Fansided

20 best wide receiver seasons in NFL history

By Russell S. Baxter

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 28: Jerry Rice #80 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with teammates after he scored a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during Super Bowl XXIV on January 28, 1990 at the Super Dome in New Orleans, LA. The 49ers won the Super Bowl 55-10. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 28: Jerry Rice #80 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with teammates after he scored a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during Super Bowl XXIV on January 28, 1990 at the Super Dome in New Orleans, LA. The 49ers won the Super Bowl 55-10. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
15 of 20
Next
Jerry Rice #80, Wide Receiver for the San Francisco 49ers runs the ball during the National Football League Super Bowl XXIII game against the Cincinnati Bengals on 22 January 1989 at the Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida, United States. The 49ers won the game 20 – 16. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Allsport/Getty Images)
Jerry Rice #80, Wide Receiver for the San Francisco 49ers runs the ball during the National Football League Super Bowl XXIII game against the Cincinnati Bengals on 22 January 1989 at the Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida, United States. The 49ers won the game 20 – 16. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Allsport/Getty Images) /

6. Jerry Rice, 49ers (1988)

When it was all said and done, the franchise would hoist a third Lombardi Trophy thanks to a thrilling victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. This did not look like a championship team early on.

To put it kindly, the 1988 San Francisco 49ers spent most of the first three months of the season trying to figure out exactly who they were.

There were questions at quarterback, which was hard to believe considering the team employed two-time Super Bowl champion Joe Montana as well as future fellow Hall of Famer Steve Young. Fortunately for whoever played quarterback that year, there was wide receiver Jerry Rice. The offense finally jelled after a bewildering 6-5 start and played its best football when it counted most.

Rice did finish the regular season with 64 catches for 1,306 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging a robust 20.4 yards per grab. However, he was getting ready to light up the defenses of the Vikings, Bears and Bengals in the playoffs.

He caught five passes for 61 yards and three scores vs. Minnesota in the divisional round. Rice totaled five grabs for 133 yards and two touchdowns in the NFC title game win at frigid Soldier Field. Teammate John Taylor wound up catching Joe Montana’s game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XXIII. However, Rice would earn game MVP honors with 11 receptions, good for a Super Bowl record 215 yards and one score in the club’s 20-16 come-from-behind win over the Bengals.

Next: No. 5

Home/NFL