Ranking the top 10 playoff moments in San Francisco 49ers history
By Peter Panacy
![24 Sep 2000: Jerry Rice #80 of the San Francisco 49ers get congradulated on his touchdown by teammate Jeff Garcia #5 during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at the Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. The 49ers defeated the Cowboys 41-24.Mandatory Credit: Ronald Martinez /Allsport 24 Sep 2000: Jerry Rice #80 of the San Francisco 49ers get congradulated on his touchdown by teammate Jeff Garcia #5 during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at the Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. The 49ers defeated the Cowboys 41-24.Mandatory Credit: Ronald Martinez /Allsport](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/cc0110a909582335c2b818a6efa927943387db25721c3a4c12d179d6090c0ffa.jpg)
No. 2: Joe Montana Finds John Taylor in Super Bowl XXIII
When: January 22, 1989
“Isn’t that John Candy?”
Quarterback Joe Montana’s famous words to calm his team down on the final drive of Super Bowl XXIII against the Cincinnati Bengals are, perhaps, the most famous bits of prose ever made in a Niners uniform.
It was called “The Drive,” as Montana and the 49ers found themselves trailing 16-13 with 3:20 left in the fourth quarter.
Montana brilliantly executed an offensive drive, culminating in a 10-yard pass to wide receiver John Taylor that led to San Francisco’s 20-16 win and third Super Bowl championship.
“There have been, and will be, much better arms and legs and much better bodies on quarterbacks in the NFL,” said former 49er teammate Randy Cross, via ESPN.com. “But if you have to win a game or score a touchdown or win a championship, the only guy to get is Joe Montana.”