Super Bowl Summaries

Super Bowl XXIV
San Francisco 55, Denver 10
MVP: QB Joe Montana, San Francisco

January 28, 1990
New Orleans, Louisiana; Louisiana Superdome
Attendance: 72,919

Super Bowl XXIV

Photograph by: Heinz Kluetmeier
Running back Roger Craig rushed for one of San Francisco's eight touchdowns.

In their first three Super Bowl appearances, the Broncos lost by 17 points, 19 points, and 32 points. Continuing their downward spiral, the Broncos lost their record-tying fourth Super Bowl in a 45-point massacre to San Francisco. By winning their fourth title, the Niners matched the Steelers' record four Super Bowl wins. San Francisco's offense operated at peak efficiency and with stunning ease, scoring two touchdowns in each quarter. Meanwhile, the Broncos and John Elway were held to 167 total yards. Denver managed to control the ball for just a bit more than 20 minutes. Montana won a record third MVP award for his 22-of-29, 297-yard, five-touchdown day.

Super Bowl XXIV Drive Charts and Play-by-Play

Denver won the coin toss and elected to receive.

First Quarter
Denver (15:00)
Cofer kick 1 yard into end zone, Bell 24 return (Hendrickson).
D 23 1–10 Elway pass to M. Jackson right underthrown, incomplete.
D 232–10Elway pass to M. Jackson middle overthrown, incomplete.
D 233–10Elway 2 run evading pass rush (Fagan).
D 254–8Horan 41 punt, Taylor fair catch.
San Francisco (14:05)
SF 341–10Montana pass to Jones right overthrown, incomplete.
SF 342–10Craig 18 run around left end (Henderson).
D 481–10Montana pass to Craig middle incomplete.
D 482–10Craig 1 run left end (Holmes).
D 473–9Montana 9 screen pass to Craig left (Atwater).
D 381–10Montana 9 pass to Rice right (Braxton).
D 292–1Craig run right tackle, loss of 3 (M. Brooks).
D 323–4Montana 10 run evading pass rush (slid down).
D 221–10Craig 2 run left tackle (Fletcher).
D 202–8Montana 20 pass to Rice middle (caught at D 8), touchdown (10:06). Cofer kicked extra point.
 San Francisco scoring drive: 66 yards, 10 plays, 3:59.
San Francisco 7, Denver 0
Denver (10:06)
Cofer kick to D 13, Carrington 13 return (Romanowski).
D 261–10Elway 27 shovel pass to Humphrey (Lott).
SF 471–10Elway shovel pass to Humphrey incomplete.
SF 472–10Humphrey 10 run middle (C. Brooks).
SF 371–10Humphrey 6 run right end (Walter).
SF 312–4Humphrey 3 draw middle (Millen).
SF 283–1Elway 3 run middle (Millen).
SF 251–10Elway shovel pass knocked away (Haley), incomplete.
SF 252–10Elway pass to Mobley left overthrown, incomplete.
SF 253–10Elway pass to M. Jackson right incomplete.
SF 254–10Treadwell, 42–yard field goal (6:47).
 Denver scoring drive: 49 yards, 9 plays, 3:19.
San Francisco 7, Denver 3
San Francisco (6:47)
Treadwell kick to SF 4, Flagler 14 return (Braxton).
SF 181–10Montana sacked, no gain (Carreker).
SF 182–10Craig 4 run left (Atwater, Munford).
