1988 NFC Divisional Playoffs: Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers

The 1988 NFC Divisional Playoff Game was an American football game played on January 1, 1989 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California following the 1988 regular season.

The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 34-9, to advance to their fourth NFC Championship Game in eight seasons. This was the second meeting between the two teams in the NFC Divisional Playoff Game, their first meeting being in 1987.

Television
The game was broadcast in the United States by CBS with Pat Summerall handling the play-by-play duties and color commentator John Madden in the broadcast booth. Brent Musburger hosted The NFL Today pregame (30 minutes), halftime, and postgame coverage with analysts Dick Butkus and Irv Cross and roving reporter Will McDonough.

Game summary
San Francisco quarterback Joe Montana threw for 178 yards and three touchdowns to wide receiver Jerry Rice, while running back Roger Craig rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns and defensive back Ronnie Lott added two interceptions. Overall, the 49ers gained 376 yards, including 201 on the ground, while holding the Vikings to 262 yards and sacking quarterback Wade Wilson six times. 49ers defensive end Larry Roberts had 2.5 sacks.

Minnesota scored first on a 51-yard, 12-play drive that ended with Chuck Nelson's 47-yard field goal. But later in the quarter, John Taylor's 14-yard punt return and a penalty against Minnesota's Sam Anno gave the 49ers the ball on the Vikings 48, setting up Montana's first touchdown pass to Rice on a 2-yard toss. On the next series, Lott's interception gave San Francisco a first down on the Minnesota 30-yard line. Rice started off their drive with a 21-yard run on a double reverse play, and eventually caught a 4-yard touchdown pass that gave the 49ers a 14-3 lead in the second quarter. Rice added a third touchdown reception with 38 seconds left in the half, increasing the team's lead to 21–3.

The Vikings scored on their first possession of the second half with Wilson's 5-yard pass to Hassan Jones, but Nelson missed the extra point and the team would get no closer than 21–9. In the fourth quarter, Craig finished off an 80-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run, and scored on an NFL postseason record 80-yard touchdown run on the 49ers' next drive.

Officials

 * Referee: Jerry Markbreit (#9)


 * Umpire:
 * Head Linesman:
 * Line Judge:
 * Back Judge:
 * Side Judge:
 * Field Judge:
 * Alternate: