Super Bowl XVI: San Francisco 49ers 26 Cincinnati Bengals 21 - MVP 49ers QB Joe Montana
Super Bowl XVI: 49ers 26 Bengals 21 - MVP 49ers QB Joe Montana

If the 1970s belonged to the Steelers, the 1980s was certainly the decade of the 49ers. This 26-21 win over the Bengals was the start of a San Francisco dynasty, with Montana (14 of 22, 142 yards) leading the way. In addition to an 11-yard scoring strike to Earl Cooper, Montana also ran for one score in the first quarter en route to a 20-0 halftime lead. Despite a serious comeback attempt by Ken Anderson and Cincinnati, Montana and the 49ers held on for the franchise's first Super Bowl title.

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: San Francisco 49ers 26 Cincinnati Bengals 21 - MVP 49ers QB Joe Montana
Super Bowl XVI Logo

Super Bowl XVI MVP: 49ers QB Joe Montana

Super Bowl XVI MVP: 49ers QB Joe Montana
Super Bowl XVI MVP: 49ers QB Joe Montana

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 XV Scoring

Teams Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Source: NFL
San Francisco 49ers7130626
Cincinnati Bengals0071421

 

1st Quarter

49ers: Montana 1-yard TD run (Wersching PAT), 9:08

2nd Quarter

49ers: E. Cooper 11-yard TD pass from Montana (Wersching PAT), 8:07

49ers: Wersching 22-yard Field Goal, 14:45

49ers: Wersching 26-yard Field Goal, 14:58 2nd

3rd Quarter

3rd Quarter

Bengals: Anderson 5-yard TD run (Breech PAT), 3:35

4th Quarter

Bengals: Ross 4-yard TD pass from Anderson (Breech PAT), 4:54

49ers: Wersching 40-yard Field Goal, 9:35

49ers: Wersching 23-yard Field Goal, 13:03

Bengals: Ross 3-yard TD pass from Anderson (Breech PAT), 14:44

 

Super Bowl XVI: San Francisco 49ers Team Statistics

Source: NFL
Total - First Downs20
Rushing - First Downs9
Passing - First Downs9
Penalty - First Downs2
Total Net Yardage275
Total Offensive Plays63
Avg. Gain per Offensive Play4.4
Rushes40
Yards Gained Rushing (Net)127
Average Yards per Rush3.2
Passes Attempted22
Passes Completed14
Had Intercepted0
Tackled Attempting to Pass1
Yards Lost Attempting to Pass9
Yards Gained Passing (Net)148
Punts4
Average Distance46.3
Punt Returns1
Punt Return Yardage6
Kickoff Returns2
Kickoff Return Yardage40
Interception Return Yardage52
Fumbles2
Own Fumbles Recovered1
Opponent Fumbles Recovered2
Penalties8
Yards Penalized65
Total Points Scored26
Touchdowns 2
Rushing1
Passing1
Returns0
Extra Points2
Field Goals4
Fields Goals Attempted4
Safeties0
Third-Down Efficiency8/15
Fourth-Down Efficiency0/0
Time of Possession30:34

 

Super Bowl XVI: Cincinnati Bengals Team Statistics

Source: NFL
Total - First Downs24
Rushing - First Downs7
Passing - First Downs13
Penalty - First Downs4
Total Net Yardage356
Total Offensive Plays63
Avg. Gain per Offensive Play5.7
Rushes24
Yards Gained Rushing (Net)72
Average Yards per Rush3.0
Passes Attempted34
Passes Completed25
Had Intercepted2
Tackled Attempting to Pass5
Yards Lost Attempting to Pass16
Yards Gained Passing (Net)284
Punts3
Average Distance43.7
Punt Returns4
Punt Return Yardage35
Kickoff Returns7
Kickoff Return Yardage52
Interception Return Yardage0
Fumbles2
Own Fumbles Recovered0
Opponent Fumbles Recovered1
Penalties8
Yards Penalized57
Total Points Scored 21
Touchdowns3
Rushing1
Passing2
Returns0
Extra Points3
Field Goals0
Fields Goals Attempted0
Safeties0
Third-Down Efficiency6/12
Fourth-Down Efficiency1/2
Time of Possession29:26

 

Super Bowl XVI: San Francisco 49ers Player Stats

Source: NFL
PassingComp / AttYardsTDINT
Montana14/2215710
RushingCarriesYardsTDLong
Patton 1755010
E. Cooper934014
Montana61818
Ring51707
Davis2504
Clark1-202
ReceivingCatchesYardsTDLong
Solomon 452020
Clark445017
E.Copper215111t
Wilson122022
Young114014
Patton1606
Ring1303
InterceptionsINTYardsLongTD
Hicks127270
Wright125250
Punting#AVGLongBlocked
Miller446.3500
Punt Returns#/FCYardsLongTD
Hicks1/0660
Solomon0/10**0
Kickoff Returns#YardsLongTD
Hicks123230
Lawrence117170

 

Super Bowl XVI: Cincinnati Bengals Player Stats

Source: NFL
PassingComp / AttYardsTDINT
Anderson25/3430022
RushingCarriesYardsTDLong
Johnson143605
Alexander517013
Anderson41516
A. Griffin1404
ReceivingCatchesYardsTDLong
Ross11104216
Collinsworth5107049
Curtis342021
Kreider 236019
Johnson 2805
Alexander 2303
InterceptionsINTYardsLongTD
None
None--------
Punting#AVGLongBlocked
McInally343.7530
Punt Returns#/FCYardsLongTD
Fuller 4/035170
Kickoff Returns#YardsLongTD
Verser 552160
Frazier 1000
A. Griffin1000

January 24, 1982

Pontiac Silverdome (Pontiac, Michigan)

Attendance: 81,270

National Anthem: Diana Ross

Coin Toss: Bobby Layne

Halftime Show: Up with People presents "Salute to the 1960s and Motown"

Network: CBS

Announcers: Pat Summerall and John Madden

Nielsen ratings: 49.1 (est. 85.24 million viewers)

Cost of 30-second commercial: $324,000

Super Bowl XVI: San Francisco 49ers vs Cincinnati Bengals Highlights

 

Super Bowl XVI: Ticket & Championship Ring

Super Bowl XVI Championship Ring and Game Ticket

NFL Football: "Super Bowl XVI: San Francisco 49ers 26 Cincinnati Bengals 21 - MVP 49ers QB Joe Montana"

 

 

 

Super Bowl History