During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.
The only Super Bowl in which the 49ers were pushed to the brink, it turned out to be a classic that is often mentioned 21 years later. In a rematch from 7 years earlier, the was a defensive battle until the final minutes. Joe Montana sealed his legacy with the final drive with his game-winning pass and his spotting of John Candy in the final drive. Super Bowl #2 on the list after the break.
San Francisco 20, Cincinnati Bengals 16
Semi-lame Nickname: "The Drive"
Scores:
Historical Significance- 5: The 49ers beat the Bengals in Super Bowl 16. The game is most remembered for the goal line stand made by the 49ers in the 26-21 victory. Bill Walsh coached in his final game, winning his 3rd Super Bowl. The Bengals were winding down a successful decade in the NFL, but were unable to make the final step.
Game Enjoyment By the Fans- 5: As mentioned earlier, this Super Bowl is often ranked by fans and media was the tops of all-time. There was a feeling that even though Cincinnati had a superior regular season, the Niners would prevail. It was put in doubt in the 4th quarter, but Montana delivered.
High Profile Element-4: Roger Craig often does not get a lot of recognition as one of the key members to the 49ers run. Montana, Rice and then the others. In this year when the 49ers only won ten regular season games, Craig was the glue that held them together. Craig had 2,038 yards from scrimmage that year.
The Bengals had bounced back from a 4-11 record in the strike year in 1987. Boomer Esiason and coach Sam Wyche bickered openly during that year. The two put aside their differences and Boomer was named MVP during the 1988 season. The other big personality on the team was Ickey Woods, who developed his delightful Ickey shuffle during the year.
Venue/Atmosphere- 4: There was definitely a lot of buzz about this Super Bowl. Billy Joel sang the national anthem and the half-time was something called "Be Bop Bamboozled". Did I mention John Candy was there?
Personal Enjoyment- 5: Back in the days when Montana was king and I couldn't even point out San Francisco on a map, I loved watching this game. It is a sports contest that definitely sticks in my mind all these years later.
Cleet's Rating Index: 24
Where I Was: This is an interesting story. My friend from across the street, who was 8 years old like I was, stayed with our family for the big game. Why was he staying with us you ask? Because his parents were going to the game. Why were they going to the game? Because my friends Dad played football at USC and was teammates with Anthony Munoz, the Bengals Hall of Fame left tackle. So my friend was going for the Bengals and I was being a jerk by rubbing it in his face that the Niners had just come back to win the game at the end. This was despite the fact I had no affiliation to USC and he referred to Munoz as "Uncle Anthony". Kids can be so cruel.
What Happened in the World: Two days before the game George H.W. Bush was sworn in as the President. Bush for some, miniature American flags for others.
Record of Note: This was the first time a running back had over 100 yards receiving. The aforementioned Craig accomplished this.
Game MVP: Jerry Rice caught a (now-tied) record 11 balls for a record 215 yards and a touchdown.
LVP: Bengals running back Stanley Wilson decided to due some blow the night before the game, not a wise choice. He was suspended for the game.
Most Memorable Play: John Taylor, always looked at as the "other" receiver during the Niners Super Bowl run aside from Rice. He made the big catch in this game though. A play that is burned in my memory and will probably fade out my brain when I go senile somewhere between the names of family members and my social security number.
NFL Fallout: The Bengals began their transformation into the Bungles after the devastating loss. They won one playoff game between this game and present day. The Niners repeated the next year by crushing the Broncos and added another one in 1994 before becoming the perennial also rans they are now.
Sunday, February 7
Super Bowl Countdown #2: Super Bowl XXIII
Monday, February 1
Super Bowl Countdown #17: Super Bowl XXIX
During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.
Oh the days of blowout Super Bowls. The Super Bowl for the thumb for San Francisco and their last moment of supreme glory in the NFL. The Chargers came in as slight underdogs at 18.5 points. Turns out the oddsmakers were not even prepared for the cavalcade of offense the Niners would unleash in the Miami Molestation.
San Francisco 49ers 49, San Diego Chargers 26
Semi-Lame Nickname: "The California Bowl" This was the first Super Bowl that featured two teams that play in the same state. No, the Bills and Giants do not count because the Giants play in the swamps of New Jersey.
Scores:
Historical Significance- 4: Aside from the two teams being from California, they had little else in common. San Fran had constant expectations and were seeking their record 5th title, while San Diego was a surprise team and not given much of a chance.
Game Enjoyment by the Fans- 3.5: Some predicted that this could be the lowest rated Super Bowl ever, but it beat out Super Bowl 26 in viewers and ratings. While the game was a blowout, it was an offensive show put on by the 49ers that featured terrific offensive precision.
