10. In a December 9, 1985 Monday Night showdown against Los Angeles, a young rookie by the name of Rice shows the country the birth of a star. He snags 10 catches for 241 yards and a score. Although the Niners lose to the Rams, Rice gains the confidence he sorely needed in a trying rookie season.

9. Talk about taking a team on your back and carrying it. A chilly November 20 affair on Sunday Night Football in 1994 would once again display Rice's will to win. The victim would once again be the Los Angeles Rams. Rice grabs 16 catches for 165 yards and 3 scores. He makes rather "light work" of Ram DB Todd Lyght, and in the process, scores the game winning TD to lift the 49ers to a 31-27 win.

8. Before an October 18 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons in 1992, the Jerry Glanville-led team brings out their self-proclaimed "California Bowl Champions" trophy to display to the Candlestick crowd. The trophy signifies the Falcons' sweep of the 49ers the year before. The trophy turns out to be the only good thing for the Falcons on this day, however. A slumping Rice breaks out of an early season funk with 3 TD scores--including an 80 yarder. He finishes with 176 yards receiving. The Niners demolish the Falcons, 56-17...and get the last laugh.

7. With the Niners trailing against the New York Giants in a September 11, 1988 brawl at the Meadowlands, Rice and Montana once again work their late-game magic. Rice swipes a pass from Montana as both the defensive back and safety covering Rice collide, and Rice races to the endzone with a 78 yard score in the final minute to lead the Niners past the Giants.

6. It's the opening game of the 1989 season, and the defending Super Bowl champs are trailing in the fourth quarter to the Indianapolis Colts. Thank goodness for Flash 80. Rice takes a Montana pass the distance and scores a 58 yard TD to give the 49ers a 30-24 win, and kickstart a season in which the 49ers repeat as Super Bowl champions.

5. It's difficult to remember the last time the 49ers were a heavy underdog. But before a November 12, 1995 showdown against the Cowboys, the 49ers entered Texas Stadium as heavy underdogs. Steve Young was out. William Floyd was lost for the season. And the 8-1 Cowboys were bent on revenge. Former Niner Deion Sanders and Cowboy wide receiver Michael Irvin waste no time talking about how they want to demolish the Niners. Deion talks about "doing some things in the endzone." And Irvin talks about how satisfying it will be to have Jerry Rice see him break a receiving record (consecutive games over 100 yds receiving). The Niners, meanwhile, are 5-4, and coming off a dreadful loss to the expansion Carolina Panthers at home.

But rather than give in, the 49ers show some pride. On the second play of the game, Rice lines up in the slot and takes a short 8 yard pass from Elvis Grbac. 73 yards later, Rice scores an 81 yard TD. The Niners never look back. Rice's TD catapults the Niners to a 24-0 lead, and when it's all said and done, Jerry Rice leads the 49ers to a 38-20 victory. His 161 yards receiving on 5 catches all prove to be game-breaking plays.

4. The fans at Fulton County Stadium get a special treat on October 14, 1990. Mr. Charles Dimry, let me introduce you to Mr. Jerry Rice. Introductions would have been nice for Charles Dimry and the Atlanta Falcons--especially considering all that they would see of Rice would be the back of his cleats as he raced to the endzone. Rice hooks up with Montana for TDs of 24, 25, 19, 13, and 15 yards. In case you're scoring at home, that's 5 TDs. Incredible.

3. It's not too often that Jerry Rice and the 49ers struggle against a team. It's even rarer when a team owns the 49ers. But coming into a November 13, 1994 showdown against the defending Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys, the 49ers had a point to prove. The 8-1 Cowboys had beaten the 7-2 49ers 3 consecutive times...the last meeting resulting in a 38-21 spanking in the 1994 NFC Championship Game. During that game, Cowboy players were seen on the sidelines taunting Rice and the Niners during the final minutes. Now, it was time for payback. A 7-7 tie would soon turn into a 14-7 49er lead. Steve Young's 57 yard TD bomb to Rice gives the 49ers the lead for good in their 21-14 triumph. That win brought the monkey off of the Niners backs, and ever since that game, the 49ers have won 4 out of the last 5 meetings with Dallas.

2. In a Monday Night home opener, Jerry Rice breaks what very well may be the greatest accomplishment of his career. In a September 5, 1994 game against the Raiders, Rice's 69 yard opening score sets the tone of the game. His 23 yard TD reverse ties him with Jim Brown for career TDs. And when Rice hauls in a 38 yard pass from Young late in the game, it isn't just his 3rd TD of the game...it moves Rice into first place for career TDs with 127.

1. Some games have to be seen to be believed. In a Week 15 Monday Night matchup with the Minnesota Vikings, Rice has a career night. Think about that...a career night for Jerry Rice. You know that it must be special. It was. Rice's 14 catches for 289 yards and 3 TDs don't even begin to tell the entire story of Rice's performance. Rice makes every catch imaginable, and every move imgainable. The headline in the San Francico Chronicle Sports Section the following day reads, "The Best at His Best." Enough said. Jerry Rice 37, Minnesota 30.