NFL playoffs, 1988-89
Encyclopedia
The NFL playoffs
following the 1988 NFL season
led up to Super Bowl XXIII
.
Due to Christmas
, the two wild card playoff games were held in a span of three days.
Note: As per the rules of the NFL playoffs prior to the 1990 season
(notwithstanding the strike-shortened 1982 season
), the Cincinnati Bengals (the AFC 1 seed) did not play the Houston Oilers (the 5 seed), nor did the Chicago Bears (the NFC 1 seed) play the Minnesota Vikings (the 4 seed), in the Divisional playoff round because those teams were in the same division.
's interception set up kicker Tony Zendejas
' game-clinching 49-field field goal with 1:54 left in the game. After the Browns scored first on a 33-yard field goal by Matt Bahr
, Houston marched 91 yards to score on quarterback Warren Moon
's 14-yard touchdown pass to running back Allen Pinkett
. Then on Cleveland's next drive, Oilers defensive lineman Richard Byrd
recovered quarterback Don Strock
's fumble to set up Pinkett's 16-yard touchdown run. Bahr later made two field goals to cut Houston's lead, 14-9, before halftime. In the third quarter, backup quarterback Mike Pagel
, who replaced an injured Strock, threw a 14-yard touchdown completion to wide receiver Webster Slaughter
to put the Browns ahead, 16-14. However, the Oilers marched on a 76-yard drive that was capped with running back Lorenzo White
's 1-yard rushing touchdown. After Johnson's interception and Zendejas' subsequent game-clinching 49-yard field goal, Slaughter caught a 2-yard touchdown reception to close out the scoring.
recorded two interceptions in the first quarter to set up a two touchdown lead that the Rams could never recover from. Browner's first interception led to a Minnesota 73-yard drive that was capped by running back Alfred Anderson's 7-yard rushing touchdown. Browner returned his second interception to the Los Angeles 17-yard line, where Allen Rice
took it in for a touchdown on the next play. In the second quarter, Rams quarterback Jim Everett
cut the lead in half with a 3-yard touchdown completion to tight end Damone Johnson
. But in the third quarter, Anderson scored another touchdown, this time a 1-yard run, to extend the Vikings lead, 21-7. The Rams responded with a 33-yard field goal by Mike Lansford
, but Minnesota put the game out of reach with tight end Carl Hilton's 5-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Wade Wilson. Wilson finished the game with 253 passing yards and a touchdown, while receiver Anthony Carter caught 4 passes for 102 yards.
, the Bears defeated the Eagles, 20-12, in a contest in which a heavy, dense fog rolled over Chicago's Soldier Field during the second quarter and cut visibility to about 15-20 yards for the rest of the game.
Chicago scored first with quarterback Mike Tomczak
's 64-yard touchdown pass to Dennis McKinnon
. The Eagles responded by driving to the Chicago 26-yard line, but kicker Luis Zendejas
missed a 43-yard field goal attempt. Philadelphia quickly got the ball back after linebacker Seth Joyner
intercepted a pass from Tomczak, and this time they managed to score with Zendejas' 42-yard field goal, but only after committing two costly mistakes: twice on the drive Philadelphia had touchdowns nullified by penalties. The Bears then drove to the Eagles 33-yard line on their ensuing drive, but it stalled and kicker Kevin Butler
missed a 51-yard field goal attempt, giving the ball back to Philadelphia with great field position. Cunningham then led the Eagles inside Chicago's 20-yard line where Zendejas kicked a 29-yard field goal to cut the team's deficit to one point, 7–6.
Two possessions later, the Bears drove 44 yards and scored with Neal Anderson
's 4-yard touchdown run to give them a 14–6 lead. Both teams scored another field goal before halftime, and they went into their locker rooms with Chicago leading 17–9. By the time the second half began, the heavy fog made it extremely difficult for the teams to move the ball. Each team could only score a short field goal in the second half.
Eagles quarterback Randall Cunningham
finished the game with 407 passing yards, but was unable to lead his team to a single touchdown and was intercepted 3 times. Other than a 64-yard touchdown pass, Tomczak was dominated the rest of the game by the Eagles defense, completing only 10 of 20 passes for 174 yards with 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions. McKinnon finished the game with 4 receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown. Eagles fullback Keith Byars
rushed for 34 yards and caught 9 passes for 103 yards. Tight end Keith Jackson caught 7 passes for 142 yards.