High Profile Element- 3.5: Steve Young had emerged from the shadow of Joe Montana and was the NFL MVP that season while breaking Montana's record for passer rating. Up until this game Young was labeled as the QB who "could not win the big one". Basically he was the 1990s Peyton Manning. The 49ers had lost the NFC Championship game to the Cowboys in back to back years but they returned in 1994 with free agents like Richard Dent, Ken Norton, Gary Plummer, and Primetime himself. The increase of their defense and the swagger of Deion Sanders gave the Niners the extra push they needed and perhaps Jimmy Johnson being absent helped. Once again the Niners were balanced on offense with the classic bookend WRs Taylor and Rice and running game led by Ricky Watters. Rookie William Floyd (before he dusted up the Comedy Clubs in Charlotte) proved valuable at FB and Young himself could run extremely well.
The Chargers were led by Bobby Ross (FALL ON IT) at coach and Stan Humphries at QB. Humphries was the backup to Mark Rypien and the Super Bowl 26 champion Redskins. The running game was the engine that made the team go, led by big Natrone Means and his FB Ronnie Harmon. Leslie O'Neal, Chris Mims, and Junior Seau led the defense, with Rodney Harrison a young rookie in the backfield.
Venue/Atmosphere- 2: This was the 7th Super Bowl in Miami and while I will always be down for South Florida, the atmosphere created around this game was borderline disgusting. The game was called by the old MNF crew of Michaels, Deirdorf, and Gifford. No problem there. Leslie Visser became the first woman to work the sidelines in the Super Bowl. Also good. The National Anthem was sung by...Kathy Lee Gifford, gahhhh. Hank Williams Jr. performed his Monday Night Football theme song in the pregame, meh.
Nothing topped the abysmal Halftime Show, "Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye". Was this the start of the horrid ABC/Disney cross promotion with sports? I don't know but this act was deplorable. We get this quote from the game's Wikipedia page:
"The show ended with everybody singing 'Can You Feel The Love Tonight', the song featured in Disney's (which later acquired ABC) 1994 film The Lion King."
Shame on you ABC, shame on you Disney. This sort of thing might be more common nowadays, but doing it in the early stages does not make you any less right.
Personal Enjoyment- 3.5: I honestly did not mind the game even though it was never close. Even though I was a Montana guy, it was nice to see Young get his title and Rice knife through the defense.
Cleet's Rating Index: 16.5
Where I Was: As a young man approaching the end of middle school, it was a time of transition. I was becoming a man, and like fuzzy bunny:
Simpsons - Sex Education Fuzzy Bunny Style - View more free videos
What Happened In The World: Two days after the game Bill Clinton invoked emergency powers to extend a $20 Billion loan to Mexico. I wonder how many drugs that would buy?
Record of Note: The Chargers became the first team to convert a 2-point conversion in the Super Bowl
Game MVP: Young was the obvious choice. He had 6 TDs, 325 yards passing and led all rushers with 49 yards.
LVP: Chargers secondary. No cover, no tackling.
Most Memorable Play: After the game was secure, Young proclaimed the figurative simian off his lumbar region. (3:00 in the video)
NFL Fallout: Even though Young never got back to the Super Bowl, he had more impressive seasons before being concussed out of the league. George Seifert became one of the few coaches to win multiple Super Bowls but many detract from his efforts as merely following in Bill Walsh's wake and his poor regime in Carolina as coach and GM. The Chargers flamed out after reaching the big game and that led them to the number 2 pick in 1998, where they picked Ryan Leaf, and I'm sure Charger fans don't want to talk about it, alright.
Sunday, January 31
Super Bowl Countdown #18: Super Bowl XXIV
During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.
There might be a need to call a doctor, because the game we have here is a little lopsided. In fact, the crowning achievement for the San Francisco 49ers dynasty of the 80s was never in doubt. The Broncos ran into a steamroller on this January night in the Superdome and became the first team since the Vikings to lose four Super Bowls. The only reason the Louisiana Laugher is this high in the countdown is the appreciate for the 80s dynasty.
San Francisco 49ers 55, Denver Broncos 10
Semi-Lame Nickname: I really couldn't find one, so I guess I'll go with the one I used in the opening paragraph.
Scores:
Historical Significance- 4.5: The 49ers were not only going for back-to-back titles, but their 4th of the decade. Bill Walsh had retired after the 49ers beat the Bengals the previous year and George Seifert had been hand-picked to come in and keep the train running. This would be the last time we saw the Montana-Rice combo on the grandest stage. The Broncos were in their second Super Bowl in 3 years but many were not giving Dan Reeves and John Elway a chance.
Game Enjoyment by the Fans- 2: The game was not a contest and the viewing public seemed to know it was going to happen. The game drew the lowest Neilsen rating since Super Bowl 3 in 1969.
