The 49ers (1-0) travel to Tampa Stadium for a Sunday kickoff against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1) on Sun September 17, 1989.
Montana continues at quarterback. Roger Craig at lead back. The Buccaneers start Vinny Testaverde. Mark Carrier at receiver. Ray Perkins in year three as head coach.
Tampa Bay comes off a 23-21 loss to the Saints in the opener. Bucs went 5-11 in 1988.[1][2][3]
Ray Perkins' Buccaneers are a perennial bottom-tier team but the offense has produced a passing identity behind Vinny Testaverde. The 23-21 opener loss to the Saints featured 230 Testaverde yards and one touchdown. The 49ers' Sunday at Tampa is the kind of road game the schedule produced for a 1-0 contender against a 0-1 rebuilding team: an opportunity to move to 2-0 without burning offensive volume.
Week 2 opens with NFC's openers all on the road or in primetime. The Eagles host the Redskins on Monday night, the Bears beat the Vikings, the Giants traveled to Detroit. The AFC's Bills beat the Dolphins. The 49ers' Sunday at Tampa Bay is the conference's quiet matinee. Around the division the Rams beat the Falcons; the Saints lost the W1 home opener to Philadelphia.
Through one game the 49ers are 1-0 with a plus 6 differential. The Buccaneers are 0-1 with a minus 2. Vinny Testaverde threw for 230 in the opener loss to the Saints. Mark Carrier 4 catches for 73. James Wilder ran 16 for 73. Montana 233 in the opener at Indianapolis. Roger Craig 131 rushing. Rice 6/163/1. Vegas lists the 49ers as 8-point road favorites with the total at 40. Stat worth watching today: 49ers' pass rush against a Bucs line that gave up four sacks last Sunday.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns | 1-0 | W1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 0-1 | L1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 0-1 | L1 |
| Houston Oilers | 0-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | 1-0 | W1 |
| New England Patriots | 1-0 | W1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 0-1 | L1 |
| Miami Dolphins | 0-1 | L1 |
| New York Jets | 0-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 1-0 | W1 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 1-0 | W1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 0-1 | L1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 0-1 | L1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 0-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams | 1-0 | W1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 1-0 | W1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 1-0 | W1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 0-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 1-0 | W1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 1-0 | W1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1-0 | W1 |
| Detroit Lions | 0-1 | L1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 0-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New York Giants | 1-0 | W1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 1-0 | W1 |
| Phoenix Cardinals | 1-0 | W1 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 0-1 | L1 |
| Washington Redskins | 0-1 | L1 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Buccaneers | Donald Igwebuike 23 yard field goal | 0-3 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Mike Cofer 47 yard field goal | 3-3 |
| 49ers | Mike Cofer 32 yard field goal | 6-3 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Buccaneers | Donald Igwebuike 44 yard field goal | 6-6 |
| Buccaneers | Donald Igwebuike 37 yard field goal | 6-9 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Jerry Rice 2 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick) | 13-9 |
| Buccaneers | Mark Carrier 18 yard pass from Vinny Testaverde (Donald Igwebuike kick) | 13-16 |
| 49ers | Joe Montana 4 yard rush (Mike Cofer kick) | 20-16 |
Joe Montana ran in a 4-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter and Jerry Rice caught a 2-yard scoring pass, and the 49ers beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20-16 at Tampa Stadium. Montana finished 25 of 39 for 266 with one touchdown and two interceptions. Rice caught 8 for 122 with the score. Mike Cofer made two field goals. Vinny Testaverde threw one touchdown to Mark Carrier. The 49ers improved to 2-0.[1][2][3]
Joe Montana's 4-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter was the winner Sunday at Tampa Stadium. Final 20-16 over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 49ers came back from a 9-6 third-quarter deficit on Rice's 2-yard touchdown reception in the fourth and the Montana scrambling score that capped a sustained drive.
Montana finished 25 of 39 for 266 with the touchdown and two interceptions. Rice eight catches for 122 with the 2-yard score. Tom Rathman seven catches for 43 in the check-down role. Brent Jones three for 26. Taylor two for 27. Roger Craig 16 carries for 36; the run game was held in check by a Buccaneers front that loaded the box. The 49ers' offensive line gave up no sacks.
