Super Bowl XXIV
While there had, and has, been blowouts in Super Bowls other than the twenty-fourth version, the hammering the Denver Broncos took at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers had not been witnessed previously, nor has it since.
San Francisco took control of the contest from the very beginning, taking quarterly leads of 13-3, 27-3, 41-10, and the final tally of 55-10.
Right from the start, the 49ers took advantage of the Broncos' secondary's preference for "hitting" rather than "tackling" - and with it came several scores whereby the receiver had bounced off the Denver defender, including Montana's opening strike to Jerry Rice. Following an interception of John Elway to open the second half, this was demonstrated again by San Francisco, as they went straight to Jerry Rice, who again, bounced away from the would-be tackler.
Montana would outdo his previous year's performance, at least in terms of statistics, as he completed 22-of-29 pass attempts for 297 yards and 5 touchdown strikes, while also sitting out the majority of the final period, giving way to (then) back-up, Steve Young. By comparison, John Elway completed only 10 of his 26 attempts for only 108 yards and 2 interceptions, although he did score the Broncos only touchdown on a scramble in the third period.
San Francisco took control of the contest from the very beginning, taking quarterly leads of 13-3, 27-3, 41-10, and the final tally of 55-10.
Right from the start, the 49ers took advantage of the Broncos' secondary's preference for "hitting" rather than "tackling" - and with it came several scores whereby the receiver had bounced off the Denver defender, including Montana's opening strike to Jerry Rice. Following an interception of John Elway to open the second half, this was demonstrated again by San Francisco, as they went straight to Jerry Rice, who again, bounced away from the would-be tackler.
Montana would outdo his previous year's performance, at least in terms of statistics, as he completed 22-of-29 pass attempts for 297 yards and 5 touchdown strikes, while also sitting out the majority of the final period, giving way to (then) back-up, Steve Young. By comparison, John Elway completed only 10 of his 26 attempts for only 108 yards and 2 interceptions, although he did score the Broncos only touchdown on a scramble in the third period.
First |
Second |
Third |
Fourth |
Total |
|
49ers |
13 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
55 |
Broncos |
3 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
10 |
Scoring Record
First Quarter
49ers 7, Broncos 0
TD: Jerry Rice 20-yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer extra point)
49ers 7, Broncos 3
FG: David Treadwell 42-yard kick
49ers 13, Broncos 3
TD: Brent Jones 7-yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer extra point)
Second Quarter
49ers 20, Broncos 3
TD: Tom Rathman 1-yard run (Mike Cofer extra point)
49ers 27, Broncos 3
TD: Jerry Rice 38-yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer extra point)
Third Quarter
49ers 34, Broncos 3
TD: Jerry Rice 28-yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer extra point)
49ers 41, Broncos 3
TD: John Taylor 35-yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer extra point)
49ers 41, Broncos 10
TD: John Elway 3-yard run (David Treadwell extra point)
Fourth Quarter
49ers 48, Broncos 10
TD: Tom Rathman 3-yard run (Mike Cofer extra point)
49ers 55, Broncos 10
TD: Roger Craig 1-yard run (Mike Cofer extra point)
First Quarter
49ers 7, Broncos 0
TD: Jerry Rice 20-yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer extra point)
49ers 7, Broncos 3
FG: David Treadwell 42-yard kick
49ers 13, Broncos 3
TD: Brent Jones 7-yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer extra point)
Second Quarter
49ers 20, Broncos 3
TD: Tom Rathman 1-yard run (Mike Cofer extra point)
49ers 27, Broncos 3
TD: Jerry Rice 38-yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer extra point)
Third Quarter
49ers 34, Broncos 3
TD: Jerry Rice 28-yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer extra point)
49ers 41, Broncos 3
TD: John Taylor 35-yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer extra point)
49ers 41, Broncos 10
TD: John Elway 3-yard run (David Treadwell extra point)
Fourth Quarter
49ers 48, Broncos 10
TD: Tom Rathman 3-yard run (Mike Cofer extra point)
49ers 55, Broncos 10
TD: Roger Craig 1-yard run (Mike Cofer extra point)
The astroturf carpet of the Superdome
Game Facts and Stats
Date: Sunday 28th January 1990
Stadium: Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Attendance: 72,919
MVP: Joe Montana, QB, San Francisco 49ers
TV Broadcast: CBS (Pat Summerall and John Madden)
Referee: Dick Jorgensen
National Anthem: Aaron Neville
Halftime Show: Pete Fountain, Doug Kershaw, and Irma Thomas
Stadium: Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Attendance: 72,919
MVP: Joe Montana, QB, San Francisco 49ers
TV Broadcast: CBS (Pat Summerall and John Madden)
Referee: Dick Jorgensen
National Anthem: Aaron Neville
Halftime Show: Pete Fountain, Doug Kershaw, and Irma Thomas
Joe Montana (16) was the game's MVP as he went 22/29 for 297 yards and 5 TDs
49ers' WR, Jerry Rice, on his way to the end zone for one of his three scores.
Broncos' QB, John Elway, was harassed from start to finish by the underrated 49ers' defense
Other Notable Game Notes
Super Bowl XXIV was the San Francisco 49ers second consecutive Super Bowl victory, and their fourth of the 1980s. Like the Steelers the previous decade, there is little doubt that the 49ers are THE team of the 1980s.
The 55 points scored by San Francisco marked the largest total ever put up in a Super Bowl game, as well as the largest margin of victory.
Although the 49ers' drubbing of Denver is a masterclass in offensive perfection, it was ranked as the lowest of the first fifty Super Bowls. You can read more about that here.
Although 49ers' quarterback, Joe Montana, earned the MVP award, wide receiver, Jerry Rice had another great big game performance, catching 7 passes for 148 yards and 3 touchdowns. Incidentally, his three scores marked only the second time a player had scored three times in a Super Bowl (teammate, Roger Craig, score three times in Super Bowl XIX).
Incidentally, Roger Craig spent the days leading up to Super Bowl XXIV suffering from the flu, at one point, missing an entire day of practice and losing significant weight. He still played a key roll in the victory, however, carrying the ball 20 times for 68 yards and a touchdown, adding a further 34 yards off the back of 5 receptions.
Super Bowl XXIV was the San Francisco 49ers second consecutive Super Bowl victory, and their fourth of the 1980s. Like the Steelers the previous decade, there is little doubt that the 49ers are THE team of the 1980s.
The 55 points scored by San Francisco marked the largest total ever put up in a Super Bowl game, as well as the largest margin of victory.
Although the 49ers' drubbing of Denver is a masterclass in offensive perfection, it was ranked as the lowest of the first fifty Super Bowls. You can read more about that here.
Although 49ers' quarterback, Joe Montana, earned the MVP award, wide receiver, Jerry Rice had another great big game performance, catching 7 passes for 148 yards and 3 touchdowns. Incidentally, his three scores marked only the second time a player had scored three times in a Super Bowl (teammate, Roger Craig, score three times in Super Bowl XIX).
Incidentally, Roger Craig spent the days leading up to Super Bowl XXIV suffering from the flu, at one point, missing an entire day of practice and losing significant weight. He still played a key roll in the victory, however, carrying the ball 20 times for 68 yards and a touchdown, adding a further 34 yards off the back of 5 receptions.
49ers' full back, Tom Rathman, ploughs through the Denver defensive line
Former head coach, Bill Walsh, is said to have said after the opening moments of Super Bowl XXIV, "This game's over! Everyone's open!"
SUPER BOWL XXIV
The Silver Anniversary Super Bowl is perhaps best remembered for two words, "wide right!"