, the NFL's top rated quarterback and MVP during the season, limiting him to just 7 of 19 completions for 108 yards. But they were unable to contain Cincinnati on the ground. The Bengals recorded 254 rushing yards (126 of them and a touchdown from fullback Ickey Woods
, a franchise postseason record), while holding the Seahawks to 22.
Cincinnati jumped to a 21–0 halftime lead with Woods' score and two from running back Stanley Wilson. Meanwhile, the Seahawks could only manage 47 total yards in the first half. But after a scoreless third quarter, Seattle attempted a comeback. First, quarterback Dave Krieg
threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to John L. Williams
, who finished the game with 11 receptions for 137 yards. Then Krieg scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak. However, Norm Johnson
missed the extra point attempt and the Seattle was unable to score again.
's 1-yard touchdown. Houston responded by driving 71 yards and scoring with a 35-yard field goal from Tony Zendejas
. In the third quarter, Bills rookie running back Thurman Thomas scored on an 11-yard rushing touchdown. Then in the fourth period, Buffalo defensive back Mark Kelso
intercepted a pass from Warren Moon
and returned it 28 yards to the Oilers 18-yard line, setting up kicker Scott Norwood
's 27-yard field goal to increase their lead to 17–3.
With just over 5 minutes left in the game, Oilers running back Mike Rozier
capped an 80-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, making the score 17–10. The Oilers subsequently forced a punt with two minutes remaining, but Steve Tasker
forced a fumble while tackling wide receiver Curtis Duncan
, and linebacker Ray Bentley recovered the ball, allowing Buffalo to run out the rest of the clock.
threw three touchdowns to wide receiver Jerry Rice
, while running back Roger Craig rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns and defensive back Ronnie Lott
added two interceptions. After Minnesota scored first on a field goal, Montana and Rice connected for first half scores from 2, 4, and 11 yards. Meanwhile, the San Francisco defense recorded 5 sacks before halftime. The Vikings finally scored a touchdown in the third quarter with quarterback Wade Wilson's 5-yard pass to wide receiver Hassan Jones
. But Minnesota was shut out from that point on as Craig scored on a 4-yard touchdown run, and an NFL playoff record 80-yard touchdown run.
completed only 14 of 30 passes for 161 yards and 1 touchdown, with 3 interceptions. Just like their previous game, the Bengals did not get much of a performance from NFL MVP Boomer Esiason
, who completed only 11 of 20 passes for 94 yards, with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. But once again, their running game was able to pick up the slack, gaining 175 yards on the ground, 102 yards and 2 touchdowns coming from fullback Ickey Woods
.
Cincinnati took a 7–0 lead in the first quarter after defensive back Eric Thomas' interception set up Woods' 1-yard touchdown. Kelly led the Bills back with 4 consecutive completions, the last one a 9-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Andre Reed
. Then after forcing a punt, Buffalo drove to the Bengals 26-yard line, only to have Scott Norwood
miss a 43-yard field goal attempt. Following another punt, Kelly was intercepted again, this time by defensive back Lewis Billups
, and the Bengals capitalized with running back James Brooks' 10-yard touchdown reception from Esiason. Later on, Bills defensive back Mark Kelso
intercepted a pass from Esiason and returned it 25 yards, setting up a 39-yard field goal by Norwood to cut the Bills deficit to 14–10 by halftime.
The Bengals took over the game in the second half, forcing Buffalo to start all of their drives from inside their own 23-yard line and holding them to 53 yards, 2 first downs, and 0 points. Late in the third quarter, Bengals running back Stanley Wilson ran 6 yards for a first down on a fake punt attempt, and Cincinnati drove to score on Woods' second touchdown of the game, increasing their lead to 21–10. The Bills responded with a drive into Bengals territory, but safety David Fulcher
picked off a desperate fourth down pass from Kelly in the end zone.
to just 121 passing yards with no touchdowns and 1 interception. San Francisco quarterback Joe Montana
threw for 288 yards and three touchdowns, the first two to wide receiver Jerry Rice
. Late in the first quarter, The 49ers faced a 3rd and long from their own 39 yard line. Despite the high winds, Montana was able to whistle a long pass in to Rice, who, despite double coverage from Bears defenders Mike Richardson and Todd Krumm, was able to catch the pass and outrun both defenders to score a 61-yard Touchdown. Rice would score his second touchdown midway through the second quarter, a 27-yard reception in which he caught a low slant pass from Montana in stride and scored untouched. In the third quarter, the 49ers marched 78 yards to score on tight end John Frank
's 5-yard touchdown reception from Montana. San Francisco's final score was running back Tom Rathman
's 4-yard rushing touchdown. Rice finished the game with 5 receptions for 133 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Bears' lone score was Kevin Butler
's 25-yard field goal in the second period.
