1980s Super Bowl XXIII Run

Lore & Background

This was the second meeting between these two teams in the Super Bowl; their first meeting was seven years earlier. The game was also the third rematch between Super Bowl teams after Super Bowl XIII and Super Bowl XVII. This was the Bengals' second Super Bowl appearance after finishing the regular season with a 12–4 record. The 49ers were making their third Super Bowl appearance after posting a 10–6 regular season record.

The game is best remembered for the 49ers' fourth-quarter game-winning drive. Down 16–13, San Francisco got the ball on their own 8-yard line with 3:10 on the clock and marched 92 yards down the field in under three minutes. They then scored the winning touchdown on a Joe Montana pass to John Taylor with just 34 seconds left in the game. The game was tight throughout.

The teams combined for five field goals, and battled to a 3–3 score by the end of the second quarter, the first halftime tie in Super Bowl history. Cincinnati's only touchdown, a 93-yard kickoff return by Stanford Jennings in the third quarter, was quickly answered by a four-play, 85-yard drive that ended with San Francisco wide receiver Jerry Rice's 14-yard touchdown reception. The touchdown came one play after Cincinnati cornerback Lewis Billups dropped what would have been a drive-ending interception in the end zone.

Rice, who was named the Super Bowl MVP, caught 11 passes for a Super Bowl record 215 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing once for five yards.

Reader's Guide

The 49ers' offense was led by quarterback Joe Montana, who finished the regular season with 238 completions for 2,981 yards and 18 touchdowns, and also added 132 rushing yards. His favorite target was Jerry Rice, who recorded 64 receptions for 1,306 yards (a 20.4 yards per catch average) and 9 touchdowns. Roger Craig led the team in receptions (76) while finishing the season with a total of 2,036 combined rushing and receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, earning him the NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award.

Fullback Tom Rathman rushed for 427 yards and caught 42 passes for 387 yards. John Taylor led the NFL in punt return yards (556), yards per return (12.6), and touchdowns (2), and also gained 228 yards on kickoff returns and 325 receiving yards on 14 receptions. The 49ers' defense was led by defensive backs Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright, Jeff Fuller, and Tim McKyer, who recorded a combined total of 18 interceptions. McKyer led the team with 7, while Lott recorded 5, along with 3 forced fumbles and 4 fumble recoveries.

Linebacker Charles Haley had 11.5 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries. The defensive line featured Michael Carter (6.5 sacks), Danny Stubbs (6 sacks), Larry Roberts (6 sacks), and Pierce Holt (5 sacks). The Bengals' offense was led by quarterback Boomer Esiason, who threw for 3,572 yards and 28 touchdowns with only 14 interceptions, while also rushing for 248 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Eddie Brown had 54 receptions for 1,273 yards and 9 touchdowns.

Wide receiver Tim McGee and tight end Rodney Holman combined for 75 receptions, 1,213 yards, and 9 touchdowns. Rookie fullback Ickey Woods rushed for 1,066 yards and 15 touchdowns, and also caught 21 passes for 199 yards. Running back James Brooks gained a total of 1,218 combined rushing and receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. The Bengals' offensive line was led by Pro Bowl players Max Montoya and Anthony Muñoz.

Cincinnati's defense ranked 17th in the league, allowing 5,556 yards and 329 points. Defensive tackle Tim Krumrie had 3 sacks and 3 fumble recoveries, while linemen Jim Skow (9.5 sacks), David Grant (5 sacks), and Jason Buck (6 sacks) contributed. Linebacker Reggie Williams was one of six players remaining from their 1981 Super Bowl team. Defensive backs Eric Thomas and David Fulcher combined for 12 interceptions, while safety Lewis Billups added 4 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries.