The 49ers (16-2) face the Denver Broncos (13-5) at the Louisiana Superdome for Super Bowl XXIV, Sun January 28, 1990. The 49ers' fourth Super Bowl appearance.
Montana continues at quarterback. The Broncos start John Elway. Bobby Humphrey at running back. Vance Johnson and Mark Jackson at receiver. Dan Reeves in year nine as head coach.
Denver comes off a 37-21 AFC Championship win over the Cleveland Browns.[1][2][3]
Dan Reeves' Denver Broncos are the AFC's three-time conference champion of the 1980s (1986, 1987, 1989). John Elway's 5,001 career passing yards across three Super Bowl appearances have produced 0 wins. The Broncos' offense ranked sixth in the AFC across the regular season. Bobby Humphrey, the rookie running back, has 1,151 rushing yards.
Super Bowl XXIV is the franchise's fourth Super Bowl in nine years and the second Super Bowl meeting between the 49ers and the AFC's defending conference champion. Joe Montana enters with a 3-0 Super Bowl record. The Broncos' Reeves enters with a 0-3 Super Bowl record (1977 as a Broncos assistant; 1986, 1987 as head coach).
Super Bowl XXIV is the league's championship game at the Louisiana Superdome. The 49ers (NFC #1) face the Broncos (AFC #2). The Sunday-evening Super Bowl is the year's most-anticipated football matchup. The 49ers' third straight Super Bowl, the Broncos' third in four years. The conference championship games produced two two-touchdown-plus margins.
Through the regular season the 49ers finished 14-2 and the Broncos finished 11-5 (AFC West champs). Joe Montana 3,521 yards reg season, 26 TDs, 8 INTs, 70.2 passer rating. Jerry Rice 82 catches for 1,483, 17 TDs (NFL lead). John Elway 3,051 yards reg season, 18 TDs, 18 INTs. Bobby Humphrey 1,151 rushing across 16 games. Vance Johnson 76 catches for 1,095. The 49ers won the NFC Championship 30-3 over the Rams.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Browns | 9-6-1 | W2 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 9-7 | W3 |
| Houston Oilers | 9-7 | L2 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 8-8 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | 9-7 | W1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 8-8 | L1 |
| Miami Dolphins | 8-8 | L2 |
| New England Patriots | 5-11 | L3 |
| New York Jets | 4-12 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 11-5 | L1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 8-7-1 | W1 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 8-8 | L2 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 7-9 | L1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 6-10 | W2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 14-2 | W5 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 11-5 | W2 |
| New Orleans Saints | 9-7 | W3 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 3-13 | L7 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Green Bay Packers | 10-6 | W2 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 10-6 | W1 |
| Detroit Lions | 7-9 | W5 |
| Chicago Bears | 6-10 | L6 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 5-11 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New York Giants | 12-4 | W3 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 11-5 | W1 |
| Washington Redskins | 10-6 | W5 |
| Phoenix Cardinals | 5-11 | L6 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 1-15 | L7 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Jerry Rice 20 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick) | 7-0 |
| Broncos | David Treadwell 42 yard field goal | 7-3 |
| 49ers | Brent Jones 7 yard pass from Joe Montana | 13-3 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Tom Rathman 1 yard rush (Mike Cofer kick) | 20-3 |
| 49ers | Jerry Rice 38 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick) | 27-3 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Jerry Rice 28 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick) | 34-3 |
| 49ers | John Taylor 35 yard pass from Joe Montana (Mike Cofer kick) | 41-3 |
| Broncos | John Elway 3 yard rush (David Treadwell kick) | 41-10 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Tom Rathman 3 yard rush (Mike Cofer kick) | 48-10 |
| 49ers | Roger Craig 1 yard rush (Mike Cofer kick) | 55-10 |
Joe Montana threw five touchdown passes including three to Jerry Rice and the 49ers crushed the Denver Broncos 55-10 at the Louisiana Superdome to win Super Bowl XXIV. Montana finished 22 of 29 for 297 yards. Rice caught seven for 148 with three touchdowns. John Taylor caught a 35-yard touchdown. Brent Jones caught a 7-yard score. Tom Rathman ran in two short touchdowns. Roger Craig added a 1-yard touchdown. The 49ers became Super Bowl back-to-back champions.[1][2][4]
Joe Montana threw five touchdowns including three to Jerry Rice and the 49ers crushed the Denver Broncos 55-10 at the Louisiana Superdome to win Super Bowl XXIV. The 55-point output was the highest scoring single-game total in Super Bowl history. The 45-point margin was the largest in Super Bowl history. The 49ers became back-to-back Super Bowl champions and the first team to win consecutive Super Bowls since the 1979 Steelers.
Montana finished 22 of 29 for 297 yards with the five touchdown passes. Rice caught seven for 148 yards with three touchdowns (20, 38, 28). John Taylor caught a 35-yard touchdown. Brent Jones caught a 7-yard score. Tom Rathman ran in two short touchdowns (1, 3). Roger Craig added a 1-yard rushing score. Montana's 5-for-5 in scoring opportunities was the highest red-zone efficiency rate in any Super Bowl.
