- Source: 1981 San Francisco 49ers season
The 1981 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 32nd season in the National Football League (NFL), their 36th overall and their third under head coach Bill Walsh.
The 49ers were 13–3 in the regular season for their first winning season in five years and first playoff appearance in nine years. The franchise's most successful season to date, it was considered to be "the birth of a dynasty", when the 49ers began a decade of dominance over much of the NFL. The 49ers drew an average home attendance of 54,398 in the 1981 season.
The 49ers won Super Bowl XVI, defeating the AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals 26–21. It was the first of five Super Bowl victories in franchise history, all within the next thirteen seasons. From 1981 to 1997, the 49ers would have thirteen NFC West titles, eight NFC top seeds, and seven seasons with the NFL's best regular season record.
Third-year quarterback Joe Montana began the 1981 season as the starter, and produced two fourth-quarter comeback victories. His signature game of the season was the NFC Championship Game, which culminated in "The Catch", a last-minute touchdown pass from Montana to Dwight Clark, propelling the 49ers to victory over Dallas, and a berth in their first Super Bowl. The 49ers were undefeated in their first five Super Bowls.
NFL Films produced a documentary about the team's season entitled A Very Special Team; it was narrated by John Facenda. On March 23, 2007, NFL Network aired America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions, the 1981 San Francisco 49ers, with team commentary from Dwight Clark, Ronnie Lott and Randy Cross, and narrated by Gene Hackman.
Offseason
= NFL Draft
=A turning point for the franchise was the drafting of safety Ronnie Lott from the University of Southern California, later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In addiction, they also drafted cornerback Eric Wright from Missouri and safety Carlton Williamson from Pittsburgh.
Source:
Training Camp
The 1981 San Francisco 49ers season held training camp at Red Morten Park in Redwood City, California.
Personnel
= Staff
== Roster
=Source:
Preseason
= Schedule
=Preseason Game summaries
= Week P1 (Wednesday, August 5, 1981): at Seattle Seahawks
=Point spread:
Over/Under:
Time of Game:
= Week P2 (Saturday, August 15, 1981): vs. San Diego Chargers
=Point spread:
Over/Under:
Time of Game:
= Week P3 (Saturday, August 22, 1981) vs. Seattle Seahawks
=Point spread:
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Time of Game:
= Week P4 (Saturday, August 29, 1981): at Oakland Raiders
=Point spread:
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Time of Game:
Regular season
With the offense in good shape, Walsh and the 49ers focused on overhauling the defense in 1981. Walsh took the highly unusual step of overhauling his entire secondary with rookies and untested players, bringing on board Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright and Carlton Williamson and giving Dwight Hicks a prominent role. He also acquired veteran linebacker Jack "Hacksaw" Reynolds and veteran defensive lineman and sack specialist Fred Dean.
These new additions, when added to existing defensive mainstays like Keena Turner, turned the 49ers into a dominant team. After a 1–2 start, the 49ers won all but one of their final games to finish with a 13–3 record, easily the best record in the team's history. Additionally, the 49ers defense yielded more than 20 points in only three games. Dean and Hicks made the Pro Bowl. The 49ers selection of Lott in the 1981 NFL draft proved to be a seminal one. In addition to making the NFC Pro Bowl roster, Lott was voted First-Team All-Pro and received nods from all 5 newspapers that voted, a significant honor for a rookie. Giants' linebacker Lawrence Taylor was the only other rookie from the 1981 NFL draft to achieve this unanimous selection to the First Team All-Pro unit.
Led by Montana, the unusual offense was centered around the short passing game, which Walsh used as ball control. Both Dwight Clark and Freddie Solomon had excellent years receiving; Clark as the possession receiver, and Solomon as more of a deep threat. The 49ers running game, however, was among the weakest for any champion in NFL history. Ricky Patton led the 49ers with only 543 yards rushing. The 49ers' most valuable running back, however, might have been Earl Cooper, whose strength was as a pass-catching back (he had 51 catches during the season).
