1989 season · Week 1

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Sunday Sports Section · Week 1

49ers at Indianapolis Colts

Sun September 10, 1989 · Hoosier Dome, kickoff 1:00pm

Pregame

Beat report
AI summary based on verified facts

Season opener at the Hoosier Dome against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday September 10, 1989. Year one of George Seifert, the team's third head coach.

Joe Montana takes the first snap of the post-Walsh era. Roger Craig at lead back. Tom Rathman at fullback. Terrence Flagler in the rotation. Jerry Rice, John Taylor, and Brent Jones at the perimeter. The defense returns Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright, Don Griffin, Charles Haley, and Michael Carter from the Super Bowl XXIII roster.[1][2][3]

Columnist
AI summary based on verified facts

Bill Walsh retired five months ago. George Seifert is the head coach. The roster is largely unchanged from the Super Bowl XXIII team that beat Cincinnati 20-16 in January. Joe Montana enters his 11th season. The opener at the Hoosier Dome is the kind of road game the schedule produced for a defending Super Bowl champion: a 4-12 opponent the year before, a young quarterback under center, an NFL East matchup with Eric Dickerson as the headline.

Around the league
AI summary based on verified facts

Opening Sunday begins the post-Walsh year. Around the league the AFC's contenders are Buffalo, Cincinnati, and Denver. The NFC's Giants and Eagles project as the conference's challengers behind the 49ers. The NFC West's Rams, Saints, and Falcons all return their starting quarterbacks. The 49ers' Sunday at Indianapolis is one of two NFC-AFC openers on the slate; the conference's other matchup is the Saints at Dallas.

Trend analyst
AI summary based on verified facts

Through zero games the 49ers reset to the 14-4 1988 finish that closed in the Super Bowl XXIII win over Cincinnati. Montana threw for 2,981 yards reg season 1988. Roger Craig posted 1,502 from scrimmage. Jerry Rice caught 64 balls for 1,306 with 9 TDs. The Colts finished 9-7 a year ago, third in AFC East. Chris Chandler threw 16 TDs and 12 INTs in his rookie year as the starter. Eric Dickerson ran for 1,659. Vegas opens the 49ers as 8-point road favorites with the total at 39.

League standings entering Week 1

Standings as of kickoff, Week 1 (no future-game spoilers)

Around the league

  • Opening week. No games on the books yet.

AFC

AFC Central

TeamRecStrk
Cincinnati Bengals0-0--
Cleveland Browns0-0--
Pittsburgh Steelers0-0--
Houston Oilers0-0--

AFC East

TeamRecStrk
Buffalo Bills0-0--
Indianapolis Colts0-0--
Miami Dolphins0-0--
New England Patriots0-0--
New York Jets0-0--

AFC West

TeamRecStrk
Denver Broncos0-0--
Kansas City Chiefs0-0--
Los Angeles Raiders0-0--
San Diego Chargers0-0--
Seattle Seahawks0-0--

NFC

NFC West

TeamRecStrk
Atlanta Falcons0-0--
Los Angeles Rams0-0--
New Orleans Saints0-0--
San Francisco 49ers0-0--

NFC Central

TeamRecStrk
Chicago Bears0-0--
Detroit Lions0-0--
Green Bay Packers0-0--
Minnesota Vikings0-0--
Tampa Bay Buccaneers0-0--

NFC East

TeamRecStrk
Dallas Cowboys0-0--
New York Giants0-0--
Philadelphia Eagles0-0--
Phoenix Cardinals0-0--
Washington Redskins0-0--

Game video

▶ Open in YouTube 49ers vs Colts 1989 Week 1 · channel: All Highlights

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1989 week 1 San Francisco 49ers at Indianapolis Colts1989 week 1 San Francisco 49ers at Indianapolis Colts1989-09-10 San Francisco 49ers vs Indianapolis Colts1989-09-10 San Francisco 49ers vs Indianapolis ColtsSan Francisco 49ers vs Indianapolis Colts 1989 1st Half Week 1San Francisco 49ers vs Indianapolis Colts 1989 1st Half Week 1San Francisco 49ers vs Indianapolis Colts 1989 2nd Half Week 1San Francisco 49ers vs Indianapolis Colts 1989 2nd Half Week 1

Game info

Roof
dome
Surface
astroturf
Vegas line
49ers -3
Over/Under
42.5 (over)

Score

Reveal through:

49ers 3, Indianapolis Colts 349ers 13, Indianapolis Colts 1049ers 23, Indianapolis Colts 1049ers 30, Indianapolis Colts 2449ers 30, Indianapolis Colts 24[3][1][2]

1234T
San Francisco 49ers310107313233030
Indianapolis Colts37014310102424

Scoring plays

Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.