John Elway finished 10 of 26 for 108 with no touchdowns and two interceptions. Elway ran in a 3-yard touchdown in the third quarter, the only Broncos touchdown of the game. David Treadwell kicked a 42-yard field goal in the first quarter. Bobby Humphrey ran 12 for 61. The Broncos' offense produced 167 total yards and one touchdown.
49ers 55, Broncos 10. Margin: plus 45 (Super Bowl record). Super Bowl XXIV.
A 55-10 Super Bowl XXIV win over the Denver Broncos at the Louisiana Superdome. The 49ers finish 17-2 and win the franchise's fourth Super Bowl championship in nine years. Joe Montana wins Super Bowl MVP for the third time.
How it unfolded
Rice caught a 20-yard touchdown from Montana on the second drive. David Treadwell kicked a 42-yard field goal. Brent Jones' 7-yard touchdown made it 13-3 (PAT failed on a snap mishap that was retried successfully). Rathman's 1-yard rush extended it to 20-3. Rice's 38-yard touchdown made it 27-3 at the half. Rice's 28-yard touchdown to open the second half made it 34-3. Taylor's 35-yard touchdown reception made it 41-3. Elway's 3-yard rush cut it to 41-10. Rathman's 3-yard rush made it 48-10. Craig's 1-yard rush closed it at 55-10.
The turning point
The Rice 38-yard touchdown right before halftime. With the 49ers leading 20-3 and the Broncos' offense having produced nothing across four straight possessions, Montana's deep ball to Rice on a corner route the Broncos' coverage did not break on quickly enough produced the score that effectively ended the Super Bowl before halftime.
By the numbers
Montana 22 of 29 for 297, 10.2 yards per attempt, five touchdowns and no interceptions. The five touchdowns tied Steve Bartkowski's Super Bowl single-game record. Super Bowl MVP for the third time. Rice seven catches for 148 with three touchdowns; the Super Bowl single-game record for receiving touchdowns. Taylor three for 49 with the long touchdown. Brent Jones one for 7 with the touchdown. Rathman 38 on 11 with two short touchdowns plus 43 receiving on four catches. Craig 69 on 20 with the goal-line rush. Elway 10 of 26 for 108 with two interceptions. Defense produced two interceptions, no sacks, but held the Broncos to one offensive touchdown.
Personnel watch
Montana's three Super Bowl MVP awards became the most by any quarterback in NFL history. Jerry Rice's three-touchdown Super Bowl performance was the receiver's first Super Bowl championship in two appearances. Rathman's two-touchdown afternoon was the fullback's biggest game of his career. Charles Haley produced no sacks but the kind of front-seven pressure that limited Elway to 4.2 yards per attempt. Ronnie Lott's interception was his third of the postseason. The 55-10 score was the largest margin of victory in Super Bowl history.
What it means
17-2. Super Bowl XXIV champions. Back-to-back Super Bowls. Walsh's offensive system in its mid-1990s peak. Montana's third Super Bowl MVP. The 49ers became the third team in NFL history to win back-to-back Super Bowls (after the 1972-73 Dolphins and the 1978-79 Steelers). The dynasty era enters its second decade with the franchise's fourth Super Bowl title.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 28 | 12 |
| Total Yards | 461 | 167 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 4 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 24/32 | 11/29 |
| Pass yards | 317 | 136 |
| Pass TD | 5 | 0 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 2 |
| Sacks taken | 1 | 6 |
| Sack yards lost | 0 | 33 |
| Net pass yards | 317 | 103 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 44 | 17 |
| Rush yards | 144 | 64 |
| Rush TD | 3 | 1 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 0 | 3 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 | 2 |
| Penalties | 4 | 0 |
| Penalty yards | 38 | 0 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 22/29 | 297 | 5 | 0 | 147.6 |
| Steve Young #8 | 2/3 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 85.4 |
| DEN | |||||
| John Elway | 10/26 | 108 | 0 | 2 | 19.4 |
| Gary Kubiak | 1/3 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 68.7 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 20 | 69 | 1 | 18 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 11 | 38 | 2 | 18 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 10 |
| Terrence Flagler | 6 | 14 | 0 | 10 |
| Steve Young #8 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 11 |
| Harry Sydney #39 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| DEN | ||||
| Bobby Humphrey | 12 | 61 | 0 | 34 |
| John Elway | 4 | 8 | 1 | 3 |
| Sammy Winder | 1 | -5 | 0 | -5 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Jerry Rice #80 | 7 | 148 | 3 | 38 |
| John Taylor #82 | 3 | 49 | 1 | 35 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 4 | 43 | 0 | 18 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 5 | 34 | 0 | 12 |
| Mike Sherrard #84 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| Wesley Walls | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Harry Sydney #39 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Jamie Williams #87 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Brent Jones #84 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 7 |
| DEN | ||||
| Bobby Humphrey | 3 | 38 | 0 | 27 |
| Ricky Nattiel | 1 | 28 | 0 | 28 |
| Steve Sewell | 2 | 22 | 0 | 12 |
| Vance Johnson | 2 | 21 | 0 | 13 |
| Mel Bratton | 1 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| Sammy Winder | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Clarence Kay | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
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