SF 223–6Montana rushed, pass to Rice left incomplete.
SF 224–6Helton 36 punt, Johnson 7 return (J. Jackson).
Denver (5:25)
D 491–10Humphrey 1 run left tackle (Fagan), fumbled, C. Brooks recovered for San Francisco at SF 46.
San Francisco (5:18)
SF 461–10Rathman 14 run left tackle. Play nullified and San Francisco penalized 10 for holding (Sapolu).
SF 361–20Montana 20 pass to Rice middle (D. Smith).
D 441–10Rathman 2 run right (Dennison).
D 422–8Montana 6 pass to Craig left (Fletcher).
D 363–2Craig 1 run left end (Kragen).
D 354–1Rathman 4 run off left tackle (Henderson).
D 311–10Montana pass to Taylor end zone incomplete.
D 312–10Montana pass to Taylor right broken up (Braxton), incomplete.
D 313–10Montana 21 pass to Rice middle (Corrington).
D 101–goalCraig 3 run left (Munford).
D 72–goalMontana 7 pass to Jones right (caught at D 3), touchdown (:03). Cofer’s extra–point attempt was wide right, no good.
 San Francisco scoring drive: 54 yards, 10 plays, 5:15.
San Francisco 13, Denver 3
Denver (:03)
Cofer kick to D 8, Bell 17 return (Wilson).
 END OF FIRST QUARTER:
San Francisco 13, Denver 3
Second Quarter
D 251–10Elway pass to M. Jackson broken up (Griffin), incomplete.
D 252–10Elway pass to Kay broken up (Lott), incomplete.
D 253–10Elway 7 screen pass to Winder middle (Holt).
D 324–3Horan 37 punt, Taylor fair catch.
San Francisco (14:22)
SF 311–10Montana 18 pass to Rathman middle (Fletcher).
SF 491–10Craig 6 run middle (Munford).
D 452–4Craig 9 run right tackle (Carreker).
D 361–10Montana rushed, pass to Rice incomplete.
D 362–10Montana 12 pass to Rathman middle (Atwater).
D 241–10Craig 8 run right end (Atwater).
D 162–2Rathman 1 run right tackle (M. Brooks).
D 153–1Craig 3 run left tackle (Mecklenburg).
D 121–10Craig run middle, no gain (Kragen).
D 122–10Craig run left, no gain (Henderson).
D 123–10Montana 9 pass to Rathman middle (Braxton).
D 34–1Rathman 1 run middle (Kragen).
D 21–goalCraig 1 run right tackle (Mecklenburg).
D 12–goalRathman 1 run middle, touchdown (7:15). Cofer kicked extra point.
 San Francisco scoring drive: 69 yards, 14 plays, 7:07
San Francisco 20, Denver 3
Denver (7:15)
Cofer kick to D 2, Carrington 19 return (Hendrickson).
D 211–10Humphrey run left, loss of 3 (Millen).
D 182–13Humphrey 2 draw middle (Holt).
D 203–11Elway pass to M. Jackson middle dropped, incomplete.
D 204–11Horan 30 punt out of bounds at 50.
San Francisco (5:27)
501–10Craig run right end, no gain (Braxton).
502–10Montana 1 pass to Craig right (D. Smith).
D 493–9Montana 6 pass to Craig middle (Braxton).
D 434–3Helton 31 punt, Johnson 4 return (Romanowski).
Denver (3:19)
D 161–10Elway 4 pass to Humphrey right (Kugler).
D 202–6Elway 6 pass to Kay middle (Millen).
D 261–10Elway 8 pass to Johnson middle (Kugler). Two–Minute Warning.
D 342–2Elway pass to Johnson right incomplete.
D 343–2Elway pass to M. Jackson right broken up (McKyer), incomplete.
