SUPER BOWL XVI

Super Bowl XVI was played on January 24, 1982, between the San Francisco 49ers and the Cincinnati Bengals. The game took place at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. The 49ers, led by quarterback Joe Montana and head coach Bill Walsh, emerged as the victors, defeating the Bengals 26-21. This was the first Super Bowl appearance for both teams.

The 49ers got off to a strong start, with Montana running it in from one yard out to give the 49ers a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Montana would connect with Earl Cooper for a 11-yard TD pass to go up by two scores. Bengals couldn't get anything going in the first half. The 49ers tacked on two field goals and went into halftime with a 20-0 lead.

In the second half, the Bengals mounted a comeback. They scored two touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters, a rushing TD from QB Ken Anderson and a passing TD from Anderson to Dan Ross to cut the lead to 20-14. However, the 49ers' defense held strong, and their kicker, Ray Wersching, made two crucial field goals to extend the lead before the Bengals added their third TD of the second half to cut it to 26-21. The Bengals' weren't able to get any closer and the 49ers secured their first Super Bowl victory in franchise history.

Joe Montana was named the game's Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his performance, completing 14 of 22 passes for 157 yards and one touchdown. The victory marked the beginning of a successful era for the 49ers, who went on to win three more Super Bowls in the 1980s.