Super Bowl XXIII (23) San Francisco VS Cincinnati Recap

Super Bowl XXIII San Francisco 20, Cincinnati 16 Recap

San Francisco Defeats Cincinnati in Super Bowl XXIII. Jerry Rice named MVP

NFC champion San Francisco won their third Super Bowl of the 1980s by defeating AFC champion Cincinnati 20-16. The 49ers, who also won Super Bowls XVI and XIX, became the first NFC team to win three Super Bowls. Pittsburgh - four Super Bowl titles (IX, X, XIII, and XIV). Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders - three (XI, XV, and XVIII), lead AFC franchises.

Even though San Francisco held an advantage in total net yards (453 to 229), the 49ers found themselves trailing the Bengals late in the game. With the score 13-13, Cincinnati took a 16-13 lead on Jim Breech's 40-yard field goal with 3:20 remaining. It was Breech's third field goal of the day, following earlier strikes from 34 and 43 yards.

The 49ers started their game winning drive on their own 8-yard line. San Francisco covered 92 yards on 11 plays with the decisive score coming on a 10-yard pass from quarterback Joe Montana to wide receiver John Taylor with 34 seconds remaining.

At halftime, the score was 3-3, the first time in Super Bowl history the game was tied at intermission. The teams traded third-period field goals, the Bengals jumped ahead 13-6 on Stanford Jennings's 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown with 34 seconds remaining in the third.

The 49ers stormed right back, covering 85 yards in just four plays, concluding with Montana's 14-yard scoring pass to Jerry Rice 57 seconds into the final stanza.

Rice was named the game's most valuable player (MVP) after compiling 11 catches for a Super Bowl-record 215 yards. Montana completed 23 of 36 passes for a Super Bowl-record 357 yards and two touchdowns.

Scoring Information

                       1  2  3  4  Final
                       _________________
Cincinnati Bengals     0  3 10  3     16
San Francisco 49ers    3  0  3 14     20

San Francisco - FG Cofer 41                    
11:46 into the 1st

Cincinnati    - FG Breech 34                   
13:41 into the 2nd

Cincinnati    - FG Breech 43                   
9:15 into the 3rd

San Francisco - FG Cofer 32                    
14:10 into the 3rd

Cincinnati    - Jennings 93 kick return  (Breech kick)
14:26 into the 3rd

San Francisco - Rice 14 pass from Montana (Cofer kick)
0:57 into the 4th

Cincinnati    - FG Breech 40                          
11:40 into the 4th

San Francisco - Taylor 10 pass from Montana (Cofer kick)
14:26 into the 4th

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Quick Facts

Score:

Super Bowl XXIII

San Francisco 20
Cincinnati 16

Location:
Joe Robbie Stadium
Miami, Florida
January 22, 1989
Attendance: 75,129

MVP:
Jerry Rice, Wide Receiver
of the San Francisco 49ers

Coaches
SF Bill Walsh
CIN Sam Wyche

Super Bowl XXIII Ring, San Francisco 20 vs Cincinnati 16, Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida, MVP Jerry Rice, Wide Receiver of the San Francisco 49ers

Super Bowl XXIII Ring