D 344–2Horan 42 punt, Taylor 17 return (Dennison).
San Francisco (1:38)
SF 411–10Montana 4 pass to Rathman left (Fletcher).
SF 452–6Montana 5 run evading pass rush (Henderson). San Francisco–first time out (1:05).
503–1Rathman 3 run middle (Holmes).
D 471–10Montana 9 pass to Walls middle (Munford). San Francisco–second time out (:40).
D 382–1Montana 38 pass to Rice deep middle (caught at D 4), touchdown (:34). Cofer kicked extra point.
 San Francisco scoring drive: 59 yards, 5 plays, 1:04.
San Francisco 27, Denver 3
Denver (:34)
Cofer kick to D 28, Bratton 9 return (Wilson).
D 371–10Elway pass to M. Jackson deep broken up (Wright), incomplete.
D 372–10Elway 12 pass to Sewell middle (Romanowski). Denver–first time out (:12).
D 491–10Elway pass to M. Young left sideline incomplete.
D 492–10Elway pass to M. Young right sideline incomplete.
 END OF SECOND QUARTER:
San Francisco 27, Denver 3
Third Quarter
San Francisco (15:00)
Treadwell kick to SF 10, Flagler 13 return (Corrington).
SF 231–10Montana 8 pass to Taylor left (Henderson).
SF 312–2Rathman 1 run left (Curtis).
SF 323–1Rathman run middle, no gain (Holmes).
SF 324–1Helton 44 punt, Johnson fair catch.
Denver (13:01)
D 241–10Elway pass to M. Jackson left intercepted at D 32, Walter 4 return (M. Jackson).
San Francisco (12:54)
D 281–10Montana 28 pass to Rice deep middle (caught at D 2), touchdown (12:48). Cofer kicked extra point.
 San Francisco scoring drive: 28 yards, 1 play, :06.
San Francisco 34, Denver 3
Denver (12:48)
Cofer kick to D 3, Carrington 27 return (Walls).
D 301–10Elway 7 swing pass to Humphrey right (Walter).
D 372–3Humphrey 6 run right tackle (Walter).
D 431–10Elway sacked, loss of 6 (Fagan).
D 372–16Elway 10 pass to Sewell middle (Holt).
D 473–6Elway pass to M. Young deep left intercepted at SF 25, C. Brooks 38 return (out of bounds).
San Francisco (10:32)
D 371–10Craig 2 run left end (Dennison).
D 352–2Montana 35 pass to Taylor middle end zone, touchdown (9:44). Cofer kicked extra point.
 San Francisco scoring drive: 37 yards, 2 plays, :48.
San Francisco 41, Denver 3
Denver (9:44)
Cofer kick to goal line, Carrington 39 return (Flagler).
D 391–10Elway 13 pass to Johnson left (J. Jackson).
SF 481–10Humphrey 34 draw left (Griffin, Pollard).
SF 141–10Elway pass to Kay end zone intercepted by Romanowski, touchback. Play nullified and San Francisco penalized 13 for pass interference (Romanowski).
SF 11–goalHumphrey run left tackle, no gain (Fagan).
SF 12–goalHumphrey run left, loss of 2 (Haley, Millen).
SF 33–goalElway 3 draw around right end, touchdown (6:53). Treadwell kicked extra point.
 Denver scoring drive: 61 yards, 5 plays, 2:51.
San Francisco 41, Denver 10
San Francisco (6:53)
Treadwell kick SF 3, Flagler 22 return (Carrington).
SF 251–10Craig 12 run right end (Fletcher).
SF 371–10Craig 2 run left (Townsend, Lucas).
