Editing Super Bowl XVI (section)

==Background==
===Host selection process===
The NFL awarded Super Bowl XVI to [[Detroit]] on March 13, 1979, at the owners' meetings in [[Honolulu]]. For the first time, three Super Bowl host cities were deliberated and selected at the same meeting ([[Super Bowl XV|XV]], XVI and [[Super Bowl XVII|XVII]]). A total of eight cities submitted bids: [[New Orleans]] ([[Caesars Superdome|Louisana Superdome]]), [[Detroit]] ([[Pontiac Silverdome|Silverdome]]), [[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]] ([[Rose Bowl (stadium)|Rose Bowl]]), [[Los Angeles]] ([[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum|Coliseum]]), [[Miami]] ([[Miami Orange Bowl|Orange Bowl]]), [[Seattle]] ([[Kingdome]]), [[Dallas]] ([[Cotton Bowl (stadium)|Cotton Bowl]]) and [[Houston]] ([[Rice Stadium (Rice University)|Rice Stadium]]). For the first time, a [[Northern United States|northern]], cold-weather city was picked to host a Super Bowl. The game would be played inside the [[Pontiac Silverdome]], in the [[Metro Detroit|Detroit]] suburb of [[Pontiac, Michigan|Pontiac]]. Former NFL executive director Don Weiss wrote in his book "The Making of the Super Bowl" that the game had been awarded to the Silverdome by the league as a "reward" to the locally headquartered automobile companies [[Ford Motor Company]] and [[Chrysler]] for their "many years of sponsoring pro football".<ref name="donpierson1">{{cite web |last1=Pierson |first1=Don |title=Even with a new Soldier Field, our odds of hosting the NFL's premier event are about MCCLX to I |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2003-01-26-0301260241-story.html |website=Chicago Tribune |access-date=22 June 2022 |date=January 26, 2003}}</ref> Automotive executives [[Thomas Murphy (chairman)|Tom Murphy]] ([[General Motors|GM]]), [[Henry Ford II]] ([[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]), [[John J. Riccardo]] ([[Chrysler]]), and Gerald C. Meyers ([[American Motors Corporation|AMC]]) were all members of the Detroit host committee.<ref name="DFP03-14-1979pg53">{{cite news|title=Michigan's Super Bowl army reached out a winner (Part 1)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118686572/|newspaper=[[Detroit Free Press]]|first1=Vito|last1=Stellino|page=53|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=March 14, 1979|accessdate=February 15, 2023}}{{Open access}}</ref><ref name="DFP03-14-1979pg60">{{cite news|title=Michigan's Super Bowl army reached out a winner (Part 2)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118686686/|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|first1=Vito|last1=Stellino|page=60|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=March 14, 1979|accessdate=February 15, 2023}}{{Open access}}</ref>

Michigan [[List of governors of Michigan|governor]] [[William Milliken]], Detroit [[List of mayors of Detroit|mayor]] [[Coleman Young]], and Pontiac mayor [[Wallace E. Holland]] were part of the delegation, and notably offered the Silverdome rent-free. Detroit received rousing support from several NFL owners, including [[George Halas]], [[Art Rooney]], and [[Paul Brown]].<ref name="DFP03-14-1979pg1">{{cite news|title=1982 Super Bowl - Right Here! (Part 1)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118642314/|newspaper=[[Detroit Free Press]]|first1=Vito|last1=Stellino|page=1|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=March 14, 1979|accessdate=February 14, 2023}}{{Open access}}</ref><ref name="DFP03-14-1979pg7">{{cite news|title=1982 Super Bowl - Right Here! (Part 2)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118642442/|newspaper=[[Detroit Free Press]]|first1=Vito|last1=Stellino|page=7|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=March 14, 1979|accessdate=February 14, 2023}}{{Open access}}</ref> New Orleans (XV) and Pasadena (XVII) were other cities chosen at the meeting.<ref name="SPT03-14-1979pg29">{{cite news|title=Super Bowl sun warms Snow Belt (Part 1)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118641092/|newspaper=[[Miami Herald]]|first1=Ron|last1=Martz|page=29|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=March 14, 1979|accessdate=February 14, 2023}}{{Open access}}</ref><ref name="SPT03-14-1979pg36">{{cite news|title=Super Bowl sun warms Snow Belt (Part 2)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118641201/|newspaper=[[Miami Herald]]|first1=Ron|last1=Martz|page=36|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=March 14, 1979|accessdate=February 14, 2023}}{{Open access}}</ref>

