Super Bowl XXIII -- 1989

Super Bowl XXIII

San Francisco 49ers vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Date: January 22, 1989
Host City: Miami, FL
Stadium: Joe Robbie Stadium
National Anthem: Billy Joel
Halftime Entertainment: “Be Bop Bamboozled” - South Florida area performers
MVP: Jerry Rice – Wide Receiver, San Francisco 49ers
Final Score: San Francisco-20 Cincinnati-16

After recent blowouts to mark the end of the NFL season, the battle between Boomer Esiason and Joe Montana was a much anticipated match-up. The Bengals rookie sensation, Ickey Woods, had rushed for over 1,000 yards, and taught the entire nation how to do the “Ickey Shuffle.” The game would only offer two field goals in the first half – one for each squad, en route to a 3-3 halftime tie. No one could have or would have expected the defenses to step up as they did vs. two of the most potent offenses in the league. In the second half, Esiason and the Bengals would put up 10 points in the 3rd quarter, and look as if they were taking control, before the 4th quarter offered something very similar to the eyes and ears of football fans: “Montana to Rice...Touchdown!” The Bengals tacked on another field goal making the game 16-13, but again, Montana would go to work with less than three minutes in the final quarter, finding John Taylor in the end zone for the go ahead and final score for the 49ers.

Check out the summaries for Super Bowl XXII and Super Bowl XXIV.