The 49ers (8-0) travel to Texas Stadium for a Sunday kickoff against the Dallas Cowboys (3-5) on Sun November 11, 1990. Second consecutive NFC road game.
Montana continues at quarterback. Roger Craig at lead back. The Cowboys start Troy Aikman at quarterback in year two. Emmitt Smith, the rookie out of Florida, has 487 rushing yards through eight games. Michael Irvin in his second season at receiver. Jimmy Johnson in year two as head coach.[1][2]
Jimmy Johnson's second year and Troy Aikman's second year with him. The Cowboys have won three of eight after the 1-15 worst-record year that produced the Aikman pick. Emmitt Smith is the rookie running back the front office traded a first-round pick to get, and the 22-year-old already has the kind of single-game numbers an offensive rookie of the year voter pays attention to. Michael Irvin caught a 47-yard touchdown last Sunday.
Week 10 has the conference's mid-November sort. The Giants are 9-0, the 49ers 8-0, the Bears 7-2, the Eagles 6-3. The Bills are 8-1, the Dolphins 6-3, the Bengals 6-3. Around the NFC West the Saints are 3-6, the Rams 4-5, the Falcons 2-7. The 49ers' Sunday at Dallas is one of two unbeaten-versus-rebuilding matchups on the slate; the other is the Giants hosting the Lions. The November schedule's last NFC road game before Thanksgiving.
Through eight games the 49ers are 8-0 with a plus 60 differential. The Cowboys are 3-5 with a minus 14. Troy Aikman has thrown for 1,398 yards across eight starts, six touchdowns and ten interceptions. Emmitt Smith has 110 carries for 487 yards (4.4 per attempt) and three touchdowns. Michael Irvin has 23 catches for 322 with two touchdowns. Montana has thrown for 2,545 yards across eight starts and 14 touchdowns. Vegas lists the 49ers as 6-point road favorites with the total at 40.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 5-4 | L2 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 5-4 | W2 |
| Houston Oilers | 4-5 | L2 |
| Cleveland Browns | 2-7 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | 7-1 | W6 |
| Miami Dolphins | 7-1 | W5 |
| New York Jets | 4-5 | W2 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 2-6 | L3 |
| New England Patriots | 1-7 | L6 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Raiders | 6-2 | L1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 5-3 | W1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 4-5 | W2 |
| Denver Broncos | 3-5 | L1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 3-5 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 8-0 | W8 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 3-5 | L1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 3-5 | W1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 3-5 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 7-1 | W4 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 4-5 | L3 |
| Detroit Lions | 3-5 | L1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 3-5 | L1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 2-6 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New York Giants | 8-0 | W8 |
| Washington Redskins | 5-3 | W1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 4-4 | W2 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 3-6 | L2 |
| Phoenix Cardinals | 2-6 | L3 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Cowboys | Ken Willis 23 yard field goal | 0-3 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Tom Rathman 1 yard rush ( Mike Cofer kick) | 7-3 |
| 49ers | Jerry Rice 7 yard pass from Joe Montana ( Mike Cofer kick) | 14-3 |
| Cowboys | Ken Willis 37 yard field goal | 14-6 |
| 49ers | Mike Cofer 42 yard field goal | 17-6 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| No scoring this quarter. | ||
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Joe Montana 4 yard rush ( Mike Cofer kick) | 24-6 |
Joe Montana threw for 290 yards and one touchdown and the 49ers beat the Dallas Cowboys 24-6 at Texas Stadium. Jerry Rice caught 12 passes for 147 yards with a 7-yard touchdown. Tom Rathman ran in a 1-yard touchdown. Joe Montana added a 4-yard rushing score in the fourth quarter. Troy Aikman went 9 of 21 for 96 yards with one interception. The 49ers' defense held Emmitt Smith to 40 yards on six carries. The 49ers improved to 9-0.[1][2]
The 49ers' November road slate continued with a 24-6 win at Texas Stadium. Joe Montana threw for 290 yards. Jerry Rice caught 12 balls for 147 yards with the only passing touchdown. The defense held Troy Aikman to 96 passing yards and Emmitt Smith to 40 rushing on six carries.
