Super Bowl XXII - Washington Redskins 42 Denver Broncos 10 - MVP Redskins QB Doug Williams
Super Bowl XXII: Redskins 42 Broncos 10 - MVP Redskins QB Doug Williams

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 over the Broncos.

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 - Washington Redskins 42 Denver Broncos 10 - MVP Redskins QB Doug Williams
Super Bowl XXII Logo

Super Bowl XXII MVP: Redskins QB Doug Williams

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

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 Scoring

Teams Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Source: NFL
Washington Redskins0350742
Denver Broncos1000010

 

1st Quarter

Broncos: Nattiel 56-yard TD pass from Elway (KarlisPAT), 1:57

Broncos: Karlis 24-yard field goal, 5:51

2nd Quarter

Redskins: Sanders 80-yard TD pass from D. Williams (Haji-Sheikh PAT), 0:53

Redskins: Clark 27-yard TD pass from D. Williams (Haji-Sheikh PAT), 4:45

Redskins: Smith 58-yard TD run (Haji-Sheikh PAT), 8:33

Redskins: Sanders 50-yard TD pass from D. Williams (Haji-Sheikh PAT), 11:18

Redskins: Didier 8-yard TD pass from D. Williams (Haji-Sheikh PAT), 13:56

4th Quarter

Redskins: Smith 4-yard TD run (Haji-Sheikh PAT), 1:51

 

Super Bowl XXII: Washington Redskins Team Statistics

Source: NFL
Total First Downs25
Rushing First Downs13
Passing First Downs11
Penalty First Downs1
Total Net Yardage602
Total Offensive Plays72
Avg. Gain per Offensive Play8.4
Rushes40
Yards Gained Rushing (Net)280
Average Yards per Rush7.0
Passes Attempted30
Passes Completed18
Had Intercepted1
Tackled Attempting to Pass2
Yards Lost Attempting to Pass18
Yards Gained Passing (Net)322
Punts4
Average Distance37.5
Punt Returns1
Punt Return Yardage0
Kickoff Returns3
Kickoff Return Yardage46
Interception Return Yardage11
Fumbles1
Own Fumbles Recovered1
Opponent Fumbles Recovered0
Penalties6
Yards Penalized65
Total Points Scored42
Touchdowns6
Rushing2
Passing4
Returns0
Extra Points6
Field Goals0
Fields Goals Attempted1
Safeties0
Third-Down Efficiency9/15
Fourth-Down Efficiency0/0
Time of Possession33:15

 

Super Bowl XXII: Denver Broncos Team Statistics

Source: NFL
Total First Downs18
Rushing6
Passing10
Penalty2
Total Net Yardage327
Total Offensive Plays61
Avg. Gain per Offensive Play5.4
Rushes17
Yards Gained Rushing (Net)97
Average Yards per Rush5.7
Passes Attempted39
Passes Completed15
Had Intercepted3
Tackled Attempting to Pass5
Yards Lost Attempting to Pass50
Yards Gained Passing (Net)230
Punts7
Average Distance36.1
Punt Returns2
Punt Return Yardage18
Kickoff Returns5
Kickoff Return Yardage88
Interception Return Yardage0
Fumbles0
Own Fumbles Recovered0
Opponent Fumbles Recovered0
Penalties5
Yards Penalized26
Total Points Scored10
Touchdowns1
Rushing0
Passing1
Returns0
Extra Points1
Field Goals1
Fields Goals Attempted2
Safeties0
Third-Down Efficiency2/12
Fourth-Down Efficiency0/0
Time of Possession24:45

 

Super Bowl XXII: Washington Redskins Player Stats

Source: NFL
PassingComp / AttYardsTDINT
D. Williams18/2934041
Schroeder0/1000
RushingCarriesYardsTDLong
RushingCARYDSTDLG
Smith22204258t
Bryant838015
Clark125025
Rogers51705
Griffin1202
D. Williams2-201
Sanders1-404
ReceivingCatchesYardsTDLong
Sanders9193280t
Clark355127t
Warren21509
Monk 140040
Bryant120020
Smith1909
Didier1818t
InterceptionsINTYardsLongTD
Wilburn211110
Davis1000
Punting#AVGLongBlocked
Cox437.5420
Punt Returns#/FCYardsLongTD
Green1/1000
Yarber0/10**0
Kickoff Returns#YardsLongTD
Sanders346160

 

Super Bowl XXII: Denver Broncos Player Stats

Source: NFL
PassingComp / AttYardsTDINT
Elway 14/3825713
Sewell 1/12300
RushingCarriesYardsTDLong
Lang538013
Elway332021
Winder830013
Sewell1-303
ReceivingCatchesYardsTDLong
M. Jackson476032
Sewell441018
Nattiel269156t
Kay238027
Winder126026
Elway123023
Lang1707
InterceptionsINTYardsLongTD
Castille1000
Punting#AVGLongBlocked
Horan736.1430
Punt Returns#/FCYardsLongTD
Clark2/01890
Kickoff Returns#YardsLongTD
Bell588210

January 31, 1988

Jack Murphy Stadium (San Diego, California)

Attendance: 73,302

National Anthem: Herb Alpert

Coin Toss: Don Hutson

Halftime Show: Chubby Checker and The Rockettes

Network: ABC

Announcers: Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, and Dan Dierdorf

Nielsen ratings: 41.9 (est. 80.14 million viewers)

Cost of 30-second commercial: $645,000

Super Bowl XXII: Redskins vs Broncos Highlights

 

Super Bowl XXII: Ticket & Championship Ring

Super Bowl XXII Championship Ring and Game Ticket

NFL Football: "Super Bowl XXII - Washington Redskins 42 Denver Broncos 10 - MVP Redskins QB Doug Williams"

 

 

 

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