>> DO YOU WANT THE HEAVY FAVORITE, THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ers, GOING FOR THEIR THIRD SUPER BOWL WIN IN THIS DECADE, OR THE UNDERDOGS BY 7 POINTS, THE CINCINNATI BENGALS, TRYING TO CELEBRATE THEIR 200th YEAR AS AN AMERICAN CITY WITH THEIR FIRST SUPER BOWL WIN? JOHN TAYLOR AND DEL RODGERS WILL RETURN FOR SAN FRANCISCO. TAYLOR IS THE DANGEROUS MAN OF THE TWO. HE TOOK TWO PUNTS BACK FOR TOUCHDOWNS DURING THE REGULAR SEASON. JOHNSON SAYS HE'S READY. AND THIS SUPER BOWL XXIII IS UNDER WAY. IT'S A SHORT SPINNER. TO THE 16-YARD LINE. TAKEN BY HARRY SYDNEY. AND SYDNEY, AN UP BACK, IS ROLLED OUT OF BOUNDS AT THE 27. AND HERE COMES THE 49er OFFENSE, LED BY JOE MONTANA, WHO WAS BENCHED FOR A COUPLE GAMES DURING THE COURSE OF THE REGULAR YEAR. BUT WHAT A SUPER BOWL PLAYER HE'S BEEN -- MVP BOTH PREVIOUS TRIPS. HE LOVES TO THROW ON FIRST DOWN. A REVERSE TO RICE! AND HE'S HIT AT THE 32-YARD LINE. A GAIN OF ABOUT 5 OR 6. REGGIE WILLIAMS, THE VETERAN LINEBACKER, STAYED AT HOME FOR THE TACKLE. SO BILL WALSH, INNOVATIVE, AT TIMES CALLED A COACHING GENIUS, COMES OUT WITH A REVERSE ON THE FIRST PLAY. >> TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AN OVEREAGER AND VERY EMOTIONAL TEAM. THE BENGALS -- TREMENDOUS EMOTION AS THEY WERE INTRODUCED JUST BEFORE THIS GAME. >> ROGER CRAIG. A GAIN OF ONLY 1, AS HE'S SWARMED. THE BENGAL DEFENSE LED BY JASON BUCK, NUMBER 99. WELL, YOU SAW THE MENTOR. AND HERE'S ONE OF HIS PRIZE PUPILS, SAM WYCHE. WYCHE, 44 YEARS OF AGE. WAS ASKED BY BILL WALSH TO COME OUT OF RETIREMENT, COACHING RETIREMENT -- HE WAS DOWN IN SOUTH CAROLINA RUNNING SOME SPORTING-GOODS STORES -- TO BE HIS ASSISTANT COACH WITH SAN FRANCISCO AND WAS ON THE SIDELINES WHEN THE 49ers BEAT CINCINNATI SOME EIGHT YEARS AGO -- SIX YEARS AGO. MIKE WILSON, NUMBER 85, IN THE GAME. THREE WIDE RECEIVERS. ON THIRD AND 4. CRAIG WITH A FINE CATCH! AND A FIRST DOWN AT THE 42-YARD LINE. BARNEY BUSSEY, AN EXTRA DEFENSIVE BACK, MADE THE TACKLE. AND THERE'S AN INJURY ON THE PLAY. ONE OF THE BIG OFFENSIVE LINEMEN, STEVE WALLACE, NUMBER 74. >> BUBBA PARIS ONTO THE FIELD IN THAT LEFT-TACKLE POSITION NOW. >> BUBBA PARIS. GIANT TACKLE. 6'6" AND AROUND 320. FIRST-DOWN PLAY. AND MONTANA GOES DOWN! DAVID FULCHER, NUMBER 33, THE PRO BOWL SAFETY. HIS NAME MAY BE DAVID, BUT HE'S PLAYED LIKE GOLIATH. >> ONE OF THE PLAYERS WE'LL HAVE OUR CAMERAS ON ALL AFTERNOON. FULCHER MORE OF A LINEBACKER MASQUERADING AS SAFETY THAN TRUE STRONG SAFETY. VERY QUICK AS HE EXPLODES IN THERE. NO ONE EVEN TOUCHED HIM. AND, OF COURSE, HE'S COMING OVER THE TOP OF BUBBA PARIS. YOU SEE AN INJURY, AND THEY GO RIGHT TO THAT SIDE OF THE FIELD WITH THE BLITZ. >> MONTANA BARELY TOUCHED. BUT IN ORDER TO ELUDE A ROUGH HIT FROM FULCHER, HE HAD TO GET DOWN. THE FIRST SACK OF THE GAME. AND HERE COMES CRAIG ON A SWEEP. GREAT BLOCKING. AND OUT OF BOUNDS HE GOES AT THE 42. REGGIE WILLIAMS MADE THE TACKLE. THE FIRST REPORT FROM THE 49ers' SIDELINES -- STEVE WALLACE, SPRAINED ANKLE. >> DICK, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE FROM THIS CINCINNATI FRONT TODAY IS EXCELLENT TACKLING. THEY ARE NOT A BIG FRONT SEVEN. AND THEIR LINEBACKERS IN PARTICULAR HAVE MISSED A LOT OF TACKLES DURING THE SEASON. THEY NEED TO PERFORM ADMIRABLY ABOVE THEIR NORM IF THEY'RE GONNA WIN HERE TODAY. >> SIX DEFENSIVE BACKS FOR CINCINNATI ON THIRD AND 10. AND A MIX-UP, AS MONTANA HAD TROUBLE TAKING THE SNAP FROM CENTER. AND BILL WALSH'S TEAM DOES NOT START WELL. AND LEO BARKER, 53, AND JESSE SAPOLU, 61, TALKING MORE THAN ABOUT THEIR VACATION PLANS. >> THAT LAST PLAY. MONTANA PULLING OUT EARLY FROM UNDER THE CENTER, RANDY CROSS. BOY, THEY'RE LUCKY THEY GOT THAT FOOTBALL BACK. >> NOW THE PUNT BY BARRY HELTON. END OVER END AND SHORT. THAT BALL ALMOST TOUCHED A BENGAL IN THE BACK OF THE LEGS AND, OF COURSE, WOULD HAVE BEEN LIVE FOR SAN FRANCISCO. OUT OF BOUNDS AT THE 26. IT'LL BE CINCINNATI AND BOOMER ESIASON STARTING FROM THE 26-YARD LINE. THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE'S MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AT QUARTERBACK -- NUMBER 7, BOOMER ESIASON. THAT'S RODNEY HOLMAN, THE TIGHT END, IN MOTION. ESIASON. TO EDDIE BROWN. FIRST DOWN AT THE 43-YARD LINE. 17 ON THE PICKUP. ESIASON, WITH THE TALK OF CINCINNATI -- ICKEY WOODS AND HIS TOUCHDOWN SHUFFLE. JAMES BROOKS -- HE IS ONE THAT THE 49ers ARE CONCERNED ABOUT. TIM McGEE AND EDDIE BROWN, THE WIDE RECEIVERS, AND RODNEY HOLMAN AT TIGHT END. BIG LINE -- MUÑOZ, REIMERS, KOZERSKI, MONTOYA, AND BLADOS. THEY AVERAGE AROUND 290. THAT'S BROWN IN MOTION. AND ICKEY WOODS' FIRST CARRY. AND WOODS GAINS ABOUT 8 YARDS TO MIDFIELD. VETERAN KEENA TURNER, 58, MADE THE TACKLE, ALONG WITH RONNIE LOTT. THERE'S TURNER, WHO PLAYED AT PURDUE. >> QUICK LOOK AT ICKEY WOODS' FIRST OPPORTUNITY IN THE GAME. AND HE DID HERE WHAT HE DID SO EFFECTIVELY IN THE TWO OTHER PLAYOFF GAMES. PICKED UP FINE, FINE YARDAGE ON THE CUTBACK. >> LOOK AT 65, MONTOYA, THAT RIGHT GUARD. HE'S THE ONE WHO THROWS THE KEY BLOCK. AND THEN WOODS CUTS IN BEHIND IT. SECOND AND 2. BROOKS ON A REVERSE. IT DOESN'T FOOL JEFF FULLER. NO GAIN. FULLER -- THE STRONG SAFETY, NUMBER 49 -- A BIG PLAY. DEFENSIVELY, THE 49ers JOINING FULLER... AND WE'LL GIVE YOU THAT DEFENSIVE LINEUP IN JUST A MOMENT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THROWS US OFF RHYTHM IS THAT QUICK HUDDLE OF CINCINNATI'S. AND THAT'S WHY SOMETIMES WE MAY BE A LITTLE SLOW IN GETTING TO A REPLAY OR GIVING YOU INFORMATION -- BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO GET TRAPPED BY THAT QUICK HUDDLE, THAT ATTACK HUDDLE OF CINCINNATI. HERE'S THE FIRST EXAMPLE. >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE KEEPING AN EYE ON TODAY -- WOULD GORDON WELLS, THE UMPIRE, STAND OVER THAT FOOTBALL AND WAIT UNTIL SUBSTITUTES WERE OUT ON THE FIELD? >> BROWN AGAIN IN MOTION ON THIRD AND 3. WOODS. PLOWING TO A FIRST DOWN AT THE SAN FRANCISCO 43! CHARLES HALEY COMES UP PUSHING AND SHOVING. NOW THE DEFENSE FOR THE 49ers. ROBERTS, MICHAEL CARTER -- PRO BOWLER ON THE NOSE. KEVIN FAGAN. THE LINEBACKERS -- CHARLES HALEY. HE'S GOING TO THE PRO BOWL. FAHNHORST. MICHAEL WALTER, THE LEADING TACKLER. AND VETERAN KEENA TURNER. TIM McKYER AND DON GRIFFIN, WHO HELD OUT AT THE START OF THE YEAR. IN FACT, THEY WERE OFFERED FOR TRADE BY WALSH. AND THEY'RE JOINED BY TWO GREAT SAFETIES -- RONNIE LOTT AND JEFF FULLER. TWO TIGHT ENDS FOR CINCINNATI. FIRST DOWN AT THE 49er 44. WOODS AGAIN. NO. PLAY-ACTION. AND BOOMER... INCOMPLETE TO RODNEY HOLMAN. MICHAEL WALTER WAS THERE. AND WALTER WOULD HAVE HAD HIM FOR A LOSS HAD HE CAUGHT THE BALL. IT WAS HALEY APPLYING THE PRESSURE ON ESIASON. >> AND THAT PARTICULAR PLAY -- EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IT'S CALLED SELLOUT PLAY-ACTION. IT LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE A RUNNING PLAY. BOOMER, A GOOD JOB OF HANDLING THE BALL. ONLY ONE RECEIVER DOWNFIELD. >> YOU SAY "SELLOUT." IN OTHER WORDS, YOU'RE SAYING ALL THE OTHER PLAYERS ARE BLOCKING AS IF THAT'S REALLY A RUN. THERE'S NOTHING FAKE ABOUT THAT. >> YOU'RE ATTACKING THE STRENGTH OF THE DEFENSE, THEIR ABILITY TO REACT. AND YOU SHOW THEM RUN ALL THE WAY, ONLY ONE RECEIVER OUT, AND THEN YOU TRY AND GET DEEP. THEY'VE SCORED OFTEN ON THAT PLAY THIS YEAR. >> IT WAS EDDIE BROWN DEEP, BUT HE WAS COVERED BY TWO MEN. SECOND DOWN. WOODS. AND THE ROOKIE FROM UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, LAS VEGAS, EACH CARRY HAS HANDED A HANDSOME RESULT TO THE BENGALS. HE GETS 5 ON THAT ONE. >> HERE'S THE HURRY-UP OFFENSE. THEY'RE RIGHT BACK TO THE LINE. NOW LET'S SEE HOW LONG THEY'LL HOLD. SAN FRANCISCO NOT SENDING THE SUBS ONTO THE FIELD. SO ESIASON WILL TAKE HIS TIME HERE. AND THIS IS WHAT THE ATTACK OFFENSE IS DESIGNED TO DO. THEY'RE SAYING, "WE DON'T WANT YOU TO GET ALL YOUR SUBS ONTO THE FIELD." SAN FRANCISCO OBLIGING IN THIS CASE. >> THIRD DOWN AND 5. 45-SECOND CLOCK AT 6. INCOMPLETE. TIM McGEE, THE INTENDED RECEIVER. JEFF FULLER WAS THERE FOR SAN FRANCISCO. AND HERE COMES THE KICKING TEAM ON FOR CINCINNATI. IT'S PUNTER LEE JOHNSON. >> McKYER UP LATE TO COVER McGEE. BALL IN A HARD POSITION TO CATCH. AND McGEE IS LUCKY HE DIDN'T GET HURT ON THAT PLAY. THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, THE 39-YARD LINE. SO THAT WOULD MEAN THE FIELD GOAL OUT IN THE 50s. SO LEE JOHNSON IN TO PUNT. JOHN TAYLOR, A DANGEROUS RETURN MAN, AND TERRY GREER -- BOTH WITH PLENTY OF SPEED -- ARE DEEP. BRADY'S SNAP. YOU SAW A GOOD CATCH BY JOHNSON. AND DOWNED INSIDE THE 5. [ CROWD CHEERING ] RAY HORTON GOT THE BIG BOUNCE. AND THE 49ers WILL START FROM THEIR 3-YARD LINE. NO SCORE. 8:16 LEFT IN THE FIRST QUARTER. CAPRICIOUS WINDS HERE AT JOE ROBBIE STADIUM. AND LOOK AT THIS SNAP GO SAILING. AND LEE JOHNSON DOES A GREAT JOB OF CATCHING THE BALL AND EVEN BETTER AT PLACING IT INSIDE THE 5, WHERE MONTANA STARTS AT THE 3. NO SCORE. MIDWAY, FIRST QUARTER. ROGER CRAIG. OUT TO THE 11-YARD LINE. AND TIM KRUMRIE SLOW GETTING UP FOR CINCINNATI. AND HE'S NOT UP YET. OH, OF ALL THE PLAYERS, MERLIN OLSEN, ON DEFENSE THAT CINCINNATI COULD NOT AFFORD TO LOSE, THERE IT IS -- 69. SO STEVE WALLACE FRACTURES AN ANKLE ON THE THIRD PLAY OF THE SUPER BOWL. AND ON JUST THE 14th PLAY OF THE GAME, TIM KRUMRIE SUFFERS A SERIOUS INJURY. WE HAVE 8:06 LEFT IN THIS FIRST QUARTER. THAT IS RATHER EXTRAORDINARY TO HAVE TWO SUCH SERIOUS INJURIES SO QUICKLY. SECOND AND 2. MONTANA AT HIS 11. RIGHT THROUGH WHERE KRUMRIE NORMALLY WOULD BE. AND THAT'LL BE CLOSE TO A FIRST DOWN, AS REGGIE WILLIAMS APPLIES THE HIT ON MONTANA. DAVID GRANT, A ROOKIE FROM WEST VIRGINIA, NUMBER 98, HAS REPLACED KRUMRIE. >> RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF YOUR SCREEN. AND HE IS PERHAPS THE STRONGEST -- IN FACT<i> IS</i> THE STRONGEST OF THE DEFENSIVE LINEMEN. BUT WHAT YOU LOSE IN THERE IS EXPERIENCE AND PASS-RUSH ABILITY AND, OF COURSE, THE LEADERSHIP THAT A TIM KRUMRIE PROVIDES TO THAT DEFENSE. >> KRUMRIE GETTING A HAND FROM THE FANS AS HE PASSES DOWN AT THE FAR END OF THE FIELD GOING BACK TO THE LOCKER ROOM. AND A MAN WHO IS SO INCREDIBLY COMPETITIVE. IT'S A FIRST DOWN, SAN FRANCISCO. THEY SAY, "GET OUT OF HIS WAY JUST GETTING OFF THE BUS." YOU KNOW, YOU WORK SO HARD TO GET HERE. THIS IS THE SUPREME MOMENT. AND NOW IT'S LOST FOR HIM. FRACTURED LEFT LEG, TIBIA, IS THE FIRST REPORT -- THAT'S THE BIG BONE OF THE LOWER LEG -- IS THE REPORT WE GET. MONTANA