High Profile Element- 3: Joe Cool was at the height of his skills. His years of experience and the weapons around him had them firing on all cylinders. They went 14-2 in the regular season with their losses by a combined 5 points. Rice and Taylor were still bringing their excellence at receiver, Brent Jones, Roger Craig, and Tom Rathman also highlighted the offense. The defense was stout as well, giving up the the 3rd fewest points in the league. Charles Haley, Bill Romanoski(rage!), and Matt Millen(before failsauce) held the linebacking core intact. Ronnie Lott was pretty decent in the backfield as well.
The Broncos had added some help on offense that year with Bobby Humphrey at RB and their rookie free safety Steve Atwater who would produce for years with the Broncos. Denver struggled in the regular season, with Elway throwing 18 TDs and INTs, but as the great ones do he stepped up his game in the playoffs leading them in wins over the Steelers and once again crushed the hopes and dreams of the Browns in the AFC CHampionship game.
Venue/Atmosphere- 3: This was the 7th Super Bowl in New Orleans. I've been to the city once and I will say that it is a great town to just let it fly and let loose. I was there post-hurricane so I don't know if it was that different than before but I saw it as more of a destination than a place of habitation. Aaron Neville crooned the national anthem and the halftime show was a salute to the 40th anniversary of the Peanuts cartoon. While I love the Peanuts theme Linus and Lucy, this was not one to blow the roof off the Superdome(too soon?). One thing I will say about this about the entertainment factor, this commercial rules:
Personal Enjoyment- 2: While I was a big Joe Montana fan when I was a kid, the game left a lot to be desired. The previous year the 49ers needed a dramatic comeback drive to beat the Bengals, but in this one it was over in the first quarter.
Cleet's Rating Index: 16
Where I was: I was only a 9 year-old when this game took place. Like I said I was a big Montana guy as a kid. I think this was a function of how the media was in those days. There was not the constant flow of media information there is now, so Joe was always there and I latched onto it. I did like his style and how he played of course, but to lay it out there I am no longer a 49ers fan.
What Happened In The World: 3 days after the game, the first McDonald's opened in Moscow. In post-soviet Russia, hamburgalar burgle you!
Record of Note: The 49ers scored 55 points and won by 45, both set records.
Game MVP: Joe Montana went 22 of 29 for 297 yards and 5 TDs.
LVP: John Elway went 10 of 26 for 108 yards and 2 picks.
Most Memorable Play: Pick a Montana to Rice score, there were 3.
NFL Fallout: The Broncos and Elway would not get their shot at redemption for 8 more years. Montana led the 49ers to a 14-2 record again in 1990 but they were upended by the Giants in the NFC Championship game. Montana would then undergo elbow surgery that would sideline him for 1991 and most of 1992. By then Steve Young had taken over the team and Montana was then traded to the Chiefs. 
Friday, March 6
Sometimes You Forget: When T.O. Wasn't a Punk
In the aftermath of Terrell Owens being cut from the Dallas Cowboys, we revist the moment when he became a superstar wide receiver. Watching this video really sends you into another era of the NFL. One were a young T.O. was trying to simply make a name for himself in the league, Steve Young was still slinging passes for the Niners, instant replay was not around to fix (some) blown calls, Brett Farve had not hampered his reputation, and San Francisco was a hosting a playoff game.
Some things of note in this one. Pat Summerall and John Madden had the call for FOX; this was before Summerall was ushered out and Madden became completely hurtful to the ears. When he was with Pat, I never really minded hearing John engulf his words in his own gullet. Also, enjoy small FOX on-screen This was the ending of Mike Holmgren reign in Green Bay, they had won the Super Bowl two years ago and barely lost the previous one to the Broncos. Holmgren bolted for Seattle after the next season. Brett Farve would continue to make the playoffs in Green Bay but fail to make the Super Bowl like he did with Holmgren. This season was truly the beginning of the end for Jerry Rice as he tore his ACL early even though he did play in this game and made a crucial fumble a few plays before this one in which he was ruled down but replay showed he clearly fumbled. Instant replay was not around back then, and this play was a catalyst for instituting it back into the league. Rice moved onto Oakland in 2000 after Owens shoved himself into the forefront as the alpha dog in San Fran. Rice was productive in Oakland for a few years because of the John Gruden offense and because he is Jerry Rice. Owens eventually blew up that entire team: Steve Mariucci was fired, Jeff Garcia was eventually run out of town after he took over for Young, and Rice skedaddled across the bay. I love how Mooch and the coaching staff are so adamant about the team going for 1. Coaches in general love thrusting that single finger up after a big score, I guess it is their way of calming themselves down. "I'm excited as hell, but look I'm still coaching!"
Not only did the Packers blow this playoff game but also remember the 4th and 26 in 2003 in Philadelphia.
Also of note was that Owens had several key drops in this game before he was able to hold onto the game-winner and then proceeded to cry like someone just insulted Tony Romo.
