The 49ers (7-1) host the New Orleans Saints (4-4) at Candlestick Park, Sun November 5, 1989. Candlestick repairs allowed the home schedule to resume.
Joe Montana returns to start after missing two games with a knee injury. Roger Craig at lead back. The Saints come off a 28-21 win at Atlanta. Bobby Hebert at quarterback. Dalton Hilliard at running back.
New Orleans last visited Candlestick on October 8 1989 when the 49ers won 24-20.[1][2][3]
Joe Montana returns to start. The 49ers come off the two-game Young-Bono rotation that produced a Dallas win and a Jets road win. The Saints come off the win at Atlanta with Hebert throwing for 200-plus for the third week in a row. The home divisional matchup is the kind of returning-starter rest the unit needed Montana to get.
The matchup is the second 49ers-Saints game in less than a month. The October 8 win produced the John Taylor two-touchdown afternoon and the 24-20 final.
Week 9 has the conference's contenders all 8-0 or 7-1 or 6-2 or 5-3. The Giants 7-1 and the 49ers 7-1 tie atop the NFC. The Rams 7-1 in the West. The AFC's Bills 7-2, the Broncos 7-2. Around the division the Saints 4-4 sit in second; the Falcons 3-5. The home divisional matchup is the year's second meeting with the Saints. Across the NFC West the Rams 7-1 lead, the Falcons 3-5 trail behind the Saints 4-4.
Through eight games the 49ers are 7-1 with a plus 70 differential. The Saints are 4-4 with a minus 0. Bobby Hebert has thrown for 1,797 yards across eight starts, 13 TDs and 11 INTs. Eric Martin 32 catches for 539. Lonzell Hill 32 for 372. Dalton Hilliard 121 carries for 467. Joe Montana 1,445 yards across five reg games. Jerry Rice 31 catches for 730 yards. Vegas lists the 49ers as 7-point home favorites with the total at 43.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 5-3 | W1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 5-3 | W2 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 4-4 | W1 |
| Houston Oilers | 4-4 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | 6-2 | W3 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 4-4 | L1 |
| Miami Dolphins | 4-4 | L1 |
| New England Patriots | 3-5 | W1 |
| New York Jets | 1-7 | L5 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 6-2 | L1 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 4-4 | W1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 4-4 | W1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 3-5 | L1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 2-6 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 7-1 | W4 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 5-3 | L3 |
| New Orleans Saints | 4-4 | W3 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 2-6 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 5-3 | W1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 5-3 | L1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 4-4 | W1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 3-5 | L3 |
| Detroit Lions | 1-7 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New York Giants | 7-1 | W3 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 6-2 | W4 |
| Phoenix Cardinals | 4-4 | W2 |
| Washington Redskins | 4-4 | L1 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 0-8 | L8 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Jerry Rice 32 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick) | 0-7 |
| Saints | Dalton Hilliard 1 yard rush (Morten Andersen kick) | 7-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Jerry Rice 2 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick) | 7-14 |
| Saints | Morten Andersen 39 yard field goal | 10-14 |
| 49ers | John Taylor 46 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick) | 10-21 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Saints | Morten Andersen 23 yard field goal | 13-21 |
| 49ers | Mike Cofer 44 yard field goal | 13-24 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Joe Montana 3 yard rush (Mike Cofer kick) | 13-31 |
Joe Montana threw three touchdowns to Jerry Rice including two in the first half, and the 49ers beat the New Orleans Saints 31-13 at Candlestick Park. Montana finished 22 of 31 for 302 yards. Rice caught six for 93 with two scores (32 and 2). John Taylor caught a 46-yard touchdown. Joe Montana ran in a 3-yard touchdown. The Saints' Bobby Hebert threw for 183 with no touchdowns. The 49ers improved to 8-1.[1][2][3]
Joe Montana's return start produced three touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown. The 49ers beat the New Orleans Saints 31-13 at Candlestick. The home divisional matchup ended in the kind of single-game offensive performance the club had been hoping for after the two-game Young-Bono stretch.
Montana finished 22 of 31 for 302 with the three touchdown passes (Rice 32, Rice 2, Taylor 46) plus the 3-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter. Rice six catches for 93 with the two touchdowns. Taylor four for 78 with the 46-yarder. Brent Jones one for 17. Tom Rathman seven catches for 64 plus five rushes for 21. Roger Craig 17 carries for 51.
