushing yards on 19 carries. Defense produced two interceptions of Miller but allowed three Falcons touchdowns and the kind of three-quarter dominance that lost the home game.
Personnel watch
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 19 | 22 |
| Total Yards | 367 | 426 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 4 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 12/24 | 32/49 |
| Pass yards | 175 | 343 |
| Pass TD | 0 | 2 |
| Interceptions | 2 | 4 |
| Sacks taken | 1 | 3 |
| Sack yards lost | 4 | 21 |
| Net pass yards | 171 | 322 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 41 | 19 |
| Rush yards | 196 | 104 |
| Rush TD | 3 | 0 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 0 | 0 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 | 0 |
| Penalties | 5 | 4 |
| Penalty yards | 35 | 50 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 32/48 | 343 | 2 | 3 | 75.3 |
| Jerry Rice #80 | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| ATL | |||||
| Chris Miller | 12/24 | 175 | 0 | 2 | 39.4 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 13 | 57 | 0 | 12 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 2 | 23 | 0 | 18 |
| Jerry Rice #80 | 2 | 20 | 0 | 18 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| ATL | ||||
| Gerald Riggs | 19 | 115 | 1 | 17 |
| James Primus | 10 | 32 | 1 | 29 |
| Chris Miller | 5 | 17 | 1 | 7 |
| Floyd Dixon | 1 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| John Settle | 6 | 15 | 0 | 6 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Jerry Rice #80 | 8 | 163 | 0 | 37 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 10 | 61 | 0 | 10 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 5 | 29 | 0 | 11 |
| Wes Chandler | 3 | 24 | 0 | 9 |
| Mike Wilson #85 | 2 | 18 | 1 | 13 |
| Guy McIntyre | 1 | 17 | 1 | 17 |
| Ron Heller #85 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 12 |
| Calvin Nicholas | 1 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| ATL | ||||
| Gerald Riggs | 4 | 64 | 0 | 30 |
| Stacey Bailey | 2 | 49 | 0 | 37 |
| Floyd Dixon | 2 | 18 | 0 | 10 |
| Alex Higdon | 1 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| Aubrey Matthews | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| James Primus | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Ken Whisenhunt | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
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