The 49ers (10-2) travel to Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium for a Sunday kickoff against the Atlanta Falcons (3-9) on Sun December 3, 1989.
Montana continues at quarterback. Steve Young in relief expected. The Falcons start Chris Miller at quarterback. John Settle at running back. Shawn Collins at receiver.
Marion Campbell's Falcons are 3-9 and out of the conference picture. The two teams met at Candlestick three weeks ago in the 45-3 49ers blowout. The Sunday rematch at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium is the kind of road game the conference's wire copy treats as a foregone conclusion; the only question is whether Montana plays the full game or whether Young takes second-half snaps to rest the starter.
Week 13 has the conference's contenders looking at the closing stretch. The Rams 10-2, the 49ers 10-2, the Giants 8-4. The Eagles 8-4. The Bills 10-3. The Broncos 10-3. The 49ers' Sunday at Atlanta is the kind of road game where the conference's wire copy projects a 49ers win by two touchdowns or more. Below the 49ers in the West the Rams 10-2 are one game behind the 49ers in the loss column, the Saints 6-6 compete for the wild-card slot, the Falcons 3-9 are out.
Through 12 games the 49ers are 10-2 with a plus 130 differential. The Falcons are 3-9 with a minus 96. Chris Miller has thrown for 2,194 yards across 12 starts, 14 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Shawn Collins 32 catches for 558. John Settle 91 carries for 333. Joe Montana 2,634 yards across nine games. Roger Craig 162 carries for 626. Jerry Rice 56 catches for 1,127 and 8 TDs. Vegas lists the 49ers as 13-point road favorites with the total at 39.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns | 7-4-1 | L1 |
| Houston Oilers | 7-5 | L1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 6-6 | L1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 6-6 | W2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | 8-4 | W1 |
| Miami Dolphins | 7-5 | L1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 6-6 | W2 |
| New England Patriots | 4-8 | L1 |
| New York Jets | 3-9 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 10-2 | W4 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 6-6 | W1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 5-6-1 | W1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 4-8 | L2 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 4-8 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 10-2 | W1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 8-4 | W3 |
| New Orleans Saints | 6-6 | L1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 3-9 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Green Bay Packers | 7-5 | W2 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 7-5 | L2 |
| Chicago Bears | 6-6 | L2 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 5-7 | W2 |
| Detroit Lions | 3-9 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New York Giants | 9-3 | L1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 8-4 | W2 |
| Washington Redskins | 6-6 | W1 |
| Phoenix Cardinals | 5-7 | L2 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 1-11 | L3 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Mike Cofer 35 yard field goal | 3-0 |
| 49ers | Mike Cofer 23 yard field goal | 6-0 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Falcons | Greg Davis 46 yard field goal | 6-3 |
| Falcons | Ron Heller 28 yard pass from Chris Miller (Greg Davis kick) | 6-10 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | John Taylor 38 yard pass from Steve Young (Mike Cofer kick) | 13-10 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Steve Young 1 yard rush (Mike Cofer kick) | 20-10 |
| 49ers | Mike Cofer 27 yard field goal | 23-10 |
Steve Young threw a 38-yard touchdown to John Taylor and ran in a 1-yard score, and the 49ers beat the Atlanta Falcons 23-10 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. Joe Montana started but exited at halftime with a sore knee; Young took over and finished 11 of 12 for 175 yards. Mike Cofer made three field goals. The 49ers improved to 11-2.[1][2][3]
Steve Young's 11-for-12 second half produced a 38-yard touchdown to John Taylor and the 1-yard rushing touchdown that put the 49ers ahead for good. The 49ers beat the Atlanta Falcons 23-10 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. Joe Montana started but exited at halftime with a sore knee.
Montana finished 9 of 13 for 145 in the first half before exiting at halftime. Young came in for the second half and went 11 of 12 for 175 with the touchdown to Taylor. Taylor caught five for 162 with the touchdown. Rice three for 32. Brent Jones three for 32. Roger Craig 17 carries for 97 (5.7 ypc). Rathman 10 carries for 19 plus five catches for 43.