Bobby Hebert went 20 of 33 for 183 with no touchdowns and two interceptions. Dalton Hilliard ran 18 for 80 with a 1-yard touchdown. The 49ers' defensive front produced no sacks but the secondary's two interceptions gave the offense the kind of short-field opportunities that produced the four touchdowns.
49ers 31, Saints 13. Margin: plus 18. Record: 8-1. • Montana: 22 of 31, 302, 3 TDs (Rice 32, Rice 2, Taylor 46), 0 INTs, 0 sacks; 1 rushing TD (3y). • Rice: 6 catches for 93, 2 TDs. • Taylor: 4 catches for 78, 1 TD (46y). • Brent Jones: 1 catch for 17. • Craig: 17 carries for 51, plus 3 for 24. • Rathman: 5 carries for 21, plus 7 for 64. • Flagler: 3 carries for 6. • Cofer: 1-for-1 (44). • Hebert (NO): 20 of 33, 183, 0 TDs, 2 INTs.
A 31-13 home win over the New Orleans Saints. The 49ers move to 8-1 in Joe Montana's return start.
How it unfolded
Montana hit Rice on a 32-yard touchdown to open the scoring. Hilliard's 1-yard rush tied it 7-7. Rice's 2-yard touchdown made it 14-7. Andersen kicked a 39-yarder for 14-10. Taylor's 46-yard touchdown made it 21-10. Andersen added a 23-yarder for 21-13. Cofer's 44-yarder made it 24-13. Montana's 3-yard rushing touchdown made the final 31-13.
The turning point
The Taylor 46-yard touchdown. With the 49ers leading 14-10 and the Saints' offense producing the second-quarter Andersen field goal that cut the lead to four, Montana hit Taylor on a deep slant the Saints' single-high safety bit on. The seven-point swing turned a one-score game into the two-score margin the defense closed.
By the numbers
Montana 22 of 31 for 302, 9.7 yards per attempt, three touchdowns and no interceptions plus the rushing score. The 302 yards were Montana's most efficient single-game return performance of his career. Rice six catches for 93 with two touchdowns. Taylor four for 78 with the 46-yard score. Rathman 64 receiving on seven catches. Roger Craig 51 on 17. Defense produced two interceptions of Hebert and zero sacks but held the Saints' offense to one touchdown drive.
Personnel watch
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 16 | 21 |
| Total Yards | 243 | 397 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 20/33 | 22/31 |
| Pass yards | 183 | 302 |
| Pass TD | 0 | 3 |
| Interceptions | 2 | 0 |
| Sacks taken | 3 | 0 |
| Sack yards lost | 23 | 0 |
| Net pass yards | 160 | 302 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 20 | 30 |
| Rush yards | 83 | 95 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 1 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 0 | 1 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 | 0 |
| Penalties | 2 | 6 |
| Penalty yards | 10 | 55 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 22/31 | 302 | 3 | 0 | 134.1 |
| NOR | |||||
| Bobby Hebert | 20/33 | 183 | 0 | 2 | 50.4 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 17 | 51 | 0 | 12 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 5 | 21 | 0 | 9 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 5 | 17 | 1 | 14 |
| Terrence Flagler | 3 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| NOR | ||||
| Dalton Hilliard | 18 | 80 | 1 | 19 |
| Buford Jordan | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Bobby Hebert | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Jerry Rice #80 | 6 | 93 | 2 | 32 |
| John Taylor #82 | 4 | 78 | 1 | 45 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 7 | 64 | 0 | 21 |
| Terry Greer #84 | 1 | 26 | 0 | 26 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 3 | 24 | 0 | 9 |
| Brent Jones #84 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| NOR | ||||
| Floyd Turner | 3 | 42 | 0 | 19 |
| Lonzell Hill | 2 | 35 | 0 | 19 |
| Hoby Brenner | 3 | 34 | 0 | 16 |
| Dalton Hilliard | 5 | 31 | 0 | 12 |
| Buford Jordan | 2 | 24 | 0 | 17 |
| Brett Perriman | 2 | 10 | 0 | 5 |
| Eric Martin | 2 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Craig Heyward | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
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