SF 392–8Montana 6 pass to Taylor middle (Lucas).
SF 453–2Montana 7 pass to Williams right (Curtis).
D 481–10Rathman 18 run left end (Atwater, Munford).
D 301–10Craig run left, loss of 1 (Curtis).
D 312–11Montana 12 pass to Rice right (Braxton).
D 191–10Montana pass to Wilson right dropped, incomplete.
D 192–10Montana 12 pass to Craig left (Curtis). San Francisco–first time out (:28).
D 71–goalRathman 4 run left (Kragen, Curtis).
 END OF THIRD QUARTER:
San Francisco 41, Denver 10
Fourth Quarter
D 32–goalRathman 3 run middle, touchdown (14:57). Cofer kicked extra point.
 San Francisco scoring drive: 75 yards, 11 plays, 6:56.
San Francisco 48, Denver 10
Denver (14:57)
Cofer kick to D 1, Carrington 22 return (Romanowski).
D 231–10Elway sacked, loss of 6 (Stubbs).
D 172–16Elway 9 screen pass to Winder. Play nullified and San Francisco penalized 5 for offsides (Stubbs).
D 222–11Elway sacked, loss of 6 (Griffin), fumbled, Stubbs recovered for San Francisco at D 16, 15 return (Sewell).
San Francisco (13:51)
D 11–goalCraig 1 run right tackle, touchdown (13:47). Cofer kicked extra point.
 San Francisco scoring drive: 1 yard, 1 play, :04.
San Francisco 55, Denver 10
Denver (13:47)
Cofer kick to goal line, Carrington 26 return (Flagler).
D 261–10Humphrey 6 draw middle (Walter).
D 322–4Elway 14 screen pass to Bratton (Millen).
D 461–10Elway recovered fumbled snap, loss of 1.
D 452–11Elway sacked, loss of 12 (Roberts).
D 333–23Winder run left tackle, loss of 5 (Fagan).
D 284–28Horan 43 punt, Taylor 9 return (Dennison).
San Francisco (11:13)
SF 381–10Flagler run left end, no gain (Dennison).
SF 382–10Flagler run right end, loss of 4 (M. Brooks).
SF 343–14S. Young pass to Walls incomplete.
SF 344–14Helton 47 punt downed at D 19.
Denver (9:28)
D 191–10Humphrey run middle, loss of 2 (Fagan).
D 172–12Kubiak sacked, loss of 2 (Kugler).
D 153–14Kubiak 28 pass to Nattiel middle (J. Jackson).
D 431–10Kubiak pass batted down at line (Haley), incomplete.
D 432–10Kubiak pass to Nattiel middle incomplete.
D 433–10Kubiak sacked, loss of 1 (Stubbs).
D 424–11Horan 38 punt, Taylor 12 return (Lucas).
San Francisco (6:58)
SF 321–10Flagler 7 run right tackle. Play nullified and San Francisco penalized 10 for holding (Tausch).
SF 221–20Flagler 3 run right tackle (Powers).
SF 252–17S. Young 7 pass to Sydney middle (Dennison).
SF 323–10S. Young 13 pass to Sherrard left (Carrington).
SF 451–10Flagler 4 run left (Townsend).
SF 492–6Flagler 10 run right (Dennison).
D 411–10Flagler 1 run left end (Carrington).
D 402–9Sydney 2 run middle (Powers). Two–Minute Warning.
D 383–7S. Young 11 run evading pass rush (out of bounds).
D 271–10S. Young knelt down, loss of 2.
D 292–12S. Young knelt down, loss of 1.
D 303–13S. Young knelt down, loss of 2.
 FINAL SCORE:
San Francisco 55, Denver 10
 FINAL RECORDS:
San Francisco 17–2, Denver 13–6

