The 49ers (6-0) host the Cleveland Browns (2-4) at Candlestick Park, on Sun October 28, 1990. Off the 27-7 win over Pittsburgh.
Montana continues at quarterback. The Browns start Bernie Kosar; Mike Pagel is the active backup. Kevin Mack and Leroy Hoard share the backfield. Webster Slaughter, Brian Brennan, and Ozzie Newsome lead the receiving group. Bud Carson in his first year as head coach.
Bud Carson took the Browns job in the offseason after the 49ers' Super Bowl XXIV win, walking into a roster that lost three games to division opponents through six weeks. Kosar's passing line through six is 1,201 yards with seven touchdowns and nine interceptions; the Cleveland offense has not converted possessions into scores in three of the last four games.
Week 8 has the conference's contenders all 5-2 or better. The Giants 7-0, the Bears 6-1, the Eagles 4-3, the 49ers 6-0. The AFC's three contenders (Bills, Bengals, Broncos) all sit between 5-2 and 6-2. Around the division the Saints (2-5) are out of contention; the Rams (3-4) and Falcons (1-6) compete underneath. The 49ers' home matchup against the 2-4 Browns is the year's softest home opponent left on the schedule.
Through six games the 49ers are 6-0 with a plus 53 differential. The Browns are 2-4 with a minus 12. Bernie Kosar has thrown for 1,201 yards through six starts, seven touchdowns and nine interceptions. Mike Pagel has 142 passing yards in relief in two games. Kevin Mack has rushed for 318 yards on 87 carries (3.7 per attempt). Montana has thrown for 1,949 yards through six games and 11 touchdown passes. Vegas lists the 49ers as 13-point home favorites with the total at 38.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 5-2 | W1 |
| Houston Oilers | 4-3 | W2 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 3-4 | L1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 2-5 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | 5-1 | W4 |
| Miami Dolphins | 5-1 | W3 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 2-4 | L1 |
| New York Jets | 2-5 | L3 |
| New England Patriots | 1-5 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Raiders | 6-1 | W2 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 4-3 | L1 |
| Denver Broncos | 3-4 | W1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 3-4 | W1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 2-5 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 6-0 | W6 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 2-4 | L2 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 2-4 | W1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 2-4 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 5-1 | W2 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 4-3 | L1 |
| Detroit Lions | 2-4 | L1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 2-4 | L2 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 1-5 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New York Giants | 6-0 | W6 |
| Washington Redskins | 4-2 | W1 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 3-4 | W1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 2-4 | L1 |
| Phoenix Cardinals | 2-4 | L1 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| No scoring this quarter. | ||
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Jerry Rice 14 yard pass from Joe Montana ( Mike Cofer kick) | 0-7 |
| 49ers | Tom Rathman 1 yard rush ( Mike Cofer kick) | 0-14 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Browns | Jerry Kauric 45 yard field goal | 3-14 |
| 49ers | Mike Cofer 40 yard field goal | 3-17 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Browns | Webster Slaughter 11 yard pass from Mike Pagel ( Jerry Kauric kick) | 10-17 |
| Browns | Ozzie Newsome 4 yard pass from Mike Pagel ( Jerry Kauric kick) | 17-17 |
| 49ers | Mike Cofer 45 yard field goal | 17-20 |
Mike Cofer kicked a 45-yard field goal with 1:48 left and the 49ers held on to beat the Cleveland Browns 20-17 at Candlestick Park. Joe Montana finished 17 of 37 for 185 yards with one touchdown to Jerry Rice. Tom Rathman ran in a 1-yard touchdown. Browns backup Mike Pagel threw two touchdowns in relief of Bernie Kosar. The 49ers improved to 7-0.[1][2]
A second consecutive close-call home win, this one 20-17 over the Cleveland Browns at Candlestick. Mike Cofer's 45-yard field goal with 1:48 left was the difference and the 49ers improved to 7-0 in a year that had not produced this many tight outcomes by the end of October before.