= Schedule
=Regular Season Game summaries
= Week 1 (Sunday, September 6, 1981): at Detroit Lions
=Point spread: 49ers +4
Over/Under: 40.0 (over)
Time of Game:
Individual stats
Passing: Montana – 18/28, 195 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Patton – 15 CAR, 72 YDS, 1 TD; Easley – 7 CAR, 23 YDS; Cooper – 9 CAR, 22 YDS; Montana – 2 CAR, 4 YDS
Receiving: Solomon – 8 REC, 94 YDS, 1 TD; Clark – 5 REC, 57 YDS; Cooper – 3 REC, 11 YDS; Young – 2 REC, 33 YDS
Kickoff Returns: Jones – 3 KR, 43 YDS; Patton – 1 KR, 0 YDS
Punt Returns: Hicks – 2 PR, 46 YDS; Solomon – 2 PR, 16 YDS
Punting: Miller – 3 PUNTS, 101 YDS
Kicking: Wersching – 2/2 PAT, 1/2 FG
Sacks:
Interceptions: Reynolds – 1 INT, 0 YDS
49ers Missed Field Goals: Wersching 32
= Week 2 (Sunday, September 13, 1981): vs. Chicago Bears
=Point spread: 49ers Pick
Over/Under: 41.0 (over)
Time of Game:
Individual stats
Passing: Montana – 20/32, 287 YDS, 3 TDs
Rushing: Patton – 14 CAR, 67 YDS, 1 TD; Cooper – 14 CAR, 67 YDS; Easley – 3 CAR, 5 YDS; Solomon – 1 CAR, –3 YDS
Receiving: Clark – 6 REC, 81 YDS; Solomon – 5 REC, 113 YDS, 1 TD; Cooper – 4 REC, 28 YDS; Patton – 2 REC, 34 YDS, 1 TD; Young – 2 REC, 19 YDS, 1 TD; Elliott – 1 REC, 12 YDS
Kickoff Returns: Lott – 3 KR, 55 YDS; Davis – 1 KR, 0 YDS
Punt Returns: Solomon – 4 PR, 40 YDS; Hicks – 1 PR, 7 YDS
Punting: Miller – 5 PUNTS, 190 YDS
Kicking: Bahr – 4/4 PAT, 0/2 FG
Sacks:
Interceptions: Hicks – 1 INT, 8 YDS
49ers Missed Field Goals: Bahr 39, 48
= Week 3 (Sunday, September 20, 1981): at Atlanta Falcons
=Point spread: 49ers +9
Over/Under: 41.0 (over)
Time of Game:
Individual stats
Passing: Montana – 24/34, 274 YDS, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
Rushing: Cooper – 9 CAR, 40 YDS; Patton – 12 CAR, 30 YDS; Easley – 4 CAR, 18 YDS; Elliott – 4 CAR, 17 YDS; Solomon – 1 CAR, 0 YDS
Receiving: Clark – 9 REC, 77 YDS; Young – 3 REC, 55 YDS, 1 TD; Solomon – 3 REC, 36 YDS, 1 TD; Cooper – 3 REC, 29 YDS; Wilson – 2 REC, 34 YDS; Patton – 2 REC, 16 YDS; Hofer – 1 REC, 22 YDS; Peets – 1 REC, 5 YDS
Kickoff Returns: Lott – 3 KR, 56 YDS; Ring – 1 KR, 23 YDS; Wilson – 1 KR, 22 YDS
Punt Returns: Solomon – 2 PR, 9 YDS
Punting: Miller – 3 PUNTS, 160 YDS
Kicking: Bahr – 2/2 PAT, 1/2 FG
Sacks:
49ers Missed Field Goals: Bahr 24 (Blocked)
Joe Montana was intercepted twice in 34 passes (24 completed) as the Niners fell to the Falcons for the eleventh time in the last eight seasons.
