game for Bengals' quarterback Ken Anderson. October 16, 1988 – After leading Cincinnati to six straight wins to begin the season, Boomer Esiason set a single game team record throwing 5 interceptions in a 27–21 loss to the New England Patriots. November 6, 1988 – Bengals' wide receiver Eddie Brown set a single-game team record with 216 receiving yards as the Bengals defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 42–7 in Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium. December 17, 1988 – In the regular season finale, Bengal place kicker Jim Breech kicked a short field goal in overtime to edge the Washington Redskins 20–17. The win brought the team to 12–4 and locked up the organization's fifth AFC Central division title. Quarterback Boomer Esiason finished the season as the NFL's top rated passer. December 31, 1988 – Cincinnati hosted its fourth NFL playoff game. A sellout crowd at Riverfront Stadium watched the Bengals beat the Seattle Seahawks 21–13. January 8, 1989 – The Cincinnati Bengals shut down the Buffalo Bills 21–10 to win the organization's second AFC Championship Super Bowl XXIII, January 22, 1989 – The Bengals earned a rematch with the 49ers in Super Bowl XXIII, but lost 20–16 in Miami's Joe Robbie Stadium. The Bengals boasted the highest-scoring offense in 1988, and rebounded from a 4–12 record in 1987. But a few unfortunate events prevented the team from capturing the world championship. The night before the game, Bengals fullback Stanley Wilson suffered a "cocaine relapse", and did not participate in the game. Head coach Sam Wyche was forced to alter the game plan only hours before the opening kickoff. Bengals All-Pro nose tackle Tim Krumrie broke his leg in three places while tackling Roger Craig early in the first quarter. At the start of the fourth quarter, Bengals cornerback Lewis Billups dropped a sure interception in the end zone which would have sealed a Cincinnati win. The 49ers Jerry Rice scored on the next play. Despite all the adversity, the game remained close and the Bengals led the 49ers in the waning minutes of the game until the memorable drive late in the game, capped by a touchdown pass from Joe Montana to John Taylor with only 34 seconds left in the contest, which erased a Bengal lead and put the 49ers ahead for good. October 29, 1989 – Boomer Esiason tied his own record for touchdown passes in a game as the Bengals