After hosting five previous Super Bowls, [[Miami metropolitan area|Miami]] was noticeably left out, largely due to the deteriorating condition of the [[Miami Orange Bowl|Orange Bowl]] and a hotel room mix-up at [[Super Bowl XIII]] two months earlier.<ref name="DFP03-14-1979pg53"/><ref name="DFP03-14-1979pg60"/> [[Miami Dolphins|Dolphins]] owner [[Joe Robbie]], locked in an ongoing feud with the city of Miami and [[Miami-Dade County, Florida|Dade County]] over stadium improvements or construction of a new stadium, actually lobbied against Miami hosting the game. Robbie convinced the other owners to vote down Miami in an effort to gain leverage towards building a new stadium. [[South Florida]] would not be selected to host another Super Bowl until [[Hard Rock Stadium|Joe Robbie Stadium]] was built, and it hosted [[Super Bowl XXIII|XXIII]].<ref name="FLDN03-14-1979pg23a">{{cite news|title=Joe's Message To South Florida: No New Stadium, No Super Bowl|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118639386/|newspaper=Fort Lauderdale News|first1=Bernie|last1=Lincicome|page=23|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=March 14, 1979|accessdate=February 14, 2023}}{{Open access}}</ref><ref name="FLDN03-14-1979pg23b">{{cite news
|title=Robbie's 'No' Vote Keeps Super Bowl From Miami|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118639297/|newspaper=Fort Lauderdale News|page=23|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=March 14, 1979|accessdate=February 14, 2023}}{{Open access}}</ref>

===San Francisco 49ers===
{{main|1981 San Francisco 49ers season}}

San Francisco finished the regular season with a league-best 13–3 record. The 49ers' success surprised many because they finished with a 6–10 record during the [[1980 San Francisco 49ers season|previous season]] and a 2–14 record in [[1979 San Francisco 49ers season|1979]] (they even still had home blackouts early on in the 1981 season, the last blackouts for the 49ers to date). A major reason for the team's improvement was the emergence of their young quarterback, [[Joe Montana]]. In his third professional season, Montana completed 311 out of 488 passes (a league-leading 63.7 completion percentage) for 3,565 yards and 19 touchdowns (he also threw 12 interceptions). His favorite target was third-year wide receiver [[Dwight Clark]], who had the best season of his career with 85 receptions for 1,104 yards and four touchdowns. Fellow wide receiver [[Freddie Solomon]] was also a reliable target with 59 receptions, 969 yards, and eight touchdowns, while tight end [[Charle Young]] caught 37 passes for 400 yards and five touchdowns. Running back [[Ricky Patton]] was the top rusher on the team with 543 yards and four touchdowns, while also catching 27 passes for 195 yards. Multi-talented running back [[Earl Cooper (NFL)|Earl Cooper]] also provided the team with a rushing and receiving threat, going for 330 yards on the ground and 477 receiving yards on 51 catches. Much of San Francisco's success was aided by its offensive line of [[Dan Audick]] (LT), [[John Ayers]] (LG), [[Fred Quillan]] (C), [[Randy Cross]] (RG), and [[Keith Fahnhorst]] (RT).

Although the 49ers had three rookies starting as defensive backs, all three were major threats to opposing offsenses. [[Carlton Williamson]] recorded four interceptions, [[Eric C. Wright|Eric Wright]] had three and [[Ronnie Lott]], who had the best statistical season of his career, recorded seven interceptions and tied an NFL record by returning three of them for touchdowns. Three-year veteran defensive back [[Dwight Hicks]] led the team with nine interceptions, which he returned for 239 yards and a touchdown, giving the secondary a total of 23 picks. Defensive end [[Fred Dean]] and linebacker [[Jack "Hacksaw" Reynolds]] made it difficult for opposing teams to rush the ball; Dean became a 49er after an in-season trade with the San Diego Chargers and piled up 12 sacks for San Francisco.

The 49ers' defense ranked second in the NFL with 250 points allowed for the season (up from their 27th ranking in [[1980 San Francisco 49ers season|1980]]). Only the [[ 1981 Philadelphia Eagles season|Eagles]] had a better defense in the league that year, allowing just 221 points.

===Cincinnati Bengals===
{{main|1981 Cincinnati Bengals season}}

The Bengals finished with the best regular-season record in the AFC at 12–4. Cincinnati was also a surprise team because, like the 49ers, they had recorded a 6–10 record the [[1980 Cincinnati Bengals season|previous season]]. Entering the 1981 season, the Bengals had never won a playoff game in their entire history.

Quarterback [[Ken Anderson (quarterback)|Ken Anderson]] (who had the best season of his career) was the top [[passer rating|rated passer]] in the league and won both the [[NFL Most Valuable Player Award]] and the [[NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award]]. He completed 300 of 479 passes (62.6%) for 3,754 yards, 29 touchdowns and ten interceptions. Anderson was also an outstanding scrambler, rushing for 320 yards and one touchdown, leading all NFL quarterbacks in rushing yards.

The Bengals' main deep threat was rookie wide receiver [[Cris Collinsworth]], who caught 67 passes for 1,009 yards and eight touchdowns. Tight end [[Dan Ross (American football)|Dan Ross]] had 71 receptions for 910 yards and five touchdowns, while wide receivers [[Isaac Curtis]] and [[Steve Kreider]] each recorded 37 receptions, combining for a total of 1,129 yards and nine touchdowns.  Fullback [[Pete Johnson (American football, born 1954)|Pete Johnson]] was the leading rusher on the team with 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was also a good receiver out of the backfield, catching 46 passes for 320 yards and four touchdowns. Halfback [[Charles Alexander (running back)|Charles Alexander]] contributed 554 all-purpose yards and 28 receptions. A big reason for Cincinnati's production on offense was their line, led by future [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] tackle [[Anthony Muñoz]] and guard [[Max Montoya]]. On special teams, punter [[Pat McInally]] made the Pro Bowl with a 45.4 yards-per-punt average.

