Ranking the Super Bowls, #8: Super Bowl XXIII

(photo credit: espn.go.com)

The Cincinnati Bengals and the San Francisco 49ers played for the Lomnardi Trophy in Super Bowl XXII, which was held on Jan. 22, 1989 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, FL. This was the first time in 10 years that Miami was hosting a Super Bowl. This was the second time these teams met in the Super Bowl, with the first meeting coming seven years earlier. The Bengals posted a 12-4 record during the regular season, while San Francisco compiled a record of 10-6 during the regular season.

The Bengals defeated the Seattle Seahawks 21-13, and the Buffalo Bills 21-10, en route to their second Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. The 49ers cruised to their third Super Bowl in franchise history by defeating the Minnesota Vikings 34-9, and the Chicago Bears 28-3. San Francisco became the first team to win an NFC Championship on the road since 1979.

San Francisco entered as seven point favorites, and the game was broadcasted by NBC, with Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen on the call. This game was a low-scoring affair throughout, especially in the first half, as the team's traded field goals, meaning the score was tied at three apiece at the halftime break. This was the first time there was a tie at halftime in Super Bowl history.

San Francisco's Mike Cofer and Cincinnati's Jim Breech both converted on field goals, which made the score 6-6. The Bengals took a lead bigger than three, after Stanford Jennings returned a kick-off 93 yards, which gave the Bengals the 13-6 lead. San Francisco would tie it up in the fourth, when Joe Montana connected with Jerry Rice on a 14-yard touchdown, which tied the game at 13.

Cincinnati would take the lead again after Breech converted on a field goal from 40 yards out. The game is remembered because of the 49ers game winning drive. San Francisco had the ball on their own eight-yard line, and they drove 92 yards in under three minutes, ultimately setting up the game winning score, which was a 10-yard pass from Montana to John Taylor. San Francisco was able to hang on to win their third Super Bowl in franchise history.

Legendary head coach Bill Walsh would go on to retire after the game. Jerry Rice took home Super Bowl MVP honors after catching 11 passes for 215 yards and one touchdown. Joe Montana completed 23 of his 36 pass attempts, for 357 yards and two touchdowns. Roger Craig had 17 carries for 71 yards, and he hauled eight passes for 101 yards. Boomer Esiason completed 11 of his 25 pass attempts for 144 yards and one interception. Ickey Woods had 20 carries for 79 yards.

Cris Collinsworth led all Bengals receivers, as he caught three passes for 40 yards. Cincinnati has only recorded one postseason win since 1988, which was a Wild Card win over the Houston Oilers. That is the longest active postseason win drought in the NFL today.