Super Bowl XXI

Super Bowl XXI

Denver Broncos (2) (AFC) (11–5) New York Giants (1) (NFC) (14–2) 20 39 Head coach: Dan Reeves Head coach: Bill Parcells
1 2 3 4 Total DEN 10 0 0 10 20 NYG 7 2 17 13 39
Date	January 25, 1987 (1987-01-25)
Stadium	Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
MVP	Phil Simms, quarterback
Favorite	Giants by 9.5[1][2]
Referee	Jerry Markbreit
Attendance	101,063[3]
Hall of Famers
Broncos: Pat Bowlen (owner), John Elway Giants: Wellington Mara (owner/administrator), George Young (general manager), Bill Parcells (head coach), Harry Carson, Lawrence Taylor
Ceremonies
National anthem	Neil Diamond
Coin toss	Willie Davis
Halftime show	George Burns, Mickey Rooney, USC Marching Band
TV in the United States
Network	CBS
Announcers	Pat Summerall and John Madden
Nielsen ratings	45.8 (est. 87.2 million viewers)[4]
Market share	66
Cost of 30-second commercial	$600,000
Radio in the United States
Network	NBC Radio
Announcers	Don Criqui and Bob Trumpy
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Super Bowl XXI was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Denver Broncos and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion New York Giants to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1986 season. It was the 21st Super Bowl and was played on January 25, 1987, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The Giants defeated the Broncos, 39–20, for their first Super Bowl and first NFL title since 1956. It was the first of consecutive Super Bowl losses for the Broncos, who lost the Super Bowl a year later 42–10 to the Washington Redskins.

This was the Broncos' first Super Bowl appearance since the 1977 season. Led largely through the play of quarterback John Elway and a defense that led the AFC in fewest yards allowed, the Broncos posted an 11–5 regular season record and two narrow playoff victories. The Giants, led by quarterback Phil Simms, running back Joe Morris, and their "Big Blue Wrecking Crew" defense, advanced to their first Super Bowl after posting a 14–2 regular season record and only allowing a combined total of 3 points in their two postseason wins.

The game was tight in the first half, with the Broncos holding a 10–9 halftime lead, the narrowest margin in Super Bowl history. The only score in the second quarter, however, was Giants defensive end George Martin's sack of Elway in the end zone for a safety. This began the Giants’ run of scoring 26 unanswered points through the third and fourth quarters. Denver would counter with ten additional points toward the end of the game to narrow their margin of victory. The Giants also posted a Super Bowl record 30 points in the second half, and limited the Broncos to only 2 net yards in the third quarter. Simms, who was named the Super Bowl MVP, finished the game with 22 of 25 passes completed for 268 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 25 rushing yards on 3 carries. His 22 out of 25 (88%) completion percentage broke both a Super Bowl and NFL postseason record.

The telecast of the game on CBS was seen by an estimated 87.2 million viewers.^[4] The large national audience saw an early appearance of the now-traditional Gatorade shower, where players dump a cooler full of liquid over a coach's head following a meaningful win. The practice was first started by Giants players in 1985; it began to gain national attention during the 1986 season, when Parcells was doused after every win.

This loss also kicked off the Broncos' run of Super Bowl futility with John Elway under center. They would make it back to the Super Bowl the very next year but lost 42-10 to the Washington Redskins, after leading 10-0 at the end of the first quarter. Two years later, they made it back but fell to the defending world champion 49ers 55-10.