Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Top 10 playoff games in franchise history

By Trevor Irvine

SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 15: San Francisco 49ers owner, Eddie Debartolo, holds up the 1984 NFC Championship trophy in front of the fans prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Candlestick Park on September 15, 1985 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won 35-16. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 15: San Francisco 49ers owner, Eddie Debartolo, holds up the 1984 NFC Championship trophy in front of the fans prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Candlestick Park on September 15, 1985 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won 35-16. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images) /
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No. 2: Super Bowl XXIII vs. Cincinnati Bengals

This was Hall of Fame head coach Bill Walsh’s last game in charge of the 49ers. The game itself wasn’t especially memorable. After a bunch of Super Bowl blowouts, the teams exchanged field goals to be tied 3-3 at halftime, which was the first tied halftime in Super Bowl history.

The key for the Niners was Jerry Rice, who was beyond special. Rice was the Super Bowl MVP, catching 11 passes for a Super Bowl record 215 yards and a touchdown.

Montana had an excellent game, going 23-of-36 for 357 yards and two touchdowns, and the offense racked up 452 total yards.

After falling behind 16-13 with 3:10 remaining in the game, Montana led the most iconic drive in Super Bowl history. He led the team on a 92-yard drive in just under three minutes, culminating in the game-winning 10-yard TD to WR John Taylor with just 34 seconds remaining to lead the 49ers to their third Super Bowl of the 1980s, 20-16.

It was simply a tale of two of the Niners all-time greats who rose to the occasion and delivered when it mattered most.

You couldn’t have asked for a better way to send off Walsh. The 1980s team of the decade.