= Week 4 (Sunday, September 27, 1981): vs. New Orleans Saints
=Point spread: 49ers –6
Over/Under: 43.0 (under)
Time of Game:
Individual stats
Passing: Montana – 16/22, 175 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Davis – 11 CAR, 48 YDS, 1 TD; Patton – 14 CAR, 42 YDS; Hofer – 4 CAR, 19 YDS; Montana – 3 CAR, 17 YDS; Cooper – 5 CAR, 10 YDS; Easley – 1 CAR, 5 YDS; Solomon – 1 CAR, 5 YDS
Receiving: Young – 3 REC, 41 YDS; Clark – 3 REC, 30 YDS; Cooper – 3 REC, 6 YDS; Solomon – 2 REC, 80 YDS, 1 TD; Patton – 2 REC, 8 YDS; Hofer – 2 REC, 7 YDS; Lawrence – 1 REC, 3 YDS
Kickoff Returns: Lawrence – 1 KR, 26 YDS; Lott – 1 KR, 0 YDS
Punt Returns: Solomon – 3 PR, 14 YDS; Hicks – 1 PR, 10 YDS
Punting: Miller – 9 PUNTS, 406 YDS
Kicking: Bahr – 3/3 PAT
Interceptions: Lott – 1 INT, 26 YDS, 1 TD; Wright – 1 INT, 26 YDS
= Week 5 (Sunday, October 4, 1981): at Washington Redskins
=Point spread: 49ers +2
Over/Under: 43.0 (over)
Time of Game:
Individual stats
Passing: Montana – 15/28, 193 YDS, 1 INT
Rushing: Patton – 9 CAR, 43 YDS, 1 TD; Davis – 13 CAR, 37 YDS, 1 TD; Cooper – 6 CAR, 21 YDS; Lawrence – 2 CAR, 14 YDS; Elliott – 3 CAR, 12 YDS; Easley – 2 CAR, 1 YD
Receiving: Elliott – 6 REC, 69 YDS; Solomon – 5 REC, 77 YDS; Young – 2 REC, 24 YDS; Clark – 1 REC, 21 YDS; Cooper – 1 CAR, 2 YDS
Kickoff Returns: Lawrence – 2 KR, 41 YDS
Punt Returns: Solomon – 2 PR, 9 YDS
Punting: Miller – 5 PUNTS, 200 YDS
Kicking: Bahr – 3/3 PAT, 1/2 FG
Sacks:
Interceptions: Hicks – 2 INTs, 104 YDS, 1 TD; McColl – 1 INT, 22 YDS; Lott – 1 INT, 0 YDS
49ers Missed Field Goals: Bahr 25
= Week 6 (Sunday, October 11, 1981): vs. Dallas Cowboys
=Point spread: 49ers +5
Over/Under: 45.0 (over)
Time of Game:
Individual stats
Passing: Montana – 19/29, 279 YDS, 2 TDs; Solomon – 1/1, 25 YDS; Benjamin – 0/3, 0 YDS
Rushing: Hofer – 11 CAR, 40 YDS, 1 TD; Davis – 8 CAR, 28 YDS, 1 TD; Easley – 8 CAR, 28 YDS; Lawrence – 6 CAR, 27 YDS, 1 TD; Patton – 7 CAR, 16 YDS; Cooper – 5 CAR, 9 YDS; Montana – 1 CAR, 2 YDS
Receiving: Solomon – 5 REC, 74 YDS, 1 TD; Clark – 4 REC, 135 YDS, 1 TD; Young – 3 REC, 35 YDS; Hofer – 3 REC, 22 YDS; Wilson – 2 REC, 22 YDS; Cooper – 2 REC, 12 YDS; Patton – 1 REC, 4 YDS
Kickoff Returns: Lawrence – 2 KR, 49 YDS
Punt Returns: Solomon – 2 PR, 5 YDS; Hicks – 1 PR, 3 YDS
Punting: Miller – 6 PUNTS, 277 YDS
Kicking: Wersching – 6/6 PAT, 1/2 FG
Sacks:
Interceptions: Lott – 2 INT, 53 YDS, 1 TD
49ers Missed Field Goals: Wersching 40
= Week 7 (Sunday, October 18, 1981) at Green Bay Packers
=Point spread: 49ers –1