UNDERNEATH. TIGHT END JOHN FRANK AT THE 21-YARD LINE. A GAIN OF ABOUT 8 YARDS. >> WE TALKED ABOUT KEEPING MONTANA OUT OF RHYTHM. THE CINCINNATI DEFENSE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT IN THE FIRST SERIES. YOU SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW AS MONTANA BEGINS TO GET THINGS FLOWING HERE. AND, OF COURSE, THAT WILL BE EASIER WITH KRUMRIE OUT OF THE LINEUP. >> WELL, THEY THOUGHT THAT CROSS WOULD NEED HELP FROM THE GUARDS TO STOP KRUMRIE. NOW CROSS, THE VETERAN CENTER PLAYING HIS LAST GAME, MAY BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE ROOKIE. JERRY RICE. AND A FIRST DOWN AT THE 33. RICE. WHAT AN INCREDIBLE STAR HE HAS BECOME. IN FOUR YEARS IN COLLEGE, HE CAUGHT 51 TOUCHDOWNS AT MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE. YOU SAY, "WELL, MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE, FINE SCHOOL, BUT SMALL-UNIVERSITY PROGRAM." BUT IN FOUR YEARS IN THE NFL, RICE HAS CAUGHT 49 TOUCHDOWNS -- 100 TOUCHDOWNS IN EIGHT YEARS -- FOUR IN COLLEGE, FOUR IN THE NFL. OVER THE HEAD OF JOHN TAYLOR. LEWIS BILLUPS ON THE COVERAGE. AND A FLAG IS DOWN. >> HARRIS BARTON ENDED UP WITHOUT A HELMET ON THAT PLAY. AND THE PENALTY WILL GO AGAINST THE CINCINNATI BENGALS. >> YEAH, ROUGHING THE PASSER, MONTANA. THE LAST THIRD AND 10, MONTANA CONVERTED TO RATHMAN ON A LITTLE AD LIB. THAT'S WILSON IN MOTION. MONTANA. INCOMPLETE. TO RICE. AND THAT WILL BRING ON MIKE COFER FROM NORTH CAROLINA STATE IN HIS FIRST YEAR AS THE PLACEKICKER FOR SAN FRANCISCO. HE BEAT OUT THE VETERAN RAY WERSCHING AT THE START OF THE YEAR. AND THIS FIRST ONE WILL BE AROUND 41, 42 YARDS. COFER, ON THE YEAR, MADE 27 OF 38. HIS LONGEST -- 52 YARDS. YOU SEE HE'S HAD VERY LITTLE OPPORTUNITY IN THE PLAYOFFS. TWO GAMES, ONLY ONE TRY. AND THAT WAS THAT PLACEMENT ON THE FAIR CATCH OF A PUNT -- 60 YARDS. 42 YARDS. DOWN THE MIDDLE. AND SAN FRANCISCO TAKES THE EARLY LEAD, 3-0. >> SPECIAL TEAMS HAVE A SPECIAL WRISTBAND IN THIS GAME -- "THE BRUISE CREW." LYNN STILES HAS A LITTLE RECOGNITION FOR HIS TROOPS OUT ON THE FIELD. >> KICKOFF BY COFER. STANFORD JENNINGS WILL TAKE THE TOUCHBACK. FIRST DOWN AT THE 20. THE TEAM THAT SCORED FIRST HAS LOST THE LAST FOUR SUPER BOWLS. BUT OVERALL IN THE PREVIOUS 22, THE TEAM THAT HAS SCORED FIRST HAS WON 15 AND LOST 7. REMEMBER DENVER LAST YEAR JUMPED OUT 10-0. JAMES BROOKS GETS HIS FIRST CALL. OUT TO THE 22- OR 23-YARD LINE. SHORT YARDAGE AS THEY RAN IN BEHIND BRIAN BLADOS. >> DICK LeBEAU, DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR FOR THIS BENGAL TEAM, TALKING TO HIS TROOPS ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO TO SHUT DOWN WALSH'S OFFENSE. >> WE UNDERSTAND THEY'RE TAKING -- LET YOU LISTEN TO LeBEAU -- TIM KRUMRIE BY HELICOPTER TO THE HOSPITAL. HE SUFFERED FRACTURES TO BOTH BONES OF THE LOWER LEG -- THE TIBIA AND FIBULA. MUCH LIKE TIM DAGGETT'S INJURY OVER AT ROTTERDAM -- THE GREAT U.S. GYMNAST. ICKEY WOODS PICKS UP A FIRST DOWN ACROSS THE 30 AND TAKES THE UMPIRE WITH HIM. JEFF FULLER MADE THE TACKLE, NUMBER 49. >> SAN FRANCISCO'S DEFENSE DOING A LOT OF JUMPING AROUND JUST BEFORE THE SNAP. AND, OF COURSE, ONE OF THE KEY PLAYERS IN THIS WHOLE PUZZLE -- JEFF FULLER, NUMBER 49. LOOK HOW HE'S RUNNING UP JUST AT THE SNAP OF THE BALL. OF COURSE, TAKING AWAY THE PRESNAP READ BY THE OFFENSIVE QUARTERBACK, BOOMER ESIASON. BUT DIDN'T HELP MUCH THERE, AS ICKEY WOODS FOUND SOME ROOM TO RUN AND PICKED UP THE FIRST DOWN. DICK, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS BENGAL OFFENSE HAS DONE -- THEY'VE STARTED QUICK IN THE PLAYOFFS. 35 OF THEIR 42 POINTS IN THE PLAYOFFS IN THE FIRST HALF. >> DOWN TO THE FINAL 1:35 OF THE FIRST QUARTER. WOODS AGAIN. HIS FIFTH CARRY. OH, IS HE HIT! WHAT A POP BY RONNIE LOTT, THE VETERAN FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. NOW, THERE IS A MAN WHO HAS MADE HIS LIVING MAKING TACKLES LIKE THAT FOR EIGHT GREAT YEARS WITH THE 49ers. >> I TELL YOU, YOU<i> HEAR</i> THAT KIND OF SHOT. LOTT HAS KNOCKED HIMSELF OUT A HALF A DOZEN TIMES MAKING THAT KIND OF TACKLE. >> AND HE'S GIVING OVER 30 POUNDS AWAY ON THAT HIT. FIRST TIME THAT THE 49ers HAVE STOPPED ICKEY WOODS. HE HAD CARRIED FOUR TIMES FOR 28 YARDS PRIOR TO THAT GAIN OF ONLY 1. ESIASON ON THE ROLL. AND INCOMPLETE. JIM RIGGS, THE TIGHT END, THE INTENDED RECEIVER. NOSE TACKLE MICHAEL CARTER APPLYING PRESSURE. SAN FRANCISCO 49ers LEADING 3-0. FINAL SECONDS, FIRST QUARTER. IT IS THIRD AND 9. WELL, A LONG 8. NEARLY 9 YARDS. RONNIE LOTT SLIPPING UP TO THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE. ESIASON DOWN THE MIDDLE. ALMOST INTERCEPTED BY LOTT! HE MOVED UP TO THE LINE AND THEN, WHEN THE SNAP WAS MADE, DRIFTED BACK AND ALMOST PICKED IT OFF. >> RONNIE LOTT IS ONE OF THE SMARTEST DEFENSIVE PLAYERS IN THE NFL. HE PLAYS THAT SPY POSITION SO WELL, JUST WATCHING. HE SNEAKS UP INSIDE. THEY THINK HE'S GONNA BLITZ. NO, HE'S NOT. DROPPING BACK. READING THE QUARTERBACK. HE KNEW EXACTLY WHERE THAT BALL WAS GOING TO GO. WHAT GREAT ANTICIPATION FROM THAT PRO BOWL SAFETY. >> LEE JOHNSON TO PUNT. DANGEROUS JOHN TAYLOR AT THE OTHER END. GREAT KICK. AND JOHN TAYLOR SHOWING YOU THE SHIFTINESS OF FOOT, CLEVER SPINS, AND ALMOST WORKED HIS WAY FREE. LEO BARKER, 53, MADE THE TACKLE. FINAL SECONDS, FIRST QUARTER. MONTANA. TO RICE. ONE-HANDED CATCH! OH, MY! IS HE IN BOUNDS? LEWIS BILLUPS THERE. AND RICE, A DAZZLING PLAY. A FIRST DOWN AT THE 45-YARD LINE. >> RICE ANSWERING THOSE PEOPLE WHO WERE ASKING ABOUT HIS ANKLE. BILL WALSH HELD RICE OUT OF PRACTICE TWO DAYS EARLIER IN THIS WEEK. INJURED ANKLE. SOME SAID SMOKE SCREEN. WELL, PERHAPS SO. RICE ALREADY AN EFFECTIVE RECEIVER. BUT HE DIDN'T CATCH<i> THAT</i> WITH HIS ANKLE. WHAT A GRAB. >> BRILLIANT PLAYER. DRAFTED IN THE FIRST ROUND BY THE 49ers IN '85. TO THIS SIDE IT COMES TO CRAIG. ELUDES TWO MEN. AND FINALLY BROUGHT DOWN BY FULCHER AT THE CINCINNATI 46. 8 MORE YARDS. AND THAT PROBABLY THE LAST PLAY OF THIS OPENING QUARTER. ROGER CRAIG ON THE FIRST PLAY OF THE SECOND QUARTER. NEEDED ONLY A YARD AND A HALF FOR A FIRST DOWN. GETS MORE THAN THAT. AND THE 49ers HAVE IT NOW AT THE CINCINNATI 41. OF COURSE, THE RESULT OF KRUMRIE'S INJURY -- AS YOU LOOK AT HIS REPLACEMENT, DAVID GRANT -- IS THAT MONTANA HAS HAD TIME. YOU SAID EARLIER, MERLIN, ONE OF THE KEYS TO THE GAME -- TO TAKE MONTANA OUT OF HIS RHYTHM. AND WHEN KRUMRIE WAS IN THERE THAT FIRST SERIES, THEY DID THAT. NOT SINCE. >> AND THE OTHER THING THAT IS REALLY SERIOUS FOR YOU DEFENSIVELY -- MONTANA HAS HAD ALL KINDS OF TIME TO THROW THE FOOTBALL. >> HE THROWS DEEP. RICE IS WIDE OPEN! [ CROWD CHEERING ] OUT OF BOUNDS AT THE 11-YARD LINE. DAVID FULCHER WAS APPLYING PRESSURE. THAT LEFT SINGLE COVERAGE. >> MAN-TO-MAN. WHEN YOU BLITZ AND YOU ISOLATE ON A GREAT RECEIVER LIKE THIS WITH ONE PERSON, YOU'RE JUST ASKING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. IN PATTERNS LIKE THIS, I DON'T THINK ANYONE CAN COVER JERRY RICE MAN-TO-MAN. >> SOLOMON WILCOTS CAME OVER TO SAVE A TOUCHDOWN. THE BALL IS RIGHT ON THE 10-YARD LINE. THEY HAVE THE FULL 10 TO GO. RATHMAN. HE'S STOPPED AFTER A 1-YARD PICKUP. REGGIE WILLIAMS HAS PLAYED A BIG FIRST HALF THUS FAR. ANOTHER TACKLE FOR THE THREE-TIME ALL-IVY LEAGUE STAR. >> BILL WALSH WOULD LOVE TO GET OUT TO A QUICK LEAD HERE BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT THIS BENGAL TEAM IS NOT A COME-FROM-BEHIND TEAM. IF YOU CAN GET OUT THERE, GET SOME QUICK POINTS ON THEM, BUILD A LEAD EARLY, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO COME BACK FROM THAT DURING THE SEASON. >> BALL ON THE 9-YARD LINE. SECOND DOWN. THEY CAN CONCEIVABLY MAKE A FIRST DOWN WITHOUT SCORING A TOUCHDOWN. MONTANA. HAD JOHN FRANK ANGLING FROM HIS TIGHT END POSITION BUT, UNDER PRESSURE, COULD NOT FIND HIS RECEIVER. IT'S THIRD AND A LONG 8. >> MONTANA UPSET ABOUT SOMETHING. BILL WALSH CALLING THOSE FIRST 25 PLAYS OFFENSIVELY OFF A SCRIPT, A PRESET SCRIPT. AND WHAT HE'LL USE THOSE PLAYS TO DO IS TO EVALUATE THE RESPONSES OF THE DEFENSE. HOW DO THEY COVER MOTION? WHAT DO THEY DO IN PLACEMENT OF PERSONNEL AGAINST THESE VARIOUS FORMATIONS? HE FILES THAT INFORMATION AWAY AND WILL USE IT LATER IN THE BALLGAME. >> FOUR WIDE RECEIVERS FOR SAN FRANCISCO. AND IT'S RATHMAN! WHAT A CALL! THEY BRING IN FOUR WIDE RECEIVERS AND THEN JUST GIVE IT TO THE BIG FULLBACK RIGHT UP THE MIDDLE. AND IT APPEARED FOR A MOMENT HE WAS ON HIS WAY FOR 6, RATHMAN, WHO WAS FINALLY STOPPED BY TWO DEFENSIVE BACKS -- HORTON AND FULCHER. IT'S FOURTH DOWN. INSIDE THE 2. FOURTH DOWN AND A LONG YARD FOR A FIRST DOWN AND LESS THAN 2 FOR A TOUCHDOWN. >> BILL WALSH, APPARENTLY, IS GOING TO GO FOR IT ON FOURTH DOWN HERE. WELL... >> IN SUPER BOWL XIX IN PONTIAC, REMEMBER, IT WAS A GOAL-LINE DEFENSE BY SAN FRANCISCO IN THE THIRD QUARTER THAT MAY HAVE DECIDED THE GAME. NOW IT'S THE BENGALS' CALL. BILL WALSH, AFTER SOME TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT, HAS DECIDED TO BRING ON HIS FIELD-GOAL TEAM. IT'S A LONG YARD DOWN THERE, AND THEY DON'T WANT TO COME AWAY EMPTY. SO COFER, APPARENTLY, IS ON FOR A FIELD-GOAL TRY, A SHORT ONE OF ABOUT 19 YARDS. >> SAM WYCHE HAD A CALL LIKE THAT IN A GAME AGAINST SEATTLE A FEW WEEKS AGO. ELECTED TO GO FOR IT ON A FOURTH AND 2 YARDS. SAID LATER THAT IF HE HAD KNOWN IT WAS THAT FAR, HE WOULDN'T HAVE GONE FOR IT. OF COURSE, THAT WOULD HAVE ICED THAT GAME. AND IT LATER PROVED TO BE A POINT, ALTHOUGH THEY DID NOT GET BACK INTO THE BALLGAME. >> COFER TO KICK. HELTON, THE PUNTER, IS THE HOLDER. OOH. BAD SNAP. [ CROWD CHEERING ] AND HE MISSES TO THE LEFT. THE SNAP OR THE HOLD CONFUSED. THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO SPOT IT. AND COFER HOOKS IT WIDE TO THE LEFT. CHUCK THOMAS, THE SNAPPER. AND SO NOW WALSH WILL HAVE TO SECOND-GUESS HIMSELF -- AS HE GOES TO THE MAN WHO SNAPPED THE BALL. THEY COME AWAY EMPTY FROM THE 2-YARD LINE. >> BAD SNAP. LOOK WHERE THAT BALL COMES IN. LOW AND RIGHT ON THE KNEE. NO CHANCE FOR THE HOLDER TO GET THAT BALL DOWN. AND THE TIMING IS DESTROYED. YOU END UP WITH A HOOKED KICK. AND THAT'S THE SHORTEST MISSED FIELD GOAL IN SUPER BOWL HISTORY. >> AND THAT AFTER BILL WALSH, FOR A MOMENT, WAS TEMPTED TO GO FOR IT. NOW I GUESS HE WISHES HE HAD. SO IT REMAINS 3-0. 