Super Bowl XXIV Boxscore

                           SCORING
San Francisco                              13 14 14 14 -- 55
Denver                                      3  0  7  0 -- 10

SF-  Rice 20 pass from Montana (Cofer kick),  4:54 1st
DEN- FG Treadwell 42,  8:13 1st
SF-  Jones 7 pass from Montana (kick failed),14:57 1st

SF-  Rathman 1 run  (Cofer kick),  7:45 2nd
SF-  Rice 38 pass from Montana (Cofer kick), 14:26 2nd

SF-  Rice 28 pass from Montana (Cofer kick),  2:12 3rd
SF-  Taylor 35 pass from Montana (Cofer kick),  5:16 3rd
DEN- Elway 3 run  (Treadwell kick),  8:07 3rd

SF-  Rathman 3 run  (Cofer kick),  0:03 4th
SF-  Craig 1 run  (Cofer kick),  1:13 4th


TEAM STATISTICS                          S.F.           Denv.
Total First Downs                          28             12
  Rushing                                  14              5
  Passing                                  14              6
  Penalty                                   0              1
Total Net Yardage                         461            167
Total Offensive Plays                      77             52
  Average Gain per Offensive Play           6.0            3.2
Rushes                                     44             17
  Yards Gained Rushing (Net)              144             64
  Average Yards per Rush                    3.3            3.8
Passes Attempted                           32             29
  Passes Completed                         24             11
  Had Intercepted                           0              2
  Tackled Attempting to Pass                1              6
  Yards Lost Attempting to Pass             0             33
  Yards Gained Passing (Net)              317            103
Punts                                       4              6
  Average Distance                         39.5           38.5
Punt Returns                                3              2
  Punt Return Yardage                      38             11
Kickoff Returns                             3              9
  Kickoff Return Yardage                   49            196
Interception Return Yardage                42              0
Fumbles                                     0              3
  Own Fumbles Recovered                     0              1
  Opponent Fumbles Recovered                2              0
Penalties                                   4              0
  Yards Penalized                          38              0
Total Points Scored                        55             10
Touchdowns                                  8              1
  Rushing                                   3              1
  Passing                                   5              0
  Returns                                   0              0
Extra Points                                7              1
Field Goals                                 0              1
  Field Goals Attempted                     0              1
Safeties                                    0              0
Third-Down Efficiency                    8/15           3/11
Fourth-Down Efficiency                    2/2            0/0
Time of Possession                      39:31          20:29

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
San Francisco                     No.      Yds.     LG    TD
Craig                             20        69      18     1
Rathman                           11        38      18     2
Montana                            2        15      10     0
Flagler                            6        14      10     0
Young                              4         6      11     0
Sydney                             1         2       2     0
Denver                            No.      Yds.     LG    TD
Humphrey                          12        61      34     0
Elway                              4         8       3t    1
Winder                             1        -5       5     0

Passing
San Francisco                Att.   Comp.    Yds.   TD   Int.
Montana                       29      22     297     5     0
Young                          3       2      20     0     0
Denver                       Att.   Comp.    Yds.   TD   Int.
Elway                         26      10     108     0     2
Kubiak                         3       1      28     0     0

Receiving
San Francisco                     No.      Yds.     LG    TD
Rice                               7       148      38t    3
Craig                              5        34      12     0
Rathman                            4        43      18     0
Taylor                             3        49      35t    1
Sherrard                           1        13      13     0
Walls                              1         9       9     0
Jones                              1         7       7t    1
Sydney                             1         7       7     0
Williams                           1         7       7     0
Denver                            No.      Yds.     LG    TD
Humphrey                           3        38      27     0
Sewell                             2        22      12     0
Johnson                            2        21      13     0
Nattiel                            1        28      28     0
Bratton                            1        14      14     0
Winder                             1         7       7     0
Kay                                1         6       6     0

Interceptions
San Francisco                     No.      Yds.     LG    TD
Brooks                             1        38      38     0
Walter                             1         4       4     0
Denver                            No.      Yds.     LG    TD
None                              --        --      --    --

Punting
San Francisco                     No.      Avg.     LG   Blk.
Helton                             4        39.5    47     0
Denver                            No.      Avg.     LG   Blk.
Horan                              6        38.5    43     0

Punt Returns
San Francisco                    No.   FC     Yds.   LG   TD
Taylor                            3     2      38    17    0
Denver                           No.   FC     Yds.   LG   TD
Johnson                           2     1      11     7    0

Kickoff Returns
San Francisco                     No.      Yds.     LG    TD
Flagler                            3        49      22     0
Denver                            No.      Yds.     LG    TD
Carrington                         6       146      39     0
Bell                               2        41      24     0
Bratton                            1         9       9     0


   San Francisco 49ers         Denver Broncos     
  
                   ==  Offense  ==                     
Sapolu, Jesse           C    Kartz, Keith            C 
Collie, Bruce           G    Juriga, Jim             G 
McIntyre, Guy           G    Widell, Doug            G 
Barton, Harris          T    Lanier, Ken             T 
Paris, Bubba            T    Perry, Gerald           T 
Jones, Brent            TE   Mobley, Orson           TE
Rice, Jerry             WR   Jackson, Mark           WR
Taylor, John            WR   Johnson, Vance          WR
Craig, Roger            RB   Humphrey, Bobby         RB
Rathman, Tom            RB   Sewell, Steven          RB
Montana, Joe            QB   Elway, John             QB

