Super Bowl Summaries

Super Bowl XXI
N.Y. Giants 39, Denver 20
MVP: QB Phil Simms, New York

January 25, 1987
Pasadena, California; Rose Bowl
Attendance: 101,063

Super Bowl XXI
Photograph by: John Iacono
The New York defense was dazzling, but so was Simms.

The Giants concluded a commanding playoff run in which they outscored three playoff opponents by a combined 82 points. Denver led 10-9 at the half, but New York scored 30 points after the break to seal its first title since 1956. Simms was dazzling, completing 22 of his 25 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns. Simms, who was booed by Giants fans when New York drafted him in 1979, said following the game, "I've never played better." Who could argue?

Super Bowl XXI Drive Charts and Play-by-Play

Denver won the coin toss and elected to receive.

First Quarter
Denver (15:00) Allegre kick to D 1, Lang 23 return (Flynn).
D 24	1–10	Elway 10 run evading pass rush (Carson).
D 34	1–10	Winder 1 run left (Marshall).
D 35	2–9	Willhite 2 run wide right (Banks).
D 37	3–7	Elway 24 pass to M. Jackson middle (Collins).
NY 39	1–10	Elway 5 pass to Winder middle (Reasons).
NY 34	2–5	Winder 3 run right (Banks).
NY 31	3–2	Winder run right, no gain (Banks). New York–first time out.
NY 31	4–2	Karlis, 48–yard field goal (10:51).
	Denver scoring drive: 45 yards, 7 plays, 4:09. Denver 3, New York 0
New York (10:51) Karlis kick to NY 4, Rouson 18 return (Dennison, Bell).
NY 22	1–10	Simms 17 pass to Manuel middle (Wright).
NY 39	1–10	Simms 9 pass to Bavaro middle (Smith).
NY 48	2–1	Morris 11 run wide right (Foley).
D 41	1–10	Simms 2 pass to Morris right (Ryan, Wright).
D 39	2–8	Morris 11 run left. Play nullified and New York penalized 10 for holding (Bavaro).
D 49	2–18	Morris 8 run right (Foley).
D 41	3–10	Simms 18 pass to Robinson left (Wilson).
D 23	1–10	Morris run right, no gain (Mecklenburg, Hunley).
D 23	2–10	Simms 17 pass to Bavaro middle (Robbins).
D 6	1–goal	Simms 6 pass to Mowatt middle end zone, touchdown (5:27). Allegre kicked extra point.
	New York scoring drive: 78 yards, 9 plays, 5:24. New York 7, Denver 3
Denver (5:27) Allegre kick to D 14, Bell 28 return (Flynn).
D 42	1–10	Elway 14 pass to Winder left (Carson).
NY 44	1–10	Elway 11 pass to Mobley right (Patterson).
NY 33	1–10	Elway 9 screen pass to Winder left. New York penalized 12 (half the distance) for late hit (Carson). New York penalized 6 (half the distance) for unsportsmanlike conduct (Taylor). Denver–first time out.
NY 6	1–goal	Sewell run wide right, loss of 3 (Patterson).
NY 9	2–goal	Elway 5 pass to V. Johnson middle (Reasons).
NY 4	3–goal	Elway 4 quarterback draw middle, touchdown (2:06). Karlis kicked extra point.
	Denver scoring drive: 58 yards, 6 plays, 3:21. Denver 10, New York 7
New York (2:06) Karlis kick to NY 7, Rouson 16 return (Robbins).
NY 23	1–10	Simms 7 screen pass to Morris (Townsend).
NY 30	2–3	Morris 4 run left (Woodard, Lilly).
NY 34	1–10	Anderson run left, loss of 1 (Mecklenburg).
	END OF FIRST QUARTER: Denver 10, New York 7
Second Quarter
NY 33	2–11	Morris 8 run off left tackle (Lilly).
NY 41	3–3	Simms pass to McConkey middle overthrown, incomplete.
NY 41	4–3	Landeta 59 punt, touchback.
Denver (14:00)
D 20	1–10	Lang run wide right, loss of 2 (Taylor).
D 18	2–12	Elway pass to Mobley left incomplete.
D 18	3–12	Elway 54 pass to V. Johnson deep middle (Welch).
NY 28	1–10	Elway 6 screen pass to Winder left (T. Johnson).
NY 22	2–4	Elway pass to Willhite left incomplete.
NY 22	3–4	Elway 6 pass to Mobley left flat (Welch).
NY 16	1–10	Lang 4 run middle (T. Johnson).
NY 12	2–6	Elway 4 pass to Lang right (Patterson).
NY 8	3–2	Elway 7 pass to Sewell right (Hill).
NY 1	1–goal	Elway sweep right, loss of 1 (Taylor).
NY 2	2–goal	Willhite run middle, no gain (Carson).
NY 2	3–goal	Winder sweep left, loss of 4 (Banks).
NY 6	4–goal	Karlis’s 23–yard field–goal attempt was wide right.
New York (7:40)
