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NFC champion Washington won Super Bowl XXII and its second NFL championship of the 1980s with a 42-10 decision over AFC champion Denver.

The Redskins, who also won Super Bowl XVII, enjoyed a record-setting second quarter en route to the victory.

The Broncos broke in front 10-0 when quarterback John Elway threw a 56-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Ricky Nattiel on the Broncos' first play from scrimmage. Following a Washington punt, Denver's Rich Karlis kicked a 24-yard field goal to cap a seven-play, 61-yard scoring drive.

The Redskins then erupted for 35 points on five straight possessions in the second period and coasted thereafter. The 35 points established an NFL postseason mark for most points in a period.

Redskins quarterback Doug Williams led the second-period explosion by passing for a Super Bowl record-tying four touchdowns, including 80- and 50-yard passes to wide receiver Ricky Sanders, a 27-yard toss to wide receiver Gary Clark, and an 8-yard pass to tight end Clint Didier.

Washington scored five touchdowns in 18 plays with total time of possession of only 5:47. Overall, Williams completed 18 of 29 passes for 340 yards and was named the game's most valuable player. His pass-yardage total eclipsed the Super Bowl record of 331 yards by Joe Montana of San Francisco in Super Bowl XIX.

Sanders ended with 193 yards on nine catches, breaking the previous Super Bowl yardage record of 161 yards by Lynn Swann of Pittsburgh in Super Bowl X.

Rookie running back Timmy Smith was the game's leading rusher with 22 carries for a Super Bowl-record 204 yards, breaking the previous mark of 191 yards by Marcus Allen of the Raiders in Super Bowl XVIII. Smith also scored twice on runs of 58 and 4 yards.

Washington's six touchdowns and 602 total yards gained also set Super Bowl records.

Redskins cornerback Barry Wilburn had two of the team's three interceptions, and strong safety Alvin Walton had two of Washington's five sacks.

Super Bowl XXII: MVP Doug Williams, QB, Washington Redskins

Throwing four touchdown passes in an electric second quarter, Doug Williams led Washington to its second Super Bowl victory. Williams accrued 340 yards via the pass – a Super Bowl record at the time.

Trailing 10-0 after one quarter of play, the Redskins erupted for 42 straight points en route to a 42-10 victory.

Williams sparked the offensive rally with an 80-yard passing score to wide receiver Ricky Sanders less than a minute into the second quarter.

Williams' performance was so impressive that it surpassed the dynamic rushing effort by Washington running back Timmy Smith, who ran for 204 yards and two touchdowns.

In one of the Super Bowl's superlative displays of passing, Williams led a second-quarter offensive explosion that clinched a 42-10 victory over Denver. Williams completed 18-of-29 passes for a Super Bowl record 340 yards. He tied a Super Bowl record with four touchdown passes, all of which came in the second quarter.

Trailing 10-0 entering the second quarter, the Redskins went on a scoring binge unmatched in NFL postseason history. Scoring touchdowns on all five of their possessions, they put the game out of reach.

In the first minute of the quarter, Williams connected with wide receiver Ricky Sanders for an 80-yard score. Four minutes later, the quarterback hit wide receiver Gary Clark with a 27-yard touchdown pass. After a 58-yard TD run by running back Timmy Smith, Williams struck again, this time on 50-yard pass to Sanders. The final score of the comeback quarter came on an 8-yard pass to tight end Clint Didier.

Williams' MVP performance is all the more incredible given that he had earlier had to leave game temporarily after a knee-twisting hit.

 

Super Bowl XXII

 

SUPER BOWL XXII SCORING

 

	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Washington Redskins	0	35	0	7	42
Denver Broncos	10	0	0	0	10

 

1st Quarter

DEN Nattiel 56 pass from Elway (Karliskick), 1:57

DEN FG Karlis 24, 5:51

2nd Quarter

WAS Sanders 80 pass from D. Williams (Haji-Sheikh kick), 0:53

WAS Clark 27 pass from D. Williams (Haji-Sheikh kick), 4:45

WAS Smith 58 run (Haji-Sheikh kick), 8:33

WAS Sanders 50 pass from D. Williams (Haji-Sheikh kick), 11:18

WAS Didier 8 pass from D. Williams (Haji-Sheikh kick), 13:56

4th Quarter

WAS Smith 4 run (Haji-Sheikh kick), 1:51

 

