NFL playoffs, 1988-89

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The NFL playoffs following the 1988 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXIII.

Due to Christmas, the two wild card playoff games were held in a span of three days.

Playoff seeds
Seed AFC NFC
1 Cincinnati Bengals (Central winner) Chicago Bears (Central winner)
2 Buffalo Bills (East winner) San Francisco 49ers (West winner)
3 Seattle Seahawks (West winner) Philadelphia Eagles (East winner)
4 Cleveland Browns Minnesota Vikings
5 Houston Oilers Los Angeles Rams

Note: The Cincinnati Bengals (the AFC 1 seed) did not play the Houston Oilers (the 5 seed), nor did the Chicago Bears (the NFC 1 seed) play the Minnesota Vikings (the 4 seed), in the Divisional playoff round because those teams were in the same division.

Contents

[edit] Wild Card playoffs

[edit] December 24, 1988

[edit] AFC: Houston Oilers 24, Cleveland Browns 23

1 2 3 4 Total
Oilers 0 14 0 10 24
Browns 3 6 7 7 23

at Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio


Starting Quarterbacks:


Oilers cornerback Richard Johnson's interception set up kicker Tony Zendejas' game-clinching 49-field field goal with 1:54 left in the game. After the Browns scored first on a 33-yard field goal by Matt Bahr, Houston marched 91 yards to score on quarterback Warren Moon's 14-yard touchdown pass to running back Allen Pinkett. Then on Cleveland's next drive, Oilers defensive lineman Richard Byrd recovered quarterback Don Strock's fumble to set up Pinkett's 16-yard touchdown run. Bahr later made two field goals to cut Houston's lead, 14-9, before halftime. In the third quarter, backup quarterback Mike Pagel, who replaced an injured Strock, threw a 14-yard touchdown completion to wide receiver Webster Slaughter to put the Browns ahead, 16-14. However, the Oilers marched on a 76-yard drive that was capped with running back Lorenzo White's 1-yard rushing touchdown. After Johnson's interception and Zendejas' subsequent game-clinching 49-yard field goal, Slaughter caught a 2-yard touchdown reception to close out the scoring.

  • Scoring
    • CLE - FG Bahr 33
    • HOU - Pinkett 14 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
    • HOU - Pinkett 16 run (Zendejas kick)
    • CLE - FG Bahr 26
    • CLE - FG Bahr 28
    • CLE - Slaughter 14 pass from Pagel (Bahr kick)
    • HOU - White 1 run (Zendejas kick)
    • HOU - FG Zendejas 49
    • CLE - Slaughter 2 pass from Pagel (Bahr kick)

[edit] December 26, 1988

[edit] NFC: Minnesota Vikings 28, Los Angeles Rams 17

1 2 3 4 Total
Rams 0 7 3 7 17
Vikings 14 0 7 7 28

at Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota


Starting Quarterbacks:


Vikings safety Joey Browner recorded two interceptions in the first quarter to set up a two touchdown lead that the Rams could never recover from. Browner's first interception led to a Minnesota 73-yard drive that was capped by running back Alfred Anderson's 7-yard rushing touchdown. Browner returned his second interception to the Los Angeles 17-yard line, where Allen Rice took it in for a touchdown on the next play. In the second quarter, Rams quarterback Jim Everett cut the lead in half with a 3-yard touchdown completion to tight end Damone Johnson. But in the third quarter, Anderson scored another touchdown, this time a 1-yard run, to extend the Vikings lead, 21-7. The Rams responded with a 33-yard field goal by Mike Lansford, but Minnesota put the game out of reach with tight end Carl Hilton's 5-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Wade Wilson. Wilson finished the game with 253 passing yards and a touchdown, while receiver Anthony Carter caught 4 passes for 102 yards.

  • Scoring
    • MIN - Anderson 7 run (Nelson kick)
    • MIN - Rice 17 run (Nelson kick)
    • RAMS - Johnson 3 pass from Everett (Lansford kick)
    • MIN - Anderson 1 run (Nelson kick)
    • RAMS - FG Lansford 33
    • MIN - Hilton 5 pass from Wilson (Nelson kick)
    • RAMS - Holohan 11 pass from Everett (Lansford kick)

[edit] Divisional playoffs

[edit] December 31, 1988

[edit] NFC: Chicago Bears 20, Philadelphia Eagles 12

1 2 3 4 Total
Eagles 3 6 3 0 12
Bears 7 10 0 3 20

at Soldier Field, Chicago

For more details on this topic, see Fog Bowl (American football).


Starting Quarterbacks:


Known as The Fog Bowl, the Bears defeated the Eagles, 20-12, in a contest in which a heavy, dense fog rolled over Chicago's Soldier Field during the second quarter and cut visibility to about 15-20 yards for the rest of the game.