Over/Under: 44.0 (under)
Time of Game:
Individual stats
Passing: Montana – 23/32, 220 YDS
Rushing: Davis – 16, CAR, 65 YDS, 1 TD; Cooper – 12 CAR, 38 YDS; Patton – 7 CAR, 15 YDS; Easley – 3 CAR, 3 YDS; Hofer – 8 CAR, 3 YDS; Montana – 1 CAR, 2 YDS
Receiving: Clark – 6 REC, 55 YDS; Hofer – 5 REC, 44 YDS; Solomon – 4 REC, 49 YDS; Patton – 3 REC, 41 YDS; Cooper – 2 REC, 19 YDS; Lawrence – 1 REC, 5 YDS; Young – 1 REC, 4 YDS; Davis – 1 REC, 3 YDS
Kickoff Returns: Lawrence – 2 KR, 21 YDS
Punt Returns: Solomon – 3 PR, 24 YDS; Hicks – 1 PR, 14 YDS
Punting: Miller – 7 PUNTS, 251 YDS
Kicking: Wersching – 1/1 PAT, 2/2 FG
Sacks:
Interceptions: Hicks – 1 INT, 26 YDS
= Week 8 (Sunday, October 25, 1981): vs. Los Angeles Rams
=Point spread: 49ers –1
Over/Under: 46.0 (under)
Time of Game:
Individual stats
Passing: Montana – 18/32, 287 YDS, 2 TDs
Rushing: Hofer – 8 CAR, 23 YDS; Davis – 6 CAR, 14 YDS; Patton – 6 CAR, 13 YDS; Cooper – 5 CAR, 7 YDS; Montana – 2 CAR, 3 YDS; Easley – 1 CAR, 0 YDS
Receiving: Clark – 8 REC, 109 YDS, 1 TD; Solomon – 5 REC, 79 YDS, 1 TD; Cooper – 2 REC, 57 YDS; Young – 1 REC, 29 YDS; Patton – 1 REC, 8 YDS; Wilson – 1 REC, 5 YDS
Kickoff Returns: Lawrence – 2 KR, 61 YDS; Ramson – 1 KR, 12 YDS; Wilson – 1 KR,8 YDS
Punt Returns: Solomon – 2 PR, 9 YDS
Punting: Miller – 10 PUNTS, 433 YDS
Kicking: Wersching – 2/2 PAT, 2/2 FG
Sacks:
Interceptions: Lott – 1 INT, 0 YDS
= Week 9 (Sunday, November 1, 1981): at Pittsburgh Steelers
=Point spread: 49ers +5
Over/Under: 45.0 (under)
Time of Game:
Individual stats
Passing: Montana – 22/37, 205 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INTs; Easley – 1/1, 5 YDS
Rushing: Easley – 14 CAR, 47 YDS, 1 TD; Patton – 13 CAR, 35 YDS; Hofer – 5 CAR, 26 YDS; Montana – 4 CAR, 12 YDS; Cooper – 3 CAR, 10 YDS
Receiving: Clark – 7 REC, 80 YDS; Cooper – 5 REC, 53 YDS; Young – 3 REC, 13 YDS, 1 TD; Easley – 3 REC, 12 YDS; Solomon – 2 REC, 33 YDS; Patton – 2 REC, 17 YDS; Hofer – 1 REC,2 YDS
Kickoff Returns: Wilson – 2 KR, 37 YDS; Ring – 1 KR, 21 YDS
Punting: Miller – 5 PUNTS, 229 YDS
Kicking: Wersching – 2/2 PAT, 1/2 FG
Interceptions: Williamson – 1 INT, 28 YDS; Hicks – 1 INT, 0 YDS; Wright – 1 INT, 0 YDS
49ers Missed Field Goals: Wersching 37 (Blocked)
= Week 10 (Sunday, November 8, 1981): vs. Atlanta Falcons
=Point spread: 49ers +2½
Over/Under: 44.0 (under)
Time of Game:
Individual stats
Passing: Montana – 16/30, 223 YDS, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing: Easley – 15 CAR, 31 YDS; Patton – 9 CAR, 26 YDS; Solomon – 3 CAR, 11 YDS; Clark – 1 CAR, 9 YDS; Cooper – 3 CAR, 4 YDS; Montana – 2 CAR, 1 YD; Hofer – 1 CAR, 0 YDS
