The 49ers (3-1) host the Detroit Lions (1-3) at Candlestick Park, Sun October 2, 1988.
Montana continues at quarterback. The Lions start Chuck Long. Eric Hipple in relief. Garry James and James Jones share the backfield. Pete Mandley at receiver. Darryl Rogers in year four as head coach.
Darryl Rogers' Lions are 1-3 and a year-four rebuild with no playoff appearances yet. Chuck Long has thrown for 743 across four games. Pete Mandley has 21 catches for 280. The 49ers' Sunday at Candlestick is the kind of soft-stretch home game the schedule produced after the Kingdome blowout: a 1-3 opponent at home, expected to be a 49ers win by two touchdowns or more.
Week 5 has the conference's contenders all in early-October form. The Bears 5-0 lead. The Vikings 4-1, the 49ers 3-1, the Rams 3-1. The Bengals 5-0 lead the AFC. The Bills 5-0. The 49ers' Sunday against Detroit is one of the conference's quietest Sunday games on the slate; the Cowboys and Saints play the year's first NFC East-West matchup on Monday night.
Through four games the 49ers are 3-1 with a plus 18 differential. The Lions are 1-3 with a minus 27. Chuck Long has thrown for 743 yards. Pete Mandley 21 catches for 280. Garry James 49 carries for 156. Joe Montana 954 yards across four games. Roger Craig 274 rushing yards across four. Jerry Rice 20 catches for 476 with four touchdowns. Vegas lists the 49ers as 7-point home favorites with the total at 40.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 4-0 | W4 |
| Houston Oilers | 3-1 | W1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 2-2 | L1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 1-3 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | 4-0 | W4 |
| New York Jets | 3-1 | W3 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 1-3 | W1 |
| Miami Dolphins | 1-3 | L1 |
| New England Patriots | 1-3 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Raiders | 2-2 | W1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 2-2 | W2 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 2-2 | L2 |
| Denver Broncos | 1-3 | L2 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 1-3 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams | 4-0 | W4 |
| New Orleans Saints | 3-1 | W3 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 3-1 | W1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 1-3 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 3-1 | W1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 3-1 | W3 |
| Detroit Lions | 1-3 | L3 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1-3 | L2 |
| Green Bay Packers | 0-4 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 2-2 | W1 |
| New York Giants | 2-2 | L1 |
| Phoenix Cardinals | 2-2 | W2 |
| Washington Redskins | 2-2 | L1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 1-3 | L3 |
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Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| No scoring this quarter. | ||
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Jerry Rice 11 yard rush (Mike Cofer kick) | 0-7 |
| Lions | Eddie Murray 24 yard field goal | 3-7 |
| 49ers | Mike Cofer 29 yard field goal | 3-10 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | John Taylor 77 yard punt return (Mike Cofer kick) | 3-17 |
| Lions | Eddie Murray 34 yard field goal | 6-17 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Mike Cofer 29 yard field goal | 6-20 |
| Lions | Pete Mandley 11 yard pass from Chuck Long (Eddie Murray kick) | 13-20 |
John Taylor returned a punt 77 yards for a touchdown, Mike Cofer made two field goals, and the 49ers beat the Detroit Lions 20-13 at Candlestick Park. Joe Montana finished 19 of 30 for 182 yards. Jerry Rice ran in an 11-yard touchdown. Roger Craig ran 18 times for 90. The 49ers improved to 4-1.[1][2][3]
John Taylor returned a punt 77 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter, the 49ers' defense produced one Pete Mandley touchdown allowed across four quarters, and the 49ers beat the Detroit Lions 20-13 at Candlestick. The Taylor punt return was the operation's first punt-return touchdown of the year.
Montana finished 19 of 30 for 182 with no touchdowns and no interceptions. Jerry Rice ran 11 yards for a touchdown on a reverse in the second quarter. Roger Craig ran 18 for 90. Tom Rathman 12 for 74 plus four for 38 receiving. Mike Wilson six catches for 59. Cofer kicked field goals of 29 and 29 yards.
