Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. First New York's Bruce Harper fumbled the opening kickoff while being tackled by Ervin Parker, and Charles Romes returned the ball 26-yards to the end zone. On third-and-11, Anderson fired a pass intended for Isaac Curtis, but Dwight Hicks intercepted and returned the football 27 yards to the San Francisco 32. Cincinnati's David Verser returned the ensuing kickoff 40 yards to their 35-yard line, and the team responded with a 7-play 65-yard drive, including a 13-yard scramble by Anderson, to retake the lead with a 20-yard touchdown run by Alexander. With 10:39 left in the game, Anderson threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Cris Collinsworth, giving the Bengals a 2821 lead at the end of a 9-play, 79-yard drive that saw him burn the Bills with a 42-yard completion on a short pass to Steve Kreider on third and 1 from the Bengals 42-yard line. "Here's a guy (Alexander) who weighs 220 pounds and can run and he has only a yard to go for the end zone . The 49ers won the game 28-27. Clark added 5 receptions for 104 yards. On the Giants next possession, Ronnie Lott's interception gave the 49ers a first down on their own 31-yard line, where they drove to a 177 lead on Freddie Solomon's 58-yard touchdown reception. I referred to our first game of the season when we came from a 21-0 first-quarter deficit to beat Seattle. Copyright 1995-2023 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. We didn't do anything different in the second half. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. On the ensuing kickoff, the ball hit the ground and bounced back in the Chargers direction, enabling them to recover it and eventually score on running back Chuck Muncie's 1-yard rushing touchdown. Solomon was the 49ers top receiver with 6 catches for 107 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 12 yards and returning a punt for 22. (AP Photo/Al Golub), List of Players: (87) Dwight Clark, (68) John Ayers, (56) Fred Quillan during the NFC Championship game at Candlestick Park in San Fransisco on January 10, 1982. "What happened," revealed Studley, "is that I called for our goal line defense to go in, but Keena Turner thought I said 'giant' defense and didn't go in. . Despite playing without starting quarterback Phil Simms and linebacker Brad Van Pelt, the Giants jumped to a 200 lead in the first quarter and withstood an Eagles comeback at the end to hold on to a 2721 win. After a pair of punts, Greg Buttle returned an interception from Ferguson 29 yards to the Bills 14-yard line, setting up's Leahy's 26-yard field goal that cut the score to 24-10 at the end of the half.[1]. Other contributors on the final 89-yard drive that led to the play now referred to as The Catch included Freddie Solomon (WR), Lenvil Elliott (RB), Earl Cooper (FB), Mike Wilson, Charle Young (TE), Dan Audick (LT), John Ayers (LG), Fred Quillan (C), Randy Cross (RG), and Keith Fahnhorst (RT). Kevin Long finished the 58-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to cut the score to 3127. The influx of new talent helped transform the Niners from a 6-10 team in 1980 into a 13-3 team in 1981, when they compiled the best record in the NFL. [2], This was the first Super Bowl meeting between the 49ers and Bengals.[2]. 1963 San Francisco 49ers ", Johnson, the 249-pound battering ram who spearheaded the Cincinnati offense that ranked second best in the NFL, "saw the 49ers rise up at the snap of the ball. Their first half drives started from the 21, 20, 8, 20, 8 and 19-yard lines. (Won 2 Rounds), Lost Super Bowl at Shea Stadium, Flushing, Queens, New York. Do you have a blog? Following a missed 37-yard field goal attempt by Mike-Mayer after the fumble recovery, Todd led the Jets to the Bills 38-yard line, only to throw another interception, this one to linebacker Phil Villapiano, who returned it 18 yards to the 40. The 49ers have won five Super Bowl titles (1982, 1985, 1989, 1990, and 1995) and seven National Football Conference (NFC) championships. The content and information from other sites is the property of their respective owners. ", The Bengals' second-down play from the one-yard line did not surprise Studley. We held and they punted to us. 10-0. We knew we were playing a great team. Nathan rushed for 48 yards, caught nine passes for 114 yards, and scored two touchdowns. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Explaining his role in the TD play, Cooper said, "It was a fake up the middle to the fullback. Brunner completed a 59-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Johnny Perkins on the next play to make it 2417. ", Studley explained further: "The Bengals tried to shield Danny off and make him run around, but he hit Alexander quick in the flat. Check out all the best photos from Rihanna's halftime performance! Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. "I think Joe was thinking of the Gipper when we won. Dallas defensive back Everson Walls intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble, though he had the misfortune of being assigned to cover Clark on "the catch" play. (AP Photo/Al Golub), Dallas Cowboys Running Back Tony Dorsett (33) finds hole in 49ers line to make yardage during the NFC Championship game at Candlestick Park in San Fransisco on January 10, 1982. We just played better.". They were 2-14 that first year. Find out more. Following an incomplete pass, Strock's next throw was intercepted by Willie Buchanon, but as he made the diving catch, he fumbled the ball back to Miami when he hit the ground. This was the fourth postseason meeting between the Cowboys and 49ers. Dallas managed to pick up a few first downs, but was forced to punt, and White's kick gave San Francisco the ball at their own 11 with 4:54 left in the game.