NFL playoffs
The National Football League playoffs are a single-elimination tournament held at the end of the regular season to determine the NFL champion. Six teams from each of the league's two conferences qualify for the playoffs based on regular season records, and a tie-breaking procedure exists in the...
following the 1988 NFL season
1988 NFL season
The 1988 NFL season was the 69th regular season of the National Football League. The Cardinals relocated from St. Louis, Missouri to the Phoenix, Arizona area becoming the Phoenix Cardinals but remained in the NFC East division....
led up to Super Bowl XXIII
Super Bowl XXIII
Super Bowl XXIII was an American football game played on January 22, 1989 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1988 regular season. This was the first Super Bowl hosted in the Miami area in 10 years, and the first in Miami not held...
.
Due to Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
, the two wild card playoff games were held in a span of three days.
Note: As per the rules of the NFL playoffs prior to the 1990 season
1990 NFL season
The 1990 NFL season was the 71st regular season of the National Football League. To increase revenue, the league changed the regular season so that all NFL teams would play their 16-game schedule over a 17-week period...
(notwithstanding the strike-shortened 1982 season
1982 NFL season
The 1982 NFL season was the 63rd regular season of the National Football League. A 57-day long players' strike reduced the 1982 season from a 16-game schedule per team to an abbreviated nine game schedule...
), the Cincinnati Bengals (the AFC 1 seed) did not play the Houston Oilers (the 5 seed), nor did the Chicago Bears (the NFC 1 seed) play the Minnesota Vikings (the 4 seed), in the Divisional playoff round because those teams were in the same division.
AFC: Houston Oilers 24, Cleveland Browns 23
Oilers cornerback Richard JohnsonRichard Johnson (defensive back)
Richard James Johnson is a former American football cornerback who played eight seasons in the National Football League for the Houston Oilers. All-American and All-Big Ten cornerback in 1984 while at the University of Wisconsin-External links:*...
's interception set up kicker Tony Zendejas
Tony Zendejas
Tony Zendejas is a retired Mexican professional athlete. He was a placekicker in American football, playing for the Los Angeles Express, Houston Oilers, the Los Angeles Rams, the Atlanta Falcons and the San Francisco 49ers.-Early life:...
' game-clinching 49-field field goal with 1:54 left in the game. After the Browns scored first on a 33-yard field goal by Matt Bahr
Matt Bahr
Matthew David Bahr is a former professional American football placekicker in the National Football League. He attended Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, Pennsylvania where he excelled in both football and soccer...
, Houston marched 91 yards to score on quarterback Warren Moon
Warren Moon
Harold Warren Moon is a former American professional gridiron football quarterback who played for the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos and the National Football League's Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs...
's 14-yard touchdown pass to running back Allen Pinkett
Allen Pinkett
Allen Pinkett is a former professional American football player who played running back for six seasons for the Houston Oilers. He grew up in the Sterling, Virginia area and attended Park View High School there in the early 1980s.-Playing career:Pinkett was a two-time All-American at Notre Dame...
. Then on Cleveland's next drive, Oilers defensive lineman Richard Byrd
Richard Byrd (American football)
Richard Ellen Byrd is a former professional American football defensive lineman in the National Football League, who played five seasons for the Houston Oilers ....
recovered quarterback Don Strock
Don Strock
Don Strock is a former professional football player who was the head coach of the Florida International University football team from 2002–2006.-College:Strock played college football at Virginia Tech, and graduated in 1973...
's fumble to set up Pinkett's 16-yard touchdown run. Bahr later made two field goals to cut Houston's lead, 14-9, before halftime. In the third quarter, backup quarterback Mike Pagel
Mike Pagel
Mike John Pagel , was a former professional American football player who was selected by the Baltimore Colts in the 4th round of the 1982 NFL Draft. A 6'2", . quarterback from Arizona State, Pagel played in 12 NFL seasons from 1982-1993...
