No. 7: Joe Montana hits Jerry Rice for 27 yards on “The Drive”
We all know how this one ends.
In Super Bowl XXIII, the 49ers found themselves trailing 16-13 in the fourth quarter with just 3:20 remaining in regulation. Joe Montana led arguably the best two-minute drill we’ve seen in playoff history, which eventually culminated in the crucial game-winning score.
But how did the Niners get to the Cincinnati Bengals’ 10-yard line, giving Montana the chance to hit wide receiver John Taylor for the game-winning score?
As cliché as it sounds, it was a team effort. But Jerry Rice’s 27-yard gain at the 1:17 mark of the fourth quarter was a major contributor.
An argument can be made that if Taylor holds his downfield block the play would have ended in a touchdown. But Taylor made up for it anyway with his touchdown, giving San Francisco its third Super Bowl title.