Super Bowl XXI
New York Giants 39
Denver Broncos 20
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The NFC champion New York Giants captured their first NFL title since 1956 when they downed the AFC champion Denver Broncos 39-20 in Super Bowl XXI. The victory marked the NFC's fifth NFL title in the past six seasons.
The Broncos, behind the passing of quarterback John Elway, who was 13 of 20 for 187 yards in the first half, held a 10-9 lead at intermission, the narrowest halftime margin in Super Bowl history.
Denver's Rich Karlis opened the scoring with a Super Bowl record-tying 48-yard field goal. New York drove 78 yards in nine plays on the next series to take a 7-3 lead on quarterback Phil Simms's 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Zeke Mowatt.
The Broncos came right back with a 58-yard scoring drive on six plays capped by Elway's 4-yard touchdown run. The only scoring in the second period was the sack of Elway in the end zone by defensive end George Martin for a New York safety.
The Giants produced a key defensive stand early in the second quarter when the Broncos had a first down at the New York 1-yard line, but failed to score on three running plays and Karlis's 23-yard missed field-goal attempt.
The Giants took command of the game in the third period en route to a 30-point second half, the most ever scored in one half of Super Bowl play
New York took the lead for good on tight end Mark Bavaro's 13-yard touchdown catch 4:52 into the third period. The nine-play, 63-yard scoring drive included the successful conversion of a fourth-and-1 play on the New York 46-yard line.
Denver was limited to only two net yards on 10 offensive plays in the third period.
Simms set Super Bowl records for most consecutive completions (10) and highest completion percentage (88 percent on 22 completions in 25 attempts). He also passed for 268 yards and three touchdowns and was named the game's most valuable player.
New York running back Joe Morris was the game's leading rusher with 20 carries for 67 yards. Denver wide receiver Vance Johnson led all receivers with five catches for 121 yards.
Super Bowl XXI: MVP Phil Simms, QB, New York Giants
Phil Simms put on a display of precision passing unmatched in Super Bowl history and led the Giants to a 39-20 victory over Denver.
Simms set a record by completing 22 of 25 passes, including 10 in a row in the second half. He passed for 268 yards and three touchdowns.
The Giants briefly held the lead in the first half, their score coming on a 6-yard pass from Simms to tight end Zeke Mowatt, but they trailed 10-9 at halftime. New York opened the second half with a 63-yard drive that culminated in Simms' 13-yard scoring strike to tight end Mark Bavaro.
After a field goal and a rushing score by Joe Morris, Simms threw for his third touchdown, a 6-yard pass to wide receiver Phil McConkey. The 24 unanswered points put the game out of reach and Simms was a perfect 10-for-10 as the Giants set a record with 30 second-half points.
SUPER BOWL XXI SCORING
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|
Denver Broncos | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 20 |
|
New York Giants | 7 | 2 | 17 | 13 | 39 |
1st Quarter
DEN FG Karlis 48, 4:09
NYG Mowatt 6 pass from Simms (Allegre kick), 9:33
DEN Elway 4 run (Karlis kick), 12:54
2nd Quarter
NYG safety Martin 0, 12:14
3rd Quarter
NYG Bavaro 13 pass from Simms (Allegre kick), 4:52
NYG FG Allegre 21, 11:06
NYG Morris 1 run (Allegre kick), 14:36
4th Quarter
NYG McConkey 6 pass from Simms (Allegre kick), 4:04
DEN FG Karlis 28, 8:59
NYG Anderson 2 run (kick failed),11:42
DEN Johnson 47 pass from Elway (Karlis kick), 12:54
DENVER BRONCOS - Team Statistics
Total First Downs |
23 |
Rushing |
5 |
Passing |
16 |
Penalty |
2 |
Total Net Yardage |
372 |
Total Offensive Plays |
64 |
Avg. Gain per Offensive Play |
5.8 |
Rushes |
19 |
Yards Gained Rushing (Net) |