49ers 20, Buccaneers 16. Margin: plus 4. Record: 2-0. • Montana: 25 of 39, 266, 1 TD (Rice 2), 2 INTs, 0 sacks; 1 rushing TD (4y). • Rice: 8 catches for 122, 1 TD. • Rathman: 7 catches for 43. • Taylor: 2 catches for 27. • Brent Jones: 3 catches for 26. • Craig: 16 carries for 36, plus 3 for 30. • Cofer: 2-for-2 (47, 32). • Testaverde (TB): 14 of 35, 146, 1 TD (Mark Carrier 18), 2 INTs. • Mark Carrier (TB): 5 catches for 86, 1 TD.
A 20-16 road win at Tampa Stadium. The 49ers move to 2-0 with the year's first one-score Sunday afternoon.
How it unfolded
Donald Igwebuike's 23-yard field goal opened the scoring. Cofer kicked a 47-yarder to tie it. Cofer added a 32-yarder for 6-3. Igwebuike's 44-yard field goal tied it 6-6. He added a 37-yarder for 6-9. Rice's 2-yard touchdown reception made it 13-9. Mark Carrier caught an 18-yard touchdown from Testaverde for the 13-16 lead. Montana's 4-yard rushing touchdown made the final 20-16.
The turning point
The Montana 4-yard rushing touchdown. With the 49ers down 13-16 and 5:10 left in the fourth quarter, Montana led a sustained drive that included two short Rathman receptions, a Rice 18-yard catch on third-and-eight, and a Craig 11-yard run on second-and-five. From the 4-yard line on second-and-goal, Montana rolled right on a planned bootleg and ran the ball in untouched. The seven-point swing was the eventual winner.
By the numbers
Montana 25 of 39 for 266, 6.8 yards per attempt, one touchdown and two interceptions. Rice eight catches for 122 with the 2-yard score; the receiver's second consecutive 100-yard game to open the year. Rathman seven catches for 43 in the check-down role. Roger Craig 16 carries for 36 against a Tampa front that loaded the box. Defense produced two interceptions and three sacks of Testaverde.
Personnel watch
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 22 | 13 |
| Total Yards | 307 | 217 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 3 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 25/39 | 14/35 |
| Pass yards | 266 | 146 |
| Pass TD | 1 | 1 |
| Interceptions | 2 | 2 |
| Sacks taken | 4 | 2 |
| Sack yards lost | 22 | 20 |
| Net pass yards | 244 | 126 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 30 | 26 |
| Rush yards | 63 | 91 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 0 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 1 | 3 |
| Fumbles lost | 1 | 1 |
| Penalties | 6 | 4 |
| Penalty yards | 60 | 24 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 25/39 | 266 | 1 | 2 | 71.1 |
| TAM | |||||
| Vinny Testaverde | 14/35 | 146 | 1 | 2 | 38.5 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 16 | 36 | 0 | 14 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 9 | 21 | 1 | 14 |
| Jerry Rice #80 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Harry Sydney #39 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Terrence Flagler | 1 | -6 | 0 | -6 |
| TAM | ||||
| William Howard | 12 | 41 | 0 | 15 |
| Vinny Testaverde | 5 | 28 | 0 | 15 |
| Lars Tate | 7 | 16 | 0 | 4 |
| Sylvester Stamps | 2 | 6 | 0 | 4 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Jerry Rice #80 | 8 | 122 | 1 | 40 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 7 | 43 | 0 | 15 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 3 | 30 | 0 | 20 |
| John Taylor #82 | 2 | 27 | 0 | 15 |
| Brent Jones #84 | 3 | 26 | 0 | 12 |
| Mike Wilson #85 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| Harry Sydney #39 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| TAM | ||||
| Mark Carrier | 5 | 86 | 1 | 25 |
| Ron Hall | 4 | 44 | 0 | 22 |
| Bruce Hill | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Lars Tate | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| William Howard | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Don Smith | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Sylvester Stamps | 1 | -4 | 0 | -4 |
Find or start the canonical thread for this game on r/49ers. The thread title is deterministic so anyone running this Rewatch lands on the same place.
Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1989 W2 - 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Game Thread