[7]. Search through thousands of plays from pro football history using our Event Finder tool. (AP Photo), San Francisco Wide Receiver Dwight Clark (87) celebrates touchdown during the NFC Championship game at Candlestick Park in San Fransisco on January 10, 1982. They were 6-10 in 1980 as Montana and Clark established themselves. In the fourth quarter, Williams completed a 75-yard pass to Jimmie Giles on the Cowboys 5-yard line, but the Buccaneers were still unable to get any points on the drive. was the 1984 San Francisco 49ers, who Here are the San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl wins: XVI: San Francisco 49ers 26, Cincinnati Bengals 21 (1982) XIX: San Francisco 49ers 38, Miami Dolphins 16 (1985) XXIII: San Francisco 49ers 20 . As Bunz handled lead blocker Alexander on the fourth-down smash, Reynolds led the charge that snuffed out Johnson. ", Then, turning to Gregg, he said: "Congratulations, you had a fine, fine season. Walsh's coaching talents were not immediately discernible at San Francisco in the fall of 1979. . Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. . Brooks recorded 143 all-purpose yards. Following a 4-yard run by Charles Alexander, the Bengals scored a touchdown on an 8-yard pass from Anderson to tight end M. L. Harris, increasing their lead to 100. (AP Photo/Al Golub), San Francisco 49ers Running Back Bill Ring (30) talks to Terry Bradshaw before game during the NFC Championship game at Candlestick Park in San Fransisco on January 10, 1982. Later on the drive, Johnson converted a fourth and inches situation with a 7-yard run, and Anderson eventually finished it off with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Bass, making the final score 277. On the Dolphins next possession, Chargers safety Glen Edwards intercepted a pass from David Woodley and returned it 35 yards to set up Fouts' 8-yard touchdown pass to rookie running back James Brooks, which increased the score to 240. Do you have a sports website? In overtime, the Chargers took the opening kickoff and advanced to the Miami 8-yard line, but Benirschke missed a 27-yard field goal attempt. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? The Bills drove to the Cincinnati 21-yard line with about three minutes left to play, and it appeared that Ferguson completed a fourth-down pass to Lou Piccone to gain a first down. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Their .333 winning percentage was the worst ever for any defending NFL or AFL champion until the 2022 Los Angeles Rams, who only managed to get a .294 winning percentage. The wide receiver fumbled when tackled by Eric Wright, however, and Lynn Thomas recovered on the 8-yard line. Clapping his other hand over an ear to muffle the shrieks of exuberant players, Walsh said, "I thought it might be you calling. The San Francisco 49ers secure a hard-fought win over the Dallas Cowboys to reach the NFL's Conference Championships while the Cincinnati Bengals upset the Buffalo Bills. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. After that, Nathan's 17-yard reception and Tommy Vigorito's 6-yard run moved the Dolphins to the Chargers 26-yard line where von Schamann attempted a 43-yard field goal, but at the last second, Winslow extended his 6'5" frame at the line just enough to deflect the kick with his fingers, causing it to fall short of the goal posts and sending the game into overtime. Now down 17-0, New York had a good chance to get back in the game when Mark Gastineau forced a fumble from Ferguson on the Bills next drive. The image of an exhausted Winslow, who finished the game with 13 receptions for 166 yards and a touchdown, being helped off the field by two of his Chargers teammates is now an iconic visual of NFL Films. Anderson's final pass was a three-yard heave to tight end Ross which, with Jim Breech's third extra point, narrowed the Cincinnati deficit to 26-21. (AP Photo/Al Golub), San Francisco 49ers Fans during the NFC Championship game at Candlestick Park in San Fransisco on January 10, 1982. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Elliott rushed four times for 30 yards on the drive, while Solomon also made a big impact, catching two passes for 18 yards and rushing for 15 on a wide receiver reverse. Brunner completed only nine of 14 passes for 96 yards, but threw three touchdowns and only one interception. In the second quarter, New York had a chance to increase their lead with a drive into Eagles territory, but Philadelphia's defense dug in and stuffed Brunner for no gain on a 4th and 1 conversion attempt on the 35. By the time Verser completed his lateral sprint, the ball was on the 4. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Or write about sports? Johnson hit center for two yards and then left guard, where he was stopped by John Harty for no gain. "There is still a long way to go, but I am certain we have turned the corner and are becoming a well-based, more versatile team that will be a consistent contender in the years to come.". The pass sailed over Winslow's head, but went right into the arms of Brooks for a touchdown to tie the game. While Bill Walsh regarded the fourth-down stop of Johnson as "the play that won the game for us," Chuck Studley considered Bunz' tackle of Alexander more significant. With Montana passing and Cooper and Ricky Patton running, the Niners advanced to the Cincinnati 5 with 18 seconds remaining before intermission. His initial draft yielded only two players who remained with the Niners into 1981, but they were prize picks -- quarterback Joe Montana and wide receiver Dwight Clark. San Francisco Defensive End Jim Stuckey (79) blocks Dallas Cowboy Quarterback Danny White (11) from passing. started the season with 7 losses. The 49ers won five Super Bowl championships between 1981 and 1994. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Super Bowl, Lost Conference Championship The second best start to a season But Anderson, on a third-and-23 situation, connected with Collinsworth for 49 yards to the San Francisco 14. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Miami took over on their own 40-yard line following Benirschke's squib kick, needing only a field goal to win. Muncie rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown. They forced us to change quite a bit on every play. Although they finished last again in 1980, the Bengals improved their record to 6-10 under the first-year leadership of Forrest Gregg. But Cincinnati's defense halted the drive at the 18-yard line and it ended with no points when Rolf Benirschke missed a 37-yard field goal attempt. Cribbs rushed for 83 yards and a touchdown, while also catching 4 passes for 64 yards. This was last season that local times were considered in scheduling afternoon playoff games for the first three rounds, and not strictly in the 12:30p.m. and 4:00p.m. EST time slots. The second pass carried to the 1-yard line, from where Montana dived across for the first touchdown. First, defensive back Mike Fuller returned a punt 27 yards to the Bills 42-yard line. (AP Photo/Al Golub), Dallas Cowboys Defensive Back Everson Walls (24) hangs on to San Francisco Wide Receiver Dwight Clark (87) after he catches pass during the NFC Championship game at Candlestick Park in San Fransisco on January 10, 1982. The second-year running back out of Rice barreled into the end zone, completing a Super Bowl record 92-yard march. All-time Scoring Leader: Jerry Rice 1,130 points On the opening drive of the second half, San Diego drove to the Bengals 38-yard line, only to lose their fourth turnover of the day when Reggie Williams stripped the ball from Chuck Muncie and Cincinnati's Ross Browner recovered it. Please see our Contributors and Sources page for data source details. Philadelphia then drove 80 yards, 44 of them coming from 3 Giants penalties, in 9 plays to score on Montgomery's 1-yard touchdown run, cutting their deficit to 27-21 with 2:51 left in the game. Then Walls recovered a fumble from running back Walt Easley at midfield to set up White's 21-yard touchdown pass to tight end Doug Cosbie, giving Dallas a 2721 advantage. Defensive back Eric Wright (21) knocked ball loose during the NFC Championship game at Candlestick Park in San Fransisco on January 10, 1982. The Catch was the game-winning touchdown reception in the 1981 NFC Championship Game played between the Dallas Cowboys and the eventual Super Bowl XVI champion San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on January 10, 1982, as part of the 1981-82 NFL playoffs. Get a summary of the San Francisco 49ers vs. Philadelphia Eagles football game. the was the 1990 San Francisco 49ers, who The team that ranked 26th in the NFL in points allowed in 1980 soared into second place in 1981, trailing only Philadelphia. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. We had great success with that play all season, but the 49ers got great penetration. The Cowboys fared no better as White was sacked twice on their next drive, once by Jim Stuckey and once by Lawrence Pillers, and the half ended soon after. In the first round, dubbed the wild-card playoffs or wild-card weekend, the fourth seed wild card hosted the fifth seed. Todd then led the Jets 80 yards in eight plays and completed a 30-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Jones. The Bills converted this turnover into a 24-0 lead as Ferguson completed a 28-yard pass to running back Joe Cribbs before hooking up with Lewis for a 26-yard scoring completion. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Then Buffalo drove 66 yards in three plays to score on quarterback Joe Ferguson's 50-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Frank Lewis. "I was pivoting and trying to make more yards when Wright stripped the ball from me," reported Collinsworth. The use of any team names, words, trademarks, logos or photos have been used for descriptive purposes only. However, Reece returned the ensuing kickoff 27 yards to the 38-yard line, where the Giants proceeded to drive 62 yards in 5 plays to score on Brunner's 22-yard touchdown pass to Tom Mullady, giving them a 277 halftime lead. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Two drives later, the Giants countered when quarterback Scott Brunner threw a pass to wide receiver Earnest Gray, who caught it at his own 40, evaded three 49ers defensive backs, and raced to the end zone for a 72-yard touchdown reception. The 49ers, who lost 12 of 26 fumbles in their NFC title march, opened their first Super Bowl game on an inauspicious note. NFL. The second worst start to a season For the third time in four years, the San Francisco 49ers have found themselves in the NFC Championship game. However, New York got a big boost from receiver Kurt Sohn, who returned the kickoff 28 yards to the 48-yard line. Free shipping for many products! The 49ers won the game 28-27. NCAAW. started the season going 8-0. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. But the Giants were able to run out the rest of the clock, picking up gains of six, three, and five yards on runs by Carpenter for a key first down. This would also turn out to be the final NFL playoff game at Shea Stadium, as the Jets moved to Giants Stadium three years later. Do you have a sports website? 1950 San Francisco 49ers, who all Later on, with Miami just trying to maintain their lead and run out the clock, Chargers safety Pete Shaw recovered a fumble from Andra Franklin on San Diego's 18-yard line with 4:39 left in regulation. Six plays later (one a 14-yard catch by tight end Dan Ross), Charles Alexander scored on a 4-yard touchdown run.