Editing Super Bowl XXIII (section)

===Playoffs===
[[File:1989 AFC Championship Game - Buffalo Bills at Cincinnati Bengals 1989-01-08 (ticket).jpg|thumb|125px|The Bengals defeated the Bills in the AFC Championship Game.]]
{{Details|1988–89 NFL playoffs}}

The Bengals went on to defeat the [[1988 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]] in the AFC Divisional playoff game 21–13, and the [[1988 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] in the [[AFC Championship Game]] 21–10. Woods was the key contributor in both wins, rushing for a combined total of 228 yards and 3 touchdowns. Cincinnati's 17th-ranked defense during the season made a major improvement in the playoffs, holding both their opponents to a combined total of 23 points and recording 5 interceptions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Seattle Seahawks at Cincinnati Bengals - December 31st, 1988 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198812310cin.htm |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AFC Championship - Buffalo Bills at Cincinnati Bengals - January 8th, 1989 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198901080cin.htm |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

Meanwhile, [[Bill Walsh (American football coach)|Bill Walsh]] guided the 49ers to crushing playoff wins over the [[1988 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]], 34–9 and the [[1988 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]], 28–3.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers - January 1st, 1989 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198901010sfo.htm |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NFC Championship - San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears - January 8th, 1989 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198901080chi.htm |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> With the win over the Bears, the 49ers became the first road team to win an [[NFC Championship Game]] since the [[1979 NFL season|1979 season]].