Receiving: Clark – 7 REC, 128 YDS; Solomon – 3 REC, 56 YDS, 1 TD; Easley – 2 REC, 9 YDS; Young – 2 REC, 9 YDS, 1 TD; Hofer – 1 REC, 21 YDS; Cooper – 1 REC, 0 YDS
Kickoff Returns: Ring – 1 KR, 29 YDS; Hicks – 1 KR, 22 YDS
Punt Returns: Hicks – 4 PR, 36 YDS; Solomon – 3 PR, 15 YDS
Punting: Miller – 10 PUNTS, 420 YDS
Kicking: Wersching – 2/2 PAT, 1/1 FG
Sacks:
Interceptions: Hicks – 2 INT, 37 YDS; Martin – 1 INT, 0 YDS
= Week 11 (Sunday, November 15, 1981): vs. Cleveland Browns
=Point spread: 49ers –3
Over/Under: 43.0 (under)
Time of Game:
Individual stats
Passing: Montana – 24/42, 213 YDS, 2 INTs
Rushing: Easley – 16 CAR, 59 YDS; Hofer – 10 CAR, 33 YDS; Patton – 4 CAR, 15 YDS; Davis – 2 CAR, 6 YDS; Montana – 2 CAR, 5 YDS; Solomon – 1 CAR, 0 YDS
Receiving: Hofer – 7 REC, 64 YDS; Clark – 6 REC, 52 YDS; Solomon – 3 REC, 35 YDS; Cooper – 3 REC, 21 YDS; Young – 2 REC, 16 YDS; Patton – 1 REC, 11 YDS; Shumann – 1 REC, 8 YDS; Easley – 1 REC, 6 YDS
Kickoff Returns: Lawrence – 2 KR, 52 YDS
Punt Returns: Solomon – 2 PR, 22 YDS
Punting: Jim Miller – 4 PUNTS, 144 YDS
Kicking: Wersching – 4/5 FG
Sacks:
Interceptions: Hicks – 1 INT, 10 YDS
49ers Missed Field Goals: Wersching 40
The Niners’ winning streak ended in a battle of six combined field goals. Opposing quarterbacks Brian Sipe and Montana combined for 393 yards, three interceptions, and an average passer rating of 56.
= Week 12 (Sunday, November 22, 1981): at Los Angeles Rams
=Point spread: 49ers +3
Over/Under: 42.0 (over)
Time of Game:
Individual stats
Passing: Montana – 19/30, 283 YDS, 1 INT
Rushing: Davis – 8 CAR, 23 YDS, 1 TD; Patton – 8 CAR, 20 YDS; Hofer – 5 CAR, 16 YDS; Lawrence – 2 CAR, 9 YDS; Cooper – 4 CAR, 4 YDS; Montana – 1 CAR, –1 YDS
Receiving: Solomon – 5 REC, 124 YDS; Cooper – 5 REC, 55 YDS; Clark – 4 REC, 59 YDS; Hofer – 2 REC, 20 YDS; Young – 2 REC, 18 YDS; Shumann – 1 REC, 7 YDS
Kickoff Returns: Lawrence – 3 KR, 138 YDS, 1 TD; Ring – 2 KR, 45 YDS
Punt Returns: Hicks – 2 PR, 12 YDS
Punting: Miller – 2 PUNTS, 88 YDS
Kicking: Wersching – 3/3 PAT, 4/4 FG
Sacks:
Interceptions: Lott – 1 INT, 25 YDS, 1 TD
The game lead tied or changed eight times as the Rams wound up using quarterbacks Dan Pastorini and Pat Haden while running back Mike Guman threw a seven-yard touchdown to Preston Dennard. Amos Lawrence opened the third quarter by scoring on the opening kickoff and Ronnie Lott scored after intercepting Pastorini.
