The 49ers (12-1) travel to Anaheim Stadium for a Sunday kickoff against the Los Angeles Rams (6-7) on Sun December 16, 1990. NFC West road game against the team that ended the unbeaten streak in W12.
Montana continues at quarterback. Roger Craig at lead back. The Rams start Jim Everett at quarterback. Flipper Anderson, Henry Ellard, and Aaron Cox at receiver. Cleveland Gary continues as the lead back.[1][2]
John Robinson's Rams flipped from 5-5 to 6-7 in three weeks. The Atlanta loss was the third consecutive double-digit defeat. Cleveland Gary's three-touchdown afternoon at Candlestick is the kind of single-game performance that does not repeat for a back who hasn't established 100-yard regular-season volume. The Rams' offensive ceiling against the 49ers is the kind of game-script Robinson rarely produces a second time in the same season.
Week 15 has the conference's contenders in their late-season sort. The Giants and 49ers are both 12-1; the Bears 10-4. The Bills 12-2, the Dolphins 11-3, the Bengals 7-6. Around the AFC West the Raiders 9-4. Inside the NFC West the Saints 5-7, the Falcons 4-9. The 49ers' Sunday at Anaheim is one of two NFC road games against divisional opponents on the slate; the Giants host the Vikings in the other. The conference's first 13-1 team is the team that wins Sunday afternoon.
Through 13 games the 49ers are 12-1 with a plus 98 differential. The Rams are 6-7 with a minus 19. Jim Everett has thrown for 2,283 yards across 13 starts, 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Cleveland Gary has 137 carries for 565 yards (4.1 per attempt) and 10 touchdowns. Flipper Anderson has 62 catches for 1,070. Montana has thrown for 3,637 yards across 13 games. Jerry Rice has 73 catches for 1,211 and 11 touchdowns.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 7-6 | L1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 7-6 | W1 |
| Houston Oilers | 7-6 | W1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 2-11 | L8 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | 11-2 | W2 |
| Miami Dolphins | 10-3 | W1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 5-8 | L2 |
| New York Jets | 4-9 | L4 |
| New England Patriots | 1-12 | L11 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs | 9-4 | W4 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 9-4 | W2 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 7-6 | W3 |
| San Diego Chargers | 6-7 | W1 |
| Denver Broncos | 3-10 | L6 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 12-1 | W2 |
| New Orleans Saints | 6-7 | W1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 5-8 | L1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 3-10 | L6 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 10-3 | L1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 6-7 | L2 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 6-7 | L1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 5-8 | W1 |
| Detroit Lions | 4-9 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New York Giants | 11-2 | W1 |
| Washington Redskins | 8-5 | W2 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 7-6 | L2 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 6-7 | W3 |
| Phoenix Cardinals | 5-8 | W3 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Mike Cofer 23 yard field goal | 3-0 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Tom Rathman 1 yard rush (pass failed) | 9-0 |
| 49ers | Jerry Rice 60 yard pass from Joe Montana ( Mike Cofer kick) | 16-0 |
| Rams | Derrick Faison 8 yard pass from Jim Everett ( Mike Lansford kick) | 16-7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Mike Cofer 31 yard field goal | 19-7 |
| Rams | Mike Lansford 21 yard field goal | 19-10 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Dexter Carter 74 yard rush ( Mike Cofer kick) | 26-10 |
Dexter Carter ran 74 yards for a touchdown, Joe Montana threw a 60-yard touchdown to Jerry Rice, and the 49ers beat the Los Angeles Rams 26-10 at Anaheim Stadium. Montana finished 15 of 30 for 219. Tom Rathman ran in a 1-yard touchdown. Mike Cofer made two field goals. The 49ers' defense held the Rams to one touchdown and one field goal. The 49ers improved to 13-1 and clinched the NFC West.[1][2]
Dexter Carter took a counter play 74 yards for the touchdown that put the 49ers ahead 26-10 in the fourth quarter, and the 49ers ended a season's worth of game scripts with a 26-10 win at Anaheim Stadium. The 13-1 record clinched the NFC West and matches the Giants for the conference lead.
Montana finished 15 of 30 for 219 with a 60-yard touchdown to Rice in the second quarter, the year's longest 49ers touchdown pass. Rice five catches for 104 with the score. The 49ers' running game produced 165 yards on 35 carries: Carter 13 for 124 with the 74-yard touchdown, Rathman 12 for 29 with the 1-yard score, Craig 8 for 8. The Rams' run game (Cleveland Gary 11 carries for 11) was the kind of single-game number that says the front seven won the line of scrimmage.
49ers 26, Rams 10. Margin: plus 16. Record: 13-1; NFC West clinched. • Montana: 15 of 30, 219, 1 TD (Rice 60), 0 INTs, 3 sacks. • Rice: 5 catches for 104, 1 TD. • Taylor: 2 catches for 25. • Brent Jones: 1 catch for 15. • Carter: 13 carries for 124, 1 rushing TD (74y, season-long). • Rathman: 12 carries for 29, 1 rushing TD (1y), plus 3 for 38. • Craig: 8 carries for 8, plus 2 for 19. • Cofer: 2-for-2 (23, 31).
A 26-10 road win at Anaheim Stadium. The 49ers clinch the NFC West and move to 13-1. With the win the operation sets up a likely playoff bye and a possible NFC Championship at Candlestick.
How it unfolded
Cofer's 23-yard field goal opened the scoring. Rathman's 1-yard rush made it 9-0 (the 2-point conversion attempt failed). Rice's 60-yard touchdown reception made it 16-0. Derrick Faison caught an 8-yard touchdown from Everett to cut it to 16-7. Cofer's 31-yard field goal made it 19-7 at halftime. Lansford's 21-yarder cut it to 19-10. Carter's 74-yard touchdown rush made the final 26-10.
The turning point
Dexter Carter's 74-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter. With the 49ers leading 19-10 and the Rams driving toward what could have been a one-score third quarter, the rookie took a counter play to the right side, broke a tackle at the line, and ran 74 yards untouched for the touchdown that ended the afternoon. The two-score swing turned the closing minutes into a clock-management drill.
By the numbers
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 15/30 | 219 | 1 | 0 | |
| RAM | |||||
| Jim Everett | 17/35 | 232 | 1 | 2 | |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Dexter Carter | 13 | 124 | 1 | 74 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 12 | 29 | 1 | 10 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 10 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 4 |
| Harry Sydney #39 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| RAM | ||||
| Gaston Green | 12 | 34 | 0 | 8 |
| Cleveland Gary | 3 | 11 | 0 | 9 |
| Buford McGee | 2 | 7 | 0 | 5 |
| Jim Everett | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Jerry Rice #80 | 5 | 104 | 1 | 60 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 3 | 38 | 0 | 15 |
| John Taylor #82 | 2 | 25 | 0 | 14 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 2 | 19 | 0 | 12 |
| Brent Jones #84 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| Harry Sydney #39 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Jamie Williams #87 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| RAM | ||||
| Flipper Anderson | 4 | 74 | 0 | 35 |
| Henry Ellard | 4 | 68 | 0 | 24 |
| Pete Holohan | 4 | 58 | 0 | 24 |
| Aaron Cox | 1 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| Derrick Faison | 1 | 8 | 1 | 8 |
| Buford McGee | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Cleveland Gary | 2 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
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