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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' near-perfect 22-for-25 passing performance helped New York pull away from the Denver Broncos for a 39-20 victory.

With the Giants trailing 10-9 at the half, Simms was a perfect 10-for-10 in the second half, orchestrating five scoring drives in the process.

Tight ends Mark Bavaro and Zeke Mowatt, and wide receiver Phil McConkey were on the receiving ends of touchdown tosses from the accurate Simms.

No other Super Bowl quarterback comes close to matching Simms' 88.0 completion percentage.

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

 

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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