= Week 13 (Sunday, November 29, 1981): vs. New York Giants
=Point spread:
Over/Under:
Time of Game:
|scoring=
First quarter
SF – Johnny Davis 1 yard rush – (Ray Wersching kick) 49ers 7–0
Second quarter
SF – Joe Montana 20-yard rush – (Ray Wersching kick) 49ers 14–0
NYG – Joe Danelo 52-yard field goal – 49ers 14–3
Fourth quarter
NYG – Rob Carpenter 3-yard rush – (Joe Danelo kick) 49ers 14–10
SF – Ray Wersching 23-yard field goal – 49ers 17–10
|stats=
Top passers
NYG – Scott Brunner, 13/34, 162 Yds, 3 Ints
SF – Joe Montana, 27/39, 234 Yds
Top rushers
NYG – Rob Carpenter, 13 Car, 40 Yds, 1 TD
SF – Paul Hofer, 8 Car, 33 Yds
Top receivers
NYG – Rob Carpenter, 5 Rec, 55 Yds
SF – Dwight Clark, 7 Rec, 87 Yds
Top tacklers
NYG -
SF -
Turnovers
NYG – 5
SF – 0
}}
= Week 14 at Cincinnati Bengals
== Week 15 vs. Houston Oilers
== Week 16 (Sunday, December 20, 1981): at New Orleans Saints
=Point spread: 49ers –7
Over/Under: 37.0 (over)
Time of Game:
Individual stats
Passing: Montana – 9–11, 106 YDS, 2 TDs; Benjamin – 8/14, 89 YDS, 1 INT
Rushing: Ring – 11 CAR, 71 TDS; Patton – 8 CAR, 36 YDS; Davis – 6 CAR, 19 YDS, 1 TD; Solomon – 1 CAR, 16 YDS; Montana – 1 CAR, 10 YDS; Easley – 2 CAR, 4 YDS; Benjamin – 1 CAR, 1 YD; Cooper – 1 CAR, –3 YDS
Receiving: Solomon – 5 REC, 38 YDS, 1 TD; Patton – 4 REC, 25 YDS; Easley – 3 REC, 35 YDS; Ramson – 2 REC, 27 YDS; Cooper – 1 REC, 36 YDS; Clark – 1 REC, 21 YDS; Young – 1 REC, 13 YDS, 1 TD
Kickoff Returns: Ring – 2 KR, 41 YDS; Lawrence – 2 KR, 24 YDS
Punt Returns: Solomon – 1 PR, 0 YDS
Punting: Miller – 4 PUNTS, 184 YDS
Kicking: Wersching – 3/3 PAT
Sacks:
Interceptions: Williamson – 1 INT, 9 YDS
Standings
Final statistics
Regular Season Stats
Passing
Rushing
= Statistical comparison
== Quarter-by-quarter
== Individual leaders
=1Completions/attempts
2Carries
3Long gain
4Receptions
5Interceptions
6Punts
7Kickoff Returns
8Punt Returns
Postseason
= 1981 NFC Divisional Playoffs (Sunday, January 3, 1982): vs. (5) New York Giants
=Point spread:
Over/Under:
Time of Game:
|scoring=
First quarter
SF – Charle Young 8-yard pass from Joe Montana – (Ray Wersching kick) 49ers 7–0
NYG – Earnest Gray 72-yard pass from Scott Brunner – (Joe Danelo kick) Tied 7–7
Second quarter
SF – Ray Wersching 22-yard field goal – 49ers 10–7
SF – Freddie Solomon 58-yard pass from Joe Montana – (Ray Wersching kick) 49ers 17–7
SF – Ricky Patton 25-yard rush – (Ray Wersching kick) 49ers 24–7
NYG – Joe Danelo 48-yard field goal – 49ers 24–10
Third quarter
NYG – Johnny Perkins 59-yard pass from Scott Brunner – (Joe Danelo kick) 49ers 24–17
Fourth quarter
SF – Bill Ring 3-yard rush – (Ray Wersching kick) 49ers 31–17
SF – Ronnie Lott 20-yard interception return – (Ray Wersching kick) 49ers 38–17
NYG – Johnny Perkins 17-yard pass from Scott Brunner – (Joe Danelo kick) 49ers 38–24
|stats=
Top passers
NYG – Scott Brunner, 16/37, 290 Yds, 3 TDs, 2 Ints
SF – Joe Montana, 20/31, 304 Yds, 2 TDs, 1 Int
Top rushers
NYG – Rob Carpenter, 17 Car, 61 Yds
SF – Earl Cooper, 7 Car, 52 Yds
Top receivers
NYG – Johnny Perkins, 7 Rec, 121 Yds, 2 TDs
SF – Freddie Solomon, 6 Rec, 107 Yds, 1 TD
Top tacklers
NYG -
SF -
Turnovers
NYG – 4
SF – 1
}}
The Giants were making their first appearance in the postseason since 1963. First-year starting quarterback Joe Montana led the 49ers to victory in his debut playoff game, completing 20 of 31 passes for 304 yards and 2 touchdowns, with 1 interception. His top target in the game was receiver Dwight Clark, who caught 5 passes for 104 yards.