NY 20	1–10	Simms 12 pass to Bavaro middle (Smith).
NY 32	1–10	Simms 8 pass to Robinson middle (Hunley).
NY 40	2–2	Carthon 1 run middle (Jones).
NY 41	3–1	Morris 4 run left (Haynes).
NY 45	1–10	Simms 1 pass to Carthon right flat (Woodard).
NY 46	2–9	Morris 1 run off left tackle (Gilbert).
NY 47	3–8	Simms pass to Robinson left incomplete.
NY 47	4–8	Landeta 38 punt, Willhite fair catch.
Denver (3:33)
D 15	1–10	Elway sacked, loss of 2 (Marshall).
D 13	2–12	Elway pass to Kay middle incomplete.
D 13	3–12	Elway sacked, loss of 13 (Martin), safety (2:46).
	Denver 10, New York 9
New York (2:46) Horan free kick to NY 28, Flynn return, loss of 3 (Micho).
NY 25	1–10	Simms pass to Morris, loss of 1 (Hunley). Two–Minute Warning.
NY 24	2–11	Simms 7 screen pass to Carthon (Ryan).
NY 31	3–4	Simms pass to Bavaro middle overthrown, incomplete.
NY 31	4–4	Landeta 41 punt, Willhite 9 return (Rouson).
Denver (1:05)
D 37	1–10	Elway pass to Sewell right dropped, incomplete.
D 37	2–10	Elway 31 pass to Watson right (Patterson).
NY 32	1–10	Elway 11 shovel pass to Willhite (Taylor). Denver–second time out (:43)
NY 21	1–10	Elway pass to Sewell right dropped, incomplete.
NY 21	2–10	Elway pass to V. Johnson incomplete. Play nullified and New York penalized 5 for offsides (Burt).
NY 16	2–5	Elway pass to Willhite middle incomplete.
NY 16	3–5	Elway pass to Mobley in end zone incomplete.
NY 16	4–5	Karlis’s 34–yard field–goal attempt was wide right.
New York (:13)
NY 20	1–10	Simms knelt down, loss of 2.
	END OF SECOND QUARTER: Denver 10, New York 9
Third Quarter
New York (15:00) Karlis kick to NY 15, Rouson 22 return (Harden).
NY 37	1–10	Morris 3 run wide right (Foley).
NY 40	2–7	Simms 4 pass to Carthon right flat (Townsend).
NY 44	3–3	Morris 2 run wide right (Wright).
NY 46	4–1	Rutledge 2 quarterback sneak (Ryan).
NY 48	1–10	Simms 12 pass to Morris left (Mecklenburg).
D 40	1–10	Simms 23 pass to Rouson left (Foley).
D 17	1–10	Morris 3 run wide right (Woodard).
D 14	2–7	Simms 1 pass to Carthon right (Wright).
D 13	3–6	Simms 13 pass to Bavaro middle, touchdown (10:08). Denver penalized 5 for offsides (Jones), assessed on kickoff. Allegre kicked extra point.
	New York scoring drive: 63 yards, 9 plays, 4:52. New York 16, Denver 10
Denver (10:08) NewYork penalized 5 for offsides (Patterson), Allegre kick to D 1, Lang 13 return (Hunt).
D 14	1–10	Elway pass to V. Johnson deflected (Martin), incomplete.
D 14	2–10	Elway 5 pass to V. Johnson right (Carson).
D 19	3–5	Elway pass to Willhite right underthrown, incomplete.
D 19	4–5	Horan 42 punt, McConkey 25 return (Woodard).
New York (9:01)
D 36	1–10	Morris 7 run wide right (Ryan).
D 29	2–3	Morris run wide right, loss of 2 (Hunley).
D 31	3–5	Morris 9 run off left tackle (Wilson).
D 22	1–10	Rouson 1 run middle (Woodard).
D 21	2–9	Simms 9 pass to Manuel middle (Wright).
D 12	1–10	Carthon 2 run right (Mecklenburg).
D 10	2–8	Simms 5 run evading pass rush (Hunley). New York–first time out (4:42)
D 5	3–3	Morris 1 run left (Ryan, Jones).
D 4	4–2	Allegre, 21–yard field goal (3:54).
	New York scoring drive: 32 yards, 8 plays, 5:07. New York 19, Denver 10
Denver (3:54) Allegre kick into end zone, touchback.
D 20	1–10	Elway pass to Watson right incomplete.
D 20	2–10	Elway 8 pass to Willhite right (Marshall).
D 28	3–2	Elway pass to Mobley right incomplete.
D 28	4–2	Horan 40 punt, McConkey fair catch.
New York (2:38)
NY 32	1–10	Morris 2 run right (Hunley).
NY 34	2–8	Simms 17 pass to Manuel right (Smith).
D 49	1–10	Morris 4 run wide right (Hunley).
D 45	2–6	Simms 44 flea–flicker pass to McConkey deep left (Haynes).
D 1	1–goal	Morris 1 run wide right, touchdown (:24). Allegre kicked extra point.
	New York scoring drive: 68 yards, 5 plays, 2:14. New York 26, Denver 10
Denver (:24) Allegre kick into end zone, touchback.
D 20	1–10	Elway sacked, recovered own fumble, loss of 11 (Marshall).
	END OF THIRD QUARTER: New York 26, Denver 10
Fourth Quarter