52 |
Average Yards per Rush |
2.7 |
Passes Attempted |
41 |
Passes Completed |
26 |
Had Intercepted |
1 |
Tackled Attempting to Pass |
4 |
Yards Lost Attempting to Pass |
32 |
Yards Gained Passing (Net) |
320 |
Punts |
2 |
Average Distance |
41.0 |
Punt Returns |
1 |
Punt Return Yardage |
9 |
Kickoff Returns |
5 |
Kickoff Return Yardage |
84 |
Interception Return Yardage |
0 |
Fumbles |
2 |
Own Fumbles Recovered |
2 |
Opponent Fumbles Recovered |
0 |
Penalties |
4 |
Yards Penalized |
28 |
Total Points Scored |
20 |
Touchdowns |
2 |
Rushing |
1 |
Passing |
1 |
Returns |
0 |
Extra Points |
2 |
Field Goals |
2 |
Fields Goals Attempted |
4 |
Safeties |
0 |
Third-Down Efficiency |
7/14 |
Fourth-Down Efficiency |
0/0 |
Time of Possession |
25:21 |
NEW YORK GIANTS - Team Statistics
Total First Downs |
24 |
Rushing |
10 |
Passing |
13 |
Penalty |
1 |
Total Net Yardage |
399 |
Total Offensive Plays |
64 |
Avg. Gain per Offensive Play |
6.2 |
Rushes |
38 |
Yards Gained Rushing (Net) |
136 |
Average Yards per Rush |
3.6 |
Passes Attempted |
25 |
Passes Completed |
22 |
Had Intercepted |
0 |
Tackled Attempting to Pass |
1 |
Yards Lost Attempting to Pass |
5 |
Yards Gained Passing (Net) |
263 |
Punts |
3 |
Average Distance |
46.0 |
Punt Returns |
1 |
Punt Return Yardage |
25 |
Kickoff Returns |
4 |
Kickoff Return Yardage |
53 |
Interception Return Yardage |
-7 |
Fumbles |
0 |
Own Fumbles Recovered |
0 |
Opponent Fumbles Recovered |
0 |
Penalties |
6 |
Yards Penalized |
48 |
Total Points Scored |
39 |
Touchdowns |
5 |
Rushing |
2 |
Passing |
3 |
Returns |
0 |
Extra Points |
4 |
Field Goals |
1 |
Fields Goals Attempted |
1 |
Safeties |
1 |
Third-Down Efficiency |
6/12 |
Fourth-Down Efficiency |
1/2 |
Time of Possession |
34:39 |
DENVER BRONCOS - Player Statistics
Passing |
CP/AT |
YDS |
TD |
INT |
Elway |
22/37 |
304 |
1 |
1 |
Kubiak |
4/4 |
48 |
0 |
0 |
|
Rushing |
CAR |
YDS |
TD |
LG |
Elway |
6 |
27 |
1 |
10 |
Willhite |
4 |
19 |
0 |
11 |
Sewell |
3 |
4 |
0 |
12 |
Lang |
2 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
Winder |
4 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
Receiving |
REC |
YDS |
TD |
LG |
Johnson |
5 |
121 |
1 |
54 |
Willhite |
5 |
39 |
0 |
11 |
Winder |
4 |
34 |
0 |
14 |
M. Jackson |
3 |
51 |
0 |
24 |
Watson |
2 |
54 |
0 |
31 |
Sampson |
2 |
20 |
0 |
11 |
Mobley |
2 |
17 |
0 |
11 |
Sewell |
2 |
12 |
0 |
7 |
Lang |
1 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
Interceptions |
INT |
YDS |
LG |
TD |
None |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Punting |
NO |
AVG |
LG |
BLK |
Horan |
2 |
41.0 |
42 |
0 |
|
Punt Returns |
NO/FC |
YDS |
LG |
TD |
Willhite |
1/1 |
9 |
9 |
0 |
|
Kickoff Returns |
NO |
YDS |
LG |
TD |
Bell |
3 |
48 |
28 |
0 |
Lang |
2 |
36 |
23 |
0 |
NEW YORK GIANTS - Player Statistics
Passing |
CP/AT |
YDS |
TD |
INT |
Simms |
22/25 |
268 |
3 |
0 |
|
Rushing |
CAR |
YDS |
TD |
LG |
Morris |
20 |
67 |
1 |
11 |
Simms |
3 |
25 |
0 |
22 |
Rouson |
3 |
22 |
0 |
18 |
Galbreath |
4 |
17 |
0 |
7 |
Carthon |
3 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
Anderson |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2t |
Rutledge |
3 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Receiving |
REC |
YDS |
TD |
LG |
Bavaro |
4 |
51 |
1 |
17 |
Morris |
4 |
20 |
0 |
12 |
Carthon |
4 |
13 |
0 |
7 |
Robinson |
3 |
62 |
0 |
36 |
Manuel |
3 |
43 |
0 |
17 |
McConkey |
2 |
50 |
1 |
44 |
Rouson |
1 |
23 |
0 |
23 |
Mowatt |
1 |
6 |
1 |
6t |
|
Interceptions |
INT |
YDS |
LG |
TD |
Patterson |
1 |
-7 |
7 |
0 |
|
Punting |
NO |
AVG |
LG |
BLK |
Landeta |
3 |
46.0 |
59 |
0 |
|
Punt Returns |
NO/FC |
YDS |
LG |
TD |
McConkey |
1/1 |
25 |
25 |
0 |
|
Kickoff Returns |
NO |
YDS |
LG |
TD |
Rouson |
3 |
56 |
22 |
0 |
Flynn |
1 |
-3 |
3 |
0 |
January 25, 1987
Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
Attendance: 101,063
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