The scoreboard told San Francisco 49ers fans a horrifying narrative in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XXIII.
Cincinnati led 13-6.
Everyone expects this championship favorite to beat the Bengals. In fact, it feels like the game is progressing more all the time. My anxiety is growing.
Then Jerry Rice took over.
The game started during the final quarter of the 49ers’ first play. Joe Montana throws the ball in the air. Rice jumped. He stretches his 6-foot frame forward and carries the ball across the goal line.
He tied the match.
The Bengals aren’t done yet. He scored and regained the lead at 16-13.
But Rice had other plans. He completed a short pass for a huge 27-yard gain with 1:15 left in the game. He drove the offense to the Cincinnati 18-yard line.
Two plays later, Rice ran down the middle of the field. The Bengals secondary is in a panic. They were so afraid of his speed that they double-teamed him.
This mistake opened up for John Taylor.
Mr. Rice’s catch was reported twice. Taylor set up for the game-winning touchdown.
Rice had 11 catches for 215 yards. This was a Super Bowl record at the time. This also earned him MVP honors.
Mississippi Valley State Drafts
Rice was not always a household name. In 1985, he was selected in the first round by the San Francisco 49ers.
He is from Mississippi Valley State. It was a very small school. There, he set 18 NCAA Division II records.
He went on to define the wide receiver position.
Experts consider him the best receiver in NFL hilayer. The statistics support their views.
He was selected to the Pro Bowl 13 times. He had 14 1,000-yard receiving seasons. He had 50 catches in 17 seasons.
He is a scoring machine. He threw 22 touchdowns in the strike-shortened 1987 season, an NFL record.
Break all records
Rice’s career numbers are astounding. He has earned nearly every meaningful grade in the NFL.
He has 1,549 catches, 448 more than next closest Cris Carter.
He has 197 touchdown receptions, 67 more than Carter.
He amassed 22,895 yards. Tim Brown is second at 7,961 fewer yards.
Rice scored 207 total touchdowns. Emmitt Smith follows 32 fewer touchdowns.
Durability is his superpower.
He has missed just 17 regular season games over the past 20 years. If you ignore 1997, when he tore ligaments in his knee, he missed just three games.
He played in 303 games. This is the greatest NFL receiver of all time. There are 51 games left for the league record.
He built a legend based on his massive physique and incredible athleticism. The Bengals tried to stop him. You can’t do that.
The 49ers won because he prevented other players from covering him.
Who else can draw double coverage?
Rice proved that one player can change the course of a championship.