D 9	2–21	Denver penalized 4 (half the distance) for false start (Lanier).
D 5	2–25	Elway pass to M. Jackson deep intercepted at D 35, Patterson return, loss of 7. New York penalized 10 for illegal block (Williams).
New York (14:46)
NY 48	1–10	Morris run left, no gain (Jones).
NY 48	2–10	Simms 36 pass to Robinson deep left (Smith).
D 16	1–10	Morris 1 run right (Hunley).
D 15	2–9	Simms pass to Bavaro in end zone incomplete. Play nullified and Denver penalized 14 for pass interference (Wright).
D 1	1–goal	Morris run wide right, no gain (Wright).
D 1	2–goal	Simms sacked, loss of 5 (Gilbert, Woodard).
D 6	3–goal	Simms 6 pass to McConkey off Bavaro’s deflection, touchdown (10:56). Allegre kicked extra point. Denver penalized 5 for offsides on extra–point attempt, assessed on kickoff.
	New York scoring drive: 52 yards, 6 plays, 3:50. New York 33, Denver 10
Denver (10:56) Allegre kick to D 10, Bell no return, fumbled, Hackett recovered for Denver at D 16.
D 16	1–10	Elway 10 pass to V. Johnson right (Lasker).
D 26	1–10	Elway 4 screen to Willhite middle (Banks).
D 30	2–6	Elway 16 pass to M. Jackson middle (Welch).
D 46	1–10	Elway 5 pass to Willhite left (Lasker).
NY 49	2–5	Elway 11 pass to M. Jackson right (Banks).
NY 38	1–10	Sewell 12 run wide left (Welch).
NY 26	1–10	Willhite 6 run left (Banks).
NY 20	2–4	Elway pass to Kay right overthrown, incomplete.
NY 20	3–4	Elway 5 draw middle (Collins).
NY 15	1–10	Sewell run wide right, loss of 5 (Banks).
NY 20	2–15	Elway 8 run evading pass rush (Carson).
NY 12	3–7	Elway 1 run evading pass rush (Banks).
NY 11	4–6	Karlis, 28–yard field goal (6:01).
	Denver scoring drive: 73 yards, 12 plays, 4:55. New York 33, Denver 13
New York (6:01) Karlis onside kick to D 46, B. Johnson covered for New York, no return.
D 46	1–10	Rouson 18 run wide right (Wilson).
D 28	1–10	Rouson 3 run left (Jones).
D 25	2–7	Carthon 1 run left (Ryan).
D 24	3–6	Simms 22 bootleg left (Haynes, Kragen).
D 2	1–goal	Anderson 2 run middle, touchdown (3:18). Allegre missed extra point.
	New York scoring drive: 46 yards, 5 plays, 2:43. New York 39, Denver 13
Denver (3:18) Allegre kick to D 11, Bell 20 return (Headen).
D 31	1–10	Willhite 11 draw left (Banks, Collins).
D 42	1–10	Elway 11 pass to Willhite right (Taylor).
NY 47	1–10	Elway pass to Willhite middle incomplete.
NY 47	2–10	Elway pass to Willhite left overthrown, incomplete.
NY 47	3–10	Elway 47 pass to V. Johnson deep middle, touchdown (2:06). Karlis kicked extra point.
	Denver scoring drive: 69 yards, 5 plays, 1:12. New York 39, Denver 20
New York (2:06) Karlis onside kick to D 44, Mowatt covered for New York, no return.
D 44	1–10	Galbreath 6 run right (Jones, Townsend). Two–Minute Warning.
D 38	2–4	Galbreath 6 run middle (Smith).
D 32	1–10	Rutledge knelt down, loss of 1. Denver–first time out.
D 33	2–11	Galbreath 7 run middle (Woodard). Denver–second time out.
D 26	3–4	Galbreath run wide right, loss of 2 (Fletcher). Denver–third time out.
D 28	4–6	Rutledge bootleg left, loss of 1 (Woodard, Jones).
Denver (:44)
D 29	1–10	Kubiak 9 pass to Sampson middle (Jones).
D 38	2–1	Kubiak 5 pass to Sewell right (out of bounds).
D 43	1–10	Kubiak 23 pass to Watson left (out of bounds).
NY 34	1–10	Kubiak 11 pass to Sampson left (out of bounds).
NY 23	1–10	Kubiak sacked, loss of 6 (Dorsey).
	FINAL SCORE: New York 39, Denver 20
	FINAL RECORDS: New York 17–2, Denver 13–6