Rice's 12-catch afternoon was the receiver's highest single-game volume of the year and a sustained-target performance against single coverage from Cowboys corner Manny Hendrix. The 49ers' offensive line did not give up a sack against a Dallas front that produced two against Houston a week ago. Rathman's 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter and Montana's 4-yard fourth-quarter score (the quarterback's first rushing touchdown of the year) bookended the offensive production.
49ers 24, Cowboys 6. Margin: plus 18. Record: 9-0. • Montana: 27 of 37, 290, 1 TD (Rice 7), 1 INT, 2 sacks; 1 rushing TD (4y). • Rice: 12 catches for 147, 1 TD. • Brent Jones: 3 catches for 43. • Craig: 16 carries for 49, plus 3 for 25 receiving. • Rathman: 9 carries for 23, 1 rushing TD (1y), plus 4 for 21. • Sydney: 6 carries for 15, plus 3 for 27. • Cofer: 1-for-1 (42). • Aikman (DAL): 9 of 21, 96, 0 TDs, 1 INT, 2 sacks. • Smith (DAL): 6 carries for 40.
A 24-6 road win at Texas Stadium. The 49ers move to 9-0, the team's first 9-0 start in 26 years.
How it unfolded
Ken Willis kicked a 23-yard Dallas field goal in the first quarter. Rathman's 1-yard touchdown gave the 49ers a 7-3 lead. Rice's 7-yard touchdown extended it to 14-3. Willis added a 37-yard field goal. Cofer kicked a 42-yarder to make it 17-6 at the half. Montana's 4-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter made the final 24-6.
The turning point
The Rice 7-yard touchdown in the second quarter. With the 49ers up 7-3 and Dallas's defense holding the offense on third downs in the early half, Montana's third-down throw to Rice on a slant produced the touchdown that turned a one-score game into the two-score margin the defense could close out. From that point Dallas produced one drive into 49ers territory.
By the numbers
Montana 27 of 37 for 290, 7.8 yards per attempt, one touchdown and one interception. Two sacks taken. Rice 12 catches for 147, his highest single-game volume of the year by reception count and his fifth straight game with 100-plus receiving yards. Roger Craig 16 carries for 49 plus three catches for 25. Rathman nine for 23 plus four for 21 with the rushing touchdown. Defense produced two sacks of Aikman, one interception, and held Smith to 6.7 yards per carry on six carries (40 yards).
Personnel watch
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 27/37 | 290 | 1 | 1 | |
| DAL | |||||
| Troy Aikman | 9/21 | 96 | 0 | 1 | |
| Babe Laufenberg | 0/3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 16 | 49 | 0 | 9 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 9 | 23 | 1 | 8 |
| Harry Sydney #39 | 6 | 15 | 0 | 7 |
| Dexter Carter | 2 | 14 | 0 | 9 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 4 |
| DAL | ||||
| Emmitt Smith | 6 | 40 | 0 | 23 |
| Troy Aikman | 5 | 33 | 0 | 11 |
| Tommie Agee | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| James Dixon | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Jerry Rice #80 | 12 | 147 | 1 | 37 |
| Brent Jones #84 | 3 | 43 | 0 | 29 |
| Harry Sydney #39 | 3 | 27 | 0 | 13 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 3 | 25 | 0 | 13 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 4 | 21 | 0 | 11 |
| John Taylor #82 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| Wesley Walls | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| DAL | ||||
| Kelvin Martin | 4 | 38 | 0 | 13 |
| Daryl Johnston | 1 | 26 | 0 | 26 |
| Jay Novacek | 1 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| Michael Irvin | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| Tommie Agee | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Emmitt Smith | 1 | -4 | 0 | -4 |
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Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1990 W10 - 49ers at Dallas Cowboys - Game Thread