, who replaced an injured Strock, threw a 14-yard touchdown completion to wide receiver Webster Slaughter
Webster Slaughter
Webster Melvin Slaughter is a former American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League from 1986 to 1998....
to put the Browns ahead, 16-14. However, the Oilers marched on a 76-yard drive that was capped with running back Lorenzo White
Lorenzo White
Lorenzo Maurice White , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 1st round of the 1988 NFL Draft. He attended Dillard High School in Ft. Lauderdale in Florida. A 5 ft 11 in running back from Michigan State University, White played in 8...
's 1-yard rushing touchdown. After Johnson's interception and Zendejas' subsequent game-clinching 49-yard field goal, Slaughter caught a 2-yard touchdown reception to close out the scoring.
NFC: Minnesota Vikings 28, Los Angeles Rams 17
Vikings safety Joey BrownerJoey Browner
Joey Matthew Browner is a former American football strong safety for the Minnesota Vikings from 1983 until 1991.-Professional career:...
recorded two interceptions in the first quarter to set up a two touchdown lead that the Rams could never recover from. Browner's first interception led to a Minnesota 73-yard drive that was capped by running back Alfred Anderson's 7-yard rushing touchdown. Browner returned his second interception to the Los Angeles 17-yard line, where Allen Rice
Allen Rice
Allen Troy Rice is a former professional American football player who played running back for eight seasons for the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers....
took it in for a touchdown on the next play. In the second quarter, Rams quarterback Jim Everett
Jim Everett
James Samuel Everett III is a retired professional American football quarterback who played for twelve seasons in the National Football League ....
cut the lead in half with a 3-yard touchdown completion to tight end Damone Johnson
Damone Johnson
Damone Johnson is a former professional American football tight end in the National Football League. He played seven seasons for the Los Angeles Rams....
. But in the third quarter, Anderson scored another touchdown, this time a 1-yard run, to extend the Vikings lead, 21-7. The Rams responded with a 33-yard field goal by Mike Lansford
Mike Lansford
Mike Lansford is a former National Football League placekicker from 1982-1990 for the Los Angeles Rams. In 1989, he led the league with 51 extra points. He is one of seven barefooted kickers in NFL history...
, but Minnesota put the game out of reach with tight end Carl Hilton's 5-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Wade Wilson. Wilson finished the game with 253 passing yards and a touchdown, while receiver Anthony Carter caught 4 passes for 102 yards.
NFC: Chicago Bears 20, Philadelphia Eagles 12
In a game known as The Fog BowlFog Bowl (American football)
In American football, the Fog Bowl was the name given to the December 31, 1988 National Football League playoff game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Chicago Bears. A heavy, dense fog rolled over Chicago's Soldier Field during the 2nd quarter, cutting visibility to about 10-20 yards for the...
, the Bears defeated the Eagles, 20-12, in a contest in which a heavy, dense fog rolled over Chicago's Soldier Field during the second quarter and cut visibility to about 15-20 yards for the rest of the game.
Chicago scored first with quarterback Mike Tomczak
Mike Tomczak
Michael John "Mike" Tomczak is a former American football player. Tomczak played quarterback for several NFL teams including the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers....
's 64-yard touchdown pass to Dennis McKinnon
Dennis McKinnon
Dennis Lewis McKinnon is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears and the Dallas Cowboys....
. The Eagles responded by driving to the Chicago 26-yard line, but kicker Luis Zendejas
Luis Zendejas
Luis Fernando Zendejas is a Mexican former placekicker in American football. He played college football for Arizona State University, and was the all-time career leading scorer in the NCAA when he left Arizona State...
missed a 43-yard field goal attempt. Philadelphia quickly got the ball back after linebacker Seth Joyner
Seth Joyner
Seth Joyner is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos. Joyner graduated from Spring Valley High School.-Professional career:Joyner was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the...
intercepted a pass from Tomczak, and this time they managed to score with Zendejas' 42-yard field goal, but only after committing two costly mistakes: twice on the drive Philadelphia had touchdowns nullified by penalties. The Bears then drove to the Eagles 33-yard line on their ensuing drive, but it stalled and kicker Kevin Butler
Kevin Butler (American football)
Kevin Gregory Butler is a former professional American football placekicker. He played college football for the University of Georgia Bulldogs, and then played professionally for the Chicago Bears and the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League...
missed a 51-yard field goal attempt, giving the ball back to Philadelphia with great field position. Cunningham then led the Eagles inside Chicago's 20-yard line where Zendejas kicked a 29-yard field goal to cut the team's deficit to one point, 7–6.
