1988 ARAIG Super Bowl
Minnesota Vikings Defeated Resilient Cincinnati Bengals 38-37
This was a Super Bowl truly worthy of the name. As you would expect judging from the teams' regular season and playoff performances, offense was plentiful. In the end, a streaky game featuring 712 yards of offense was decided by about 8 inches. The story unfolded as follows:
The Bengals won the toss and elected to receive. First play from scrimmage was a Boomer to Eddie brown 37 yard bomb and it looked like the Bengals were in business. On the next play, though, Boomer was picked off by Viking safety David Harris. The Vikings began a drive of their own, using their stable of mediocrity at RB to advance to the Bengals 5 with first and goal to go. A couple incompletions and a sack of Wade Wilson by a blitzing Leon White forced the Vikings to settle for a Chris Nelson FG. Vikings 3-0.
After an exchange of punts, the Bengals took over on their own 21. Boomer fumbled the snap; he was not having a good day. This time the Vikings were able to capitalize with a Wade Wilson to Steve Jordan touchdown pass. Vikings 10-0.
The Bengals, with their otherworldly offense, were not out of this one by a long shot, though. After a short kickoff, Bengals took over in Vikings territory and scored on back to back Esiason to Tim McGee passes. Vikings 10-7.
Vikings then went on a long drive capped by a Wade Wilson to Anthony Carter TD pass. We would hear from those two again. Vikings 17-7.
The Bengals fumbled the kickoff, and Wilson hit AC in stride on the next play from scrimmage for a 45 yard TD and just like that it was Vikings 24-7.
Teams exchanged punts a couple times, and then the Vikings drove to the Bengals 6-yard line as time expired in the first half.
The Vikings took the second half kickoff looking to kill some clock and extend their lead. Neither happened, as they went four and out. Here came the Bengals again as Esiason connected on three straight passes, culminating in a 38 yard TD Bomb to Eddie Brown. Vikings 24-14.
Now things got crazy. On the next drive, David Fulcher picked off Wade Wilson's pass on the Vikes 34 yard line. Two plays later, Esiason fumbled the ball back to the Vikings. Two plays later, Darrin Nelson fumbled the ball back to the Bengals. This time the Bengals hung on to the ball and got a Jim Breech field goal for their efforts. Vikings 24-17.
Vikings went nowhere on their next drive, and punter Bucky Scribner fumbled the snap on the punt attempt. Bengals ball on the Vikings 22. Any guesses what happened next? Bengals got 2 consecutive offensive penalties followed by a Chris Doleman sack of Boomer, leaving them with a 3rd and 36 at about midfield. Vikings narrow lead looked like it might hold up. But wait, Bengals weren't done yet. With the Vikings looking for the deep ball, Boomer's bomb attempt fell incomplete. No matter, as Chris Doleman was called for roughing the passer- automatic first down! On the next play, Viking safety Reggie Rutland was called for pass interference for a 30 yard Bengals gain. Somewhere, Bud Grant doubled over liked he'd been kicked by a mule, Fran Tarkenton uttered an arrogant, self-serving remark about how his Vikings teams would never have choked like that, and legions of inebriated Bengals fans broke out in spontaneous shouts of "WHO-DEY." The capacity crowd at Joe Robbie was treated to that immortal example of Astaire-like footwork known as the Ickey Shuffle, as Elbert Woods plunged into the end zone to tie the game at 24-24. And there was still an entire quarter to go.
The Vikings then drove 83 yards in 6:37 to regain the lead as Wade Wilson and Anthony Carter hooked up for their 3rd TD of the game. Vikings 31-24.
Bengals then executed their own long drive, going 67 yards in 4:42 as Esiason found Tim McGee in the end zone to tie the game again at 31-31.
Vikings got a 35 yard kick off return from David Harris and took over on their own 38 with 3:25 to go. After a couple short runs, Wade Wilson caught the Bengals looking run and hit Anthony Carter for a 53 yard bomb and his 4th touchdown reception of the game. Vikings 38-31.
The Vikings had been kicking away from Bengals return man Stanford Jennings all game, but Coach Schneider elected to gamble on pinning the bengals deep with only 2:25 left in the game. Not a good call, as Jennings returned the ball to the Vikings 45 yard line. In a rapid fire sequence, Boomer was sacked, hit McGee for 18 yards, scrambled for 8 more, then hit McGee again for another 20 to advance to the Viking 8 yard line with 31 seconds to go. Esiason missed an attempted hookup with McGee in the end zone, then found James Brooks on a short route for an 8 yard TD pass. It was looking like overtime, as Bengals now trailed 38-37 and lined up for the extra point.
Here is where 8 inches decided the game. Bengals 5'6" kicker Jim Breech strode into the ball just before 6'2" Viking DT Henry Thomas extended his arms to his max reach and blocked the extra point attempt! Vikings recovered the obligatory onside kick, and one of the most thrilling Super Bowls in simulated NFL history was over.
Great game called by Joey, capping off a great season.
I apologize for the ridiculously long write up, but I thought such an exciting game shouldn't be lost to history. See you all in 1995!
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