Super Bowl XXI

The game

The Broncos took a 10-9 lead at halftime, but the Giants scored 30 points in the second half to win the game.

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Denver took the opening drive 45 yards for a 48-yard field goal from kicker Rich Karlis. The Giants responded with a nine play, 78-yard drive to take a 7-3 lead with Simms' 6-yard touchdown to tight end Zeke Mowatt. Then on their second drive, the Broncos marched 58-yards in six plays, ending with quarterback John Elway's 4-yard touchdown run, to take the lead again 10-7.

Related Topics:
Rich Karlis - Zeke Mowatt - John Elway

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The "Big Blue Wrecking Crew" of the New York Giants made a key defensive stand early in the second quarter when the Broncos had a first down at the Giants' 1-yard line. The Giants defense stopped Denver short of the end zone on three straight running plays, and actually drove the Broncos back to the 5-yard line. Denver tried to salvage the drive with a 23-yard field goal attempt, but Karlis missed, making it the shortest missed field goal in Super Bowl history.

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With 2:46 left to go in the second quarter, Giants defensive end George Martin sacked Elway in the end zone for a safety, cutting Denver's lead to 10-9. Then with less than a minute remaining in the half, Elway completed 31-yard pass to reciever Steve Watson and an 11-yard pass to running back Gerald Willhite, giving the Broncos a first down at the Giants 20-yard line. But the Giants defense forced 3 consecutive incompletions, and Denver ended the drive with no points after Karlis missed another field goal, this time from 34 yards.

Related Topics:
George Martin - Steve Watson - Gerald Willhite

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In the second half, everything seemed to go right for the Giants, while everything went wrong for the Broncos.

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The Giants took the opening kickoff in the third quarter, but faced fourth down after their first 3 plays. Instead of kicking the ball to Denver, they ran a sucessful fake punt. Playing from the blocking back position on the punt formation, backup quarterback Jeff Rutledge took the snap and ran to the Giants 48-yard line for a first down. On the next play, Simms completed a 12-yard pass to running back Joe Morris, and then followed it up with a 23-yard completion to running back Lee Rouson. Two plays later, Simms finished the drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mark Bavaro to give the Giants a 16-10 lead. The Broncos were forced to punt on their next drive, and receiver Phil McConkey returned the punt 25 yards to Denver's 32-yard line. The Broncos managed to keep the Giants out of the endzone, but New York kicker Ron Allegre kicked a 21-yard field goal to increase their lead to 19-10

Related Topics:
Jeff Rutledge - Joe Morris - Lee Rouson - Mark Bavaro - Phil McConkey - Ron Allegre

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Denver was again forced to punt on their ensuing possession. Afterwards, Simms completed a 17-yard pass to reciever Lionel Manuel. Then the Giants fooled Denver on a flea flicker play: Morris took a handoff from Simms and ran up to the line of scrimmage as if it was a run play. But before he crossed the line, Morris pitched the ball back to Simms, who then passed the ball to McConkey, who was wide open at Denver's 20-yard line. After catching the pass, McConkey ran all the way to the 1-yard line before being tackled. Morris then scored on a 1-yard touchdown run on the next play, increasing New York's lead to 26-10.

Related Topics:
Lionel Manuel - Flea flicker

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Elway barely avoided a turnover by recovering his own fumble on the last play of the third quater, but on the first play of the fourth quarter, he threw an interception to Giants defensive back Elvis Patterson. After that, Simms completed a 36-yard pass to reciever Stacy Robinson. Two plays later from Denver's 6-yard line, Simms threw a pass to Bavaro in the endzone. The pass bounced off Bavaro's fingertips, but fell right into the arms of McConkey for touchdown, making the Giants lead 33-10

Related Topics:
Elvis Patterson - Stacy Robinson

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The Broncos finally managed to get a good drive going on their next possession, advancing the ball 74 yards in 13 plays and scoring on Karlis's 28-yard field goal, cutting their deficit to 33-13. But the Giants stormed right back and scored another touchdown. On the drive, Rouson ran for 18 yards and then Simms ran for a 22-yard gain. Running back Ottis Anderson finished the drive off with a 2-yard touchdown run to make the score 39-13 after Allegre's extra point attempt failed.

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By the time Elway threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to receiver Vance Johnson to cut the score 39-20, there was only a little more than two minutes left in the game.

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Morris was the top rusher of the game, gaining 67 yards, and added another 20 yards on 4 receptions. Elway finished the game with 22 out of 37 pass completions for 304 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. He also was the Broncos' leading rusher in the game, with 27 rushing yards and a touchdown on 6 carries. Denver's Vance Johnson was the top receiver of the game, with 5 receptions for 121 yards, an average of 24.2 yards per catch, and a touchdown.

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Scoring summary

• DEN- FG Karlis 48
• NYG- Mowatt 6 pass from Simms (Allegre kick)
• DEN- Elway 4 run (Karlis kick)
• NYG- Safety, Martin sacked Elway in end zone
• NYG- Bavaro 13 pass from Simms (Allegre kick)
• NYG- FG Allegre 21
• NYG- Morris 1 run (Allegre kick)
• NYG- McConkey 6 pass from Simms (Allegre kick)
• DEN- FG Karlis 28
• NYG- Anderson 2 run (kick failed)
• DEN- Johnson 47 pass from Elway (Karlis kick)