                   ==  Defense  ==                      
Carter, Michael         NT   Kragen, Greg            NT 
Fagan, Kevin            DE   Carreker, Alphonso      DE 
Holt, Pierce            DE   Holmes, Ron             DE 
Haley, Charles          OLB  Brooks, Michael         OLB
Turner, Keena           OLB  Fletcher, Simon         OLB
Millen, Matt            ILB  Dennison, Rick          ILB
Walter, Michael         ILB  Mecklenburg, Karl       ILB
Griffin, Don            CB   Braxton, Tyrone         CB 
Pollard, Darryl         CB   Henderson, Wymon        CB 
Lott, Ronnie            FS   Atwater, Steve          FS 
Brooks, Chet            SS   Smith, Dennis           SS 

                  ==  Substitute  ==                    
Burt, Jim                    Bell, Kenny                
Cofer, Mike                  Bishop, Keith              
DeLong, Keith                Bratton, Mel               
Flagler, Terrence            Carrington, Darren         
Helton, Barry                Corrington, Kip            
Hendrickson, Steve           Curtis, Scott              
Jackson, Johnnie             Green, Paul                
Kugler, Pete                 Haynes, Mark               
McKyer, Tim                  Henke, Brad                
Roberts, Larry               Horan, Mike                
Romanowski, Bill             Kay, Clarence              
Sherrard, Mike               Klosterman, Bruce          
Stubbs, Danny                Kubiak, Gary               
Sydney, Harry                Lucas, Tim                 
Tausch, Terry                Munford, Marc              
Thomas, Chuck                Nattiel, Ricky             
Tillman, Spencer             Powers, Warren             
Wallace, Steve               Robbins, Randy             
Walls, Wesley                Smith, Monte               
Williams, Jamie              Townsend, Andre            
Wilson, Mike R.              Treadwell, David           
Wright, Eric C.              Winder, Sammy              
Young, Steve                 Young, Mike                

                  ==  Did Not Play  ==

Super Bowl XXIV Recap

NFC titlist San Francisco won its fourth Super Bowl championship with a 55-10 victory over AFC champion Denver.

Joe Montana
Joe Montana earned his record third Super Bowl MVP award after throwing five TD passes. (AP)
The 49ers, who also won Super Bowls XVI, XIX, and XXIII, tied the Pittsburgh Steelers for most Super Bowl victories.

The Steelers captured Super Bowls IX, X, XlII, and XIV.

SAN FRANCISCO'S 55 POINTS broke the previous Super Bowl scoring mark of 46 points by Chicago in Super Bowl XX.

San Francisco scored touchdowns on four of its six first-half possessions to hold a 27-3 lead at halftime.

Interceptions by Michael Walter and Chet Brooks ended the Broncos' first two possessions of the second half.

San Francisco quarterback Joe Montana was named the Super Bowl most valuable player for a record third time.

Montana completed 22 of 29 passes for 297 yards and a Super Bowl-record five touchdowns.

Jerry Rice, Super Bowl XXIII most valuable player, caught 7 passes for 148 yards and three touchdowns, The 49ers' domination included first downs (28 to 12), net yards (461 to 167), and time of possession (39:31 to 20:29).

Super Bowl XXIV Photos

Super Bowl XXIV

Photograph by: SI Photo
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana (16) throws through an open passing lane.

Super Bowl XXIV

Photograph by: Allsport Photo/Rick Stewart
San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Joe Montana lit up the Denver Broncos.

Super Bowl XXIV

Photograph by: AP Photo
Elway's worst loss in three Super Bowls was a 55-10 drubbing by the 49ers.

Super Bowl XXIV

Photograph by: Allsport Photo/Rick Stewart
Elway says the Broncos "never had a shot" against the 49ers in 1990.

Super Bowl XXIV

Photograph by: AP Photo/Mark Duncan
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana (16) leaps for a high-five with teammate Guy McIntyre after a third-quarter touchdown in Super Bowl XXIV on January 28, 1990 in New Orleans.

Super Bowl XXIV

Photograph by: AP Photo
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana (16).

Super Bowl XXIV

Photograph by: Allsport Photo
The Louisiana Superdome.

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