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Way-Back Playback: Joe Montana's 49ers rout Broncos in Super Bowl XXIV

Reuters / Picture supplied by Action Images

The 1989 San Francisco 49ers cemented their status as arguably the greatest team in NFL history with a 55-10 rout of John Elway's Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXIV. 

Joe Montana was at the peak of his tremendous heights, capturing league MVP honors and steering the 49ers to a 14-2 record. 

Against an overwhelmed Broncos squad, the result was never in doubt. Montana threw a pair of first-half touchdown scores, giving the 49ers a commanding 27-3 lead at halftime. 

The second half didn't fare much better for the Broncos. Jerry Rice caught his third touchdown of the game early in the third quarter, and Montana found John Taylor for a quick score shortly thereafter, extending the lead to 41-3 over the Broncos. 

By the time John Elway and company responded with a touchdown, it was too late. The 49ers punched in two rushing touchdowns in the fourth, winning by the largest margin in Super Bowl history. 

Montana capped off the greatest postseason run in league history, throwing for 11 touchdowns with no interceptions, and became the third person to win league and Super Bowl MVP honors in the same season. 

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