Super Bowl XXIII

The game

After the two teams traded punts on their first possessions of the game, the 49ers, aided by a roughing the passer penalty, marched 73 yards from their own 3-yard line to the Bengals 24. But dropped passes, including one by reciever Mike Wilson on the 2-yard line, forced them to settle for a 41-yard field goal from kicker Mike Cofer. San Francisco then threatened to score on their next possesion, driving all the way to a the Cincinnati's 10-yard line. But on third down, Bengals safety David Fulcher made a touchdown saving tackle at the 2-yard line to keep running back Tom Rathman from scoring. Cofer then attempted a 19-yard field goal, but a poor snap from center Randy Cross threw off the kicker's timing and his kick sailed wide left. It was the shortest missed field goal in Super Bowl history.

Related Topics:
Mike Cofer - David Fulcher - Tom Rathman - Randy Cross

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The 49ers then forced the Bengals to punt on their next drive. But San Francisco Pro Bowl returner John Taylor misplayed the kick from punter Lee Johnson. The punt sailed over Taylor's head, going all the way to the 49ers 9-yard line, and making it a Super Bowl record 63 yards. But Taylor made up for his mistake by chasing the ball down and returning it for a Super Bowl record 45 yards. However, the 49ers were unable to take advantage of their excellent starting field position because Fulcher forced a fumble from 49ers running back Roger Craig, and the Bengals recovered the ball. However, San Francisco's defense forced Cincinnati to punt. On their next possesion, the Bengals managed to get into scoring range by driving inside the San Francisco 30-yard line. But the 49er defense forced them to settle for a 34-yard field goal from kicker Jim Breech with 1:15 left in the half.

Related Topics:
John Taylor - Lee Johnson - Roger Craig - Jim Breech

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The two teams went into their locker rooms tied 3-3, the first halftime tie in Super Bowl history, and the lowest halftime score since the Pittsburgh Steelers took a 2-0 halftime lead over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IX.

Related Topics:
Pittsburgh Steelers - Minnesota Vikings - Super Bowl IX

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On their opening drive in the second half, the Bengals moved the ball 61 yards in 12 plays to score on Breech's 43-yard field goal to give them their first lead of the game, 6-3. Cincinnati then forced San Francisco to punt, but on the first play of their next drive, 49ers rookie linebacker Bill Romanowski intercepted a pass from quarterback Boomer Esiason at the Bengals' 23-yard line. However, once again the 49ers offense could not get the ball into the endzone, and they had to settle for Cofer's 32-yard field goal to tie the game. With less then a minute left in the third quarter, it appeared that this would become the first Super Bowl ever to go 3 quarters without either team scoring a touchdown. But on the ensuing kickoff, Bengals kick returner Stanford Jennings returned the ball 93 yards for a touchdown to give the Bengals a 13-6 lead.

Related Topics:
Bill Romanowski - Boomer Esiason - Stanford Jennings

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But the 49ers immediately responded with a touchdown of their own, on a 85 yard, 4 play drive. First, Montana threw a short pass to Jerry Rice, who turned it into a 31-yard gain. Then the San Francisco quarterback completed a 40-yard pass to Craig on the first play of the 4th quarter, moving the ball to the Bengals 14-yard line. Two plays later, Montana threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Rice, and the game was tied, 13-13.

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The Bengals took the lead again 16-13 with a 10 play, 46 yard drive that ended with a 40-yard field goal from Breech with 3:20 left in the game. The 49ers then got the ball on their own eight yard line with 3:10 on the clock after committing a holding penalty on the ensuing kickoff.

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Montana then led a 11-play, 92-yard drive to score the winning touchdown. During the drive, San Francisco overcame an illegal man downfield penalty, picked up a first down on a second down and 20 play from Cincinnati's 45-yard line with just 1:15 left in the game, and Rice caught a 17-yard pass and a 27-yard pass.

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John Taylor's 10-yard touchdown pass at the end of the drive pulled the 49ers into the lead for good, 20-16, with 34 seconds remaining. Finally, San Francisco's defense sealed the victory after Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason's pass to Cris Collinsworth was broken up as time expired.

Related Topics:
Boomer Esiason - Cris Collinsworth

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Although Jerry Rice was named MVP, Montana had an MVP worthy performance for the third time in a Super Bowl, completing 23 of 36 passes for a Super Bowl record 357 yards, throwing for 2 touchdowns, and gaining 14 rushing yards. Craig finished the game with 71 yards rushing yards, and 8 receptions for 101 receiving yards. He was the first running back in Super Bowl history to gain over 100 receiving yards.

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Scoring summary

• SF- FG Cofer 41
• CIN- FG Breech 34
• CIN- FG Breech 43
• SF- FG Cofer 32
• CIN- Jennings 93 kick return (Breech kick)
• SF- Rice 14 pass from Montana (Cofer kick)
• CIN- FG Breech 40
• SF- Taylor 10 pass from Montana (Cofer kick)