2 MINUTES GONE, SECOND QUARTER. ESIASON TO BROWN. INCOMPLETE. DEFENSIVE PLAY BY DON GRIFFIN FROM MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE, NUMBER 29. HIS BROTHER PLAYED THREE YEARS -- JAMES -- WITH CINCINNATI AS A DEFENSIVE BACK. ESIASON'S NUMBERS WERE NOT GOOD DOWN THE STRETCH AFTER A BRILLIANT START PASSING THE BALL AND LEADING THE NFL. HOW DO YOU LOOK AT HIM THROWING SO FAR, MERLIN? >> HE'S HAD THE BALL PRETTY WELL ON TARGET, DICK. AND IT LOOKS LIKE HE'S THROWING IT WITH PRETTY GOOD VELOCITY. >> HE'S MISSED THE LAST FIVE IN A ROW. ICKEY WOODS GAINS ONLY A COUPLE. >> I THINK YOU'VE GOT TO CREDIT A LOT OF THOSE MISSES TO SOME FINE DEFENSIVE HITS AND SOME GOOD DEFENSIVE PLAYS. ON THAT LAST PLAY, FOR EXAMPLE, IT WAS JUST GREAT COVERAGE. >> MICHAEL WALTER, 99, AND MICHAEL CARTER, 95, COLLABORATED ON THE TACKLE. >> WALTER COMING OFF HIS BEST YEAR EVER. AN IMPACT PLAYER. IN FACT, BILL WALSH TALKING ABOUT HIS BEST TWO DEFENSIVE PLAYERS -- WALTER'S NAME WAS ONE, ALONG WITH MICHAEL CARTER. BUT I'LL TELL YOU, KOZERSKI HAS DONE A FINE JOB ON MICHAEL CARTER SO FAR IN THIS BALLGAME. >> THE CENTER, BRUCE KOZERSKI, AGAINST CARTER. THAT'S A KEY MATCHUP. THIRD DOWN AND LONG. ESIASON TO BROWN. SHORT OF THE FIRST DOWN. RONNIE LOTT MAKES THE HIT AT THE 28-YARD LINE. >> NOW, HOW CAN YOU END UP SHORT OF THE FIRST DOWN? YOU KNOW WHAT YOU GOT TO GET TO PICK UP THIS FIRST DOWN. ESIASON DID HIS PART. EDDIE BROWN NOT PLAYING THAT ONE VERY SMART. >> LOTT IS JUST THAT -- A "LOTT" OF FOOTBALL PLAYER. LEE JOHNSON TO PUNT. HE'S HAD A COUPLE OF GOOD KICKS. JOHN TAYLOR AT THE 29 OF SAN FRANCISCO. BEAUTIFUL SPIRAL UP IN THAT WIND. FLOATING AWAY FROM TAYLOR. HE PICKS IT UP DANGEROUSLY AND THEN BREAKS THROUGH THE PACK! AND NOW HE HAS AN OPEN FIELD! 30! ONE MAN TO BEAT! HORTON. AND HORTON GETS HIM OUT OF BOUNDS AT THE 47 OF CINCINNATI. WHAT A PLAY BY TAYLOR! IT APPEARED HE WAS MAKING A MISTAKE BY PICKING UP THE BALL THAT HAD FLOATED AWAY FROM HIM. AND THEN HE RAN RIGHT THROUGH THE BENGAL TEAM. >> I THINK SOMETIMES A PLAYER WHO HAS OBVIOUSLY DONE SOMETHING THAT THEY KNOW IS GOING TO BRING THE WRATH OF THE COACH DOWN UPON THEM -- AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS HERE. HE MISJUDGES THIS FOOTBALL. THERE'S A SURGE OF ADRENALINE THROUGH HIS BODY RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT. BUT HE LOOKED BACK. HE KNEW HE HAD A LITTLE TIME. >> NOT MUCH. >> SO DANGEROUS TO REACH DOWN AND GRAB THAT FOOTBALL. VERY OFTEN THAT PLAY BACKFIRES ON YOU. BUT HERE IT PROVES TO BE A BIG PLUS FOR SAN FRANCISCO. >> THE 49ers, LEADING 3-0, GET A BIG RETURN OF 45 YARDS ON A 63-YARD PUNT. AND THEN HARRY SYDNEY FALLING ON THE BALL BACK AT THE 44-YARD LINE. SYDNEY, A BACKUP TO TOM RATHMAN. >> DANGEROUS PLAY, DICK. THAT'S A LATERAL. HE THROWS THIS BACK OUT. IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A DOUBLE PASS. BUT FULCHER RIGHT THERE ON TOP OF IT. IF SYDNEY DOESN'T GET DOWN ON THAT FOOTBALL, FULCHER IS GOING TO SCOOP IT UP. AND THAT WOULD BE A BIG TURNOVER FOR CINCINNATI. >> 9-YARD LOSS. SECOND AND 19. MONTANA GOES DOWN AT THE 42. JASON BUCK. DAVID GRANT ALSO THERE. AND GRANT DOWN AROUND THE ANKLES. MADE A LITTLE MOVE. THEY MIGHT HAVE HAD A STUNT ON. >> WELL, IF DAVID GRANT CAN GROW INTO THE BIG SHOES LEFT VACANT WHEN TIM KRUMRIE HAD TO LEAVE THE FIELD, THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE BIG STORIES OF THIS BALLGAME. HE DID A GOOD AT GETTING AROUND THE CENTER ON THAT ONE. RANDY CROSS, TRYING TO SCRAMBLE WITH HIM, DIDN'T DO HIS JOB VERY WELL ON THAT PLAY. >> THIRD DOWN AND 21. CRAIG. 50. FUMBLES! AND CINCINNATI'S JIM SKOW RECOVERS AT THE 41-YARD LINE. [ CROWD CHEERING ] >> AS YOU SAW SAM WYCHE SAYING, "SNAKE EYES." THEY'LL COME RIGHT OUT, THEY'LL RUN THE PLAY WITHOUT A HUDDLE. HE SAID, "WE'VE STUNG THEM ONCE, LET'S STING THEM AGAIN." AND THEY'LL HAVE A PLAY ALL SET FOR THIS SITUATION. >> CRAIG WITH SOME BRILLIANT HIGH-KICKING RUNNING, THAT PATENTED STYLE OF HIS, BREAKING INTO THE OPEN. AND TRYING PERHAPS FOR TOO MUCH. AND THAT WAS FULCHER WHO APPLIED THE HIT. AND FULCHER, THE PRO BOWLER, HAS HAD A BIG GAME. CRIS COLLINSWORTH, THE VETERAN WIDE RECEIVER, WHO PLAYED DOWN IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY -- UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA -- MAKES THE CATCH OUT AT THE 47-YARD LINE. SO THE FIRST TURNOVER OF THE GAME TO CINCINNATI. AND AT THIS POINT, JUST JUDGING WHAT WE'VE FELT AND SEEN, MERLIN, THE 49ers, YOU WOULD FIGURE, WOULD BE UP BY A CONSIDERABLE SCORE. BUT IT'S A 3-0 GAME. >> VERY DANGEROUS TO HAVE SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY AND TO ONLY HAVE 3 POINTS ON THE BOARD. >> ON SECOND AND 4. JAMES BROOKS! FIRST DOWN AT THE SAN FRANCISCO 42. LOTT AND FULLER, TWO SAFETIES, MAKE THE STOP. FIRST DOWN, CINCINNATI. BROOKS WITH A 10-YARD PICKUP. >> PULLING BOTH THE RIGHT GUARD AND TACKLE. MUÑOZ AND REIMERS -- 78 AND 75. BIG HIT OVER THERE BY MUÑOZ. AND BROOKS, IF YOU GIVE HIM ROOM INSIDE, ONE OF THE QUICKEST BACKS IN THE NFL. >> HE STILL HAS HAPPY FEET. WHO WOULDN'T BE HAPPY BEHIND A GUY LIKE MUÑOZ? TRAILING 3-0. ESIASON. GOOD PROTECTION. OH, THROWS INTO A CROWD. McGEE HAD FOUR MEN ON HIM. THERE WERE FOUR RED SHIRTS WITHIN 3 YARDS OF McGEE, AND ESIASON DRILLED IT IN. LUCKY TO BE INCOMPLETE. >> LOOK AT THE EXCELLENT PROTECTION BY THE OFFENSIVE LINE HERE. LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF TIME HE HAS BACK THERE. NOBODY IN THE PICTURE YET. NOBODY THERE. NOBODY THERE. FINALLY, ROBERTS, NUMBER 91, INTO THE PICTURE. BUT, BOOMER, YOU GET THAT MUCH TIME, YOU'VE GOT TO FIND SOMEBODY AND GET THEM THE BALL, MY FRIEND. >> AND HE ELECTED TO THROW TO McGEE, WHO WAS BLANKETED. SECOND AND 10. THREW IT AWAY. HE WANTED COLLINSWORTH ON THE OUT AND UP, BUT THAT ISN'T WHAT DEVELOPED -- LARRY ROBERTS DID, NUMBER 91, AND HE WAS IN THE FACE OF ESIASON. >> JUST LOOKING AT McGEE DOWN THERE -- REMEMBER EARLY IN THE BALLGAME HE TOOK A HIT ON HIS KNEE AND I SAID HE WAS LUCKY NOT TO BE HURT? I THINK HE MAY HAVE HURT THAT KNEE A LITTLE BIT. THERE HE IS. HE LOOKS TO BE LIMPING A LITTLE BIT. AND, OF COURSE, HE'S THE FASTEST OF THOSE WIDE RECEIVERS, AND A LEG INJURY IS VERY CRITICAL TO THE SPEED RECEIVER. [ CROWD CHEERING ] >> CHARLES HALEY AND DANNY STUBBS. STUBBS, WHO PLAYED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, A ROOKIE PICKED IN THE SECOND ROUND BY SAN FRANCISCO, FINALLY GETS THE SACK. LARRY ROBERTS WAS IN THERE. GREG COX, WHO COMES IN IN THE NICKEL PACKAGE. AND ESIASON HAD NO TIME. >> THE 49ers ROLL SIX DEFENSIVE LINEMEN IN AND OUT OF THE GAME. THEY ALWAYS HAVE FRESH-LEGGED, FAST PASS RUSHERS IN THERE. AND STUBBS HAS COME ON AS ONE OF THE BEST OF THEM. HE WAS THERE TO TAKE ESIASON DOWN. >> CINCINNATI AGAIN UNABLE TO MOVE THE BALL DEEP ENOUGH FOR A SCORE. AND JOHNSON'S KICK -- THESE ARE DANGEROUS. AND TAYLOR SAYS, "I'M GONNA FAIR-CATCH." AT THE 11-YARD LINE. SO TIME-OUT. SUPER BOWL XXIII. MIDWAY THROUGH THE SECOND QUARTER. AND IT'S THE 49ers LEADING BY A FIELD GOAL. BOOMER ESIASON HAS NOT HAD A GOOD FIRST HALF. THE 49ers LEAD 3-0. AND THEY START FROM JUST OUTSIDE THE 10 WITH ROGER CRAIG, WHO IS TWISTED DOWN AT THE 12. DAVID FULCHER AGAIN. HE PLAYED AT ARIZONA STATE. THEY CALL HIM THE ROCK. AND AT 6'3" AND 228, THAT IS A HUNK OF GRANITE INDEED IN THAT SECONDARY FOR THE BENGALS. WELL, THE SECOND AND THIRD PERIODS -- IF YOU'RE AN AFC FAN, YOU MIGHT AS WELL GO OUT AND TAKE A WALK. LOOK AT THAT -- 116-6, THE NFC HAS OUTSCORED THE AFC IN THE LAST FOUR GAMES IN THE SECOND AND THIRD PERIODS. A LITTLE WIDE OF ROGER CRAIG IS MONTANA. AND THERE'S NO QUESTION, MERLIN, THE WIND IS AFFECTING THOSE PASSES TO THE SIDELINES. >> THEY ARE FLUTTERING. ESIASON HAS BEEN ICING DOWN HIS RIGHT HAND. AND, OF COURSE, THAT'S NOT HIS THROWING HAND. HE HAD A FINGER PARTIALLY DISLOCATED AND DAMAGED EARLIER IN THE PLAYOFFS. AND THEY SAY THAT IS NOT A PROBLEM NOW. THERE'S DAVID FULCHER. BOY, THAT'S... THAT'S A<i> BIG</i> SAFETY. I'LL TELL YOU THAT. MONTANA DUMPS IT OFF TO CRAIG. AND CRAIG HAS A FIRST DOWN, I BELIEVE. IT'S GOING TO BE VERY CLOSE. BARKER AND BUSSEY. LET'S SEE WHERE THEY SPOT IT. OH, THAT'S GONNA BE A MEASUREMENT. RIGHT AT THE 20-PLUS, AND THAT'S WHERE HE HAD TO GO. WHAT A WEAPON CRAIG IS OUT OF THAT BACKFIELD, AS YOU'VE MENTIONED SO OFTEN. JUST A LONG HAND-OFF -- JUST GET HIM SOMEPLACE IN THE OPEN -- AND WITH HIS RUNNING TALENT, LET HIM GO. >> PART OF WALSH'S PHILOSOPHY IS TO SPREAD THAT DEFENSE WITH PASS PATTERNS AND THEN GET THE BALL TO A RUNNING BACK. AND, OF COURSE, AT THAT POINT, YOU'VE GOT EVERYBODY STRETCHED OUT. YOU GOT ROOM TO RUN. >> AND ANOTHER FOUR DOWNS FOR THE 49ers. THAT WAS A BIG PLAY FOR CINCINNATI'S DEFENSE, A CHANCE TO FORCE THE 49ers TO PUNT AND GET PRETTY GOOD FIELD POSITION. BUT MONTANA TO CRAIG. AND THAT MELODY HAS BEEN A HAPPY ONE FOR SAN FRANCISCO FANS. CRAIG. FULCHER. >> WHAT A GREAT PLAY AGAIN. WE KEEP MENTIONING HIS NAME. BOY, I'LL TELL YOU. >> GOLIATH. >> HE IS PUMPED UP. AT ONE POINT EARLIER IN THE SEASON, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO PUT HIM ON THE SCALES. HE WAS HEAVIER THAN JIM SKOW, THE DEFENSIVE END. HE WAS OVER 245. SKOW WAS UNDER 245. THERE HE IS, 33, MIDDLE OF YOUR SCREEN, ON 33. AND HE GETS HIM DOWN. >> YOU'VE GOT TO BE BIG AND STRONG TO GET CRAIG, WHO HAS THOSE POWERFUL LEGS, ON THOSE CUTBACKS. SECOND AND 10. MONTANA. AND JOHN FRANK, THE TIGHT END, FIGHTING OFF ONE TACKLE. JOE KELLY MISSED HIM. AND A FLAG IS DOWN. >> DAVID GRANT MADE A FINE MOVE INSIDE ON RANDY CROSS. MIGHT HAVE BEEN CROSS TRYING TO SAVE THE SACK ON MONTANA. [ CROWD CHEERING ] >> OH, WHAT A HIT! SKIP McCLENDON, WHO STARRED AT ARIZONA STATE. HE LOST HIS STARTING JOB LATE IN THE YEAR. AND IN A PASSING SITUATION, HE'S A LIGHT TACKLE. THEY SAY HE'S LIGHT AT 275 -- IF HE'S THAT. >> HE MADE A FINE PLAY THERE. WHEN SOMEONE GOES DOWN -- WHEN TIM KRUMRIE WENT DOWN, YOU KNEW THAT PLAYERS IN THAT DEFENSE HAD TO SAY TO THEMSELVES, "WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO NOW? I'VE GOT TO REACH DOWN AND GET SOMETHING EXTRA." McCLENDON DID THAT ON THAT PLAY. GRANT IS DOING IT. THIS DEFENSE PLAYING PRETTY HEADS-UP FOOTBALL AT THIS MOMENT. >> MONTANA. WITH A SCREEN TO CRAIG. AND A FLAG DOWN, AS CRAIG GOES DOWN AT THE 13-YARD LINE. >> PASS INTERFERENCE. NUMBER 61, OFFENSE. BLOCKING DOWNFIELD PRIOR TO THE PASS BEING THROWN. PENALTY DECLINED. FOURTH DOWN. >> THAT'S A TOUGH CALL, AND MANY TIMES IT ISN'T SEEN, THAT SCREEN PASS. AND THOSE BLOCKERS OUT IN FRONT JUST GUESSING WHEN THE BALL IS COMPLETED. AND SAPOLU WAS PREMATURE IN HIS BLOCK. SO CINCINNATI WILL GET GOOD FIELD POSITION. THIS KICK, REMEMBER, INTO THE WIND -- OR AT LEAST THE KICKS GOING LEFT TO RIGHT IN ALL THE WARM-UPS WERE NOT TRAVELING AS FAR. BARRY HELTON, FROM COLORADO. A FOURTH-ROUND DRAFT PICK. IRA HILLARY, THE DEEP MAN, CINCINNATI. AT THE 45 IN BENGAL TERRITORY. VERY HIGH. AND TAKEN BY RAY HORTON. AND HORTON WAS A STAR PUNT RETURNER AT WASHINGTON. RETURNS TO THE SAN FRANCISCO 43-YARD LINE. GREG COX MADE THE TACKLE. 