Q1

TeamPlayScore
49ersMike Cofer 38 yard field goal3-0
ColtsDean Biasucci 31 yard field goal3-3

Q2

TeamPlayScore
49ersRoger Craig 1 yard rush (Mike Cofer kick)10-3
ColtsBill Brooks 22 yard pass from Chris Chandler (Dean Biasucci kick)10-10
49ersMike Cofer 26 yard field goal13-10

Q3

TeamPlayScore
49ersRoger Craig 4 yard rush (Mike Cofer kick)20-10
49ersMike Cofer 31 yard field goal23-10

Q4

TeamPlayScore
ColtsChris Chandler 1 yard rush (Dean Biasucci kick)23-17
49ersJerry Rice 58 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick)30-17
ColtsAlbert Bentley blocked punt recovery in end zone (Dean Biasucci kick)30-24

Recap

Recap
AI summary based on verified facts

Joe Montana threw a 58-yard touchdown to Jerry Rice in the fourth quarter, Roger Craig ran for 131 yards and two touchdowns, and the 49ers beat the Indianapolis Colts 30-24 at the Hoosier Dome in the season opener. Montana finished 15 of 26 for 233. Mike Cofer made three field goals. Eric Dickerson ran 19 times for 106. Chris Chandler ran in a 1-yard touchdown. The 49ers opened 1-0 in the Seifert era.[1][2][3]

Columnist recap
AI summary based on verified facts

Year one of the Seifert era began with a 30-24 road win at the Hoosier Dome. Jerry Rice caught six balls for 163 yards including a 58-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that pushed the lead to 30-17. Roger Craig ran 24 times for 131 yards with two touchdowns. The Walsh scheme remained.

Montana finished 15 of 26 for 233 with the long touchdown and no interceptions. John Taylor caught four for 49. Tom Rathman 10 carries for 10 yards plus two catches for 6. The 49ers' offensive line did not give up a sack. Eric Dickerson ran 19 times for 106 (5.6 ypc) but no touchdowns. Chris Chandler threw 14 of 32 for 200 with one touchdown to Bill Brooks (22 yards) and one interception. Albert Bentley recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for the Colts' fourth-quarter score that made the final 30-24.

By the numbers
AI summary based on verified facts

49ers 30, Colts 24. Margin: plus 6. Record: 1-0. • Montana: 15 of 26, 233, 1 TD (Rice 58), 0 INTs, 0 sacks. • Rice: 6 catches for 163, 1 TD (58y). • Taylor: 4 catches for 49. • Craig: 24 carries for 131, 2 rushing TDs (1y, 4y). • Rathman: 4 carries for 10, plus 2 for 6. • Cofer: 3-for-3 (38, 26, 31). • Chandler (IND): 14 of 32, 200, 1 TD (Brooks 22), 1 INT; 1 rushing TD (1y). • Dickerson (IND): 19 carries for 106. • Bill Brooks (IND): 4 catches for 80, 1 TD.

Film room
AI summary based on verified facts

A 30-24 road opener at the Hoosier Dome. The 49ers move to 1-0 in the Seifert era.

How it unfolded

Cofer kicked a 38-yard field goal first. Dean Biasucci's 31-yarder tied it 3-3. Craig's 1-yard touchdown made it 10-3. Bill Brooks caught a 22-yarder from Chandler to tie it 10-10. Cofer kicked a 26-yard field goal to make it 13-10. Craig's 4-yard rush extended it to 20-10. Cofer added a 31-yarder for 23-10. Chandler ran in a 1-yard touchdown to make it 23-17. Rice's 58-yard touchdown reception extended it to 30-17. Albert Bentley recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for the final 30-24.

The turning point

The Rice 58-yard touchdown. With the score 23-17 and the Colts driving toward what could have been a one-score game, Montana's deep ball to Rice on a post route produced the touchdown that effectively decided the opener. The Walsh deep-ball game remained.

By the numbers

Montana 15 of 26 for 233, 9.0 yards per attempt, one touchdown and no interceptions. No sacks taken. Rice six catches for 163 with the long touchdown. Taylor four for 49. Craig 24 carries for 131 with two touchdowns. The 49ers ran 33 times for 175. Dickerson 106 on 19. Chandler 14 of 32 for 200 with one touchdown and one interception. Defense produced one interception of Chandler and no sacks.

Personnel watch

Box score

SFOpp
Team totals
First Downs2422
Total Yards404344
Turnovers01
Passing
Comp/Att15/2614/32
Pass yards233200
Pass TD11
Interceptions01
Sacks taken31
Sack yards lost2910
Net pass yards204190
Rushing
Rushes3727
Rush yards200154
Rush TD21
Discipline
Fumbles01
Fumbles lost00
Penalties86
Penalty yards6043

Passing

PlayerC/AYdsTDIntRate
SFO
Joe Montana #1615/2623310100.3
IND
Chris Chandler14/322001162

Rushing

PlayerAttYdsTDLong
SFO
Roger Craig #3324131227
Joe Montana #16421013
Terrence Flagler31809
Jerry Rice #80117017
Tom Rathman #4441005
Harry Sydney #391303
IND
Eric Dickerson19106018
Albert Bentley322017
Chris Chandler421112
Clarence Verdin1505

Receiving

PlayerRecYdsTDLong
SFO
Jerry Rice #806163158
John Taylor #82449018
Harry Sydney #39111011
Tom Rathman #442605
Wesley Walls1404
Roger Craig #331000
IND
Bill Brooks480133
Andre Rison362032
Clarence Weathers229019
Clarence Verdin221013
Albert Bentley2906
Eric Dickerson1-10-1

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