Two possessions later, the Bears drove 44 yards and scored with Neal Anderson
Neal Anderson
Charles Neal Anderson is a former American college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League for eight seasons in the 1980s and 1990s...
's 4-yard touchdown run to give them a 14–6 lead. Both teams scored another field goal before halftime, and they went into their locker rooms with Chicago leading 17–9. By the time the second half began, the heavy fog made it extremely difficult for the teams to move the ball. Each team could only score a short field goal in the second half.
Eagles quarterback Randall Cunningham
Randall Cunningham
Randall W. Cunningham is a former American football quarterback.After playing college football at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he was selected in the second round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he remained through the 1995 season...
finished the game with 407 passing yards, but was unable to lead his team to a single touchdown and was intercepted 3 times. Other than a 64-yard touchdown pass, Tomczak was dominated the rest of the game by the Eagles defense, completing only 10 of 20 passes for 174 yards with 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions. McKinnon finished the game with 4 receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown. Eagles fullback Keith Byars
Keith Byars
Keith Alan Byars is an American sports broadcaster and former American football player in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and New York Jets.-Early life:...
rushed for 34 yards and caught 9 passes for 103 yards. Tight end Keith Jackson caught 7 passes for 142 yards.
AFC: Cincinnati Bengals 21, Seattle Seahawks 13
Seattle's defense completely shut down Bengals quarterback Boomer EsiasonBoomer Esiason
Norman Julius "Boomer" Esiason is a former American football quarterback and current network color commentator. He played for the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals before working as an analyst for ABC and HBO...
, the NFL's top rated quarterback and MVP during the season, limiting him to just 7 of 19 completions for 108 yards. But they were unable to contain Cincinnati on the ground. The Bengals recorded 254 rushing yards (126 of them and a touchdown from fullback Ickey Woods
Ickey Woods
Elbert L. "Ickey" Woods is a former American football fullback who played his entire NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals. He played college football at UNLV...
, a franchise postseason record), while holding the Seahawks to 22.
Cincinnati jumped to a 21–0 halftime lead with Woods' score and two from running back Stanley Wilson. Meanwhile, the Seahawks could only manage 47 total yards in the first half. But after a scoreless third quarter, Seattle attempted a comeback. First, quarterback Dave Krieg
Dave Krieg
David Michael Krieg is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. He attended Milton College and made the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent...
threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to John L. Williams
John L. Williams
John L. Williams is a former American college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League for ten seasons during the 1980s and 1990s...
, who finished the game with 11 receptions for 137 yards. Then Krieg scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak. However, Norm Johnson
Norm Johnson
Norman Douglas "Norm" Johnson is a former professional American football placekicker who played for 18 seasons in the National Football League. During that time, he played for the Seattle Seahawks , Atlanta Falcons , Pittsburgh Steelers , and the Philadelphia Eagles...
missed the extra point attempt and the Seattle was unable to score again.
AFC: Buffalo Bills 17, Houston Oilers 10
The Bills dominated the Oilers throughout most of the game, blocking a punt, converting a turnover into the game-clinching field goal, and forcing a turnover on Houston's final drive to defeat a comeback attempt. After a scoreless first quarter, Buffalo safety Leonard Smith blocked a punt to set up running back Robb RiddickRobb Riddick
Robbert Lee Riddick was an American football running back in the NFL who played for the Buffalo Bills. He played college football at Millersville University....
's 1-yard touchdown. Houston responded by driving 71 yards and scoring with a 35-yard field goal from Tony Zendejas
Tony Zendejas
Tony Zendejas is a retired Mexican professional athlete. He was a placekicker in American football, playing for the Los Angeles Express, Houston Oilers, the Los Angeles Rams, the Atlanta Falcons and the San Francisco 49ers.-Early life:...
