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 at a cold-weather city. The domed stadium saved the crowd at the game from the very 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).
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.
Although the Bengals gained 356 yards of total offense to the 49ers' 275, this marked the first time in Super Bowl history that the team which compiled the most yards and touchdowns lost. San Francisco built a Super Bowl record 20-0 halftime lead off of a touchdown pass and a rushing touchdown from quarterback Joe Montana and two field goals by Ray Wersching. Cincinnati 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 stance by the 49ers defense and two more Wersching field goals ultimately pulled the game out of reach. The Bengals managed to score their final touchdown with 20 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.
Read more about Super Bowl XVI: Television and Entertainment, Game Summary, Notable Performances, Starting Lineups, Officials
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Our virgins dance beneath the shade—
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—George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)