37-YARD PUNT. 5 YARDS ON THE RETURN. AND THERE'S THE STORY WITH 4:04 REMAINING IN THE FIRST HALF. BROOKS IN MOTION. ICKEY WOODS. RIGHT INTO THE PILEUP AT THE 41-YARD LINE. >> DICK, THAT'S ONLY ICKEY WOODS' FOURTH RUN OF THE DAY. I REALLY FELT COMING INTO THIS BALLGAME THAT IF THE BENGALS DID NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR STRONGEST OFFENSIVE ASSET -- THAT BIG OFFENSIVE LINE AND ICKEY WOODS' STRENGTH AS A RUNNER -- THAT'S HIS SEVENTH OF THE DAY. OKAY. I MUST HAVE LOOKED AT THE FIRST-QUARTER STATS. SEVENTH RUN OF THE DAY. BUT HE HAS NOT BEEN THE KIND OF FACTOR SO FAR IN THIS BALLGAME THAT I EXPECTED HIM TO BE. AND I THINK THEY'VE GOT TO START WEARING DOWN THIS SAN FRANCISCO DEFENSE WITH THAT RUNNING GAME. >> MEANWHILE, ESIASON IS AVERAGING ONLY 3 YARDS A PASS. HAS A MAN OPEN. McGEE! AND A FIRST DOWN AT THE 23. THE DEEPEST PENETRATION OF THE HALF FOR CINCINNATI. RONNIE LOTT MADE THE TACKLE. ALL TIME. THIS IS ALL TIME. HALL OF FAMERS. OTTO GRAHAM. SID LUCKMAN. NORM VAN BROCKLIN. PER ATTEMPT. AND BOOMER ESIASON, IN HIS YOUNG CAREER, FOURTH WITH AN 8-PLUS. THAT'S PER ATTEMPT, NOT PER COMPLETION. TODAY, PER COMPLETION, PRIOR TO THAT LAST PASS, AVERAGING ONLY 3 YARDS. >> AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THERE. IT'S AT 4.3 NOW. >> THAT INCLUDES THAT PASS TO McGEE. >> AND THAT BALL DID NOT HAVE GREAT VELOCITY ON IT. IT'S THE STRENGTH OF HIS ARM THAT IMPRESSED US EARLIER IN THE YEAR. >> A LITTLE DELAY TO BROOKS. AND HE'S TO THE 20-YARD LINE. WELL READ BY 75, KEVIN FAGAN, WHO CUT DOWN THE BLOCKER AND HELPED DON GRIFFIN TO COME UP FROM THE CORNER TO MAKE THE STOP. FAGAN PLAYED HERE AT MIAMI OF FLORIDA. >> QUITE A FEW PLAYERS WITH EXTRA INCENTIVES TODAY. FAGAN IS ONE. HE'S COMING HOME. EDDIE BROWN ANOTHER COMING HOME. A LOT OF STORIES ON THE FIELD OF PLAYERS WHO WANT TO PLAY WELL. FAGAN'S THE KIND OF GUY THAT DOESN'T LIKE COMING OFF THE FIELD ON PASS PLAYS. HE SAID, "I'D LIKE TO PLAY ALL THE DOWNS." BUT HE HAS BEEN A RUN SPECIALIST. >> THERE'S THE 2-MINUTE TIME-OUT. SUPER BOWL XXIII HAS BEEN DEFENSE. 3-0, SAN FRANCISCO, WITH 2 MINUTES TO GO. JOE MONTANA. AS HE GREW UP IN PENNSYLVANIA, HIS IDOL, JOE NAMATH, THE HERO OF SUPER BOWL III, THAT REALLY CHANGED THE COURSE OF PRO FOOTBALL. THAT GAME PLAYED, OF COURSE, AT THE ORANGE BOWL HERE IN MIAMI. SECOND AND 7 FOR ESIASON. ICKEY WOODS GETS 4, TO THE 16-YARD LINE. BILL ROMANOWSKI, THE ROOKIE FROM ILLINOIS, NUMBER 53, MADE THE TACKLE. >> WE TALKED ABOUT THE MATCHUP BETWEEN KOZERSKI ON THE NOSE AND MICHAEL CARTER. WATCH WHAT HAPPENS HERE AS KOZERSKI TAKES CARTER OUTSIDE. STOP IT THERE. WATCH HIM NOW AS HE'LL JUST PUSH HIM BEYOND THE PLAY AND THE CUTBACK BY ICKEY WOODS. WE'LL GO BACK TO THE ACTION, THEN WE'LL CATCH IT IN A MOMENT. >> ROMANOWSKI, FROM BOSTON COLLEGE, MADE THE HIT. HE WAS A THIRD-ROUND PICK. NOW ESIASON. THIRD DOWN. THROWS IT -- ALMOST INTERCEPTED IN THE END ZONE. TIM McKYER WAS THE CLOSEST PLAYER. WAY OVER THE HEAD OF EDDIE BROWN. AND HERE COMES THE FIELD-GOAL UNIT AND JIM BREECH, THE MAN WITH THE SMALLEST FOOT IN PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL -- A SIZE-5 RIGHT SHOE. HIS OTHER IS A 7. HE JUST WANTS TO PACK IT IN THERE. FATHER OF SIX CHILDREN. THIS 32-YEAR-OLD KICKER IS TOUGH FROM SHORT RANGE. AND THIS, CERTAINLY WITHIN HIS RANGE, WILL BE A 34-YARDER. >> WELL, THIS WOULD BE A BIG KICK FOR THAT SMALL FOOT. TIE THEM UP IN THIS BALLGAME. GET THEM BACK IN THE FIGHT. >> THE HOLD BY BACKUP QUARTERBACK TURK SCHONERT. AND WE HAVE A NEW GAME. [ CROWD CHEERING ] BREECH FROM 34 YARDS. WAS A SAN FRANCISCO 49er FAN AS HE GREW UP AND ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IN BERKELEY. 1:15 TO GO. AND ANYONE WHO HAS FOLLOWED THE 49ers IN THE BILL WALSH-JOE MONTANA ERA KNOW THAT THEIR 2-MINUTE OFFENSE OR 1-MINUTE OFFENSE -- END-OF-THE-FIRST-HALF OFFENSE -- ONE OF THE VERY BEST IN THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE. AND THEY'RE CHARTING OUT A WAY TO GET INTO THAT LOCKER ROOM WITH THE LEAD. CINCINNATI HAS THREE TIME-OUTS LEFT. AND THE 49ers USED ONE JUST BEFORE THAT ERRANT FIELD-GOAL TRY WHEN THEY WERE DOWN ON THE CINCINNATI 2 -- ELECTED TO GO FOR THE FIELD GOAL, BAD SNAP, AND THEY CAME AWAY EMPTY. DEL RODGERS AND JOHN TAYLOR ARE DEEP. TAYLOR ON THE NEAR SIDE. LEE JOHNSON. WHOA, DOES HE HIT A KNUCKLEBALL. AND RODGERS FIELDS IT AT THE 2. AND RETURNS TO THE 25-YARD LINE, WHERE CARL PARKER, A WIDE RECEIVER FROM VANDERBILT, MAKES THE TACKLE. >> ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVEN'T SEEN YET, AND BILL WALSH SAID HE WOULD USE IT DURING THE DAY -- HE SAID, "I WILL USE THE NO-HUDDLE OFFENSE AT SOME TIME DURING THE GAME. I WON'T USE IT TO TRY AND KEEP THE DEFENDERS OFF THE FIELD FOR CINCINNATI. BUT WHAT I<i> WILL</i> USE IT FOR IS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THE PRESET DEFENSES." WHEN HE'S GONE THROUGH AND PROBED WITH HIS PLAYS, HE KNOWS WHAT THE AUTOMATIC DEFENSES ARE. AND YOU MAY SEE HIM DO THAT HERE IN THIS SITUATION. >> THE GIVE TO CRAIG. CINCINNATI LOOKING FOR THE PASS. AND THE 49ers RUN IT AND GET 10 BIG YARDS OUT TO THE 35-YARD LINE. AND WITHOUT A HUDDLE, MONTANA BRINGS THEM RIGHT BACK TO THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE. INTO THE FINAL MINUTE OF THIS FIRST HALF. A 3-3 TIE. >> HERE'S A SITUATION WHERE THEY'RE GONNA TRY AND CATCH THEM IN THE AUTOMATIC DEFENSE, FORCE THEM TO MAKE THE AUDIBLE HERE, AND TRY TO GET THE BIG PLAY. >> THROW UNDERNEATH TO CRAIG. INCOMPLETE. HE DID NOT HAVE CONTROL. BARNEY BUSSEY, AN EXTRA DEFENSIVE BACK, WAS COVERING CRAIG. 41 SECONDS LEFT IN THE HALF. SECOND AND 10. THE ONE PLAYER YOU KNOW THAT THE CINCINNATI DEFENSE IS GOING TO BE SURE THEY'VE LOCATED IS NUMBER 80, JERRY RICE. AND IT'S RICE TO THE NEAR SIDE. NUMBER 80. MONTANA DRAGGED DOWN AT THE 31-YARD LINE! JIM SKOW AND JASON BUCK. THE TWO YOUNG DEFENSIVE ENDS. BUCK IN HIS SECOND YEAR FROM BYU. HE WAS THEIR NUMBER-ONE PICK AFTER WINNING THE OUTLAND TROPHY AWARD WITH THE COUGARS OF BYU. >> YOU DON'T WANT TO LET MONTANA OUT TO HIS RIGHT. HE WANTS TO SCRAMBLE RIGHT. AND YOU SEE THEY FORCE HIM BACK TO THE LEFT-HAND SIDE. >> JERRY RICE JOINED BY JOHN TAYLOR AND MIKE WILSON. THREE WIDE RECEIVERS. AND HE GIVES TO RATHMAN, THE FULLBACK. OUT TO THE 42-YARD LINE. SHORT OF THE FIRST DOWN. TIME-OUT, CINCINNATI, WITH 26 SECONDS TO GO. AND THAT MEANS THE 49ers WILL BRING HELTON, THE PUNTER, ON. >> NOT AS GOOD A POSITION TO RUSH THE PUNTER HERE BECAUSE IF YOU DO GET A ROUGHING CALL, IT WOULD GIVE THEM A FIRST DOWN. >> HELTON WAS PICKED HIGH IN THE DRAFT LAST SPRING, IN '88. FOURTH ROUND. ONE OF THE THREE PUNTERS TO MAKE IT IN THE NFL, ROOKIE PUNTERS. AND HE REPLACED MAX RUNAGER, THE VETERAN, WHO WENT ON TO CLEVELAND. HE AVERAGED 39-PLUS ON THE SEASON. >> I ASKED THE QUESTION, WHY REPLACE BOTH THE KICKERS AT THE SAME TIME? AND THE ANSWER WAS VERY SIMPLE. THE KICKERS WERE SO CLOSE. THEY WERE RELATED BY MARRIAGE. "JOINED AT THE HIP," I THINK, WAS WHAT LYNN STILES SAID. AND HE SAID IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO PUT ONE ROOKIE TOGETHER WITH ONE OF THOSE VETS AND CUT THE OTHER ONE. AND THEIR FEELING WAS, BETTER TO GO AHEAD AND START WITH TWO YOUNG KICKERS AND LET THEM COME ON AND DEVELOP. >> RUNAGER AND WERSCHING, BROTHERS-IN-LAW. NOBODY BACK FOR CINCINNATI. 10 MEN ON THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE. BEAUTIFUL KICK. AND IT IS DOWN! AT THE 1-YARD LINE! RON HELLER, NUMBER 89, THE TIGHT END, GOT TO IT. 57 YARDS FOR HELTON. ESIASON JUST HOLDS ON TO THE BALL. AND THEY'LL LET THE CLOCK RUN OUT, UNDOUBTEDLY, TO END THIS FIRST HALF. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 23 SUPER BOWLS, WE HAVE A TIE AT HALFTIME. >> LET'S LOOK AT BOOMER ESIASON'S STATS. THAT IS NOT MUCH TO BE PROUD OF. AND THIS IS A QUARTERBACK THAT IS THE MVP OF THE NFL. BUT HE HAS NOT DONE IT HERE IN THIS BALLGAME. >> AND HE WAS LUCKY THAT A COUPLE OF THOSE THROWS WERE NOT INTERCEPTED BY THE 49ers. HE THREW RIGHT INTO HEAVY COVERAGE. BUT IT'S 3 ALL. FIRST TIME EVER A SECOND HALF BEGINS WITH A TIED SCORE IN A SUPER BOWL. SAN FRANCISCO SENDS IT IN PLAY. AND STANFORD JENNINGS, FROM FURMAN. FLAG DOWN, AND SO IS JENNINGS. JUST SHY OF THE 25-YARD LINE. AND WHERE THE YELLOW HANKIES ARE TOSSED, ONE MUST SUSPECT ILLEGAL USE OF THE HANDS AGAINST THE RETURN TEAM. HARRY SYDNEY MADE THE TACKLE FOR SAN FRANCISCO. JERRY SEEMAN. AND INDEED CINCINNATI WILL START FROM DEEP IN ITS OWN END. AND LET'S LOOK AT THE OFFICIAL FIRST-HALF STATISTICS. >> STATISTICS IN THE FIRST HALF. SAN FRANCISCO'S STATISTICS -- 80% OF THAT YARDAGE -- 81%, ACTUALLY -- ACCOUNTED FOR BY CRAIG AND RICE, WHO WERE VERY BIG IN THIS FIRST HALF. >> 181 TOTAL YARDS TO 93. SAN FRANCISCO OUTGAINING CINCINNATI TWO TO ONE. EDDIE BROWN IN MOTION. ICKEY WOODS. OUT OF THE BLOCKS IN A HURRY. THIS BIG GUY, AT 230 POUNDS, REALLY IS ROLLING ON THAT SECOND STEP. NEARLY 5 YARDS BEFORE MICHAEL WALTER CAN MAKE THE TACKLE. THERE'S ICKEY WOODS WITH HIS PONYTAIL. THAT'S HIS SAMSON SYMBOL. AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO GENERATE AN ICKEY SHUFFLE TODAY. AND RONNIE LOTT, THE TIGER OF THE DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD OF THE 49ers. CALLING THE PLAY AND THEN LOOKING FOR THE BALL. SECOND AND 5. MISDIRECTION. IT'S WOODS. TO THE 25. AND A FIRST DOWN. MICHAEL CARTER, TRAILING THE PLAY, AND JIM FAHNHORST, NUMBER 55, MAKE THE STOP. THERE'S CARTER, WHO WON THE SILVER MEDAL IN THE 1984 OLYMPIC GAMES IN THE SHOT PUT. HE WAS BOTH A STAR IN TRACK AND FIELD AND FOOTBALL AT SMU BUT NOT DRAFTED TILL THE FIFTH ROUND BECAUSE MANY THOUGHT HE WOULD GO INTO TRACK AND FIELD ON TO THE '88 GAMES. WHAT A BUY HE WAS AT THAT LATE PRICE FOR SAN FRANCISCO. QUICK HUDDLE. APPEARED TO BE AN OFFSIDE. HERE COMES JAMES BROOKS. OH, IS HE CRUSHED! AND KNOW THAT'S A RONNIE LOTT TACKLE WHEN YOU HEAR THEM ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP ROW. HE WAS SET UP BY GRIFFIN AND FULLER, AND THEN LOTT CAME UP TO NAIL HIM. I BELIEVE 94, CHARLES HALEY, WAS OFFSIDE. OFFSIDE, SAN FRANCISCO, IS THE CALL. THERE'S HALEY, WHO WAS LINED UP ON THE DEFENSIVE RIGHT SIDE. >> HALEY FLIP-FLOPPING, TRYING TO GET UPFIELD QUICKLY TO GET AROUND ANTHONY MUÑOZ. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT RONNIE LOTT. YOU CAN TELL -- CONCENTRATION. BOY, HE DOES READ SO WELL INSIDE. AND WATCH THE REACTION. ONCE HE SEES WHAT IS DEVELOPING HERE, HE DOESN'T WASTE ANY STEPS AT ALL. >> MMH! THE OLD DAYS, USED TO TEACH YOU KIND OF LOWER THAT SHOULDER AND HEAD. HE JUST HITS YOU STRAIGHT UP, FACE MASK TO FACE MASK. THEY TAKE THE PENALTY. FIRST AND 5 AT THE 30. A FAKE DRAW. ESIASON. DOWN THE MIDDLE TO COLLINSWORTH! AND WHAT A CATCH BY THE VETERAN FROM FLORIDA. BALL NOT WELL THROWN. COLLINSWORTH INJURED ON THE PLAY. HE'S BEEN PLAYING HURT ALL SEASON LONG. >> COLLINSWORTH, A BIG, TALL RECEIVER. AND BOOMER TENDS TO FAVOR HIM OVER THE YEARS IN A CRISIS SITUATION WHERE HE HAS TO GET THE BALL TO SOMEONE. I THINK HE HURTS HIMSELF AS HE HITS THE GROUND HERE. THAT'S GREAT CONCENTRATION ON THAT PLAY. WE'RE ALREADY OF THE OPINION THAT McGEE IS HURT, THE OTHER WIDE RECEIVER. NOW, IF COLLINSWORTH GOES DOWN, THAT REALLY PUTS SAM IN A BIND. >> BUT WHAT A OUTSTANDING PLAY BY COLLINSWORTH, CATCHING THE BACK END OF THE BALL. AND DON GRIFFIN ADDING SOME PUNISHMENT AT THE END. 23 YARDS, A FIRST DOWN. WE'LL SEE HOW COLLINSWORTH IS. CRIS COLLINSWORTH WAS ALL RIGHT. LEFT THE FIELD UNDER HIS OWN POWER. NO NOTICEABLE LIMP. AND IT'S A FIRST DOWN, CINCINNATI, AT THE SAN FRANCISCO 47. EARLY IN THE SECOND HALF. TIED AT 3. ICKEY WOODS COULD NOT FIND A HOLE. AND AROUND HIS ANKLES WAS KEVIN FAGAN. >> FAGAN PURSUING FROM HIS RIGHT DEFENSIVE END POSITION. WATCH HOW QUICKLY HE'LL GET OFF THE BLOCK HERE, OFF THE BACK OF MUÑOZ, WHO'S TRYING TO BLOCK HIM ACTUALLY WITH HIS HIPS, KEEP HIM IN. ICKEY WOODS TRYING TO CUT BACK. THERE WAS NO CHANCE THERE. >> HE WAS ON THE NCAA CHAMPIONS OF THE HURRICANES IN 1983. BERNIE KOSAR'S TEAM. ESIASON. FLAGS ARE DOWN. ESIASON, HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL STAR, HOOK-SLIDES IN AT THE 42. BUT THE FLAG BACK -- AND MICHAEL CARTER SAYS, "THEY'RE GRABBING ON TO ME, REF." >> BRUCE REIMERS CALLED FOR HOLDING. WATCH HIM GOING OUTSIDE HERE. THEIR STUNT TAKES KEVIN FAGAN IN. SO THEY HAVE TO SWITCH BODIES. BOY, I'LL TELL YOU. HE'S JUST TRYING TO HANG ON TO MICHAEL CARTER. THAT'S JUST LIKE GETTING ON THE BACK OF A FREIGHT TRAIN. >> OUT OF THE BACKFIELD, JAMES BROOKS. ALL THE WAY TO THE 38-YARD LINE. BOY, YOU TALK ABOUT GREAT TRADES. CINCINNATI SENT PETE JOHNSON, THE BIG FULLBACK, TO SAN DIEGO TO GET JAMES BROOKS IN 1984 FROM THE CHARGERS. JOHNSON ONLY PLAYED A FEW GAMES OUT ON THE WEST COAST, AND BROOKS HAS STARRED FOR THE BENGALS. >> FIRST PASS TO ANYONE OTHER THAN A WIDE RECEIVER. AND IT'S SUCCESSFUL. THEY'VE GOT TO GET THE BALL INTO OTHER PEOPLE'S HANDS HERE. INTO RODNEY HOLMAN'S HANDS. INTO BROOKS'S HANDS. >> 20 YARDS ON THE PLAY. AND THAT BRINGS UP THIRD AND 2. THERE'S THE ESIASON TARGETS. HE HASN'T THROWN TO THE PRO BOWL TIGHT END, RODNEY HOLMAN, YET. ICKEY WOODS. FIRST DOWN AT THE 35 OF SAN FRANCISCO. [ CROWD CHEERING ] [ WHISTLE BLOWS ] >> DAVID DOUGLAS ONTO THE FIELD IN PLACE OF BRUCE REIMERS. >> THIS IS THE FIRST POSSESSION OF THE SECOND HALF, AND CINCINNATI HAS NOW TAKEN IT TO A FIRST DOWN OUTSIDE THE NINER 35. ICKEY. AND A FLAG IS DOWN AFTER A COUPLE-YARD PICKUP. LARRY ROBERTS, WHO PLAYED AT ALABAMA, MADE THE STOP. PROCEDURE AGAINST CINCINNATI. A 5-YARD PENALTY. SO FIRST AND 15 FROM THE 40. KEVIN FAGAN DRAGS DOWN ESIASON RIGHT AT THE 40-YARD LINE. NO GAIN. BOY, HE'S HAD TIME TO FIND A RECEIVER, BUT THE 49er DEEP DEFENSE HAD THEM ALL COVERED. >> 49ers HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB OF MIXING THEIR COVERAGES TODAY. IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY SO FAR FOR BOOMER ESIASON. >> ESIASON RAN FOR 248 YARDS DURING THE REGULAR SEASON. THAT IS OFFICIALLY A SACK. SECOND AND 15. WOODS IS OUT. BROOKS, THE ONLY RUNNING BACK. HE GETS THE CALL. [ CHUCKLES ] YOU HEAR A PLAY LIKE THAT, YOU WONDER, WHEN YOU WERE A KID, "WHY DID YOU EVER WANT TO BE A FOOTBALL PLAYER?" >> THAT SOUNDED LIKE -- YOU KNOW HOW THEY CONNECT THOSE CARS IN THE RAILROAD YARD? THAT'S WHAT THAT SOUND SOUNDED LIKE. >> 7 YARDS FOR BROOKS. TIM McKYER, FULLER AND COMPANY, WITH THE TACKLE. NO HUDDLE. >> ATTACK OFFENSE BEING UTILIZED HERE. SAN FRANCISCO WILLING TO PLAY WITH WHAT THEY HAVE ON THE FIELD. OF COURSE, WITH JEFF FULLER, HE CAN BE LINEBACKER OR SAFETY. HALEY CAN BE DOWN LINEMAN OR LINEBACKER. SO THEY HAVE A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY. >> ESIASON. IT'S A FIRST DOWN ON A LEAPING CATCH BY CRIS COLLINSWORTH. 6'5", AND HE NEEDED ALL OF IT TO SPEAR THE BALL. >> OLD HABITS DIE HARD. COLLINSWORTH, A RECEIVER THAT ESIASON HAS LOOKED FOR REPEATEDLY OVER THE YEARS. HE DOES IT AGAIN HERE. THE HEAT IS ON. THAT IS A GREAT CATCH. >> AND THE DEEPEST PENETRATION FOR THE BENGALS IN THE GAME. AT THE 22-YARD LINE. COLLINSWORTH OUT. THEY SEND BROOKS OUT AS A FLANKER LEFT TO THE NEAR SIDE. BOTH WIDE RECEIVERS TO THE RIGHT. AND ICKEY WOODS, THE RUNNER. BREAKING A COUPLE OF TACKLES INSIDE THE 20, WHERE MICHAEL WALTER AND DON GRIFFIN TEAM FOR THE TACKLE. 7 MINUTES LEFT, THIRD QUARTER. THE GAME IS TIED AT 3. [ WHISTLES BLOW ] AND MOVEMENT IN THE LINE. AND MICHAEL CARTER REACTS TO IT. BOOMER COMPLAINING THAT IT WAS CARTER WHO INITIATED. CARTER SAYING HE WAS DRAWN OFFSIDE. >> FALSE START PRIOR TO THE SNAP. CENTER. >> BRUCE KOZERSKI. >> THAT'S PRETTY UNUSUAL. OBVIOUSLY A FLEX OR A MOVEMENT BY THE CENTER TO SIMULATE THE SNAP. AND THAT'S NOT LEGAL. NOT LEGAL FOR ANYONE IN THAT LINE TO MOVE ONCE THEY'RE DOWN IN POSITION. >> KOZERSKI, AN HONOR STUDENT. MAJORED IN PHYSICS AT HOLY CROSS. >> WATCH THE LITTLE BIT OF MOVEMENT THERE. YOU GOT TO THINK THAT -- YOU GOT TO KNOW THAT HE WAS JUST CONFUSED ON WHAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO DO, WHAT THE SNAP COUNT WAS. HE HAS HAD A FINE DAY ON MICHAEL CARTER, THOUGH. >> SECOND AND 12. WOODS. NOTHING THERE. AND LOOK AT LOTT COME IN. BOY, WOODS GOT DOWN JUST IN TIME. HE WAS SET UP, AND LOTT HAD ABOUT A 20-YARD RUN AT HIM. HERE'S THE NO-HUDDLE. >> VERY QUICK SUBSTITUTIONS FOR SAN FRANCISCO. THEY PUT FIVE PEOPLE ON THE FIELD. SO THEY'VE GOT THEIR PEOPLE IN THERE ALREADY. FRESH-LEGGED RUSHERS. YOU'RE WATCHING LOTT COME UP. >> DODGE A BULLET! [ BOTH LAUGH ] >> THAT'S A GOOD CHOICE. >> DIVE! DIVE! >> [ LAUGHS ] >> THE BALL AT THE 25-YARD LINE. THIRD DOWN AND 13. BOOMER IS 3 FOR 3 ON THIS DRIVE. FLAGS ARE DOWN. WE'LL SEE WHETHER JERRY SEEMAN HAD ESIASON AND THE PLAY WHISTLED IN THE GRASP AND CONTROL. >> ILLEGAL PROCEDURE AGAINST THE BENGALS. >> NOW, DO YOU LET IT GO TO FOURTH DOWN OR DO YOU MOVE THEM BACK? OBVIOUSLY THINKING THIS ONE OVER. >> WALSH, THE 57-YEAR-OLD HEAD COACH OF THE 49ers, SAYS, "DECLINE IT. MAKE THEM TRY THE LONG FIELD GOAL." IS THIS HIS LAST GAME? >> ILLEGAL SHIFT. TWO MEN MOVED PRIOR TO THE SNAP, DID NOT RESET. PENALTY DECLINED. FOURTH DOWN. >> SECOND TIME ON THIS DRIVE THAT THEY'VE BEEN CALLED FOR THE SAME PENALTY. YOU<i> CAN</i> LEGALLY MOVE TWO PEOPLE, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO RESET FOR A SECOND BEFORE THAT BALL IS SNAPPED. >> SO JIM BREECH. AND THIS WILL TEST THE LIMIT OF HIS LEG. THEY LIKE HIM INSIDE THE 40. OUTSIDE THE 40, IT'S A BONUS. THIS ONE WILL BE 43 YARDS. YOU SEE HE'S MADE ONLY 2 OF 5 FROM THIS RANGE THIS YEAR. TO GIVE CINCINNATI THE LEAD FOR THE FIRST TIME. AND SO IT IS! [ CROWD CHEERING ] 43 YARDS FOR JIM BREECH. AND THE BENGALS LEAD 6-3. THAT WAS A TIME-CONSUMING 12-PLAY DRIVE. OVER 9 MINUTES USED BY CINCINNATI TO GET THE FIELD GOAL BY BREECH. YOU SEE TAYLOR AND RODGERS DEEP. CINCINNATI LEADING 6-3. DEL RODGERS AT THE GOAL LINE. AND HE'S DOWN AT THE 17. BUT THEY MAY HAVE GOT HIM IN THE FACE MASK, AS THE FLAGS FLY. DARYL SMITH, 25, DOWNFIELD. AND THERE'S ANOTHER INJURY. >> PERSONAL FOUL. FACE MASK. NUMBER 25, KICKING TEAM. FIRST DOWN. >> AT THE 31-YARD LINE. I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE THE CAMERAMAN THAT HAS GONE DOWN TO THE CINCINNATI BENGAL LOCKER ROOM. TIM KRUMRIE DOWN THERE. WE'LL SHOW YOU WHAT HE FOUND. PLAY-ACTION, MONTANA. TO RICE. INCOMPLETE. JUST MOMENTS AGO, TIM KRUMRIE, TWO BONES FRACTURED IN THAT LEFT LEG -- YOU SEE HE'S ALREADY BEEN CASTED. KRUMRIE STAYING HERE, WATCHING THE GAME FROM THE BENGAL LOCKER ROOM. >> HE'S HARDHEADED. BUT HE KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS. [ CHUCKLES ] HE KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS. >> FAKE DRAW. MONTANA'S GOING TO RUN IT. AND ALERTLY OUT OF BOUNDS WITH A FIRST DOWN AT THE 42-YARD LINE. WELL, MONTANA'S 32 YEARS YOUNG, BUT HE STILL HAS GOOD FEET. >> DOES NOT LIKE TO RUN AS MUCH AS HE DID EARLY IN HIS CAREER. OF COURSE, THE VERY SERIOUS BACK OPERATION. MANY SAID NO WAY HE COULD COME BACK FROM THAT. HE CAME BACK BEFORE THE SEASON WAS OUT. A REMARKABLE RECOVERY. HE STILL HAS GOOD SPEED. HE'S BEEN DISCOURAGED FROM RUNNING, FROM TAKING THE HITS. BUT IN A GAME LIKE THIS, HE'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET HIS TEAM A VICTORY. >> JERRY RICE TO THE RIGHT, THE ONLY WIDE MAN, ON FIRST DOWN. AND CRAIG UP THE MIDDLE. 49ers DIDN'T RUN STRAIGHT AHEAD IN THE FIRST HALF. THEY MOSTLY DIRECTED THEIR RUNNING GAME WIDE. SO CRAIG BLASTING UP THE MIDDLE FOR 5. STEVE WALLACE, WHO FRACTURED HIS ANKLE ON THE THIRD PLAY OF THE GAME, THE OFFENSIVE TACKLE FOR THE 49ers. WE DO NOT KNOW WHETHER HE IS IN HIS REGULAR CLOTHES ON THE SIDELINES OR WHERE HE MIGHT BE AT THE MOMENT. BUBBA PARIS, VETERAN FROM MICHIGAN, HAS REPLACED HIM. THERE HE IS. BOY, YOU COULD SELL ADVERTISEMENT ON THE BACK OF THAT BODY. HE IS BIG. JERRY RICE. AND A LITTLE SHORT PATTERN WHERE THEY TRY TO GET RICE WITH ENOUGH ROOM THAT HE CAN USE HIS DAZZLING FOOTWORK, AS HE DID AGAINST THE BEARS IN THE BIG WIN TWO WEEKS AGO UP AT SOLDIER FIELD. 13 ON THE PLAY. >> CRAIG AND RICE, THE BIG GUNS IN THE FIRST HALF. WATCH THE VERY QUICK FEET. SOME OF THE TURF TEARING UP ON THIS FIELD, AND FOOTING WOULD APPEAR TO BE A LITTLE BIT TREACHEROUS AT TIMES. >> 6-3. CINCINNATI. 4 MINUTES LEFT, THIRD QUARTER. CRAIG. GOOD LATERAL PURSUIT BY THE BENGAL DEFENSE TO DENY HIM ANY BIG GAIN. REGGIE WILLIAMS WAS THERE EARLY, AS WAS DAVID GRANT, WHO HAS REPLACED KRUMRIE. AND THERE YOU SEE SOME OF THE FOOTBALL DIVOTS BEING TORN UP ON THIS NEW SOD. THEY RESODDED THE CENTER OF THE FIELD ABOUT FIVE WEEKS AGO. >> LOOKS GOOD, BUT IT IS NOT HOLDING UP VERY WELL TO THE CUTS OF THESE TWO TEAMS. 