The Bengals also had a good defense that had not given up more than 30 points in any game that season. Their line was anchored by defensive ends [[Ross Browner]] and [[Eddie Edwards (American football)|Eddie Edwards]], who did a great job stopping the run. Cincinnati's defense was also led by defensive backs [[Louis Breeden]] and [[Ken Riley]], and linebackers [[Bo Harris]], [[Jim LeClair]] and [[Reggie Williams (linebacker)|Reggie Williams]], who intercepted four passes and recovered three fumbles.

===Playoffs===
{{Further|1981–82 NFL playoffs}}

The Bengals earned their first playoff victory in team history by defeating the [[1981 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] 28–21, then beating the [[1981 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]] 27–7 in a game known as the [[Freezer Bowl]] because of the {{convert|−59|F}} wind chill conditions at Riverfront Stadium.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Buffalo Bills at Cincinnati Bengals - January 3rd, 1982 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198201030cin.htm |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AFC Championship - San Diego Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals - January 10th, 1982 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198201100cin.htm |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Meanwhile, the 49ers defeated the [[1981 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] 38–24, then narrowly beat the [[1981 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] 28–27 on a last-minute touchdown pass known as [[The Catch (American football)|The Catch]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers - January 3rd, 1982 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198201030sfo.htm |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NFC Championship - Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers - January 10th, 1982 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198201100sfo.htm |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

===Super Bowl pregame news===
The 49ers had handily beaten the Bengals in a December game played in Cincinnati and consequently were installed as a one-point favorite. Most experts agreed that both teams were very evenly matched, but many thought Pete Johnson's rushing ability could prove to be the difference. Some observers also pointed out that Ken Anderson was an established 11-year veteran who had just had the best season of his career, while Montana was only just starting to emerge as a top-notch quarterback. Furthermore, Anderson had advanced through the playoffs without throwing a single interception, while Montana had been intercepted four times, three of them in the NFC title game.

During the season, both teams had shown impressive ball security. Cincinnati had the fewest turnovers of any NFL team with 24, while San Francisco ranked second with 25.

Cincinnati head coach [[Forrest Gregg]] became the first to play in a Super Bowl and then be a head coach in a Super Bowl. Gregg played in [[Super Bowl I|Super Bowls I]] and [[Super Bowl II|II]] as an offensive tackle for the [[1967 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]. (He&nbsp;was also on the roster for the [[1971 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] for [[Super Bowl VI]], but did not play.)  [[Tom Flores]], the winning head coach in [[Super Bowl XV]], was a back-up quarterback for the [[1969 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] in [[Super Bowl IV]], but did not play.

This was the first Super Bowl to feature two first-time participants since [[Super Bowl III]], and there has been only one since: [[Super Bowl XX]] between the [[Chicago Bears]] and [[New England Patriots]]). This was also the only Super Bowl to date between two teams that had losing records the previous season, although [[Super Bowl XXXIV]] matched a team that had a losing record in 1998 (the St. Louis Rams) against a team that went 8–8 that year (the Tennessee Titans). This is the most recent Super Bowl in which both teams had never appeared in ''any'' AFL or NFL title game before the merger (the 49ers had played in the final championship game of the [[All-America Football Conference]] before joining the NFL in 1950).

This was the only Super Bowl to be played at the Pontiac Silverdome. The Super Bowl did return to Michigan for [[Super Bowl XL]], but that game was played at [[Ford Field]] in Detroit, which in 2002 had replaced the Silverdome as the home of the [[Detroit Lions]]. This was also only the second Super Bowl to not take place in one of the three so-called 'big Super Bowl Cities' (the other was Houston in January 1974). Fourteen of the previous 15 Super Bowls took place in either [[Miami, Florida]], [[New Orleans, Louisiana]] or in the [[Greater Los Angeles Area]].

As the designated home team, the Bengals wore their black home uniforms with white pants, while the 49ers donned their road white uniforms with gold pants. This was the only Super Bowl where the 49ers away jerseys featured screen printed numbers. The next Super Bowl where the 49ers were the designated away team, their jerseys featured stitched on numbers. All subsequent Super Bowls where the 49ers have been the away team have featured this ever since.

On the day of the game, a 49ers bus which had Bill Walsh and Montana on board was stuck in traffic due to bad weather and a motorcade carrying [[Vice President of the United States|then-Vice President]] [[George H. W. Bush]]. As a result, they did not arrive at the stadium until 90 minutes before kickoff time. "Coach Walsh was pretty loose on the bus," Montana told ''Sports Illustrated'' after the game. "He said, ‘I’ve got the radio on and we’re leading 7–0. The trainer’s calling the plays.’"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/super-bowl-xvi-montana-niners-edge-bengals-26-21-article-1.1563968|title=Super Bowl XVI: Montana, Niners edge Bengals, 26-21|website=[[New York Daily News]]|date=January 2014 }}</ref>