Super Bowl XXV

The game

The Bills and the Giants entered the game using contrasting styles: While the Bills had the highest scoring offense in the league, the Giants led the league in fewest points allowed. Furthermore, the Giants used a powerful running game to take time off the clock. They ended up setting a Super Bowl record for possession time with 40 minutes, 33 seconds - aided by the use of quarterback rollouts, bootlegs, and play-action fakes.

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But by midway through the second quarter, it looked as though the Bills would blow out the Giants. After both teams traded field goals in the first quarter, the Bills drove 80 yards in 12 plays, scoring on running back Don Smith's 1-yard touchdown run in the opening minutes of the second period. Then, Bills defensive end Bruce Smith sacked Giants quarterback Jeff Hostetler in the end zone for a safety, increasing Buffalo's lead 12-3.

Related Topics:
Bruce Smith - Jeff Hostetler

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However, the Giants defense forced the Bills to punt on their next two possessions. And the Giants' offense went on an 87-yard drive that ended with Stephen Baker's 14-yard touchdown reception just before the half ended.

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The Giants then opened the third quarter by driving 75 yards in 14 plays to score on Anderson's 1-yard touchdown run to take the lead 17-12. That drive consumed a Super Bowl record 9 minutes and 29 seconds, and included 4 sucessful third down conversions.

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The Bills regained the lead when on the first play of the fourth quarter, running back Thurman Thomas ran 31 yards for a touchdown. But the Giants responded to the 19-17 deficit with another long drive, going 74 yards and consuming 7 minutes and 32 seconds to set up Matt Bahr's 21-yard field goal.

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However, the Bills had one chance left to overcome the Giants' 20-19 lead. Taking the ball at their own 10-yard line, the Bills drove to the Giants' 29-yard line to set up Norwood's 47-yard field goal attempt with 8 seconds left in the game. When Norwood kicked the ball, it seemed on the right track at first, but by the time it had reached the goalposts, the ball sailed wide right - and thus clinching a Super Bowl victory for the Giants.

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There were many impressive performances in the game by players from both teams. Jim Kelly completed 18 out of 30 passes for 212 yards with no interceptions, while adding another 23 yards on 6 rushing attempts. Jeff Hostetler completed 20 out of 32 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown. But the best performances came from both teams running backs. Ottis Anderson rushed for 102 yards, caught a pass for 7 yards, and scored a touchdown. Thurman Thomas scored a touchdown, rushed for 135 yards, and caugh 5 passes for 55 yards, giving him 190 total yards from the line of scrimmage

Related Topics:
Jim Kelly - Jeff Hostetler - Ottis Anderson - Thurman Thomas

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Scoring summary

• NYG- FG Bahr 28
• BUF- FG Norwood 23
• BUF- D. Smith 1 run (Norwood kick)
• BUF- Safety, B. Smith tackled Hostetler in end zone
• NYG- Baker 14 pass from Hostetler (Bahr kick)
• NYG- Anderson 1 run (Bahr kick)
• BUF- Thomas 31 run (Norwood kick)
• NYG- FG Bahr 21