. In the third quarter, Bills rookie running back Thurman Thomas scored on an 11-yard rushing touchdown. Then in the fourth period, Buffalo defensive back Mark Kelso
Mark Kelso
Mark Alan Kelso is a former American football player who was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the tenth round of the 1985 NFL Draft. A 5'11", 177 lbs. safety from North Hills High School and the College of William & Mary, Kelso played in eight NFL seasons and his entire career with the...
intercepted a pass from Warren Moon
Warren Moon
Harold Warren Moon is a former American professional gridiron football quarterback who played for the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos and the National Football League's Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs...
and returned it 28 yards to the Oilers 18-yard line, setting up kicker Scott Norwood
Scott Norwood
Scott Allan Norwood is a former American football placekicker in the NFL who played for the Buffalo Bills. Norwood was an integral part of its offense during the late 1980s and early 1990s, and kicked in Buffalo's first two Super Bowl appearances...
's 27-yard field goal to increase their lead to 17–3.
With just over 5 minutes left in the game, Oilers running back Mike Rozier
Mike Rozier
Michael Rozier is a former American collegiate and professional football running back who won the Heisman Trophy in 1983. He was born in Camden, New Jersey. Mike and his wife, Rochelle, an attorney, reside in South Jersey and together they have one son. Mike has two other children who reside in...
capped an 80-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, making the score 17–10. The Oilers subsequently forced a punt with two minutes remaining, but Steve Tasker
Steve Tasker
Steven Jay Tasker is a broadcaster for CBS Sports, who previously was a wide receiver/gunner in the National Football League. He was drafted in the ninth round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers. He played college football at Northwestern...
forced a fumble while tackling wide receiver Curtis Duncan
Curtis Duncan
Curtis Everett Duncan , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 10th round of the 1987 NFL Draft.A 5'11", 184-lb...
, and linebacker Ray Bentley recovered the ball, allowing Buffalo to run out the rest of the clock.
NFC: San Francisco 49ers 34, Minnesota Vikings 9
San Francisco quarterback Joe MontanaJoe Montana
Joseph Clifford "Joe" Montana, Jr. , nicknamed Joe Cool, Golden Joe, The Golden Great and Comeback Joe, is a retired American football player. Montana started his NFL career in 1979 with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played quarterback for the next 14 seasons...
threw three touchdowns to wide receiver Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice
Jerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
, while running back Roger Craig rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns and defensive back Ronnie Lott
Ronnie Lott
Ronald Mandel "Ronnie" Lott is a former American football player who starred as a cornerback, free safety, and strong safety in college football and the NFL. He is most well known for his crushing hits on opposing players...
added two interceptions. After Minnesota scored first on a field goal, Montana and Rice connected for first half scores from 2, 4, and 11 yards. Meanwhile, the San Francisco defense recorded 5 sacks before halftime. The Vikings finally scored a touchdown in the third quarter with quarterback Wade Wilson's 5-yard pass to wide receiver Hassan Jones
Hassan Jones
Hassan Ameer Jones , he played for the Clearwater High School Tornadoes, and is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the 5th round of the 1986 NFL Draft . A 6'0", 195-lb. wide receiver from Florida State, Jones played in 8 NFL seasons from 1986...
. But Minnesota was shut out from that point on as Craig scored on a 4-yard touchdown run, and an NFL playoff record 80-yard touchdown run.
AFC Championship: Cincinnati Bengals 21, Buffalo Bills 10
The Bengals forced 3 interceptions, and allowed only 45 rushing yards and 136 passing yards, while their offense held the ball for 39:29. Bills starting running back Thurman Thomas was held to just 6 yards on 4 carries, while quarterback Jim KellyJim Kelly
James Edward Kelly is a former American football quarterback in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills and the USFL's Houston Gamblers....
completed only 14 of 30 passes for 161 yards and 1 touchdown, with 3 interceptions. Just like their previous game, the Bengals did not get much of a performance from NFL MVP Boomer Esiason
Boomer Esiason
Norman Julius "Boomer" Esiason is a former American football quarterback and current network color commentator. He played for the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals before working as an analyst for ABC and HBO...
, who completed only 11 of 20 passes for 94 yards, with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. But once again, their running game was able to pick up the slack, gaining 175 yards on the ground, 102 yards and 2 touchdowns coming from fullback Ickey Woods
Ickey Woods
Elbert L. "Ickey" Woods is a former American football fullback who played his entire NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals. He played college football at UNLV...
.
