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If the 1970s belonged to the Steelers, the 1980s was certainly the decade of the 49ers. The Super Bowl XVI 26-21 win over the Bengals was the start of a San Francisco dynasty.

Ray Wersching's Super Bowl record-tying four field goals and Joe Montana's controlled passing helped lift the San Francisco 49ers to their first NFL championship with a 26-21 victory over Cincinnati.

The 49ers built a game-record 20-0 halftime lead via Montana's 1-yard touchdown run, which capped an 11-play, 68-yard drive; fullback Earl Cooper's 11-yard scoring pass from Montana, which climaxed a Super Bowl record 92-yard drive on 12 plays; and Wersching's 22- and 26-yard field goals.

The Bengals rebounded in the second half, closing the gap to 20-14 on quarterback Ken Anderson's 5-yard run and Dan Ross's 4-yard reception from Anderson, who established Super Bowl passing records for completions (25) and completion percentage (73.5 percent on 25 of 34).

Wersching added early fourth-period field goals of 40 and 23 yards to increase the 49ers' lead to 26-14.

The Bengals managed to score on an Anderson-to-Ross 3-yard pass with only 16 seconds remaining. Ross set a Super Bowl record with 11 receptions for 104 yards.

Montana, the game's most valuable player, completed 14 of 22 passes for 157 yards.

Cincinnati compiled 356 yards to San Francisco's 275, which marked the first time in Super Bowl history that the team that gained the most yards from scrimmage lost the game.

SUPER BOWL XVI MVP: Joe Montana, QB, San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers' Super Bowl era began with this 26-21 victory over Cincinnati. Most Valuable Player Joe Montana led the way by throwing a touchdown pass, scoring on a short run and directing drive after drive through the Bengals' defense.

San Francisco's first score, a 1-yard run by Montana, came after an impressive 11-play, 68-yard drive early in the first quarter. Montana then led another drive of 92 yards -- a Super Bowl record -- on 12 plays, capped off by an 11-yard TD pass to running back Earl Cooper.

The 49ers added a pair of field goals to grab a then-record 20-0 halftime lead. Cincinnati came back in the second half, and San Francisco needed a key goal-line stand late in the third quarter to maintain its advantage. Montana continued to run the finely tuned 49ers offense, setting up two more field goals on the way to the victory. Montana completed 14-of-22 passes for 157 yards.

 

Super Bowl XVI

 

SUPER BOWL XVI SCORING

 

	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
San Francisco 49ers	7	13	0	6	26
Cincinnati Bengals	0	0	7	14	21

 

1st Quarter

SF Montana 1 run (Wersching kick), 9:08

2nd Quarter

SF E. Cooper 11 pass from Montana (Wersching kick), 8:07

SF FG Wersching 22, 14:45

SF FG Wersching 26, 14:58 2nd

3rd Quarter

CIN Anderson 5 run (Breech kick), 3:35

4th Quarter

CIN Ross 4 pass from Anderson (Breech kick), 4:54

SF FG Wersching 40, 9:35

SF FG Wersching 23, 13:03

CIN Ross 3 pass from Anderson (Breech kick), 14:44

 

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS - Team Statistics

Total First Downs	20
Rushing	9
Passing	9
Penalty	2
Total Net Yardage	275
Total Offensive Plays	63
Avg. Gain per Offensive Play	4.4
Rushes	40
Yards Gained Rushing (Net)	127
Average Yards per Rush	3.2
Passes Attempted	22
Passes Completed	14
Had Intercepted	0
Tackled Attempting to Pass	1
Yards Lost Attempting to Pass	9
Yards Gained Passing (Net)	148
Punts	4
Average Distance	46.3
Punt Returns	1
Punt Return Yardage	6
Kickoff Returns	2
Kickoff Return Yardage	40
Interception Return Yardage	52
Fumbles	2
Own Fumbles Recovered	1
Opponent Fumbles Recovered	2
Penalties	8
Yards Penalized	65
Total Points Scored	26
Touchdowns	2
Rushing	1
Passing	1
Returns	0
Extra Points	2
Field Goals	4
Fields Goals Attempted	4
Safeties	0
Third-Down Efficiency	8/15
Fourth-Down Efficiency	0/0
Time of Possession	30:34

CINCINNATI BENGALS - Team Statistics

Total First Downs	24
Rushing	7
Passing	13
Penalty	4
Total Net Yardage	356
Total Offensive Plays	63
Avg. Gain per Offensive Play	5.7
Rushes	24
Yards Gained Rushing (Net)	72
Average Yards per Rush	3.0
Passes Attempted	34
Passes Completed	25
Had Intercepted	2
Tackled Attempting to Pass	5
Yards Lost Attempting to Pass	16
Yards Gained Passing (Net)	284
Punts	3
Average Distance	43.7
Punt Returns	4
Punt Return Yardage	35
Kickoff Returns	7
Kickoff Return Yardage	52
Interception Return Yardage	0
Fumbles	2
Own Fumbles Recovered	0
Opponent Fumbles Recovered	1
Penalties	8
Yards Penalized	57
Total Points Scored	21
Touchdowns	3
Rushing	1
Passing	2
Returns	0
Extra Points	3
Field Goals	0
Fields Goals Attempted	0
Safeties	0
Third-Down Efficiency	6/12
Fourth-Down Efficiency	1/2
Time of Possession	29:26

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS - Player Statistics

Passing	CP/AT	YDS	TD	INT
Montana	14/22	157	1	0
Rushing	CAR	YDS	TD	LG
Patton	17	55	0	10
E. Cooper	9	34	0	14
Montana	6	18	1	8
Ring	5	17	0	7
Davis	2	5	0	4
Clark	1	-2	0	2
Receiving	REC	YDS	TD	LG
Solomon	4	52	0	20
Clark	4	45	0	17
E.Copper	2	15	1	11t
Wilson	1	22	0	22
Young	1	14	0	14
Patton	1	6	0	6
Ring	1	3	0	3
Interceptions	INT	YDS	LG	TD
Hicks	1	27	27	0
Wright	1	25	25	0
Punting	NO	AVG	LG	BLK
Miller	4	46.3	50	0
Punt Returns	NO/FC	YDS	LG	TD
Hicks	1/0	6	6	0
Solomon	0/1	0	**	0
Kickoff Returns	NO	YDS	LG	TD
Hicks	1	23	23	0
Lawrence	1	17	17	0

CINCINNATI BENGALS - Player Statistics

Passing	CP/AT	YDS	TD	INT
Anderson	25/34	300	2	2
Rushing	CAR	YDS	TD	LG
Johnson	14	36	0	5
Alexander	5	17	0	13
Anderson	4	15	1	6
A. Griffin	1	4	0	4
Receiving	REC	YDS	TD	LG
Ross	11	104	2	16
Collinsworth	5	107	0	49
Curtis	3	42	0	21
Kreider	2	36	0	19
Johnson	2	8	0	5
Alexander	2	3	0	3
Interceptions	INT	YDS	LG	TD
None	--	--	--	--
Punting	NO	AVG	LG	BLK
McInally	3	43.7	53	0
Punt Returns	NO/FC	YDS	LG	TD
Fuller	4/0	35	17	0
Kickoff Returns	NO	YDS	LG	TD
Verser	5	52	16	0
Frazier	1	0	0	0
A. Griffin	1	0	0	0

 

January 24, 1982
Pontiac Silverdome (Pontiac, Michigan)
Attendance: 81,270

 

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