Super Bowl XIX

Background

The 49ers advanced to their second Super Bowl in team history after becoming the first team ever to win 15 regular season games since the league expanded to a 16-game schedule in 1978. Much of the hype surrounding the team was their offense. Montana had an outstanding season, recording 279 out of 432 completions for 3,630 yards, 28 touchdowns, and only 10 interceptions. Running back Roger Craig was one of the 49ers' major weapons, both rushing and receiving. Craig was the team's second leading rusher with 649 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns, but also caught 71 passes for 675 yards. Running back Wendell Tyler, who had rushed for a team record 1,262 yards during the regular season, recorded 7 rushing touchdowns, and also caught 28 passes for 230 yards and 2 touchdown receptions. And wide receivers Freddie Solomon and Dwight Clark also were deep threats, gaining a combined total of 1,617 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Related Topics:
Roger Craig - Wendell Tyler - Freddie Solomon - Dwight Clark

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Although they did not get that much media attention as the offense, the 49ers also had an outstanding defense which led the league in fewest points allowed during the regular season (227). All 4 of the 49ers' starting defensive backs, Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright, Carlton Williamson, and Dwight Hicks, were selected to play in the Pro Bowl. And linebacker Keena Turner was a major defensive weapon, recording 2 sacks and 4 interceptions for 51 yards.

Related Topics:
Ronnie Lott - Carlton Williamson - Dwight Hicks - Pro Bowl - Keena Turner

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The 49ers' underrated defense allowed the team to blitz through the playoffs. Although Montana threw a combined total 5 interceptions, they only gave up a combined total of 10 points and zero touchdowns in their victories over the New York Giants, 21-10, and the Chicago Bears, 23-0.

Related Topics:
New York Giants - Chicago Bears

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Meanwhile, as the Dolphins advanced to the Super Bowl for the fifth time in franchise history, the media focused heavily on Marino. In just his second NFL season, he had one of the most spectacular years ever by a quarterback in league history by breaking almost every single season passing record. Marino became the first quarterback ever to throw for over 5,000 yards, reaching a total of 5,084. He threw 48 touchdown passes, breaking the previous record of 36 (which was held by both George Blanda for the Houston Oilers in 1961 and Y.A. Tittle for the New York Giants in 1963). Marino also set records for most completions (362), most games with at least 300 yards (9), and most games with 400 yards (4).

Related Topics:
George Blanda - Houston Oilers - Y.A. Tittle - New York Giants

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Thus going into Super Bowl XIX, many sports writers predicted that it would be the first of many Super Bowls that Marino would play in during his career. After all, he also had an amazing ability to read the defenses quickly before setting up to throw. Furthermore, his skill of quickly releasing the ball made it very difficult for defenders to sack him, along with the protection given to him by all-pro center Dwight Stephenson and the other memebers of Miami's offensive. Coming into the game, Marino had only been sacked just 13 times in the regular season and not once in the playoffs.

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The Dolphins also had a number of offensive threats for Marino to use. Wide receivers Mark Clayton (73 receptions, 1389 yards, 18 touchdowns) and Mark Duper (71 receptions, 1,306 yards, 8 touchdowns) became the first teammates ever to each gain over 1,300 receiving yards in one season. While Miami's main offensive attack was passing, they still had a trio of great running backs: Tony Nathan, Woody Bennett, and Joe Carter. Both Nathan and Bennett finished the season with over 1,000 combined rushing and receiving yards, while Carter contributed 495 rushing yards.

Related Topics:
Mark Clayton - Mark Duper - Tony Nathan - Woody Bennett

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However, the Dolphins defense was a little suspect. Although it was anchored by defensive back brothers Lyle and Glen Blackwood, along with linebacker A.J. Duhue, they tied the Oilers and the Minnesota Vikings for the most rushing yards allowed during the regular season (4.7 yards per attempt).

Related Topics:
A.J. Duhue - Minnesota Vikings

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Despite their defense, the Dolphins' powerful offense allowed the team to finish the regular season scoring a league high 513 points and leading the AFC with a 14-2 record. Miami then gained 405 yards of total offense in their 31-10 playoff win over the Seattle Seahawks, and gained 435 passing yards as they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, 45-28, in the AFC Championship Game.

Related Topics:
Seattle Seahawks - Pittsburgh Steelers

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