Super Bowl XVI

Super Bowl XVI

San Francisco 49ers (1) (NFC) (13–3) Cincinnati Bengals (1) (AFC) (12–4) 26 21 Head coach: Bill Walsh Head coach: Forrest Gregg
1 2 3 4 Total SF 7 13 0 6 26 CIN 0 0 7 14 21
Date	January 24, 1982 (1982-01-24)
Stadium	Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan
MVP	Joe Montana, quarterback
Favorite	49ers by 1[1][2]
Referee	Pat Haggerty
Attendance	81,270[3]
Hall of Famers
49ers: Eddie DeBartolo, Jr. (owner), Bill Walsh (head coach), Fred Dean, Ronnie Lott, Joe Montana Bengals: Paul Brown (owner/gm), Anthony Muñoz, Ken Riley
Ceremonies
National anthem	Diana Ross
Coin toss	Bobby Layne
Halftime show	Up with People presents "Salute to the 1960s and Motown"
TV in the United States
Network	CBS
Announcers	Pat Summerall and John Madden
Nielsen ratings	49.1 (85.24 million viewers)[4]
Market share	73
Cost of 30-second commercial	$324,000
Radio in the United States
Network	CBS Radio
Announcers	Jack Buck and Hank Stram
← XV Super Bowl XVII →

Super Bowl XVI was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion San Francisco 49ers and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Cincinnati Bengals to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1981 season. The 49ers defeated the Bengals by the score of 26–21 to win their first Super Bowl.

The game was played on January 24, 1982, at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. It marked the first time that a Super Bowl was held in a cold-weather city. The domed stadium saved the crowd at the game from the cold and snowy weather, but the weather did affect traffic and other logistical issues related to the game. Super Bowl XVI also became one of the most watched broadcasts in American television history, with more than 85 million viewers, and a final national Nielsen rating of 49.1 (a 73 share).^[4]

For the first time since Super Bowl III, both teams were making their first Super Bowl appearance. The 49ers posted a 13–3 regular season record, and playoff wins over the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys. The Bengals finished the regular season with a 12–4 record, and had postseason victories over the Buffalo Bills and the San Diego Chargers.

Cincinnati's 356 yards of offense to San Francisco's 275 marked the first time in Super Bowl history that a team which was outgained in total yards won. The Bengals also committed four turnovers to San Francisco's one, which played a major factor in the outcome. Anderson was also sacked five times, while Montana was only sacked once. Super Bowl XVI was initially dominated by the 49ers. Three of Cincinnati's turnovers helped San Francisco build a then-Super Bowl record 20–0 halftime lead, off a touchdown pass and a rushing touchdown from quarterback Joe Montana and two field goals by Ray Wersching. The Bengals began to rally in the second half with quarterback Ken Anderson's 5-yard touchdown run and 4-yard touchdown pass, but a third-quarter goal line stand by the 49ers defense and two more Wersching field goals (and Cincinnati's 4 turnovers (2 interceptions which resulted in a 1st quarter touchdown and a 4th quarter field goal and 2 fumbles in the 2nd quarter that resulted in a touchdown and a field goal respectively) which led to 20 points for San Francisco) ultimately decided the game. The Bengals managed to score their final touchdown with 16 seconds left, but could not recover the ensuing onside kick. Montana was named the Super Bowl MVP, completing 14 of 22 passes for 157 yards and one touchdown, while also rushing for 18 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Cincinnati tight end Dan Ross recorded a Super Bowl-record 11 receptions (still the most ever by a tight end in a Super Bowl) for 104 yards and 2 touchdowns.