San Francisco 49ers: Top 10 Moments in Franchise’s Super Bowl History
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: The Stand in Super Bowl XVI
Result: 49ers 26, Bengals 21
Most of the 49ers’ greatest moments in Super Bowl history involve players like wide receivers Jerry Rice and John Taylor or quarterbacks Steve Young or Joe Montana.
But No. 2 on this list focuses on one of the greatest goal-line stands in Super Bowl history.
The stand came during Super Bowl XVI — San Francisco’s first Super Bowl appearance against the potent Cincinnati Bengals, who finished with a regular-season record of 12-4.
San Francisco held a 20-7 lead in the third quarter, but Cincinnati started to put itself back into the game. The Bengals found themselves within the 49ers’ 5-yard line thanks to a 49-yard completion from quarterback Ken Anderson to wide receiver Chris Collinsworth and a 10-yard pass to tight end Dan Ross.
Cincinnati ran five plays from the 3:37 mark of the third quarter to 1:45.
On 3rd-and-goal, Anderson tossed a pass to fullback Charles Alexander. But he was wrapped up by 49ers linebacker Dan Bunz for no gain. On 4th-and-goal from the 2-yard line, 250-pound Bengals running back Pete Johnson thundered up the middle but ran into a wall of 49ers, including defensive tackle Archie Reese.
And the Bengals never crossed the goal line.
Cincinnati clawed its way back, but this stand ensured the 49ers would come away with a 26-21 victory and their first Super Bowl title.
Next: Joe Montana's Game-Winning Pass to John Taylor in Super Bowl XXIII