The 49ers (10-1) host the New York Giants (11-0) at Candlestick Park, on Sun December 2, 1990. The conference's marquee matchup: the only two NFC teams with one loss or fewer.
Montana continues at quarterback. The Giants start Phil Simms at quarterback. Ottis Anderson at lead back. Lawrence Taylor at linebacker. Bill Parcells in year eight as head coach.
The Giants come off an 11-0 start including back-to-back wins at Philadelphia and at Detroit.[1][2]
Bill Parcells and the New York Giants are the only undefeated team left in football. Phil Simms' 11-0 start matches the longest unbeaten run any quarterback has produced in his career. The defensive front (Lawrence Taylor, Pepper Johnson, Carl Banks) has held opponents to 11.4 points a game across 11 weeks. The 49ers' Sunday at Candlestick is the year's marquee NFC matchup and the conference's first meeting between two contender teams since the Giants beat the 49ers 7-3 last December.
Week 13 puts the conference's two contenders on national interest at Candlestick. Around the league the Bills (11-1) lead the AFC; the Dolphins (9-3) are second. The Bears 9-3, the Eagles 7-5 in the conference's tier underneath. Around the division the Saints (4-7) and Falcons (4-8) compete for last; the Rams (6-5) sit a game above the Saints. The 49ers' Sunday game against the Giants is one of two marquee NFC matchups left on the slate; the Eagles host the Bills in week 16.
Through 11 games the 49ers are 10-1 with a plus 91 differential. The Giants are 11-0 with a plus 117. Phil Simms has thrown for 2,237 yards across 11 starts, 14 touchdowns and four interceptions. Ottis Anderson has 167 carries for 660 (4.0 per attempt). Mark Bavaro 28 catches for 320. Dave Meggett has 89 catches/rushes combined for 612 yards. Montana has thrown for 3,300 yards across 11 games and 17 touchdown passes.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 6-5 | L1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 6-5 | W1 |
| Houston Oilers | 6-5 | W2 |
| Cleveland Browns | 2-9 | L6 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | 9-2 | L1 |
| Miami Dolphins | 9-2 | W1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 5-6 | W3 |
| New York Jets | 4-8 | L3 |
| New England Patriots | 1-10 | L9 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs | 7-4 | W2 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 7-4 | L1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 5-6 | W1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 5-7 | L2 |
| Denver Broncos | 3-8 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 10-1 | L1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 5-6 | W1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 4-7 | W1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 3-8 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 9-2 | L1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 6-5 | W3 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 5-6 | W4 |
| Detroit Lions | 4-7 | W1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 4-8 | L6 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New York Giants | 10-1 | L1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 7-4 | W5 |
| Washington Redskins | 6-5 | L1 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 5-7 | W2 |
| Phoenix Cardinals | 3-8 | W1 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Giants | Matt Bahr 20 yard field goal | 3-0 |
| 49ers | John Taylor 23 yard pass from Joe Montana ( Mike Cofer kick) | 3-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| No scoring this quarter. | ||
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| No scoring this quarter. | ||
Joe Montana threw a 23-yard touchdown to John Taylor in the second quarter and the 49ers beat the New York Giants 7-3 at Candlestick Park. Montana finished 12 of 29 for 152 yards. The 49ers' defense held the Giants to one Matt Bahr field goal. Phil Simms finished 14 of 32 for 153 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions but was sacked four times. The 49ers improved to 11-1 and ended the Giants' 11-0 start.[1][2]
The conference's marquee Sunday produced the kind of low-scoring defensive battle the matchup foreshadowed. Final: 49ers 7, Giants 3. Joe Montana's 23-yard touchdown pass to John Taylor in the second quarter was the only scoring play either side produced. The 49ers' defense held the Giants to one Matt Bahr field goal across four quarters.
Montana finished 12 of 29 for 152, his lowest passing yardage of the year and a number reflecting both Giants pressure and a 49ers game plan that emphasized short, drives-eat-clock possession. Taylor three catches for 38 with the touchdown. Rice one for 13. Brent Jones three for 31. Craig 9 carries for 21. The 49ers' two-back rotation (Carter, Craig) combined for 21 carries and 50 rushing yards.
49ers 7, Giants 3. Margin: plus 4. Record: 11-1. • Montana: 12 of 29, 152, 1 TD (Taylor 23), 0 INTs, 0 sacks. • Taylor: 3 catches for 38, 1 TD. • Brent Jones: 3 catches for 31. • Craig: 9 carries for 21, plus 2 for 42. • Carter: 12 carries for 29. • Sydney: 3 carries for 20, plus 1 for 11. • Rathman: 1 carry for 2. • Defense: 4 sacks of Simms. • Simms (NYG): 14 of 32, 153, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 4 sacks. • Ottis Anderson (NYG): 19 carries for 39. • Bahr (NYG): 1-for-1 (20).
A 7-3 home win over the New York Giants. The 49ers move to 11-1 and end the Giants' 11-0 start; the conference's two contenders now sit tied atop the NFC.
How it unfolded
Matt Bahr's 20-yard field goal in the second quarter gave the Giants a 3-0 lead. Montana's 23-yard touchdown pass to Taylor on a quick out the rest of the same quarter put the 49ers ahead 7-3. The score did not change for the next two and a half quarters.
The turning point
The Taylor touchdown. After Matt Bahr's first-half field goal, the 49ers' offense produced one scoring drive across the day, and Montana's 23-yard throw to Taylor on a slant the Giants' single-high safety did not break on quickly enough was the only seven-pointer either side produced. From that snap the game was a defensive contest both units won.
By the numbers
Montana 12 of 29 for 152, 5.2 yards per attempt, one touchdown and no interceptions. No sacks taken. The lowest passing total of his career as a starter since 1987 W7 against Pittsburgh. Taylor three catches for 38 with the touchdown. Brent Jones three for 31. Rice one for 13, his lowest single-game total in three years. Craig 9 carries for 21. Defense produced four sacks of Simms, no interceptions, but held the Giants to 3 of 14 on third down and zero red-zone touchdowns.
Personnel watch
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 12/29 | 152 | 1 | 0 | |
| NYG | |||||
| Phil Simms | 14/32 | 153 | 0 | 0 | |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Dexter Carter | 12 | 29 | 0 | 8 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 9 | 21 | 0 | 7 |
| Harry Sydney #39 | 3 | 20 | 0 | 11 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 3 | 16 | 0 | 9 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| NYG | ||||
| Ottis Anderson | 19 | 39 | 0 | 7 |
| Rodney Hampton | 7 | 26 | 0 | 11 |
| Phil Simms | 2 | 14 | 0 | 11 |
| Dave Meggett | 1 | -4 | 0 | -4 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 2 | 42 | 0 | 31 |
| John Taylor #82 | 3 | 38 | 1 | 23 |
| Brent Jones #84 | 3 | 31 | 0 | 17 |
| Jerry Rice #80 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| Harry Sydney #39 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| Dexter Carter | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Jamie Williams #87 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| NYG | ||||
| Mark Bavaro | 3 | 43 | 0 | 23 |
| Mark Ingram | 2 | 30 | 0 | 22 |
| Lionel Manuel | 2 | 26 | 0 | 13 |
| Howard Cross | 2 | 17 | 0 | 9 |
| Dave Meggett | 2 | 17 | 0 | 10 |
| Stephen Baker | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| Maurice Carthon | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Ottis Anderson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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