Super Bowl XXI Boxscore

                           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                          Denv.          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
  Average 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 Attempting 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  ==

Super Bowl XXI Recap

Phil Simms earned MVP honors after completing 22 of 25 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns. (AP)

Phil Simms led the New York Giants to a 30-point second half to beat the Denver Broncos, winning their first Super Bowl and first NFL championship in 30 years.

SIMMS COMPLETED 22 OF 25 PASSES for 268 yards, including three touchdown passes, and was unanimously voted the Most Valuable Player. He also set a Super Bowl record with 10 straight completions during New York's second-half tear. His 88 percent completion rate was an NFL playoff record.

New York started the second-half with three plays for 9 yards, and the Giants' punting team ran onto the field to punt from its own 46. Suddenly, the Giants shifted out of punt formation, and Jeff Rutledge, the second-string quarterback, came up behind the center took the snap and snuck for 1 yard and a first down. Six plays later, Simms hit tight end Mark Bavaro for 13 yards, the Giants led 16-10 and the rout was on.

Super Bowl XXI Photos

New York Giants head coach Bill Parcells stands over the Vince Lombardi Trophy during Friday morning's press conference in Anaheim, Calif., in this Jan. 23, 1987 photo. Parcells retired from coaching Monday, Jan. 22, 2007, leaving the Dallas Cowboys after four seasons and ending a stellar career that featured three Super Bowl appearances and two championships.

(AP Photo/Ray Stubblebine)

New York Giants coach Bill Parcells is carried off the field after the Giants defeated the Denver Broncos, 39-20, in Super Bowl XXI in Pasadena, Ca., in this Jan. 25, 1987 photo.

Parcells retired from coaching Monday, Jan. 22, 2007, leaving the Dallas Cowboys after four seasons and ending a stellar career that featured three Super Bowl appearances and two championships.

(AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

Bill Parcells

(Associated Press Photo)

Super Bowl Index:

Super Bowl XXI N.Y. Giants 39, Denver 20 MVP: QB Phil Simms, New York

Super Bowl XXI Drive Charts and Play-by-Play

Super Bowl XXI Boxscore

Super Bowl XXI Recap

Super Bowl XXI Photos

Super Bowl XXI
N.Y. Giants 39, Denver 20
MVP: QB Phil Simms, New York