16 - 20

(Jan 22, 1989 · Week 19)

Four years into a NFL career that already included 1,500-yard All-Pro seasons and 22-touchdown displays, Jerry Rice had quickly evolved into what the new generation of NFL receivers call “always open.” If there were ever a single play that demonstrated it, San Francisco’s superstar offered a top contender during Super Bowl XXIII, racing downfield to haul in a 44-yard dime through double coverage against Cincinnati’s secondary. If Rice had any nerves during his first-ever championship game, he certainly didn’t show it, as he overcame ankle injuries — and the Bengals’ defense — in a record-setting 215-yard, 11-catch, one-touchdown showcase that fueled the 49ers’ 20-16 win on Jan. 22, 1989.

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