The 49ers (8-1) host the Atlanta Falcons (3-6) at Candlestick Park, Sun November 12, 1989.
Montana continues at quarterback. The Falcons start Chris Miller at quarterback. John Settle at running back. Shawn Collins and Floyd Dixon at receiver. Marion Campbell in year three as head coach.
Marion Campbell's Falcons are 3-6 and the kind of mid-tier division opponent the schedule produces after the Saints win. Chris Miller has thrown for 1,890 yards across nine starts with 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Shawn Collins and Floyd Dixon are the perimeter targets. John Settle has 79 carries for 281. The Falcons' soft defense (24 points a game against) is the kind of opponent the 49ers' offense, off the 31-13 home win over the Saints, will be looking to put up a big number against.
Week 10 has the conference's contenders mid-November. The Rams 8-1, the 49ers 8-1, the Giants 7-2. The Bears 6-3. The Bills 8-2 lead the AFC. The Broncos 8-2. The Bengals 6-4. The home matchup against Atlanta is one of the conference's quieter Sunday games; the Cowboys at Phoenix is the other NFC East matchup of the slate. The NFC West's race the Rams 8-1 lead behind the 49ers in the loss column, the Saints 4-5 and Falcons 3-6 compete in the second tier.
Through nine games the 49ers are 8-1 with a plus 88 differential. The Falcons are 3-6 with a minus 51. Chris Miller has thrown for 1,890 yards across nine starts, 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Shawn Collins 27 catches for 432. Floyd Dixon 24 for 415. John Settle 79 carries for 281. Joe Montana 1,747 yards across six games with the bye. Jerry Rice 37 catches for 823 and 5 TDs. Vegas lists the 49ers as 14-point home favorites with the total at 44.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns | 6-3 | W3 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 5-4 | L1 |
| Houston Oilers | 5-4 | W1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 4-5 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | 6-3 | L1 |
| Miami Dolphins | 5-4 | W1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 4-5 | L2 |
| New England Patriots | 3-6 | L1 |
| New York Jets | 2-7 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 7-2 | W1 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 5-4 | W2 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 4-5 | W1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 4-5 | L1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 3-6 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 8-1 | W5 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 5-4 | L4 |
| New Orleans Saints | 4-5 | L1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 3-6 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | 6-3 | W1 |
| Chicago Bears | 5-4 | L1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 5-4 | W2 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 3-6 | L4 |
| Detroit Lions | 1-8 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New York Giants | 8-1 | W4 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 6-3 | L1 |
| Phoenix Cardinals | 4-5 | L1 |
| Washington Redskins | 4-5 | L2 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 1-8 | W1 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Joe Montana 1 yard rush (Mike Cofer kick) | 0-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Falcons | Chris Miller 23 yard field goal | 3-7 |
| 49ers | Jerry Rice 38 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick) | 3-14 |
| 49ers | Charles Haley 3 yard defensive fumble return (Mike Cofer kick) | 3-21 |
| 49ers | John Taylor 2 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick) | 3-28 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Jerry Rice 11 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick) | 3-35 |
| 49ers | Mike Cofer 18 yard field goal | 3-38 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Keith Henderson 11 yard rush (Mike Cofer kick) | 3-45 |
Joe Montana threw three touchdowns and Charles Haley returned a fumble 3 yards for a defensive score, and the 49ers crushed the Atlanta Falcons 45-3 at Candlestick Park. Montana finished 16 of 19 for 270 yards. Jerry Rice caught three for 81 with two touchdowns. Roger Craig ran for 109. Tom Rathman ran 16 times for 77. The 49ers improved to 9-1.[1][2][3]
Joe Montana threw three touchdowns in 19 attempts and the 49ers crushed the Atlanta Falcons 45-3 at Candlestick Park. The first-half explosion produced 28 points in the second quarter, the team's largest single-quarter scoring in three seasons. Charles Haley returned a fumble 3 yards for a defensive score that pushed the lead to 21-3 before halftime.
Montana finished 16 of 19 for 270 with touchdowns to Rice (38, 11) and Taylor (2). The 84% completion rate was the highest of any Montana single-game line of his career. Rice caught three for 81 with the two touchdowns. Taylor two for 6 with the 2-yard score. Brent Jones two for 47. Roger Craig ran 17 times for 109 (6.4 ypc) plus two catches for 15. Rathman 16 carries for 77. Keith Henderson ran in an 11-yard touchdown in the fourth.
