Super Bowl XXI - New York Giants 39 Denver Broncos 20 - MVP Giants QB Phil Simms
Super Bowl XXI: Giants 39 Broncos 20 - MVP Giants QB Phil Simms

Phil Simms' near-perfect 22-for-25 passing performance helped New York pull away from the Denver Broncos for a 39-20 victory. With the Giants trailing 10-9 at the half, Simms was a perfect 10-for-10 in the second half, orchestrating five scoring drives in the process. Tight end Mark Bavaro and wide receiver Phil McConkey were both on the receiving ends of touchdown tosses from the accurate Simms.

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's 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.

Super Bowl XXI - New York Giants 39 Denver Broncos 20 - MVP Giants QB Phil Simms
Super Bowl XXI Logo

Super Bowl XXI MVP: Giants QB Phil Simms

Super Bowl XXI MVP: Giants QB Phil Simms
Super Bowl XXI MVP: Giants QB Phil Simms

Phil Simms' near-perfect 22-for-25 passing performance helped New York pull away from the Denver Broncos for a 39-20 victory.

With the Giants trailing 10-9 at the half, Simms was a perfect 10-for-10 in the second half, orchestrating five scoring drives in the process.

Tight ends Mark Bavaro and Zeke Mowatt, and wide receiver Phil McConkey were on the receiving ends of touchdown tosses from the accurate Simms.

No other Super Bowl quarterback comes close to matching Simms' 88.0 completion percentage.

The Giants briefly held the lead in the first half, their score coming on a 6-yard pass from Simms to tight end Zeke Mowatt, but they trailed 10-9 at halftime. New York opened the second half with a 63-yard drive that culminated in Simms' 13-yard scoring strike to tight end Mark Bavaro.

After a field goal and a rushing score by Joe Morris, Simms threw for his third touchdown, a 6-yard pass to wide receiver Phil McConkey. The 24 unanswered points put the game out of reach and Simms was a perfect 10-for-10 as the Giants set a record with 30 second-half points.

Super Bowl XXI Scoring

Teams Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Source: NFL
Denver Broncos10001020
New York Giants72171339

 

1st Quarter

Broncos: Karlis 48-yard Field Goal, 4:09

Giants: Mowatt 6-yard TD pass from Simms (Allegre PAT), 9:33

Broncos: Elway 4-yard TD run (Karlis PAT), 12:54

2nd Quarter

Giants: safety Martin 0, 12:14

3rd Quarter

Giants: Bavaro 13-yard TD pass from Simms (Allegre PAT), 4:52

Giants: Allegre 21-yard Field Goal, 11:06

Giants: Morris 1-yard TD run (Allegre PAT), 14:36

4th Quarter

Giants: McConkey 6-yard TD pass from Simms (Allegre PAT), 4:04

Broncos: Karlis 28-yard Field Goal, 8:59

Giants: Anderson 2-yard TD run (PAT failed),11:42

Broncos: Johnson 47-yard TD pass from Elway (Karlis PAT), 12:54

 

Super Bowl XXI: Denver Broncos Team Statistics

Source: NFL
Total First Downs23
Rushing First Downs5
Passing First Downs16
Penalty First Downs2
Total Net Yardage372
Total Offensive Plays64
Avg. Gain per Offensive Play5.8
Rushes19
Yards Gained Rushing (Net)52
Average Yards per Rush2.7
Passes Attempted41
Passes Completed26
Had Intercepted1
Tackled Attempting to Pass4
Yards Lost Attempting to Pass32
Yards Gained Passing (Net)320
Punts2
Average Distance41.0
Punt Returns1
Punt Return Yardage9
Kickoff Returns5
Kickoff Return Yardage84
Interception Return Yardage0
Fumbles2
Own Fumbles Recovered2
Opponent Fumbles Recovered0
Penalties4
Yards Penalized28
Total Points Scored20
Touchdowns2
Rushing1
Passing1
Returns0
Extra Points2
Field Goals2
Fields Goals Attempted4
Safeties0
Third-Down Efficiency7/14
Fourth-Down Efficiency0/0
Time of Possession25:21

 

Super Bowl XXI: New York Giants Team Statistics

Source: NFL
Total First Downs24
Rushing First Downs10
Passing First Downs13
Penalty First Downs1
Total Net Yardage399
Total Offensive Plays64
Avg. Gain per Offensive Play6.2
Rushes38
Yards Gained Rushing (Net)136
Average Yards per Rush3.6
Passes Attempted25
Passes Completed22
Had Intercepted0
Tackled Attempting to Pass1
Yards Lost Attempting to Pass5
Yards Gained Passing (Net)263
Punts3
Average Distance46.0
Punt Returns1
Punt Return Yardage25
Kickoff Returns4
Kickoff Return Yardage53
Interception Return Yardage-7
Fumbles0
Own Fumbles Recovered0
Opponent Fumbles Recovered0
Penalties6
Yards Penalized48
Total Points Scored39
Touchdowns5
Rushing2
Passing3
Returns0
Extra Points4
Field Goals1
Fields Goals Attempted1
Safeties1
Third-Down Efficiency6/12
Fourth-Down Efficiency1/2
Time of Possession34:39

 

Super Bowl XXI: Denver Broncos Player Stats

Source: NFL
PassingComp / AttYardsTDINT
Elway 22/3730411
Kubiak4/44800
RushingCarriesYardsTDLong
Elway627110
Willhite419011
Sewell34012
Lang 2204
Winder 4003
ReceivingCatchesYardsTDLong
Johnson 5121154
Willhite 539011
Winder 434014
M. Jackson 351024
Watson 254031
Sampson 220011
Mobley217011
Sewell21207
Lang1404
InterceptionsINTYardsLongTD
None
Punting#AVGLongBlocked
Horan 241.0420
Punt Returns#/FCYardsLongTD
Willhite1/1990
Kickoff Returns#YardsLongTD
Bell348280
Lang 236230

 

Super Bowl XXI: New York Giants Player Stats

Source: NFL
PassingComp / AttYardsTDINT
Simms22/2526830
RushingCarriesYardsTDLong
Morris2067111
Simms 325022
Rouson 322018
Galbreath41707
Carthon 3402
Anderson2112t
Rutledge3002
ReceivingCatchesYardsTDLong
Bavaro451117
Morris420012
Carthon 41307
Robinson 362036
Manuel343017
McConkey250144
Rouson123023
Mowatt 1616t
InterceptionsINTYardsLongTD
Patterson1-770
Punting#AVGLongBlocked
Landeta346.0590
Punt Returns#/FCYardsLongTD
McConkey 1/125250
Kickoff Returns#YardsLongTD
Rouson356220
Flynn 1-330

January 25, 1987

Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)

Attendance: 101,063

National Anthem: Neil Diamond

Coin Toss: Willie Davis

Halftime Show: "Salute to Hollywood's 100th Anniversary" with Southern California high school drill teams and dancers

Network: CBS

Announcers: Pat Summerall and John Madden

Nielsen ratings: 45.8 (est. 87.2 million viewers)

Cost of 30-second commercial: $600,000

Super Bowl XXI: Giants vs Broncos Highlights

 

Super Bowl XXI: Ticket & Championship Ring

Super Bowl XXI Championship Ring and Game Ticket

NFL Football: "Super Bowl XXI - New York Giants 39 Denver Broncos 20 - MVP Giants QB Phil Simms"

 

 

 

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