Chris Miller threw 17 of 32 for 231 with one touchdown (Ron Heller 28) and two interceptions. John Settle ran 10 for 15. The 49ers' defensive front produced two sacks of Miller and three turnovers. The Falcons' offense produced one offensive touchdown across four quarters and the kind of low yards-per-attempt afternoon (7.2) the unit had been producing for two seasons against the conference's NFC West contender.
49ers 23, Falcons 10. Margin: plus 13. Record: 11-2. • Montana: 9 of 13, 145, 0 TDs, 1 INT, 0 sacks (exited at halftime with sore knee). • Young: 11 of 12, 175, 1 TD (Taylor 38), 0 INTs, 0 sacks; 5 carries for 8, 1 rushing TD (1y). • Taylor: 5 catches for 162, 1 TD (38y from Young). • Rice: 3 catches for 32. • Brent Jones: 3 catches for 32. • Craig: 17 carries for 97, plus 3 for 32. • Rathman: 10 carries for 19, plus 5 for 43. • Cofer: 3-for-3 (35, 23, 27).
A 23-10 road win at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. The 49ers move to 11-2 with Steve Young's second-half relief work.
How it unfolded
Cofer kicked a 35-yard field goal first. Cofer added a 23-yarder for 6-0. Greg Davis kicked a 46-yarder. Ron Heller caught a 28-yard touchdown from Miller to give Atlanta a 6-10 lead at the half. Taylor's 38-yard touchdown reception from Young made it 13-10. Young's 1-yard rush made it 20-10. Cofer's 27-yarder made the final 23-10.
The turning point
The Young 11-for-12 second half. After Montana exited with the sore knee, Young's relief work produced the kind of efficient yards-per-attempt the offense needed to flip the 6-10 halftime deficit into a 23-10 final. The 38-yard touchdown to Taylor was the swing.
By the numbers
Montana 9 of 13 for 145 before exiting. Young 11 of 12 for 175 with the touchdown plus the rushing score; the third 100%+ completion-rate game of Young's career. Taylor five catches for 162 with the touchdown. Roger Craig 97 on 17 (5.7 ypc) plus three catches for 32. 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 | 23 | 13 |
| Total Yards | 425 | 263 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 20/25 | 18/34 |
| Pass yards | 320 | 243 |
| Pass TD | 1 | 1 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 2 |
| Sacks taken | 3 | 2 |
| Sack yards lost | 24 | 17 |
| Net pass yards | 296 | 226 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 33 | 14 |
| Rush yards | 129 | 37 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 0 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 1 | 4 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 | 0 |
| Penalties | 7 | 5 |
| Penalty yards | 56 | 40 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Steve Young #8 | 11/12 | 175 | 1 | 0 | 146.5 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 9/13 | 145 | 0 | 1 | 74.2 |
| ATL | |||||
| Chris Miller | 17/32 | 231 | 1 | 2 | 60.8 |
| Scott Fulhage | 1/1 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 116.7 |
| Keith Jones | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39.6 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 17 | 97 | 0 | 14 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 10 | 19 | 0 | 5 |
| Steve Young #8 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 5 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| ATL | ||||
| John Settle | 10 | 15 | 0 | 12 |
| Keith Jones | 1 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| Gene Lang | 2 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Chris Miller | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| John Taylor #82 | 5 | 162 | 1 | 52 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 5 | 43 | 0 | 20 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 3 | 32 | 0 | 15 |
| Jerry Rice #80 | 3 | 32 | 0 | 18 |
| Brent Jones #84 | 3 | 32 | 0 | 17 |
| Mike Wilson #85 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| ATL | ||||
| Shawn Collins | 5 | 71 | 0 | 22 |
| Ron Heller | 3 | 57 | 1 | 28 |
| Michael Haynes | 4 | 53 | 0 | 30 |
| Keith Jones | 2 | 23 | 0 | 12 |
| Gene Lang | 2 | 19 | 0 | 12 |
| Brad Beckman | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| George Thomas | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
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