49ers WITH THOSE TWO FINE PULLING GUARDS, SAPOLU AND McINTYRE INSIDE, TRYING TO WORK THE OUTSIDE OF THIS DEFENSE A LITTLE HERE IN THIS FIRST DRIVE. >> SECOND AND 6. AND MONTANA CAUGHT FROM BEHIND. >> REGGIE WILLIAMS. HE HAD TWO SACKS IN THE PLAYOFFS EARLIER. COMING FROM THE BACK SIDE. MONTANA DID NOT SEE HIM. HE WAS ABLE TO GET A WRAPAROUND AND GET ENOUGH OF MONTANA TO KNOCK HIM TO THE GROUND. HE'LL COME FROM THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF YOUR PICTURE. MONTANA WILL FEEL THE PRESSURE UP FRONT. RIGHT THERE. BUT HE DIDN'T SEE REGGIE FROM THE BACK SIDE. AND, BOY, HE JUST BARELY GOT ENOUGH OF HIM TO TAKE HIM DOWN. >> A LOSS OF 3. IT'S THIRD AND 9. OUT OF THE BACKFIELD. CRAIG. AND HE IS HIT! RIGHT AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE. BY BARNEY BUSSEY. BOY, THAT JUST<i> SOUNDS</i> LIKE A FOOTBALL PLAYER, DOESN'T IT? BARNEY BUSSEY FROM SOUTH CAROLINA STATE. >> THERE HE IS. RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR PICTURE. HE'S ASSIGNED TO CRAIG. MAN TO MAN. AND WATCH HIM TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY. THAT'S WHAT YOU CALL A SPY MAN THERE. "HEY, HE'S MY MAN. I'M GONNA GO FIND HIM." >> HE WAS THE PLAYER THAT HIT DOUG WILLIAMS, REMEMBER, IN THE OVERTIME, WHEN THE REDSKINS LOOKED LIKE THEY MIGHT BEAT CINCINNATI. MISSED THE SHORT FIELD GOAL, AND THEN BUSSEY SACKED WILLIAMS, FORCED THE FUMBLE, AND CINCINNATI WON ON THE FIELD GOAL IN OVERTIME. HELTON HITS IT HIGH. FAIR CATCH. THEY'LL LET IT GO. IT TAKES A 49er -- IT HIT ONE OF THE BENGALS! THAT'S A LIVE BALL. WHO RECOVERED? >> SAVED BY THE BENGALS. >> RAY HORTON. THAT HIT THE HEELS OF ONE OF THE CINCINNATI PLAYERS. THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER FOR ONE TEAM AND GLORY FOR ANOTHER. 2:29 REMAINING, THIRD QUARTER. CINCINNATI LEADS 6-3. INTERCEPTED! ROMANOWSKI! BILL ROMANOWSKI DOES GIVE THE 49ers THE BREAK. AT THE 23-YARD LINE. [ CROWD CHEERING ] >> AFTER FINALLY GETTING A FEW SUCCESSFUL PASSES COMPLETED IN THAT FIRST DRIVE, ESIASON DOES NOT LOOK GOOD WITH HIS FIRST PASS OF THE SECOND DRIVE. THROWS IT RIGHT INTO THE ARMS OF THE WAITING LINEBACKER. THAT BALL JUST POORLY THROWN. >> ROMANOWSKI IS IN THERE BECAUSE HE'S TOUGH ON THE RUN. HE DID NOT HAVE AN INTERCEPTION ALL YEAR. >> YOU'VE JUST GOT TO GET THAT BALL UP A LITTLE BIT, AND YOU'LL HAVE A CHANCE. BUT THAT BALL -- IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE BOOMER JUST THROWING THAT BALL BADLY. >> MONTANA. INCOMPLETE. JERRY RICE TRYING TO TURN UPFIELD BEFORE HE'D REALLY TUCKED IT AWAY. >> JERRY RICE. THOSE ARE SURE HANDS. THIS IS NOT A MAN WHO DROPS IT TO THE GROUND, WHO LOOKS AWAY BEFORE IT ARRIVES. BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE DID. HE'S LOOKING DOWNFIELD BEFORE HE TUCKED IT AWAY. >> ROMANOWSKI ACCEPTING THE CONGRATULATIONS. THEY REALLY LIKE THIS ROOKIE. HE'S PLAYED WELL AND COMES UP WITH A BIG TURNOVER. IT'S SECOND AND 10. CRAIG. AND REGGIE WILLIAMS, THE VETERAN, STAYING AT HOME. BOY, YOU COULD JUST SEE HIM PLANT HIS FEET ON THE OUTSIDE AND SAY, "YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO INSIDE. YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET AROUND ME." >> FIVE SUBSTITUTIONS ON THE FIELD FOR THE BENGALS. THEY GO INTO THEIR NICKEL PACKAGE TO TRY AND SHUT MONTANA DOWN. WALSH COUNTERS WITH HIS OWN SUBSTITUTIONS. >> A BIG THIRD AND 7 FOR MONTANA AT THE CINCINNATI 20. RICE. >> HE'S GONNA BE SHORT. >> BY A YARD. LEWIS BILLUPS RIDES HIM DOWN AT THE 14-YARD LINE. FOURTH AND 1. HE'S GONNA GO FOR THE FIELD GOAL. IN COMES COFER. APPARENT FIELD GOAL. >> YES. BETTER ADD THAT. IT'S BEEN THAT KIND OF DAY. YOU PULL OUT THE STOPS IN THIS KIND OF GAME, AND IT WOULD NOT SURPRISE US TO SEE EITHER COACH THROW A TRICK PLAY OR PULL ONE OUT OF HIS HAT HERE. >> IT'LL BE FROM SHORT RANGE. ALTHOUGH, REMEMBER -- COFER, THE LAST TIME, ON A BAD SNAP, MISSED THE SHORTEST EVER, IN SUPER BOWL XIX. THIS IS 32 YARDS. HERE'S THOMAS, THE SNAPPER. IT IS GOOD. [ CROWD CHEERING ] WITH 50 SECONDS REMAINING IN THE THIRD PERIOD. ONCE AGAIN THIS SUPER BOWL IS TIED. >> BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE WE'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SUPER BOWL GAME THAT WAS THIS TIGHT THIS LATE IN THE GAME. LOOK OUT! >> STANFORD JENNINGS! STANFORD JENNINGS IS GOING TO GO ALL THE WAY UNLESS SYDNEY CAN CATCH HIM. HE CAN'T! TOUCHDOWN, CINCINNATI! OH, MY! [ CROWD CHEERING ] SAM WYCHE AND STANFORD JENNINGS ARE BOTH GRADUATES OF FURMAN. AND THEY CAN ENJOY THIS SPECIAL MOMENT TOGETHER. 93 YARDS FOR A SCORE. AND CINCINNATI HAS EXPLODED INTO THE LEAD. FULTON WALKER RETURNED A KICKOFF FOR A TOUCHDOWN IN THE MIAMI-WASHINGTON GAME IN THE ROSE BOWL SIX GAMES AGO. THAT WAS A 98-YARDER. BUT IT'S CINCINNATI STUNNING THE 49ers. AND STANFORD JENNINGS, 93 YARDS. >> JENNINGS GETTING MORE RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE OF THE SUSPENSION OF STANLEY WILSON. AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF HIS OPPORTUNITY HERE. BOY, HE IS HIGH-STEPPING. HE LOOKS LIKE ROGER CRAIG GOING DOWN THAT FIELD. THESE ARE THE KINDS OF PLAYS THAT SWITCH EMOTION AROUND IN A GAME. I'LL TELL YOU, THERE'S NOTHING BIGGER OR NOTHING MORE DEVASTATING ON THE OTHER SIDE THAN THAT KIND OF SPECIAL-TEAMS PLAY. >> NOW IT'S THE 49ers' TURN. FIRST TOUCHDOWN OF THE GAME, ON SPECIAL TEAMS. 13-6. AND HERE'S A MAN WHO CAN TAKE IT ALL THE WAY. JOHN TAYLOR. UNH-UNH. STOPPED AT THE 15-YARD LINE. ED BRADY AND MARC LOGAN. [ CROWD CHEERING ] >> THERE'S A SENSE OF EMOTION BEING MAGNIFIED IN THIS GAME IN SUCH A WAY THAT A BAD BREAK OF THAT KIND REALLY WORKS MORE HEAVILY THAN IT WOULD EVEN IN A PLAYOFF GAME OR PARTICULARLY IN A REGULAR-SEASON GAME. >> MONTANA. HIT AS HE THROWS. AND JERRY RICE! STILL ON HIS FEET! FINALLY DRAGGED DOWN AT THE 46-YARD LINE. JERRY RICE AND MONTANA. WHAT A HOOKUP. AND FOR THE QUARTERBACK OF THE 49ers, HE GOT THAT ONE OFF JUST AS HE WAS KISSED. FINAL SECOND OF THE THIRD QUARTER. 15 TO GO. CINCINNATI BY A TOUCHDOWN. JERRY RICE ON THE RECEIVING END, WITH MONTANA HIT HARD. MOVING TO THE 46-YARD LINE BEFORE BILLUPS COULD -- WELL, BILLUPS COULDN'T DRAG HIM DOWN. LOOK AT THE GREAT BALANCE BY RICE. THEY SAY HE DOESN'T HAVE GREAT SPEED -- UNTIL HE HAS THAT BALL IN HIS HANDS. MONTANA ON THE ROLL. THROWING DEEP. COMPLETE TO CRAIG! AND CRAIG IS TO THE 14-YARD LINE! [ CROWD CHEERING ] >> WELL, HOW DO YOU ANSWER A BIG PLAY? YOU COME RIGHT BACK WITH THAT KIND OF PLAY. MONTANA NOT WASTING ANY TIME. BING, BING. RIGHT DOWN THE FIELD. ROLLING TO HIS RIGHT. HE FAVORS THAT. HE'S SO COMFORTABLE OUT THERE. ALL KINDS OF TIME. YOU TALK ABOUT TOUCH PASSES. THE WIND DIDN'T PLAY WITH THAT ONE, DICK. >> THAT'S THE FIRST TIME HE'S COMPLETED A PASS ON A ROLL -- 1 FOR 5. GETS 40 YARDS. AS SAN FRANCISCO TRIES TO COME RIGHT BACK. INTO THE END ZONE! ALMOST INTERCEPTED! LEWIS BILLUPS HAD HIS HANDS ON IT. >> YOU HAVE THE SENSE OF THIS BEING A DAY OF MISSED OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ers. WELL, THIS IS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR LEWIS BILLUPS. HE GETS THE READ HERE. TAYLOR DRIVING INSIDE. AND BILLUPS WITH GOOD ANTICIPATION, KNOWS WHERE THAT PATTERN'S GONNA BE THROWN. HE HAD IT. HE HAD IT. YOU CAN'T DROP THAT ONE. THAT'S YOUR BALL OUT ON THE 20, AND YOU'VE SHUT DOWN THE DRIVE. >> BOTH WIDE RECEIVERS TO THE LEFT. TAYLOR AND RICE. THE THROW IS TO RICE. TOUCHDOWN! [ CROWD CHEERING ] >> A GREAT COMBINATION KNOWS EXACTLY WHERE THE OTHER PERSON IS GOING TO BE. LOOK AT HOW HE HUNG THAT BALL OUT OVER THAT GOAL LINE. THAT BALL JUST HAS TO BE OUT OVER THAT GOAL LINE, HAS TO BREAK THE PLANE OF THE GOAL LINE BEFORE HE GOES OUT OF BOUNDS. I DON'T THINK THERE WILL BE ANY REVIEW OF THAT. NO. NOT NOW. >> OOH. COFER JUST DOES GET THAT KICK AWAY. AND THE GAME IS TIED AGAIN AT 13. >> MONTANA KNOWS HOW IMPORTANT THAT TOUCHDOWN WAS, AS HE GOES OVER TO CONGRATULATE JERRY RICE. >> SIXTH TOUCHDOWN IN THESE PLAYOFFS FOR JERRY RICE. THE KICKOFF TOWARD THE SIDELINES. OUT OF BOUNDS. SO CINCINNATI WILL PLAY IT FROM THE 35-YARD LINE. JUST UNDER 14 MINUTES TO GO. 13 ALL. BOOMER. TO BROWN. EDDIE BROWN OUT TO THE 42-YARD LINE. LET'S GO BACK TO THAT PLAY THAT PRECEDED THE SAN FRANCISCO TOUCHDOWN. >> AGAIN, BILLUPS WITH GOOD POSITION. AND THAT'S NOT A GREAT PASS FROM MONTANA. BUT RIGHT THROUGH HIS ARMS. AND THAT IS NOT A DIFFICULT CATCH TO MAKE. BOY, I'LL TELL YOU. THAT'S THE KIND THAT HAUNT YOU. THAT'S THE KIND YOU WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT DREAMING ABOUT. >> SECOND DOWN, 2 1/2. ICKEY WOODS HAS THE FIRST DOWN AT THE 47-YARD LINE. MICHAEL WALTER AND LARRY ROBERTS SPEARHEADED THE CHARGE. A 4-YARD GAIN. WALTER PLAYED AT OREGON. HE AND WALSH ARE ON THE SAME PAGE. THEY CELEBRATE THEIR BIRTHDAY TOGETHER ON NOVEMBER 30th. TIME REMAINING IN THE FOURTH QUARTER. IT SEEMS A LONG TIME SINCE A SUPER BOWL GAME HAS BEEN THIS CLOSE. THE LAST TIME THE GAME WAS DECIDED IN THE FOURTH QUARTER -- AS YOU LOOK AT THE TORN SOD HERE AT JOE ROBBIE STADIUM -- WAS IN PASADENA WHEN WASHINGTON AND RIGGINS BEAT MIAMI. THAT WAS SIX GAMES AGO. WOODS. A COUPLE. LARRY ROBERTS. HE'S PLAYED A BIG GAME. NUMBER 91. IN HIS THIRD YEAR WITH THE 49ers. >> HE'S REALLY MATURED DURING THIS YEAR, BECOME AN EFFECTIVE PASS RUSHER AND RUN-DOWN SPECIALIST. IN FACT, THEY HAVE HIM PLAYING BOTH WAYS. THEY LIKE TO FLIP-FLOP EVERYBODY ELSE IN THERE, BUT HE STAYS IN PRETTY MUCH ALL THE TIME. >> WE UNDERSTAND STEVE WALLACE, WHO FRACTURED HIS ANKLE, THE 49er TACKLE -- HE IS BEING CASTED AND IS HERE IN THE LOCKER ROOM AT JOE ROBBIE STADIUM. ESIASON. INCOMPLETE. AND THEY'RE GOING TO RULE THAT ESIASON WAS DOWN AND IN THE GRASP. THAT IS A SACK FOR LARRY ROBERTS AND CHARLES HALEY. >> ESIASON -- WE'VE SEEN HIM ROLLING OUT MORE TONIGHT, BY FAR, THAN WE HAVE SEEN HIM IN THE PAST. AND HALEY, WHO'S BEEN RELATIVELY SILENT, COMING VERY QUICKLY OFF THE LEFT-HAND SIDE TO GET ESIASON BEFORE HE COULD GET THAT BALL AWAY. >> THREE WIDE RECEIVERS TO THE RIGHT. THIRD AND LONG. 15 TO GO. COLLINSWORTH WAS THE INTENDED RECEIVER AT THE 37-YARD LINE. AND CHARLES HALEY AGAIN APPLYING THE PRESSURE. >> THOSE ARE THE KIND OF PASSES THAT BOOMER MADE SO VERY SUCCESSFULLY EARLY IN THIS SEASON. WE HAVEN'T SEEN HIM ACCURATELY DELIVER THOSE BALLS IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. HE CERTAINLY HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO IT TONIGHT. >> BOY, AFTER THE STANFORD JENNINGS TOUCHDOWN WITH A KICKOFF RETURN OF 93 YARDS, HAVE THE 49ers TURNED THAT EMOTION AROUND. THEY QUICKLY MARCHED TO A SCORE IN FOUR PLAYS, 85 YARDS. MONTANA TO RICE, THE PAYOFF, 14. NOW THEY'VE STOPPED ESIASON AND CINCINNATI, AND THEY GET IT RIGHT BACK WITH 11 MINUTES TO GO. FAIR CATCH, TAYLOR. THAT WASN'T A VERY GOOD FAIR-CATCH SIGNAL. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GONNA ALLOW IT OR NOT. SAN FRANCISCO RECOVERS THE BALL. TAYLOR REALLY DIDN'T GET HIS HAND UP. IT WAS KIND OF HALFHEARTED. AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN CINCINNATI'S BALL IF RECOVERED BY THE BENGALS. ALERTLY, DARRYL POLLARD, 26, FELL ON IT. >> HE'S GOT TO GET THAT HAND UP AND WAVE IT. HE DIDN'T DO IT. OOH, AND HE TOOK HIS EYE OFF OF THAT FOOTBALL. BOY, THEY'RE LUCKY THEY DIDN'T GET THAT ONE TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM. >> AT THE 18-YARD LINE. 13 ALL, THE SCORE. 11 MINUTES TO GO. MONTANA GOING FOR THE BIG BOMB TO RICE. WHAT A CATCH BY RICE! UNBELIEVABLE, AGAIN! [ CROWD CHEERING ] >> EARLIER IN THE WEEK, WHEN THERE WAS TALK OF AN INJURY TO RICE'S ANKLE, I THINK LEWIS BILLUPS WAS PROBABLY THE HAPPIEST GUY IN MIAMI. BUT THE STORY WAS NOT TRUE. THERE'S A MAN WHO DOESN'T HAVE A SORE ANKLE. AT LEAST HE'S RUNNING LIKE A MAN WITH TWO HEALTHY ANKLES. BILLUPS WITH HIS HANDS FULL. AND RICE, AGAIN, THE AMAZING PLAY. >> HUMAN HIGHLIGHT FILM. HIS COACH IN COLLEGE, ARCHIE COOLEY, SAID HE COULD CATCH A B.B. AT MIDNIGHT. ROGER CRAIG SLASHES TO THE 31-YARD LINE. AND THE COMBINATION OF JERRY RICE CATCHING THE BALL AND ROGER CRAIG BOTH CATCHING AND RUNNING -- LOOK AT THE TOTALS THEY'RE RACKING UP. THEY<i> ARE</i> THE SAN FRANCISCO OFFENSE. >> YOU'VE GOT TO BELIEVE THAT THE WAY THIS BENGAL DEFENSE HAS RISEN TO THE OCCASION WITHOUT THEIR BEST PLAYER, TIM KRUMRIE, HAS TAKEN A LOT OUT OF THEM EMOTIONALLY. BUT RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT IN THAT HUDDLE, THEY'RE SAYING ONE THING -- "WE CAN'T BACKSLIDE NOW. LET'S GO GET THEM. LET'S SHUT THEM DOWN. IT'S STILL TIED ON THE SCOREBOARD." >> CRAIG AGAIN. AND SEALING OFF THE OUTSIDE WAS REGGIE WILLIAMS. HE'S PLAYED A TOUGH GAME AT THAT LINEBACKER POSITION. WANT TO DUCK IN SOMETHING -- WE UNDERSTAND -- THEY'RE TELLING US THAT TIM KRUMRIE -- DESPITE THE FACT HE WANTED TO STAY HERE, WATCH THE GAME, SEE HIS TEAM COME IN OFF THE FIELD -- THE DOCTORS NOW HAVE ORDERED KRUMRIE TO GO TO A NEARBY HOSPITAL FOR ALL THE PROPER PRECAUTIONARY REASONS -- SHOCK AND THAT SORT OF THING. SO KRUMRIE HAS LEFT. NOW AT THE 32-YARD LINE. THIRD DOWN AND 4. CRAIG. NO. HE GOES THE OTHER WAY, TO RICE. AND IT'S KNOCKED AWAY, INCOMPLETE. IT WAS JOHN TAYLOR. JOHN TAYLOR ON THE NEAR SIDELINE. >> AND GUESS WHO WAS THERE TO HELP THAT FOOTBALL FALL TO THE GROUND. DAVID FULCHER. WE HAVEN'T MENTIONED HIS NAME AS MANY TIMES HERE IN THIS SECOND HALF. BUT THAT MAY BE THE BIGGEST PLAY FOR THIS DEFENSE IN THIS SECOND HALF. HE KNEW. >> HE HAD THREE MEN OPEN. HE HAD CRAIG, THEN HE HAD RICE A LITTLE SHORT, AND THEN, ON THE SIDELINES, THE BALL ZIPPED TO TAYLOR. BUT FULCHER, THE MAN ON THE SPOT. 49 YARDS FOR THE LEAD. TESTING THE LEG OF MIKE COFER. >> PLENTY OF LEG. >> IT IS NO GOOD! WIDE TO THE RIGHT. AFTER THE MISSED 49-YARD FIELD GOAL, CINCINNATI TAKES OVER AT THE 31. AND IT'S ICKEY WOODS OFF TACKLE. AND THEY'RE WAITING FOR HIM. KEVIN FAGAN. JUST AS REGGIE WILLIAMS HAS BEEN SOLID AGAINST THE RUN FOR CINCINNATI, KEVIN FAGAN HAS BEEN THE ANSWER FOR THE 49ers. >> RIKI ELLISON, NUMBER 50, IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT DEFENSE. HE'S BEEN HURT A GOOD DEAL OF THE LAST PART OF THIS YEAR. HE HAS SPECIAL INCENTIVE TODAY. LET'S GO BACK TO THAT ATTEMPTED FIELD GOAL. THE SNAP BY RANDY CROSS. WORD THAT WE HAVE HERE NOW IS THAT SAN FRANCISCO USED CROSS AS A SNAPPER EARLIER IN THIS GAME. SO OUR CRITICISM OF CHUCK THOMAS MAY HAVE BELONGED ON RANDY CROSS'S SHOULDERS. >> MICHAEL CARTER, THE NOSE TACKLE, SHOWING HIS SPEED AS HE RUNS BOOMER ESIASON OUT OF BOUNDS AT THE 29. SO ON THAT MISSED FIELD GOAL -- 19-YARDER -- ON THE BAD SNAP, THAT WAS VETERAN RANDY CROSS, NOT CHUCK THOMAS, WHO MADE THE SNAP. >> IN HIS LAST BALLGAME, RETIRING, MAYBE CHUCK WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE BLAME FOR HIM. PERHAPS WE CAN GET CHUCK TO DO THAT FOR RANDY. >> THERE'S CROSS. 13 YEARS IN THE LEAGUE. THREE TIMES A PRO BOWLER. HE'S PLAYED BOTH CENTER AND GUARD. WANTS TO BE A SPORTSCASTER. A VERY GLIB GUY. DAD WAS AN ACTOR -- A CHARACTER ACTOR, A BAD GUY IN THE MOVIES. HE'S BEEN A GOOD GUY FOR THE 49ers, HAS RANDY. THIRD AND 13. McGEE. OR HILLARY! IRA HILLARY IN THE GAME WITH THE INJURIES TO McGEE AND COLLINSWORTH. HAS HIS FIRST CATCH. HAD ONLY FIVE ALL SEASON. AND COMES UP WITH A BIG THIRD-DOWN PLAY. FIRST DOWN. >> ESIASON THROWING THIS LONG OUT. IT'S THE KIND OF PASS HE MISSED SEVERAL TIMES EARLIER IN THE GAME. THIS ONE WILL BE COMPLETED. >> DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF ZIP ON IT, THOUGH, DID IT? >> HANGS UP THERE A LONG TIME. AND THAT WAS A TRADEMARK OF BOOMER'S PASSING EARLIER IN THE YEAR -- HE REALLY HAS A POWERFUL ARM, AND THOSE PATTERNS ARE THE ONES HE THROWS THE BEST. >> 16 YARDS AND THE FIRST DOWN. NOW JAMES BROOKS. LOOK WHO CAME FLYING UP THERE -- MICHAEL WALTER -- TO PLUG THE HOLE. ROBERTS WAS THERE AS WELL, BUT IT WAS WALTER, 99, FLYING TO THE BALL. >> VERY, VERY ACTIVE LINEBACKERS FOR THIS 49er TEAM. I'LL TELL YOU, GEORGE SEIFERT, THEIR DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR, HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB OF PUTTING THIS DEFENSE TOGETHER IN POSITIONS WHERE THEY CAN MAKE THE STOPS. >> NEEDLESS TO SAY... >> WE'D LOVE TO SEE THAT. >> ...FIRST EXPERIENCE WOULD BE ONE WORTHY OF SOME HISTORICAL MERIT. >> WE TALKED ABOUT THAT ALL WEEK, AND PEOPLE LOOKED AT US LIKE WE WERE CRAZY. >> 6:44 LEFT IN THE FOURTH QUARTER. TIED AT 13. SECOND DOWN, 9. ICKEY WOODS. CLOSE TO A FIRST DOWN, AS HE DRIVES TO THE SAN FRANCISCO 44. FULLER AND ELLISON MAKE THE TACKLE, AS RIKI ELLISON GETS UP OFF THE BALL, NUMBER 50, THE TACKLER FOR SAN FRANCISCO. HIS DAD, YOU SAID, IS HERE FROM NEW ZEALAND TO SEE HIM PLAY. >> HIS FATHER HAS NEVER SEEN HIM PLAY A FOOTBALL GAME. FATHER AND MOTHER SEPARATED EARLY. HIS FATHER HAS LIVED OUT OF THE COUNTRY, WAS IN FIJI. WANTED TO COME TO SUPER BOWL XIX. THE DAY HE WAS GOING TO LEAVE, A HURRICANE CAME THROUGH, BLEW THE ROOF OFF HIS HOUSE. HE WASN'T ABLE TO COME. HE'S HERE WATCHING HIS SON TODAY. BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA SHOW YOU A PICTURE OF HIM. >> [ LAUGHS ] NOT AFTER THE NORMAN ESIASON EXPERIENCE OF A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. FIRST DOWN, CINCINNATI. 5:51 TO GO. >> HIS FATHER, DAN, VERY PROUD, I'M SURE, OF THE WAY HIS SON'S PLAYING TODAY. >> ICKEY WOODS BEHIND THAT BIG RIGHT SIDE OF THE LINE. PLOWS UNDER BRIAN BLADOS, THE 300-POUND RIGHT TACKLE, AND HAS GOOD YARDAGE AGAIN. >> SAN FRANCISCO SLANTING THEIR DEFENSIVE LINE. THEY'VE DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB HERE IN THE SECOND HALF OF SHUTTING DOWN THE RUNNING GAME. BUT I THINK THAT BIG OFFENSIVE LINE BEGINNING TO WEAR DOWN THIS DEFENSE. AND THAT SHOULD PAY OFF IN RUNNING YARDAGE. >> JIM BREECH, THE FIELD-GOAL KICKER, HAS CONNECTED 2 FOR 2 TODAY, HIS LAST FROM 43 YARDS. SECOND DOWN AND 3. WOODS NOW WITH 74 YARDS, LEADING THE CINCINNATI RUNNING GAME. AND IT'S HIS NUMBER AGAIN. NO, PLAY-ACTION. ESIASON. AND THROWS COMPLETE. WAS HE OUT OF BOUNDS? JAMES BROOKS. THAT'S A GOOD CATCH. THEY SAY IN BOUNDS. A DOZEN MORE FOR THE BENGALS. AND THAT WILL PUT THEM INTO FIELD-GOAL RANGE WITH A FIRST DOWN AT THE 25. >> YOU TALK ABOUT A TOE-TAPPER. BOY, I'LL TELL YOU. THOSE TOES DOWN. NOW THEY'RE SAYING NO CATCH NOW? WATCH THE TOES HERE. BROOKS. ONE. THAT'S IN BOUNDS. AH, THE SECOND TOE OUT OF BOUNDS. >> AND SO FAR THE INSTANT REPLAY -- >> THEY'RE NOT GONNA STOP IT. HE WAS SAYING HE WAS PUSHED OUT OF BOUNDS, THAT HIS TOE WOULD HAVE COME DOWN -- THE TOE WOULD HAVE COME DOWN IN BOUNDS, BUT HE WAS PUSHED. >> FIRST DOWN AT THE 24-YARD LINE. AND THE SNAP DOESN'T EVEN COME OFF. >> CARTER JUMPING A LITTLE BIT EARLY. DID SOMEONE MOVE? >> WE LOOK AT BREECH, BUT SAM WYCHE IS THINKING MORE THAN FIELD GOAL NOW. >> HE WANTS THE 7. >> FALSE START PRIOR TO THE SNAP. NUMBER 64, THE CENTER. STILL FIRST DOWN. >> KOZERSKI, WHO HAS WORKED SO HARD TODAY ON MICHAEL CARTER. WE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF CARTER. HERE'S THAT LAST PLAY. BOY, THIS IS GREAT BODY CONTROL BY JAMES BROOKS. WATCH THOSE TOES STRETCH DOWN. AND YOU SEE THE SHOVE RIGHT THERE BY TIM McKYER. IF McKYER IS NOT THERE TO PUSH HIM, THAT OTHER TOE DOES COME DOWN. I AGREE WITH THE CALL. >> FANS WHO WATCHED IT ON THE REPLAY IN THE STADIUM -- AT LEAST THE 49er FANS -- BOOING. THEY THOUGHT THAT WAS NOT A FAVORABLE CALL. FIRST DOWN, 15. AT THE 30. AND THEY RUN IT. WOODS GETS BACK THE 5 YARDS THEY LOST ON THE PENALTY. YOU SAW EARLIER IN THE GAME THAT ICKEY, ON HIS SWEATBAND, OVER THE FOREHEAD, HAD NUMBER 46. THAT WAS THE NUMBER OF HIS FRIEND FROM FRESNO AND UNLV TEAMMATE -- THERE IT IS -- ANDRE HORN. YOU'VE HEARD THE STORY. HORN WAS HIS PAL. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO GET TOGETHER ONE NIGHT. ICKEY DIDN'T MAKE IT. AND HIS FRIEND, ANDRE HORN, WAS MURDERED. AND THAT TURNED WOODS' LIFE AROUND. THAT WAS HIS BEST BUDDY. AND HE REMEMBERS HIM HERE IN THIS SUPER BOWL EXPERIENCE. SECOND AND 10. ESIASON GOING FOR BROOKS. INCOMPLETE AT THE 5. WALTER DRIFTING BACK IN PASS DEFENSE TO HELP OUT RONNIE LOTT. ALL RIGHT. THIRD DOWN. CINCINNATI TODAY HAS BEEN 4 FOR 13. AND THIS IS A TOUGH ONE. THIRD AND 11. IF THEY DO NOT GAIN ANY YARDS -- THE BALL JUST INSIDE THE 25 -- WE'RE TALKING A 42-, 43-YARD FIELD GOAL. 4:08 TO GO. THEY'RE LETTING THE CLOCK RUN DOWN. ALREADY 9. AND NOW THEY'LL CALL A TIME-OUT. OR OFFICIALS WILL CALL A TIME. COFER, WHO HAS MISSED TWO -- ONE FROM 19 AND ONE FROM 49 YARDS. STANFORD JENNINGS, FOR A MOMENT A HERO FOR CINCINNATI WITH THAT KICKOFF RETURN FOR A TOUCHDOWN, IS IN THE LINEUP. >> BIG, BIG PLAY. THIS IS A TOUGH ONE FOR THE CONVERSION HERE. THIRD AND 11. >> JENNINGS. >> NO. >> THEY JUST POSITION THE BALL, MIDDLE OF THE FIELD. JENNINGS GETS A FEW MORE YARDS TO THE 22-YARD LINE, WHICH WILL GIVE BREECH A SHOT OF A FIELD GOAL FROM 40 OR JUST INSIDE. HE WAS ORIGINALLY DRAFTED BY THE LIONS WAY BACK IN 1978. HE'S AN EXCELLENT GOLFER. AND WHENEVER YOU TALK TO BREECH ABOUT KICKING, HE TALKS ABOUT GOLF AND HOW HIS LEG IS REALLY THE CLUB IN HIS BODY MAKING THE PLAY. >> SAME KIND OF MECHANICS. HE SAID, "YOU HOOK AND SLICE A FOOTBALL THE SAME WAY YOU DO A GOLF BALL." >> AND YOU KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN. >> [ CHUCKLES ] LET'S SEE IF HE CAN DO IT. >> 40 YARDS. AND IT IS GOOD! [ CROWD CHEERING ] THE SMALLEST MAN ON THE FIELD, 5'6" JIM BREECH, IS GROWING BY THE MINUTE. HE IS 3 FOR 3 ON FIELD GOALS. AND CINCINNATI LEADS AGAIN, 16-13. >> HE REALLY PUTS A FOOT INTO THAT BALL ON THESE KICKOFFS. AND THAT HAS BEEN A FACTOR HERE TODAY -- FIELD POSITION. >> AND HE COULD KICK YOU A 50-YARDER. HE HAS THAT KIND OF LEG. BUT BREECH IS THE SHORT MAN IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. JOHNSON. TO DEL RODGERS. 