WASHINGTON REDSKINS - Team Statistics

Total First Downs	25
Rushing	13
Passing	11
Penalty	1
Total Net Yardage	602
Total Offensive Plays	72
Avg. Gain per Offensive Play	8.4
Rushes	40
Yards Gained Rushing (Net)	280
Average Yards per Rush	7.0
Passes Attempted	30
Passes Completed	18
Had Intercepted	1
Tackled Attempting to Pass	2
Yards Lost Attempting to Pass	18
Yards Gained Passing (Net)	322
Punts	4
Average Distance	37.5
Punt Returns	1
Punt Return Yardage	0
Kickoff Returns	3
Kickoff Return Yardage	46
Interception Return Yardage	11
Fumbles	1
Own Fumbles Recovered	1
Opponent Fumbles Recovered	0
Penalties	6
Yards Penalized	65
Total Points Scored	42
Touchdowns	6
Rushing	2
Passing	4
Returns	0
Extra Points	6
Field Goals	0
Fields Goals Attempted	1
Safeties	0
Third-Down Efficiency	9/15
Fourth-Down Efficiency	0/0
Time of Possession	33:15

DENVER BRONCOS - Team Statistics

Total First Downs	18
Rushing	6
Passing	10
Penalty	2
Total Net Yardage	327
Total Offensive Plays	61
Avg. Gain per Offensive Play	5.4
Rushes	17
Yards Gained Rushing (Net)	97
Average Yards per Rush	5.7
Passes Attempted	39
Passes Completed	15
Had Intercepted	3
Tackled Attempting to Pass	5
Yards Lost Attempting to Pass	50
Yards Gained Passing (Net)	230
Punts	7
Average Distance	36.1
Punt Returns	2
Punt Return Yardage	18
Kickoff Returns	5
Kickoff Return Yardage	88
Interception Return Yardage	0
Fumbles	0
Own Fumbles Recovered	0
Opponent Fumbles Recovered	0
Penalties	5
Yards Penalized	26
Total Points Scored	10
Touchdowns	1
Rushing	0
Passing	1
Returns	0
Extra Points	1
Field Goals	1
Fields Goals Attempted	2
Safeties	0
Third-Down Efficiency	2/12
Fourth-Down Efficiency	0/0
Time of Possession	24:45

WASHINGTON REDSKINS - Player Statistics

Passing	CP/AT	YDS	TD	INT
D. Williams	18/29	340	4	1
Schroeder	0/1	0	0	0
Rushing	CAR	YDS	TD	LG
Smith	22	204	2	58t
Bryant	8	38	0	15
Clark	1	25	0	25
Rogers	5	17	0	5
Griffin	1	2	0	2
D. Williams	2	-2	0	1
Sanders	1	-4	0	4
Receiving	REC	YDS	TD	LG
Sanders	9	193	2	80t
Clark	3	55	1	27t
Warren	2	15	0	9
Monk	1	40	0	40
Bryant	1	20	0	20
Smith	1	9	0	9
Didier	1	8	1	8t
Interceptions	INT	YDS	LG	TD
Wilburn	2	11	11	0
Davis	1	0	0	0
Punting	NO	AVG	LG	BLK
Cox	4	37.5	42	0
Punt Returns	NO/FC	YDS	LG	TD
Green	1/1	0	0	0
Yarber	0/1	0	**	0
Kickoff Returns	NO	YDS	LG	TD
Sanders	3	46	16	0

DENVER BRONCOS - Player Statistics

Passing	CP/AT	YDS	TD	INT
Elway	14/38	257	1	3
Sewell	1/1	23	0	0
Rushing	CAR	YDS	TD	LG
Lang	5	38	0	13
Elway	3	32	0	21
Winder	8	30	0	13
Sewell	1	-3	0	3
Receiving	REC	YDS	TD	LG
M. Jackson	4	76	0	32
Sewell	4	41	0	18
Nattiel	2	69	1	56t
Kay	2	38	0	27
Winder	1	26	0	26
Elway	1	23	0	23
Lang	1	7	0	7
Interceptions	INT	YDS	LG	TD
Castille	1	0	0	0
Punting	NO	AVG	LG	BLK
Horan	7	36.1	43	0
Punt Returns	NO/FC	YDS	LG	TD
Clark	2/0	18	9	0
Kickoff Returns	NO	YDS	LG	TD
Bell	5	88	21	0

 

January 31, 1988
Jack Murphy Stadium (San Diego, California)
Attendance:

 

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