NFL game summary for 09/07/1980:
San Francisco, a 2-14 team like Detroit in 1979, turned all that around and gained its first road victory in 19 games with the upset of the Saints in the Louisiana Superdome. Steve DeBerg completed 21 of 29 passes for 223 yards and rookie running back Earl Cooper scored two touchdowns to lead the 49ers. Ray Wersching kicked two 37-yard field goals in the final period, the second one breaking a 23-23 tie.
"We were spirited, relentless, a very determined team," said 49ers Coach Bill Walsh. The victory was the first on the road for the 49ers since November 13, 1977, when they won at New Orleans on a field goal in overtime. Cooper, from Rice, the 49ers' first draft pick, rushed for 77 yards on 17 carries and caught 10 passes for 71 yards. Paul Hofer, who was in the backfield with Cooper most of the game, had seven receptions for 114 yards.
Russell Erxleben, chosen over Garo Yepremian as the Saints' kicker at the end of training camp, was a central figure in the New Orleans loss. He missed on a 30-yard field goal attempt when the bail hit an upright in the first quarter, fumbled a snap on a punt in the third period and shanked a 34-yard field goal attempt that would have tied the score with four seconds to play. Erxleben lay motionless and face down on the field as the crowd booed him for not sending the game into overtime. Archie Manning was the Saints' offensive leader, passing for 314 yards on 25 completions and running three yards for a TD. [The Sporting News]
Line: Saints by 4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 San Francisco 49ers (1-0-0) | 0 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 26 |
 New Orleans Saints (0-1-0) | 0 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 23 |
( 0- 7) NO Tony Galbreath 1 yard rush (Russell Erxleben kick) ( 7- 7) SF Earl Cooper 1 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) (14- 7) SF Earl Cooper 6 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) (20- 7) SF Paul Hofer 27 yard pass from Steve DeBerg (kick failed) (20-13) NO Chuck Muncie 7 yard rush (run failed) (23-13) SF Ray Wersching 37 yard field goal (23-20) NO Wes Chandler 49 yard pass from Archie Manning (Russell Erxleben kick) (23-23) NO Russell Erxleben 37 yard field goal (26-23) SF Ray Wersching 38 yard field goal
SF NO
First Downs: 21 19
Rushes-yards: 31-154 22-90
Yards/rush: 5.0 4.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 21-29-223-1 25-41-314-0
Sacked-yards: 3-27 1-10
Net pass yards: 196 304
Net yards/pass: 6.1 7.2
Total net yards: 350 394
Total plays: 63 (49% run) 64 (34% run)
Yards/play: 5.6 6.2
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 0-0
Turnovers: 2 0
Penalties-yards: 9-87 8-70
Attendance: 58,621
SF: Steve DeBerg, 21 of 29 for 223 yards and 1 TD (1 int) NO: Archie Manning, 25 of 40 for 314 yards and 1 TD; Russell Erxleben, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
SF: Earl Cooper, 17 for 77 yards and 2 TDs; Paul Hofer, 12 for 68 yards; Freddie Solomon, 1 for 6 yards; Lenvil Elliott, 1 for 3 yards NO: Chuck Muncie, 12 for 57 yards and 1 TD; Tony Galbreath, 9 for 30 yards and 1 TD; Archie Manning, 1 for 3 yards
Receiving:
SF: Earl Cooper, 10 for 71 yards; Paul Hofer, 7 for 114 yards and 1 TD; Freddie Solomon, 2 for 12 yards; James Owens, 1 for 15 yards; Charle Young, 1 for 11 yards NO: Tony Galbreath, 9 for 96 yards; Larry Hardy, 6 for 103 yards; Chuck Muncie, 5 for 22 yards; Wes Chandler, 3 for 56 yards and 1 TD; Ike Harris, 2 for 37 yards
Kick returns:
SF: Lenvil Elliott, 3 for 73 yards; James Owens, 2 for 48 yards NO: Rich Mauti, 5 for 141 yards; Jimmy Rogers, 1 for 10 yards
Punt returns:
SF: Freddie Solomon, 1 for 0 yards NO: Rich Mauti, 1 for 8 yards
Interceptions:
NO: Tom Myers, 1 for 11 yards
Punting:
SF: Jim Miller, 3 for 116 yards NO: Russell Erxleben, 3 for 86 yards
Field Goals:
SF: Ray Wersching, 2/2 NO: Russell Erxleben, 1/3