The perfect Super Bowl record of Joe Montana and the 49ers was enough to overcome even the mystique of Vince Lombardi.
ESPN.com users picked the all-time 49ers over Lombardi's Packers in the semifinals of our Fantasy Super Bowl Tournament. That sends the 49ers into the finals against the Steelers.
Not even the presence of Brett Favre, who is 5-1 against San Francisco in his career, could help Green Bay avoid a second-round defeat.
Here's a look at each team's credentials and the lineups we selected for this all-time matchup:
|
| SEED: 1 |
| SUPER BOWL RECORD: 5-0 |
| RESULTS: Defeated Bengals 26-21 in 1982; defeated Dolphins 38-16 in 1985; defeated Bengals 20-16 in 1989; defeated Broncos 55-10 in 1990; defeated Chargers 49-26 in 1995. |
| COACH: Bill Walsh, who never lost in three Super Bowl appearances. |
| Offense |
| Pos. |
Player |
Comment |
| QB |
Joe Montana |
In 122 passes in four Super Bowls, Joe Cool was never intercepted. |
| RB |
Roger Craig |
In three games, Craig had 410 yards from scrimmage and four TDs. |
| FB |
Tom Rathman |
Punishing blocker led the way for two title teams. |
| WR |
Jerry Rice |
All-time leader in Super Bowl points (42), TDs (7), catches (28) and receiving yards (512). |
| WR |
John Taylor |
His TD catch capped the dramatic drive to beat the Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII. |
| TE |
Brent Jones |
Won three rings and caught a TD pass in 1990 rout of the Broncos. |
| T |
Bubba Paris |
Played at 300 pounds before that was the norm for offensive tackles. |
| G |
Randy Cross |
Versatile lineman also could play center. Leader on unlikely '82 title team. |
| C |
Jesse Sapolu |
The 11th-round pick anchored the Niners line in three title runs. |
| G |
Guy McIntyre |
He once lined up at running back, giving Mike Ditka the idea for "Refrigerator" Perry. |
| T |
Harris Barton |
Protected both Montana and Steve Young and won three rings. |
| Defense |
| Pos. |
Player |
Comment |
| DE/OLB |
Charles Haley |
First two of his record five rings came with the Niners. As a pass-rush specialist, he's one of best ever. |
| DT |
Michael Carter |
Olympic-caliber shot putter played on three title teams. |
| DT |
Bryant Young |
Started in Super Bowl as a rookie. Fifth-year player has plenty of Pro Bowl seasons ahead of him. |
| DE |
Dwaine Board |
Had two sacks of Dan Marino in the '85 victory over the Dolphins. |
| LB |
Jack Reynolds |
The intense "Hacksaw" was a defensive leader for the 49ers' first two title teams. |
| LB |
Keena Turner |
Started as a second-year player in the first Super Bowl win and went on to win three more rings. |
| LB |
Riki Ellison |
Solid and steady linebacker for two title teams. |
| CB |
Eric Wright |
One of three rookie starters in the secondary for '81 game, Wright had two interceptions in his four appearances. |
| CB |
Deion Sanders |
Only a Niner for one season, Sanders was Defensive Player of the Year in 1994. |
| S |
Ronnie Lott |
Perhaps the best safety in NFL history, Lott played corner in the Niners' first two Super Bowls. |
| S |
Merton Hanks |
Five-time Pro Bowler gets the nod over Carlton Williamson. |
| Specialists |
| Pos. |
Player |
Comment |
| K |
Ray Wersching |
Didn't miss a kick in his two Super Bowls, converting all five field goals and seven extra points. |
| P |
Max Runager |
Averaged 41.8 yards per kick for the team that won Super Bowl XIX. |
|
| SEED: 4 |
| SUPER BOWL RECORD: 3-1 |
| RESULTS: Defeated Chiefs 35-10 in 1967; defeated Raiders 33-14 in 1968; defeated Patriots 35-21 in 1997; lost to Broncos 31-24 in 1998. |
| COACH: Vince Lombardi, who directed the Packers to five NFL titles in seven years, including victories in the first Super Bowls. |
| Offense |
| Pos. |
Player |
Comment |
| QB |
Brett Favre |
Favre vs. Bart Starr was one of our toughest calls, but we're going with the only three-time NFL MVP. |
| RB |
Dorsey Levens |
His total of 1,435 rushing yards during the '97 season was the second-best ever for a Packers runner. |
| FB |
Jim Taylor |
The leading rusher in team history, Taylor ran for the TD that gave the Packers the lead for good in Super Bowl I. |
| WR |
Max McGee |
Filling in for the injured Bowd Dowler, he caught two TD passes in Super Bowl I, including the first score in the game's history. |
| WR |
Antonio Freeman |
Big-play receiver caught 12 passes for 231 yards and three TDs in his two Super Bowl appearances. |
| TE |
Marv Fleming |
Made the first two of his five Super Bowl appearances with the Pack before joining the Dolphins. |
| T |
Forrest Gregg |
Hall of Famer was called by Lombardi "the finest player I ever coached." Named All-Pro eight times. Coached Bengals in Super Bowl XVI. |
| G |
Jerry Kramer |
Three-time Pro Bowler helped lead way for Starr's winning TD run in the "Ice Bowl." |
| C |
Frank Winters |
Durable and consistent, Winters is the clear leader of the line that protected Favre in two Super Bowls. |
| G |
Fuzzy Thurston |
In the typical Lombardi mold, Thurston was a quick guard who could pull and lead the sweep. |
| T |
Bob Skoronski |
Integral member of line in Lombardi Era, Skoronski won five NFL titles and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1966. |
| Defense |
| Pos. |
Player |
Comment |
| DE |
Reggie White |
The NFL's all-time sacks leader finally got his ring with the Packers in 1997. |
| DT |
Henry Jordan |
Colorful tackle was named All-Pro five straight seasons and played in seven NFL titles. |
| DT |
Bob Brown |
Quick 260-pounder gets the nod over Gilbert Brown, who's at least a 360-pounder. |
| DE |
Willie Davis |
Outstanding pass rusher was named All-Pro five times and member of five title-winning teams. |
| LB |
Ray Nitschke |
Tough and hard-hitting, this Hall of Famer was named to the NFL's 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams. |
| LB |
Dave Robinson |
Playing alongside Nitschke, Robinson was selected to three Pro Bowls in the 1960s. |
| LB |
Brian Williams |
Had a key interception for Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXII. |
| CB |
Herb Adderley |
Five-time All-Pro played in four of the first six Super Bowls, two with Green Bay and two with Dallas. |
| CB |
Bob Jeter |
Together with Adderley, formed a secondary that was very tough to throw against. Named to Pro Bowl in '67 and '70. |
| S |
LeRoy Butler |
Outspoken leader has backed up his talk with four Pro Bowl appearances. |
| S |
Willie Wood |
The premier free safety of his era, this Hall of Famer was selected to eight consecutive Pro Bowls. |
| Specialists |
| Pos. |
Player |
Comment |
| K |
Don Chandler |
Perfect in 12 Super Bowl kicks, and he served as the punter, too. |
| P |
Craig Hentrich |
Pro Bowler was excellent at handling the harsh conditions at Lambeau Field. |