Chuck Long finished 11 of 19 for 139 with one touchdown to Pete Mandley (11 yards). Eric Hipple came in for the second half and went 10 of 18 for 136 with no touchdowns. Garry James ran 12 for 30. The Lions' offense produced one touchdown drive and two field goals across four quarters. The 49ers' defensive front produced no sacks but the secondary's two interceptions limited the Lions to one offensive touchdown.
49ers 20, Lions 13. Margin: plus 7. Record: 4-1. • Montana: 19 of 30, 182, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 0 sacks. • Rice: 2 catches for 35, plus 1 rush for 11 yards (1 rushing TD). • Craig: 18 carries for 90, plus 5 for 31. • Rathman: 12 carries for 74, plus 4 for 38. • Wilson: 6 catches for 59. • Taylor (ST): 77y punt return TD. • Cofer: 2-for-2 (29, 29). • Chuck Long (DET): 11 of 19, 139, 1 TD (Mandley 11), 0 INTs. • Eric Hipple (DET): 10 of 18, 136, 0 TDs, 0 INTs.
A 20-13 home win over the Detroit Lions. The 49ers move to 4-1 with the year's first punt-return touchdown.
How it unfolded
Jerry Rice ran in an 11-yard touchdown on a reverse for the opening score. Eddie Murray kicked a 24-yard field goal for the Lions. Cofer's 29-yarder made it 10-3. Taylor's 77-yard punt return for a touchdown made it 17-3. Murray's 34-yarder cut it to 17-6. Cofer's 29-yarder made it 20-6. Pete Mandley's 11-yard touchdown reception made the final 20-13.
The turning point
The Taylor 77-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter. After the Lions had cut the lead to 10-3, Taylor's return turned what could have been a defensive struggle into a 17-3 lead the defense closed out.
By the numbers
Montana 19 of 30 for 182, 6.1 yards per attempt. Rice's 11-yard reverse was his first rushing touchdown of his career. Craig 90 on 18. Rathman 74 on 12 (6.2 ypc). Taylor's 77-yard punt return was the team's first since 1985. Defense produced no sacks but two interceptions.
Personnel watch
John Taylor's punt-return touchdown was the receiver's first NFL scoring play. The third-year pro had been the kickoff and punt returner all season. Jerry Rice's 11-yard reverse rushing touchdown was his first scoring rush of his career. Charles Haley produced no sacks but two key pressures.
What it means
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 18 | 19 |
| Total Yards | 297 | 339 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 21/37 | 19/30 |
| Pass yards | 275 | 182 |
| Pass TD | 1 | 0 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 0 |
| Sacks taken | 4 | 2 |
| Sack yards lost | 27 | 19 |
| Net pass yards | 248 | 163 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 21 | 35 |
| Rush yards | 49 | 176 |
| Rush TD | 0 | 1 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 3 | 2 |
| Fumbles lost | 2 | 1 |
| Penalties | 2 | 4 |
| Penalty yards | 15 | 25 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 19/30 | 182 | 0 | 0 | 80.1 |
| DET | |||||
| Chuck Long | 11/19 | 139 | 1 | 0 | 98.4 |
| Eric Hipple | 10/18 | 136 | 0 | 0 | 79.9 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 18 | 90 | 0 | 12 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 12 | 74 | 0 | 26 |
| Jerry Rice #80 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| DET | ||||
| Garry James | 12 | 30 | 0 | 14 |
| James Jones | 4 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| Eric Hipple | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Chuck Long | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Pete Mandley | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Carl Painter | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Mike Wilson #85 | 6 | 59 | 0 | 20 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 4 | 38 | 0 | 14 |
| Jerry Rice #80 | 2 | 35 | 0 | 32 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 5 | 31 | 0 | 14 |
| Ron Heller #85 | 2 | 19 | 0 | 12 |
| DET | ||||
| Pete Mandley | 7 | 116 | 1 | 23 |
| James Jones | 5 | 56 | 0 | 21 |
| Gary Lee | 4 | 43 | 0 | 14 |
| Pat Carter | 3 | 35 | 0 | 31 |
| Carl Bland | 2 | 25 | 0 | 17 |
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