49ers 45, Falcons 3. Margin: plus 42. Record: 9-1. • Montana: 16 of 19, 270, 3 TDs (Rice 38, Taylor 2, Rice 11), 0 INTs, 0 sacks; 1 rushing TD (1y). • Young (relief): 1 of 1, 16, 0 TDs; 3 carries for 2. • Rice: 3 catches for 81, 2 TDs. • Brent Jones: 2 catches for 47. • Taylor: 2 catches for 6, 1 TD. • Craig: 17 carries for 109, plus 2 for 15. • Rathman: 16 carries for 77, plus 6 for 43. • Henderson: 2 carries for 11, 1 rushing TD (11y), plus 1 for 78.
A 45-3 home win over the Atlanta Falcons. The 49ers move to 9-1 with the year's largest margin of victory.
How it unfolded
Montana ran in a 1-yard touchdown to open the scoring. Chris Miller kicked a 23-yard field goal. Rice's 38-yard touchdown reception made it 14-3. Haley returned a fumble 3 yards for a touchdown to extend the lead to 21-3. Taylor's 2-yard touchdown made it 28-3 at the half. Rice's 11-yard touchdown reception made it 35-3. Cofer's 18-yarder made it 38-3. Keith Henderson's 11-yard rush made the final 45-3.
The turning point
The Haley 3-yard fumble return touchdown in the second quarter. With the 49ers leading 14-3 and the Falcons' offense looking to produce a sustained drive, Haley sacked Miller and stripped the ball; Haley scooped the loose ball and ran 3 yards for the touchdown. The seven-point swing turned a two-score margin into the three-touchdown lead the offense would extend the rest of the day.
By the numbers
Montana 16 of 19 for 270, 14.2 yards per attempt, three touchdowns; the highest single-game completion rate of his career. Rice three catches for 81 with two touchdowns. Roger Craig 109 on 17 carries (6.4 ypc); the unit's biggest single-game rushing day in eight weeks. Rathman 77 on 16 carries. Keith Henderson 11 on two carries plus the long touchdown. The 49ers' offensive line did not give up a sack. Defense produced two sacks and three turnovers.
Personnel watch
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 11 | 30 |
| Total Yards | 192 | 515 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 17/32 | 17/20 |
| Pass yards | 149 | 286 |
| Pass TD | 0 | 3 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 0 |
| Sacks taken | 3 | 2 |
| Sack yards lost | 30 | 6 |
| Net pass yards | 119 | 280 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 17 | 47 |
| Rush yards | 73 | 235 |
| Rush TD | 0 | 2 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 3 | 4 |
| Fumbles lost | 1 | 2 |
| Penalties | 6 | 3 |
| Penalty yards | 36 | 24 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 16/19 | 270 | 3 | 0 | 158.3 |
| Steve Young #8 | 1/1 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 118.7 |
| ATL | |||||
| Chris Miller | 17/32 | 149 | 0 | 0 | 65.8 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 17 | 109 | 0 | 21 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 16 | 77 | 0 | 13 |
| Terrence Flagler | 5 | 23 | 0 | 8 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 4 | 13 | 1 | 6 |
| Keith Henderson | 2 | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Steve Young #8 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| ATL | ||||
| John Settle | 8 | 31 | 0 | 13 |
| Gene Lang | 4 | 29 | 0 | 22 |
| Keith Jones | 4 | 12 | 0 | 5 |
| Greg Paterra | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Jerry Rice #80 | 3 | 81 | 2 | 39 |
| Keith Henderson | 1 | 78 | 0 | 78 |
| Brent Jones #84 | 2 | 47 | 0 | 27 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 6 | 43 | 0 | 9 |
| Mike Wilson #85 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 11 |
| John Taylor #82 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 4 |
| ATL | ||||
| Floyd Dixon | 4 | 48 | 0 | 18 |
| Shawn Collins | 3 | 37 | 0 | 19 |
| Gary Wilkins | 2 | 29 | 0 | 15 |
| Ron Heller | 2 | 17 | 0 | 12 |
| Gene Lang | 3 | 13 | 0 | 9 |
| Keith Jones | 2 | 6 | 0 | 4 |
| John Settle | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 |
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