Chicago scored first with quarterback Mike Tomczak's 64-yard touchdown pass to Dennis McKinnon. The Eagles responded by driving to the Chicago 26-yard line, but kicker Luis Zendejas missed a 43-yard field goal attempt. Philadelphia quickly got the ball back after linebacker Seth Joyner intercepted a pass from Tomczak, and this time they managed to score with Zendejas' 42-yard field goal, but only after committing two costly mistakes: twice on the drive Philadelphia had touchdowns nullified by penalties. The Bears then drove to the Eagles 33-yard line on their ensuing drive, but it stalled and kicker Kevin Butler missed a 51-yard field goal attempt, giving the ball back to Philadelphia with great field position. Cunningham then led the Eagles inside Chicago's 20-yard line where Zendejas kicked a 29-yard field goal to cut the team's deficit to one point, 7-6.

2 possessions later, The Bears drove 44 yards and scored with Neal Anderson's 4-yard touchdown run to give them a 14-6 lead. Both teams scored another field goal before halftime, and they went into their locker rooms with Chicago leading 17-9. By the time the second half began, the heavy fog made it extremely difficult for the teams to move the ball. Each team could only score a short field goal in the second half.

Eagles quarterback Randall Cunningham finished the game with 407 passing yards, but was unable to lead his team to a single touchdown and was intercepted 3 times. Other than a 64-yard touchdown pass, Tomczak was dominated the rest of the game by the Eagles defense, completing only 10 of 20 passes for 174 yards with 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions. McKinnon finished the game with 4 receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown. Eagles fullback Keith Byars rushed for 34 yards and caught 9 passes for 103 yards. Tight end Keith Jackson caught 7 passes for 142 yards.

  • Scoring
    • CHI - McKinnon 64 pass from Tomczak (Butler kick)
    • PHI - FG Zendejas 42
    • PHI - FG Zendejas 29
    • CHI - Anderson 4 run (Butler kick)
    • CHI - FG Butler 46
    • PHI - FG Zendejas 30
    • PHI - FG Zendejas 35
    • CHI - FG Butler 27

[edit] AFC: Cincinnati Bengals 21, Seattle Seahawks 13

1 2 3 4 Total
Seahawks 0 0 0 13 13
Bengals 7 14 0 0 21

at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio


Starting Quarterbacks:


The Bengals recorded 254 rushing yards, while rookie fullback Ickey Woods gained 126 of them and scored a touchdown. Cincinnati jumped to a 21-0 halftime lead with Woods' score and two from running back Stanley Wilson. Meanwhile, the Seahawks could only manage 47 total yards in the first half. But after a scoreless third quarter, Seattle attempted a comeback. First, quarterback Dave Krieg threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to John L. Williams. Then Krieg scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak. However, Norm Johnson missed the extra point attempt and the Seattle was unable to score again.

  • Scoring
    • CIN - Wilson 3 run (Breech kick)
    • CIN - Wilson 3 run (Breech kick)
    • CIN - Woods 1 run (Breech kick)
    • SEA - Williams 7 pass from Krieg (Johnson kick)
    • SEA - Krieg 1 run (kick failed)

[edit] January 1, 1989

[edit] AFC: Buffalo Bills 17, Houston Oilers 10

1 2 3 4 Total
Oilers 0 3 0 7 10
Bills 0 7 7 3 17

at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York


Starting Quarterbacks:


The Bills dominated the Oilers throughout most of the game, blocking a punt, converting a turnover into the game-clinching field goal, and only allowing a touchdown late in the final quarter. After a scoreless first quarter, Buffalo safety Leonard Smith blocked a punt to set up running back Robb Riddick's 1-yard touchdown. In the third quarter, Bills rookie running back Thurman Thomas scored on an 11-yard rushing touchdown. Then in the fourth period, Buffalo defensive back Derrick Burroughs recovered a fumble to set up kicker Scott Norwood's 27-yard field goal to clinch the victory. Houston running back Mike Rozier's 1-yard touchdown later closed out the scoring.

  • Scoring
    • BUF - Riddick 1 run (Norwood kick)
    • HOU - FG Zendejas 35
    • BUF - Thomas 11 run (Norwood kick)
    • BUF - FG Norwood 27
    • HOU - Rozier 1 run (Zendejas kick)

[edit] NFC: San Francisco 49ers 34, Minnesota Vikings 9

1 2 3 4 Total
Vikings 3 0 6 0 9
49ers 7 14 0 13 34

at Candlestick Park, San Francisco


Starting Quarterbacks:


San Francisco quarterback Joe Montana threw three touchdowns to wide receiver Jerry Rice, and running back Roger Craig rushed for 135 and two touchdowns as the 49ers routed the Vikings. After Minnesota scored first on a field goal, Montana and Rice connected for first half scores from 2, 4, and 11 yards. Meanwhile, the San Francisco defense recorded 5 sacks before halftime. The Vikings finally scored a touchdown in the third quarter with quarterback Wade Wilson's 5-yard pass to wide receiver Hassan Jones. But Minnesota was shut out from that point on as Craig scored on a 4-yard touchdown run, and an NFL playoff record 80-yard touchdown run.

