One-hundred and ninety seconds…92 yards…three points…one great comeback!

The San Francisco 49ers faced an imposing task on January 22, 1989 in Super Bowl XXIII. Trailing the Cincinnati Bengals 16-13 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, quarterback JOE MONTANA and his teammates stood 92 yards from the goal line with three minutes and 10 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

"Joe Cool," as Montana was nicknamed, was not fazed. In fact, just before the 49ers took possession – a time when one would think that the deepest of concentration was necessary – Montana spotted a famous entertainer in the crowd. "Joe said, ‘Hey, check it out, there’s John Candy,’" recalled 49ers tackle HARRIS BARTON. "I looked up and there was John Candy in the stands, eating popcorn. The ref blew his whistle and Joe said, ‘Okay, here we go.’ He called the play and off we went."

The ensuing action added to Joe Montana’s legend and helped Super Bowl XXIII today claim the ranking as the Sixth Most Memorable NFL Game of the Century as chosen by NFL fans. To commemorate the end of the century, the National Football League invited fans to vote on nfl.com, the league’s official website, for the 10 most memorable games of the century. Nearly 35,000 votes were cast. Each Wednesday, the next "most memorable" game will be announced, culminating in the announcement of the Most Memorable NFL Game of the Century during Super Bowl XXXIV week on Wednesday, January 26. A list and description of the previous winners can be viewed on nfl.com.

What was going through Montana’s mind as he entered the huddle?

"I tried to be the same, whether we were winning or losing, first quarter or fourth quarter," Montana explained. "Sometimes you see players come out of character. My attitude was, ‘Okay, this is what we’re going to do. Two-minute offense, no big deal.’ We did it every Saturday in practice…so many times we could do it with our eyes closed. Game day should be no different."

Montana began the drive with an eight-yard pass to running back ROGER CRAIG, and followed with seven-yard connections to tight end JOHN FRANK and wide receiver JERRY RICE. Craig rushed for one yard to take the 49ers to their 30-yard line at the two-minute warning.

"I made sure we got something out of every play," Montana said of the short passes. "If I had somebody open right away, even if he wasn’t my primary receiver, I gave it to him and let him gain five yards. Just so we had something positive on every play."

On the 49ers’ final rushing attempt of the game, Craig gained four yards over right tackle. San Francisco called a time out with 1:54 remaining.

After the time out, Rice caught a 17-yard pass and went out of bounds to stop the clock. Montana then hit Craig for a 13-yard gain, moving San Francisco to the Bengals’ 35-yard line.

After Montana threw his next pass away to avoid a turnover – it was his only incompletion on the drive as he went eight of nine for 97 yards – the 49ers were penalized 10 yards for an illegal man downfield. With 1:17 remaining, San Francisco faced a second-and-20 from Cincinnati’s 45-yard line.

Montana then looked over the middle, connecting with Rice for a 27-yard gain. First down at the Bengals’ 18.

Craig, who accounted for 34 yards on the drive, then caught an eight-yard pass. Time out, 49ers.

With 39 seconds remaining, San Francisco had a second-and-two from Cincinnati’s 10-yard line. A field goal would tie the game, but the 49ers went for six. The play was called – "20 halfback curl, X-up" -- and Craig was the primary target.

"We had been hitting Roger Craig underneath so much and they'd been doubling our outside guys," Montana said. "So we tried to get the back underneath again. We had JOHN TAYLOR run a little up pattern and split the safeties. If the linebackers go deep, you go to Roger. If they don't, you go to John."

Craig was covered. So Montana coolly split the cornerback and safety with a pass to a streaking Taylor in the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown. In total, the 49ers covered 92 yards in 11 plays in over two minutes and 46 seconds. San Francisco 20, Cincinnati 16.

The touchdown was Taylor’s only catch of the game, but one he and Montana will remember for a lifetime.

Said Montana, who completed 23 of 36 passes for a Super Bowl-record 357 yards and two touchdowns: "Driving a team in the last minute and throwing a touchdown pass to win the Super Bowl – that’s the kind of thing you dream about as a kid."

• Super Bowl XXIII was the only one of Montana’s four Super Bowl victories in which he was not named Most Valuable Player (Jerry Rice, who had 11 catches for a record 215 yards, was named the game’s MVP).

• Craig had eight catches for 101 yards in Super Bowl XXIII. He is the only running back in Super Bowl history with a 100-yard receiving game.

• Montana’s career Super Bowl passer rating of 127.8 is the best all-time.