Montana finished 17 of 37 for 185, his lowest yards-per-attempt of the season and his second consecutive sub-200-yard passing game. The Browns' defense, which finished 1989 in the league's top third, gave the 49ers the same kind of resistance it gave Pittsburgh a week ago. Rathman caught three balls for 29 and ran in the 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Carter went 17 carries for 58, his second consecutive feature-back outing.
49ers 20, Browns 17. Margin: plus 3. Record: 7-0. • Montana: 17 of 37, 185, 1 TD (Rice 14), 2 INTs, 1 sack. • Rice: 6 catches for 67, 1 TD. • Sherrard: 2 catches for 42. • Brent Jones: 3 catches for 32. • Carter: 17 carries for 58. • Rathman: 6 carries for 27, 1 rushing TD (1y), plus 3 catches for 29. • Cofer: 2-for-2 (40, 45 GW). • Kosar (CLE): 9 of 18, 106, 0 TDs, 1 INT. • Pagel (CLE): 13 of 21, 156, 2 TDs (Slaughter 11, Newsome 4), 1 INT.
A 20-17 home win over the Cleveland Browns. The 49ers move to 7-0, the team's first 7-0 start since 1984.
How it unfolded
Montana hit Rice on a 14-yard touchdown in the second quarter to make it 7-0. Rathman's 1-yard touchdown extended it to 14-0. Jerry Kauric's 45-yard field goal cut it to 14-3 in the third quarter. Cofer's 40-yard kick made it 17-3. Pagel, in relief of Kosar, threw an 11-yard touchdown to Slaughter to cut it to 17-10. He added a 4-yard touchdown to Newsome to tie it at 17. Cofer's 45-yard field goal with 1:48 left was the eventual margin.
The turning point
The Cofer 45-yard field goal. With the game tied 17-17 and Pagel's relief work having flipped what looked like a 14-point lead into a one-possession game, the 49ers' offense moved 47 yards in eight plays. Carter ran for nine on a third-and-six. Rice caught a 15-yard out. Montana's 12-yard scramble on second-and-eight set up Cofer's eventual game-winner.
By the numbers
Montana 17 of 37 for 185, 5.0 yards per attempt, one touchdown and two interceptions. The second consecutive sub-200-yard passing day. Carter 17 carries for 58 in his second straight feature-back start. Rathman 27 on six plus the rushing touchdown. Rice six catches for 67 with the touchdown. Brent Jones three for 32. Sherrard two for 42. Defense produced one sack of Kosar, two interceptions, but allowed Pagel to throw two touchdowns on three drives.
Personnel watch
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 17/37 | 185 | 1 | 2 | |
| CLE | |||||
| Mike Pagel | 13/21 | 156 | 2 | 1 | |
| Bernie Kosar | 9/18 | 106 | 0 | 1 | |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Dexter Carter | 17 | 58 | 0 | 13 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 5 | 32 | 0 | 20 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 6 | 27 | 1 | 11 |
| CLE | ||||
| Kevin Mack | 14 | 29 | 0 | 17 |
| Eric Metcalf | 2 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Leroy Hoard | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Jerry Rice #80 | 6 | 67 | 1 | 15 |
| Mike Sherrard #84 | 2 | 42 | 0 | 35 |
| Brent Jones #84 | 3 | 32 | 0 | 16 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 3 | 29 | 0 | 11 |
| Dexter Carter | 3 | 15 | 0 | 8 |
| CLE | ||||
| Eric Metcalf | 6 | 76 | 0 | 21 |
| Webster Slaughter | 6 | 71 | 1 | 15 |
| Brian Brennan | 4 | 48 | 0 | 16 |
| Kevin Mack | 2 | 26 | 0 | 13 |
| Jerry Kauric | 1 | 21 | 0 | 21 |
| Vernon Joines | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| Ozzie Newsome | 2 | 8 | 1 | 4 |
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