  • Scoring
    • MIN - FG Nelson 47
    • SF - Rice 2 pass from Montana (Cofer kick)
    • SF - Rice 4 pass from Montana (Cofer kick)
    • SF - Rice 11 pass from Montana (Cofer kick)
    • MIN - Jones 5 pass from Wilson (kick failed)
    • SF - Craig 4 run (Cofer kick)
    • SF - Craig 80 run (kick failed)

[edit] Conference Championships

[edit] January 8, 1989

[edit] AFC: Cincinnati Bengals 21, Buffalo Bills 10

1 2 3 4 Total
Bills 0 10 0 0 10
Bengals 7 7 0 7 21

at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio


Starting Quarterbacks:


The Bengals forced 3 interceptions, and allowed only 45 rushing yards and 136 passing yards. Bills starting running back Thurman Thomas was held to just 6 yards on 4 carries, while quarterback Jim Kelly completed only 14 of 30 passes for 161 yards and 1 touchdown, with 3 interceptions. Meanwhile, running back Ickey Woods rushed for 102 yards and 2 touchdowns. Cincinnati took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter after defensive back Lewis Billups' interception set up Woods' 1-yard touchdown. Buffalo tied the game in the second quarter with Kelly's 9-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Andre Reed. But Kelly was intercepted again, this time by defensive back Eric Thomas, and the Bengals capitalized with running back James Brooks' 10-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Boomer Esiason. Bills kicker Scott Norwood made a 39-yard field goal before halftime to cut Cincinnati's lead, 14-10. Late in the third quarter, Bengals running back Stanley Wilson gained 6 yards on a fake punt attempt, and Cincinnati drove to score on Woods' second touchdown of the game.

  • Scoring
    • CIN - Woods 1 run (Breech kick)
    • BUF - Reed 9 pass from Kelly (Norwood kick)
    • CIN - Brooks 10 pass from Esiason (Breech kick)
    • BUF - FG Norwood 39
    • CIN - Woods 1 run (Breech kick)

[edit] NFC: San Francisco 49ers 28, Chicago Bears 3

1 2 3 4 Total
49ers 7 7 7 7 28
Bears 0 3 0 0 3

at Soldier Field, Chicago


Starting Quarterbacks:


Despite playing in a game-time temperature of 17°F, a wind chill of -26°F, and wind gusts up to 30 MPH, the 49ers scored a touchdown in every quarter and gained 406 total yards of offense while limiting Chicago quarterback Jim McMahon to just 121 passing yards with no touchdowns and 1 interception. San Francisco quarterback Joe Montana threw for 288 yards and three touchdowns, the first two to wide receiver Jerry Rice. Late in the first quarter, The 49ers faced a 3rd and long from their own 39 yard line. Despite the high winds, Montana was able to whistle a long pass in to Rice, who, despite double coverage from Bears defenders Mike Richardson and Todd Krumm, was able to catch the pass and outrun both defenders to score a 61-yard Touchdown. Rice would score his second touchdown midway through the second quarter, a 27-yard reception in which he caught a low slant pass from Montana in stride and scored untouched. In the third quarter, the 49ers marched 78 yards to score on tight end John Frank's 5-yard touchdown reception from Montana. San Francisco's final score was running back Tom Rathman's 4-yard rushing touchdown. Rice finished the game with 5 receptions for 133 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Bears' lone score was Kevin Butler's 25-yard field goal in the second period.

  • Scoring
    • SF - Rice 61 pass from Montana (Cofer kick)
    • SF - Rice 27 pass from Montana (Cofer kick)
    • CHI - FG Butler 25
    • SF - Frank 5 pass from Montana (Cofer kick)
    • SF - Rathman 4 run (Cofer kick)

[edit] Bracket

*Note: Two teams from the same division were not allowed to play against each other in the Divisional playoff round.
                                   
Divisional Playoffs
    January 1 - Rich Stadium        
AFC Wild Card Game AFC Championship
 5  Houston  10
December 24 - Cleveland Stadium     January 8 - Riverfront Stadium
 2*  Buffalo  17  
 5  Houston  24  2  Buffalo  10
December 31 - Riverfront Stadium
 4  Cleveland  23      1  Cincinnati  21   Super Bowl XXIII
 3  Seattle  13
    January 22 - Joe Robbie Stadium
 1*  Cincinnati  21  
 A1  Cincinnati  16
January 1 - Candlestick Park
NFC Wild Card Game NFC Championship    N2  San Francisco  20
 4  Minnesota  9
December 26 - Metrodome     January 8 - Soldier Field
 2*  San Francisco  34  
 5  L.A. Rams  17  2  San Francisco  28
December 31 - Soldier Field
 4  Minnesota  28      1  Chicago  3  
 3  Philadelphia  12
   
 1*  Chicago  20  


[edit] Super Bowl

Further information: Super Bowl XXIII

San Francisco 49ers (NFC) 20, Cincinnati Bengals (AFC) 16, at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida

[edit] References

National Football League playoffs
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