Thirty-four seconds. That is what Joe Montana left on the clock when he beat the Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII. January 1989, Cincinnati leading late, and Montana takes the 49ers ninety-two yards down the field, the drive where he supposedly pointed out John Candy in the stands to loosen up his teammates. Touchdown to John Taylor. 20-16. The Bengals never even got the ball back with a chance.

Three trips, three losses

Cincinnati has reached three Super Bowls and lost all three, and the 49ers got them twice. Super Bowl XVI in January 1982 went to San Francisco 26-21. Super Bowl XXIII was the Montana drive. Then thirty-three years passed before Joe Burrow dragged them back to Super Bowl LVI in February 2022, where the Rams won 23-20 on a late drive and a fourth-down stop with Cincinnati a few yards short.

What I see in it

Always a few yards, a few seconds, a few feet short. Three times. Bengals fans waited a generation between trips and got the same answer each time. I know that math. You get there, you lead, and the other guy makes the play. It is the cruelest way to lose, and Cincinnati has done it three times for three.