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.
SCORING
Denver 10 0 0 10 -- 20
New York Giants 7 2 17 13 -- 39
DEN- FG Karlis 48, 4:09 1st
NYG- Mowatt 6 pass from Simms (Allegre kick),
9:33 1st
DEN- Elway 4 run (Karlis kick), 12:54 1st
NYG- safety Martin 0, 12:14 2nd
NYG- Bavaro 13 pass from Simms (Allegre kick),
4:52 3rd
NYG- FG Allegre 21, 11:06 3rd
NYG- Morris 1 run (Allegre kick), 14:36 3rd
NYG- McConkey 6 pass from Simms (Allegre kick),
4:04 4th
DEN- FG Karlis 28, 8:59 4th
NYG- Anderson 2 run (kick failed),11:42 4th
DEN- Johnson 47 pass from Elway (Karlis kick),
12:54 4th
TEAM STATISTICS Den. NY-G
Total First Downs 23 24
Rushing 5 10
Passing 16 13
Penalty 2 1
Total Net Yardage 372 399
Total Offensive Plays 64 64
Avg. Gain per Offensive Play 5.8 6.2
Rushes 19 38
Yards Gained Rushing (Net) 52 136
Average Yards per Rush 2.7 3.6
Passes Attempted 41 25
Passes Completed 26 22
Had Intercepted 1 0
Tackled Attempting to Pass 4 1
Yards Lost Att. to Pass 32 5
Yards Gained Passing (Net) 320 263
Punts 2 3
Average Distance 41.0 46.0
Punt Returns 1 1
Punt Return Yardage 9 25
Kickoff Returns 5 4
Kickoff Return Yardage 84 53
Interception Return Yardage 0 -7
Fumbles 2 0
Own Fumbles Recovered 2 0
Opponent Fumbles Recovered 0 0
Penalties 4 6
Yards Penalized 28 48
Total Points Scored 20 39
Touchdowns 2 5
Rushing 1 2
Passing 1 3
Returns 0 0
Extra Points 2 4
Field Goals 2 1
Field Goals Attempted 4 1
Safeties 0 1
Third-Down Efficiency 7/14 6/12
Fourth-Down Efficiency 0/0 1/2
Time of Possession 25:21 34:39
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Denver No. Yds. LG TD
Elway 6 27 10 1
Willhite 4 19 11 0
Sewell 3 4 12 0
Lang 2 2 4 0
Winder 4 0 3 0
New York Giants No. Yds. LG TD
Morris 20 67 11 1
Simms 3 25 22 0
Rouson 3 22 18 0
Galbreath 4 17 7 0
Carthon 3 4 2 0
Anderson 2 1 2t 1
Rutledge 3 0 2 0
Passing
Denver Att. Comp. Yds. TD Int.
Elway 37 22 304 1 1
Kubiak 4 4 48 0 0
New York Giants Att. Comp. Yds. TD Int.
Simms 25 22 268 3 0
Receiving
Denver No. Yds. LG TD
Johnson 5 121 54 1
Willhite 5 39 11 0
Winder 4 34 14 0
M. Jackson 3 51 24 0
Watson 2 54 31 0
Sampson 2 20 11 0
Mobley 2 17 11 0
Sewell 2 12 7 0
Lang 1 4 4 0
New York Giants No. Yds. LG TD
Bavaro 4 51 17 1
Morris 4 20 12 0
Carthon 4 13 7 0
Robinson 3 62 36 0
Manuel 3 43 17 0
McConkey 2 50 44 1
Rouson 1 23 23 0
Mowatt 1 6 6t 1
Interceptions
Denver No. Yds. LG TD
None -- -- -- --
New York Giants No. Yds. LG TD
Patterson 1 -7 7 0
Punting
Denver No. Avg. LG Blk.
Horan 2 41.0 42 0
New York Giants No. Avg. LG Blk.
Landeta 3 46.0 59 0
Punt Returns
Denver No. FC Yds. LG TD
Willhite 1 1 9 9 0
New York Giants No. FC Yds. LG TD
McConkey 1 1 25 25 0
Kickoff Returns
Denver No. Yds. LG TD
Bell 3 48 28 0
Lang 2 36 23 0
New York Giants No. Yds. LG TD
Rouson 3 56 22 0
Flynn 1 -3 3 0
Denver Broncos New York Giants
== Offense ==
Bryan, Billy C Oates, Bart C
Bishop, Keith G Ard, Billy G
Cooper, Mark G Godfrey, Chris G
Lanier, Ken T Benson, Brad T
Studdard, David T Nelson, Karl T
Kay, Clarence TE Bavaro, Mark TE
Johnson, Vance WR Manuel, Lionel WR
Watson, Steve WR Robinson, Stacy WR
Willhite, Gerald RB Carthon, Maurice RB
Winder, Sammy RB Morris, Joe RB
Elway, John QB Simms, Phil QB
== Defense ==
Kragen, Greg NT Burt, Jim NT
Jones, Rulon DE Marshall, Leonard DE
Townsend, Andre DE Martin, George DE
Jackson, Tom OLB Banks, Carl OLB
Ryan, Jim OLB Taylor, Lawrence OLB
Hunley, Ricky ILB Carson, Harry ILB
Mecklenburg, Karl ILB Reasons, Gary ILB
Harden, Mike CB Patterson, Elvis CB
Wright, Louis CB Williams, Perry L. CB
Foley, Steve FS Welch, Herb FS
Smith, Dennis SS Hill, Kenny SS
== Substitute ==
Bell, Kenny Allegre, Raul
Colorito, Tony Anderson, Ottis
Comeaux, Darren Collins, Mark
Dennison, Rick Dorsey, Eric
Fletcher, Simon Flynn, Tom
Freeman, Mike Galbreath, Tony
Gilbert, Freddie Headen, Andy
Hackett, Joey Howard, Erik
Haynes, Mark Hunt, Byron
Horan, Mike Johnson, Bobby L.
Jackson, Mark Johnson, Damian
Karlis, Rich Johnson, Pepper
Kubiak, Gary Johnston, Brian
Lang, Gene Jones, Robbie
Lilly, Tony Landeta, Sean
Micho, Bobby Lasker, Greg
Mobley, Orson McConkey, Phil
Remsberg, Dan Miller, Solomon
Robbins, Randy Mowatt, Zeke
Sampson, Clint Roberts, William
Sewell, Steven Rouson, Lee
Wilson, Steve Rutledge, Jeff
Woodard, Ken Sally, Jerome
== Did Not Play ==