Once Again, 49ers Put Out Lights in Cincinnati : Fans Go Home Quickly, Quietly When Bengals Fall

Joe Montana passed to John Taylor in the end zone and the Cincinnati Bengals’ fans hit the road. The party was over.

Some cried, others shrugged as they left the downtown Fountain Square Plaza, where they watched as Montana’s last-minute pass meant a Super Bowl 20-16 victory for the San Francisco 49ers over the Bengals--again. The 49ers also beat Cincinnati, 26-21, in Super Bowl XVI in 1982.

Police said a crowd of about 600 watched the game on a giant television screen in the plaza.

“I really didn’t see it coming. I thought we’d win,” Ken Blagg of nearby Covington, Ky., said.

Gerry Washington of Cincinnati said he was disappointed but still proud of the Bengals for coming so far after last season’s 4-11 record.

“I guess I knew San Francisco would win because they were the favorite, but in my heart I hoped Cincinnati would win. I’m proud of Cincinnati. Nobody would give us a chance” before the season, Washington said.

Police reported no incidents following the game, just disappointment.

“It was the same thing when we lost in 1982,” police Capt. Robin Hochstrasser said.

Jeff Watson of College Park, Md., said he grew up with Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason and also attended the University of Maryland.

“I lost $500. It had to be his finger, that’s why he didn’t pass well against Buffalo, Seattle or here,” Watson said.

But Esiason had injured a finger on his right hand. He throws left, another fan pointed out.

“Cheer up,” another man said. “Cincinnati beat the point spread.” The Bengals were 7 1/2-point underdogs.

“We had a full house until the Bengals lost,” said Julie Harmon, manager of Barleycorn’s, a popular sports-oriented downtown bar.

“It’s depressing. You know, Cincinnati fans are different. In Cleveland, they are do-or-die with (the Browns). Cincinnati fans are fair-weather fans. Last year, when they were losing, people were on me for going to all the games. Now they’ll be on the Bengals,” Harmon said.

Fans at Barleycorn’s were quieted in the first quarter when Bengals nose tackle Tim Krumrie broke his leg.

“It was like the air went out of the place,” a fan said. “Everybody had their fingers up to their mouths wondering what was going to happen to the defense.”

Home parties also were popular and convenience stores reported brisk sales of beer before the game.

Bob Morrison of nearby Fairfield had more than 70 people at his home and persuaded local merchants to put up door prizes.

Morrison and his wife moved out all their furniture and marked off their green carpeting with yard markers as their guests watched the game on television sets scattered throughout the house.