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The NFC champion New York Giants won their second Super Bowl in five years with a 20-19 victory over the Buffalo Bills, which will be forever remembered because of Buffalo kicker Scott Norwood's potential game-winning field goal that sailed wide right at games' end.

Just as they had done all season, Head coach Bill Parcells' Giants employed a ball-control strategy that was spearheaded by Anderson's gutsy performance. Running primarily between the tackles, Anderson carried the ball 21 times for 102 yards.

The New York Giants -- employing its ball-control offense -- held on to the ball for a record 40:33 of the game, keeping the potent Buffalo offense from finding its rhythm.

The Bills, who scored 95 points in their previous two playoff games leading to Super Bowl XXV, had the ball for less than eight minutes in the second half and just 19:27 for the game.

Fourteen of New York's 73 plays came on its initial drive of the third quarter, which covered 75 yards and consumed a Super Bowl-record 9:29 before running back Ottis Anderson ran one yard for a touchdown.

Giants quarterback Jeff Hostetler kept the long drive going by converting three third-down plays – an 11-yard pass to running back David Meggett on third-and-eight, a 14-yard toss to wide receiver Mark Ingram on third-and-13, and a 9-yard pass to Howard Cross on third-and-four-to give New York a 17-12 lead in the third quarter.

Buffalo jumped to a 12-3 lead midway through the second quarter before Hostetler completed a 14-yard scoring strike to wide receiver Stephen Baker to close the score to 12-10 at halftime.

Buffalo's Thurman Thomas ran 31 yards for a touchdown on the opening play of the fourth quarter to help Buffalo recapture the lead 19-17. Matt Bahr's 21-yard field goal gave the Giants a 20-19 lead, but Buffalo's Scott Norwood had a chance to win the game with seconds remaining before his 47-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide right.

Hostetler completed 20 of 32 passes for 222 yards and one touchdown. Anderson rushed 21 times for 102 yards and a touchdown to capture most-valuable-player honors.

Thomas totaled 190 scrimmage yards, rushing 15 times for 135 yards and catching five passes for 55 yards.

Super Bowl XXV: MVP Ottis Anderson RB New York Giants

In a game that will be remembered more for a missed field goal than anything else, the Giants employed a powerful ball-control offense to hold off Buffalo 20-19.

The key to the Giants' record possession total of 40:33 was Ottis Anderson.

The powerful veteran running back carried 21 times for 102 yards.

Anderson's 1-yard touchdown capped off a 14-play drive that ate up a record 9:29 of the third quarter as New York won its second Super Bowl.

 

Super Bowl XXV

 

SUPER BOWL XXV SCORING

 

	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Buffalo Bills	3	9	0	7	19
New York Giants	3	7	7	3	20

 

1st Quarter

NYG FG Bahr 28, 7:46

BUF FG Norwood 23, 9:09

2nd Quarter

BUF D. Smith 1 run (Norwood kick), 2:30

BUF safety B. Smith 0, 6:33

NYG Baker 14 pass from Hostetler (Bahr kick),14:35

3rd Quarter

NYG Anderson 1 run (Bahr kick), 9:29

4th Quarter

BUF Thomas 31 run (Norwood kick), 0:08

NYG FG Bahr 21, 7:40

 

BUFFALO BILLS - Team Statistics

Total First Downs	18
Rushing	8
Passing	9
Penalty	1
Total Net Yardage	371
Total Offensive Plays	56
Avg. Gain per Offensive Play	6.6
Rushes	25
Yards Gained Rushing (Net)	166
Average Yards per Rush	6.6
Passes Attempted	30
Passes Completed	18
Had Intercepted	0
Tackled Attempting to Pass	1
Yards Lost Attempting to Pass	7
Yards Gained Passing (Net)	205
Punts	6
Average Distance	38.8
Punt Returns	0
Punt Return Yardage	0
Kickoff Returns	6
Kickoff Return Yardage	114
Interception Return Yardage	0
Fumbles	1
Own Fumbles Recovered	1
Opponent Fumbles Recovered	0
Penalties	6
Yards Penalized	35
Total Points Scored	19
Touchdowns	2
Rushing	2
Passing	0
Returns	0
Extra Points	2
Field Goals	1
Fields Goals Attempted	2
Safeties	1
Third-Down Efficiency	1/8
Fourth-Down Efficiency	0/0
Time of Possession	19:27

NEW YORK GIANTS - Team Statistics

Total First Downs	24
Rushing	10
Passing	13
Penalty	1
Total Net Yardage	386
Total Offensive Plays	73
Avg. Gain per Offensive Play	5.3
Rushes	39
Yards Gained Rushing (Net)	172
Average Yards per Rush	4.4
Passes Attempted	32
Passes Completed	20
Had Intercepted	0
Tackled Attempting to Pass	2
Yards Lost Attempting to Pass	8
Yards Gained Passing (Net)	214
Punts	4
Average Distance	43.8
Punt Returns	2
Punt Return Yardage	37
Kickoff Returns	3
Kickoff Return Yardage	48
Interception Return Yardage	0
Fumbles	0
Own Fumbles Recovered	0
Opponent Fumbles Recovered	0
Penalties	5
Yards Penalized	31
Total Points Scored	20
Touchdowns	2
Rushing	1
Passing	1
Returns	0
Extra Points	2
Field Goals	2
Fields Goals Attempted	2
Safeties	0
Third-Down Efficiency	9/16
Fourth-Down Efficiency	0/1
Time of Possession	40:33

BUFFALO BILLS - Player Statistics

Passing	CP/AT	YDS	TD	INT
Kelly	18/30	212	0	0
Rushing	CAR	YDS	TD	LG
Thomas	15	135	1	31t
Kelly	6	23	0	9
K. Davis	2	4	0	3
Mueller	1	3	0	3
D. Smith	1	1	1	1t
Receiving	REC	YDS	TD	LG
Reed	8	62	0	20
Thomas	5	55	0	15
K. Davis	2	23	0	19
McKeller	2	11	0	6
Lofton	1	61	0	61
Interceptions	INT	YDS	LG	TD
None	--	--	--	--
Punting	NO	AVG	LG	BLK
Tuten	6	38.8	47	0
Punt Returns	NO/FC	YDS	LG	TD
Edwards	0/3	0	**	0
Kickoff Returns	NO	YDS	LG	TD
D. Smith	4	66	24	0
Edwards	2	48	33	0

NEW YORK GIANTS - Player Statistics

Passing	CP/AT	YDS	TD	INT
Hostetler	20/32	222	1	0
Rushing	CAR	YDS	TD	LG
Anderson	21	102	1	24
Meggett	9	48	0	17
Carthon	3	12	0	5
Hostetler	6	10	0	5
Receiving	REC	YDS	TD	LG
Ingram	5	74	0	22
Bavaro	5	50	0	19
Cross	4	39	0	13
Baker	2	31	1	17
Meggett	2	18	0	11
Anderson	1	7	0	7
Carthon	1	3	0	3
Interceptions	INT	YDS	LG	TD
None	--	--	--	--
Punting	NO	AVG	LG	BLK
Landeta	4	43.8	54	0
Punt Returns	NO/FC	YDS	LG	TD
Meggett	2/3	37	20	0
Kickoff Returns	NO	YDS	LG	TD
Meggett	2	26	16	0
Duerson	1	22	22	0

 

January 27, 1991
Tampa Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Attendance: 73,813

 

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