Cincinnati took a 7–0 lead in the first quarter after defensive back Eric Thomas' interception set up Woods' 1-yard touchdown. Kelly led the Bills back with 4 consecutive completions, the last one a 9-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Andre Reed
Andre Reed
Andre Darnell Reed is a former professional American football player. He played wide receiver in the National Football League for 16 seasons, 15 with the Buffalo Bills and one with the Washington Redskins .Reed ranks tenth in NFL history in total career receptions with 951.-Football career:Reed...
. Then after forcing a punt, Buffalo drove to the Bengals 26-yard line, only to have Scott Norwood
Scott Norwood
Scott Allan Norwood is a former American football placekicker in the NFL who played for the Buffalo Bills. Norwood was an integral part of its offense during the late 1980s and early 1990s, and kicked in Buffalo's first two Super Bowl appearances...
miss a 43-yard field goal attempt. Following another punt, Kelly was intercepted again, this time by defensive back Lewis Billups
Lewis Billups
Lewis Billups was a former American football cornerback who played seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers in the National Football League, recording 9 interceptions and 8 fumble recoveries...
, and the Bengals capitalized with running back James Brooks' 10-yard touchdown reception from Esiason. Later on, Bills defensive back Mark Kelso
Mark Kelso
Mark Alan Kelso is a former American football player who was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the tenth round of the 1985 NFL Draft. A 5'11", 177 lbs. safety from North Hills High School and the College of William & Mary, Kelso played in eight NFL seasons and his entire career with the...
intercepted a pass from Esiason and returned it 25 yards, setting up a 39-yard field goal by Norwood to cut the Bills deficit to 14–10 by halftime.
The Bengals took over the game in the second half, forcing Buffalo to start all of their drives from inside their own 23-yard line and holding them to 53 yards, 2 first downs, and 0 points. Late in the third quarter, Bengals running back Stanley Wilson ran 6 yards for a first down on a fake punt attempt, and Cincinnati drove to score on Woods' second touchdown of the game, increasing their lead to 21–10. The Bills responded with a drive into Bengals territory, but safety David Fulcher
David Fulcher
David Dwayne Fulcher is a former American Football safety who played for the Cincinnati Bengals , and the Los Angeles Raiders in the National Football League...
picked off a desperate fourth down pass from Kelly in the end zone.
NFC Championship: San Francisco 49ers 28, Chicago Bears 3
Despite playing in a game-time temperature of 17°F, a wind chill of -26°F, and wind gusts up to 30 MPH, the 49ers scored a touchdown in every quarter and gained 406 total yards of offense while limiting Chicago quarterback Jim McMahonJim McMahon
James Robert "Jim" McMahon, Jr. is a former American football player. He played college football at Brigham Young University, where he was a two-time All-American and later in the professional ranks with the Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona...
to just 121 passing yards with no touchdowns and 1 interception. San Francisco quarterback Joe Montana
Joe Montana
Joseph Clifford "Joe" Montana, Jr. , nicknamed Joe Cool, Golden Joe, The Golden Great and Comeback Joe, is a retired American football player. Montana started his NFL career in 1979 with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played quarterback for the next 14 seasons...
threw for 288 yards and three touchdowns, the first two to wide receiver Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice
Jerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
. Late in the first quarter, The 49ers faced a 3rd and long from their own 39 yard line. Despite the high winds, Montana was able to whistle a long pass in to Rice, who, despite double coverage from Bears defenders Mike Richardson and Todd Krumm, was able to catch the pass and outrun both defenders to score a 61-yard Touchdown. Rice would score his second touchdown midway through the second quarter, a 27-yard reception in which he caught a low slant pass from Montana in stride and scored untouched. In the third quarter, the 49ers marched 78 yards to score on tight end John Frank
John Frank
John G. Frank was an American football player who played tight end in the NFL from 1984 to 1988 and earned two Super Bowl rings.-High school & college:He attended Mt...
's 5-yard touchdown reception from Montana. San Francisco's final score was running back Tom Rathman
Tom Rathman
Thomas Dean Rathman is a former American football fullback who played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders . He is currently the running backs coach for the 49ers.-High school:...
's 4-yard rushing touchdown. Rice finished the game with 5 receptions for 133 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Bears' lone score was Kevin Butler
Kevin Butler (American football)
Kevin Gregory Butler is a former professional American football placekicker. He played college football for the University of Georgia Bulldogs, and then played professionally for the Chicago Bears and the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League...
's 25-yard field goal in the second period.