Super Bowl XXI

AFC:  Denver Broncos

NFC:  New York Giants

Date:  January 25, 1987

Rose Bowl

 

Scoring:

Team                1          2          3          4          Final

DEN                10        0          0          10          20

NYG                7          2          17        13          39

 

AFC playmakers:

QB John Elway, WR Vance Johnson

 

NFC playmakers:

TE Zeke Mowatt, DE George Martin, TE Mark Bavaro, RB Joe Morris, WR Phil McConkey, RB Ottis Anderson

 

Network:  CBS (NFL Network rebroadcast)

Announcers:  Pat Summerall, John Madden

 

Pregame:  Yes (ceremonial coin flip)

Halftime:  No

Postgame:  No

Commercials:  No

 

Grade:  Very Good (A).  NFL Network crawl detracts a little.

 

Notes:  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' 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.

 

Running time:  2:14 (2 discs)