10. FLAG DOWN. RODGERS DOWN. ANOTHER FLAG. AND IT APPEARS THE 49ers WILL START DEEP IN THEIR OWN END. RODGERS, THE BALLCARRIER, SLOW GETTING UP. WELL, AS YOU LOOK BACK ON A COUPLE OF BIG MOMENTS EARLY, THEN, MERLIN, IN THE FIRST HALF -- THE INJURIES, OF COURSE, TO WALLACE AND KRUMRIE WE HAVE DOCUMENTED. BUT MISSING A 19-YARD FIELD GOAL, THE SHORTEST EVER IN SUPER BOWL HISTORY -- THIS COULD BE THE ONE THEY REALLY TALK ABOUT. CROSS IS THE SNAPPER. >> THAT IS RANDY CROSS. THOMAS NEXT TO HIM IN THE LINEUP, BUT CROSS THE MAN SNAPPING TONIGHT. AND THAT BALL RIGHT ON THE KNEE. AND YOU CAN'T GET IT UP AND MAINTAIN THE TIMING. I'M SURE THAT HE IS BLAMING HIMSELF. BUT THE TIMING IS SO CRITICAL. YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE THE GOOD SNAP AND THE GOOD HOLD OR THE KICKER CANNOT DO HIS JOB. >> AND THEN COFER MISSED ALSO FROM THE 49, SO HE'S 1 FOR 3. MONTANA. OVER THE MIDDLE. TO CRAIG. PROTECTING THE BALL. AND OUT TO THE 17, AS HE TAKES A LICK FROM CARL ZANDER. AND MONTANA NOT WASTING ANY TIME. NO HUDDLE. >> SO IMPORTANT. AND THIS CINCINNATI DEFENSE, BOY, I TELL YOU, THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB WITHOUT THEIR BEST PLAYER. WE'VE SAID IT AGAIN AND AGAIN. BUT THEY KEEP COMING UP WITH THE BIG SERIES, THE BIG PLAYS. >> NICE CATCH UNDERNEATH. THE TIGHT END. JOHN FRANK. THEY'RE 9-1 WITH FRANK IN THE LINEUP THIS YEAR, THAT TIGHT END. CLOCK IS RUNNING. 2:40, 2:39. YOU SEE IT. THAT'S THE GAME CLOCK. FOURTH QUARTER. CINCINNATI LEADING BY A FIELD GOAL. FIRST-DOWN PLAY. MONTANA. AND OUT OF BOUNDS GOES JERRY RICE WITH ANOTHER CATCH. AND FOR RICE, THE BRILLIANT ALL-PRO WHO WAS THE NFL PLAYER OF THE YEAR LAST YEAR, HIS NINTH CATCH FOR 171 YARDS AND A TOUCHDOWN. HE CAUGHT 22 TOUCHDOWN PASSES FOR BILL WALSH LAST YEAR TO SET AN NFL RECORD. AND REMEMBER, THAT WAS IN A SHORT SEASON, WITH THE STRIKE. 12 GAMES, 22 TOUCHDOWNS. >> BILL WALSH AND HIS 49ers MAY BE MOST DANGEROUS IN THIS KIND OF 2-MINUTE SITUATION. THEY CAN EXPLODE ON YOU. >> HAND-OFF. INSIDE TO CRAIG. THAT'S LIKE A ROLL. MONTANA FAKES THE ROLL, THEN HANDS OFF BEHIND HIM. BUT CINCINNATI HAD IT WELL READ. LEO BARKER, WHO CAME TO THE UNITED STATES FROM THE CANAL ZONE IN PANAMA, FROM RAINBOW CITY, TO PLAY AT NEW MEXICO STATE AND THEN MAKE IT IN THE NFL. >> THIS IS THE KIND OF SITUATION -- WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WALSH WILL SAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, SAVE SOME PLAYS, FOR THIS KIND OF SITUATION. >> 2 MINUTES TO GO. SAN FRANCISCO NEEDS 3. ONE TOUCHDOWN SCORED ON AN OFFENSIVE DRIVE. IT'S BEEN FIELD GOALS AND THE KICKOFF RETURN FOR A TOUCHDOWN. ROGER CRAIG OUT TO THE 35-YARD LINE WITH 1:54 TO GO. SKIP McCLENDON MADE THE TACKLE. AND I THINK BACK TO EARLY IN THE YEAR, MERLIN. WE WERE WATCHING THE GAME FROM SEOUL, KOREA, WHEN MONTANA HIT JERRY RICE, 78 YARDS -- AN INJURED BENGAL ON THE PLAY. MONTANA HIT JERRY RICE, 78 YARDS, REMEMBER, AGAINST THE GIANTS WITH 42 SECONDS LEFT, AND SAN FRANCISCO WON, 20-17. EDDIE EDWARDS HAS REPLACED JIM SKOW. EDWARDS, THE VETERAN FROM MIAMI OF FLORIDA. ON FIRST DOWN. MONTANA. TO RICE AGAIN! AND HE'S OUT OF BOUNDS AT THE CINCINNATI 47. AND THAT SHOULD PUT HIM RIGHT AT THE 200-YARD MARK TODAY. MIKE COFER MAY GET ANOTHER CHANCE YET. BUT THE 49ers WITH PLENTY OF TIME. 1:49 TO GO. THEY'RE THINKING TOUCHDOWN. SIX DEFENSIVE BACKS FOR THE BENGALS. RICE TO THE LEFT. MONTANA OVER THE MIDDLE TO CRAIG. AND BARKER GETS HIM DOWN, BUT NOT UNTIL CRAIG HAS ANOTHER SAN FRANCISCO FIRST DOWN AT THE 36-YARD LINE. >> A TEAM PLAYING EMOTIONAL FOOTBALL BEGINS TO WEAR DOWN AT THE END OF THE DAY. THEY'RE NOT GETTING HEAT ON JOE MONTANA, AND HE'S TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT DEFENSE. >> MONTANA. TO RICE. OVER HIS HEAD. HE HAD BROKEN FREE OF ERIC THOMAS. BUT A LITTLE TOO TALL WAS MONTANA. >> I'LL TELL YOU, YOU'VE GOT TO WONDER WHAT KIND OF EMOTIONS HAVE GONE THROUGH THAT MAN'S HEART AND HEAD DURING THIS GAME. >> NO ONE HAS EVER GONE FROM A FOUR-WIN SEASON TO A SUPER BOWL VICTORY. THAT'S FOR CERTAIN. BUT MONTANA WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT THAT WAY. OVER THE MIDDLE. WITH A FLAG DOWN. AND IT'S A COMPLETION TO CRAIG. AND I BELIEVE CRAIG WAS HELD. >> WE MIGHT HAVE A TRIPPING CALL IN THERE. >> BARNEY BUSSEY ON THE PLAY. >> NO. >> OTHER WAY AROUND THEY'RE SAYING NOW. >> WOW. >> INELIGIBLE MAN DOWNFIELD, SAN FRANCISCO. YOU DON'T SEE THAT CALLED OFTEN. BUT MONTANA SCRAMBLING, AND ONE OF HIS LINEMEN RELEASED TOO SOON. >> INELIGIBLE DOWNFIELD. NUMBER 51, OFFENSE. STILL SECOND DOWN. >> OH, MY. RANDY CROSS, IN HIS RETIREMENT GAME, IS TICKETED FOR ANOTHER 5. AND IT COMES BACK TO THE 45-YARD LINE. OH, THAT'S A BIG ONE. I TAKE THAT BACK. THAT'S A BIG PENALTY. ALL THE WAY TO THE 45, WHERE IT'LL BE SECOND DOWN AND 20. MONTANA TO RICE! HE'S IN THE CLEAR! AND RAY HORTON FOUGHT THROUGH A BLOCK -- THERE WAS A BLOCKER ON HIM, TAYLOR, DOWNFIELD -- AND MADE A TOUCHDOWN-SAVING TACKLE. WHAT A DAY FOR RICE. >> IT DID NOT LOOK LIKE ANYONE WOULD BE ABLE TO STOP RICE. BUT HORTON MADE A BRILLIANT PLAY TO GET HIM DOWN. >> 11 CATCHES, 216 YARDS. IS THERE ANOTHER ONE? THIS ONE'S TO CRAIG. AND HE'S TO THE 10-YARD LINE. AND CLOSE TO ANOTHER FIRST DOWN. AND SAN FRANCISCO WILL SPEND ITS SECOND TIME-OUT. THEY HAVE ONE LEFT. 39 SECONDS TO GO. BILL WALSH, AT 57. HE HAS HINTED THIS COULD BE HIS LAST GAME. SAM WYCHE, AT 44. HE THOUGHT HIS LAST COACHING GAME WITH THE BENGALS WAS THE FINALE LAST YEAR, WHEN THEY WENT 4-11. THERE WAS HOT NEWS. EVERYONE IN TOWN IN CINCINNATI THOUGHT HE WAS GONNA BE FIRED EXCEPT PAUL BROWN, THE MAN WHO MADE THE DECISION, THE HALL OF FAME VICE PRESIDENT. HE KEPT HIM FOR HIS FINAL YEAR OF THE CONTRACT, AND WYCHE HAS HIS TEAM 39 SECONDS FROM A SUPER BOWL WIN. BUT BILL WALSH HAS HIS TEAM 10 YARDS FROM A VICTORY HIMSELF. RICE HAS JUST SET A SUPER BOWL RECORD WITH 12 CATCHES. HE'S IN MOTION. MONTANA. TOUCHDOWN, JOHN TAYLOR! [ CROWD CHEERING ] JOHN TAYLOR, WHO SELLS CARS IN THE OFF-SEASON FOR REGGIE JACKSON, HAS JUST HIT THE HOME RUN FOR THE 49ers. >> HIS FIRST CATCH OF THE DAY, BUT THE BIGGEST CATCH OF THE DAY. >> 34 SECONDS TO GO AS COFER TRIES THE POINT AFTER. HE'S GOT IT. AND A BIG ONE IT WAS BECAUSE NOW IT WILL TAKE A TOUCHDOWN FOR CINCINNATI TO WIN IT. SAN FRANCISCO LEADS 20-16. JAMES BROOKS, WITH SO MUCH ON THE LINE NOW, IS GOING TO BE USED AS THE KICKOFF RETURN MAN FOR CINCINNATI, ALONG WITH STANFORD JENNINGS, WHO RETURNED ONE 93 YARDS FOR A TOUCHDOWN EARLIER IN THIS HALF. >> WE MIGHT SEE SOMETHING STRANGE ON THIS KICK, TOO. >> IT'S GOING TO BROOKS AT THE 10. >> NO. STRAIGHT UP THE FIELD. >> AND HE GETS ONLY TO THE 26-YARD LINE. AND ONLY 29 SECONDS REMAIN FOR CINCINNATI. THEY HAVE ALL THREE TIME-OUTS LEFT. >> HERE'S THAT BIG CATCH BY JERRY RICE TO PUT THEM IN POSITION FOR THAT TOUCHDOWN. ACROSS THE MIDDLE. OH, THAT'S... JUST LET THE PICTURES TALK TO YOU. >> YOU SEE TAYLOR, THE BLOCK, THE ONLY MAN THAT COULD'VE STOPPED RICE AND COULDN'T MAKE THE PLAY. BUT THEN HE GETS A SECOND CHANCE. >> SEVEN DEFENSIVE BACKS. >> RONNIE LOTT IS 40 YARDS DOWNFIELD, AS ESIASON THROWS SHORT. AND OUT OF BOUNDS GOES TIM McGEE WITH A CHUNK OF ONLY ABOUT 5 YARDS. AND BOOMER ESIASON HOPED THAT THIS MIGHT BE THE INAUGURAL SUPER BOWL WIN FOR CINCINNATI. BUT MONTANA AND JERRY RICE HAVE BEEN A BIT TOO MUCH, APPARENTLY. AND ESIASON, WITH THE CLOCK TICKING AWAY, THROWS IT AWAY. HE WAS IN THE GRASP. THERE'LL BE NO PENALTY. HE'S DOWN. CHARLES HALEY GETS THE SACK. AND WITH IT A TIME-OUT. >> WALSH JUST WALKED OUT ON THE FIELD, BY THE WAY. I THINK HE WAS TRYING TO THINK, WITH SAM WYCHE ON THE OTHER SIDE -- HE GRABBED RONNIE LOTT, SAID SOMETHING TO LOTT. LOTT WENT BACK OUT ON THE FIELD AND GATHERED THE DEFENSE. AND I'M SURE WHAT HE WAS DOING WAS ANTICIPATING SOME KIND OF MOVE FROM SAM WYCHE. >> JUST A THREE-MAN RUSH. AND THEN THE THROW. INCOMPLETE TO COLLINSWORTH. WOULD HAVE GIVEN THEM PRETTY GOOD FIELD POSITION AT THE 43-YARD LINE. 10 SECONDS TO GO. AND NOW IT'S FOURTH DOWN. THAT SCORING DRIVE -- WITH RICE BEING SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF IT -- WITH THE PENALTIES, WAS 92 YARDS IN 2:46. AND MONTANA WAS 8 FOR 9 ON THE DRIVE. >> IF I HAD ONE QUARTERBACK TO PUT IN IN THE 2-MINUTE PERIOD -- AND WE SAID IT BEFORE HE STARTED THE DRIVE -- THEY ARE MOST DANGEROUS IN THAT KIND OF SITUATION. THEY JUST SEEM TO EXPLODE IN THAT 2-MINUTE PERIOD. THEY HAVE DONE IT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. MONTANA HAS TO BE THE BEST BIG-GAME QUARTERBACK I'VE EVER WATCH PLAY. >> FOUR MEN ON THE LEFT SIDE. THEY'LL FLOOD THAT SIDE. AND ESIASON WILL THROW UP THE BIG ONE, HOPING THAT SOMETHING WILL RICOCHET. IT DOESN'T. IT'S KNOCKED TO THE GROUND BY THE 49ers. AND THAT'S IT. THE GAME IS OVER! SAN FRANCISCO HAS WON SUPER BOWL XXIII! JERRY RICE, THE HERO FOR THE 49ers. AND BILL WALSH WILL GET THE RIDE. WE WONDER IF IT'S HIS LAST AS HEAD COACH.
Brazilian here. This was the first game of football game I watched. I am a Niners fan because of this game.
This is the first Super Bowl I remember and my favorite football game.
I've watched this game so many times I've lost count. I pretty much have it memorized.
This better have the 3D halftime show, dammit!
This is the game that made me a lifetime Niner fan! I was 7 years old and that game winning drive will forever be etched into my memory! Thanks for this, OP!
I remember Stanford Jennings nearly broke my heart. What a fucking game that was.