= 1981 NFC Championship Game (Sunday, January 10, 1982): vs. (2) Dallas Cowboys
=Point spread: 49ers +3
Over/Under: 42.0 (over)
Time of Game:
Individual stats
Passing: Montana – 22/35, 286 YDS, 3 TDs, 3 INTs
Rushing: Elliott – 10 CAR, 48 YDS; Cooper – 8 REC, 35 YDS; Ring – 6 CAR, 27 YDS; Solomon – 1 CAR, 14 YDS; Easley – 2 CAR, 6 YDS; Davis – 1 CAR, 2 YDS, 1 TD; Montana – 3 CAR, –5 YDS
Receiving: Clark – 8 REC, 120 YDS, 2 TDs; Solomon – 6 REC, 75 YDS, 1 TD; Young – 4 REC, 45 YDS; Cooper – 2 REC, 11 YDS; Elliott – 1 REC, 24 YDS; Shumann – 1 REC, 11 YDS
Kickoff Returns: Lawrence – 3 KR, 60 YDS; Ring – 3 KR, 47 YDS
Punt Returns: Hicks – 2 PR, 21 YDS; Solomon – 1 PR, 3 YDS
Punting: Miller – 3 PUNTS, 107 YDS
Kicking: Wersching – 4/4 PAT
Sacks: Pillers – 2.0; Board – 1.0; Stuckey – 1.0
Interceptions: Leopold – 1 INT, 5 YDS
The 49ers were making their third appearance in the NFC Championship Game. Their opponent was their opponent for the two previous NFC Championship Games-the Dallas Cowboys. In both previous matches, the 49ers had lost the game. The game is remembered for "The Catch".
The play, remembered in 49er lore as "Red Right Tight—Sprint Right Option" had called for both the primary receiver, Solomon, and Dwight Clark to line up on the right. Montana was supposed to roll to his right and find Solomon. Clark's pattern called for him to cut left across the end zone, stop, and immediately reverse his path to the right. If Solomon were covered, it would be up to Montana to find Clark. Due to the pressure, Montana's pass was high, but Clark was in position to make his memorable grab. Future New England Patriots/Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, who grew up in the Bay Area, attended the game as a four-year-old. The 49ers were victorious despite an astonishing six turnovers, including three interceptions by Joe Montana.
A photograph of the catch, with Clark at the height of his leap and Everson Walls reaching out to try to block the ball, was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated the following week.
= Super Bowl XVI
=Awards and records
Joe Montana, Super Bowl Most Valuable Player
Bill Walsh, National Football League Coach of the Year Award
1982 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl
Media
Pre season Local TV
Local Radio
References
External links
49ers on Pro Football Reference
49ers Schedule on jt-sw.com
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
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- 1981 San Francisco 49ers season
- List of San Francisco 49ers seasons
- 1992 San Francisco 49ers season
- San Francisco 49ers
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- List of San Francisco 49ers head coaches
- History of the San Francisco 49ers
- 1998 San Francisco 49ers season
- 1982 San Francisco 49ers season
