Super Bowl XXI

Super Bowl XXI was the championship game of the National Football League for the 1986 NFL season, played between the American Football Conference champion Denver Broncos and the National Football Conference champion New York Giants. The game was held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, and was attended by Pepsi-sponsored Grammy Award winner Neil Diamond, California Governor George Deukmejian, and Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley. The New York Giants were led by Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, and Lawrence Taylor, while the Denver Broncos were led by Dan Reeves, John Elway, and Steve Watson.

● Game Summary

The New York Giants dominated the game, winning 39-20, with Phil Simms completing 22 of 25 passes for 268 yards and 3 touchdowns, earning him the Super Bowl MVP award, presented by Pete Rozelle and CBS commentator Brent Musburger. The Denver Broncos were led by John Elway, who threw for 304 yards and 1 touchdown, but was also intercepted twice by New York Giants defenders Mark Collins and Perry Williams. The game was broadcast on CBS, with commentary by Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, and Dan Dierdorf, and was watched by an estimated Nielsen Media Research-measured 87.1 million viewers, including United States President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan.

● Background

The New York Giants finished the 1986 NFL season with a 14-2 record, winning the NFC East division title, and defeating the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins in the NFC playoffs. The Denver Broncos finished the season with a 11-5 record, winning the AFC West division title, and defeating the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns in the AFC playoffs. The game was played in front of a crowd of 101,063, including California State Legislature members Willie Brown and David Roberti, and Los Angeles County Supervisor Edmund D. Edelman. The National Anthem was performed by Neil Diamond, and the coin toss was conducted by Willie Davis and Bart Starr.

● Box Score

The box score for the game showed the New York Giants outscoring the Denver Broncos 39-20, with Phil Simms throwing for 268 yards and 3 touchdowns, and Joe Morris rushing for 67 yards and 1 touchdown. The Denver Broncos were led by John Elway, who threw for 304 yards and 1 touchdown, but was also intercepted twice. The game was officiated by Jerry Markbreit, Tom Kelleher, and Ron Botchan, and was supervised by Art McNally and Jim Tunney. The New York Giants were represented by Wellington Mara and Tim Mara, while the Denver Broncos were represented by Pat Bowlen and Edgar Kaiser.

● Aftermath

The New York Giants' victory in the game marked their first Super Bowl championship in franchise history, and was celebrated by New York City Mayor Ed Koch and New York Governor Mario Cuomo. The team was honored with a ticker tape parade in Manhattan, and was awarded the Vince Lombardi Trophy by NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle. The Denver Broncos' loss marked their second consecutive Super Bowl defeat, and was followed by a series of changes to the team's coaching staff and roster, including the hiring of Dan Reeves as the team's new head coach. The game was also notable for the appearance of Coca-Cola and McDonald's advertisements during the broadcast, which were watched by an estimated Nielsen Media Research-measured 87.1 million viewers.

● Game Statistics

The game statistics showed the New York Giants outgaining the Denver Broncos 406-372, with Phil Simms completing 22 of 25 passes for 268 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Denver Broncos were led by John Elway, who threw for 304 yards and 1 touchdown, but was also intercepted twice. The game also featured a number of notable performances by New York Giants players, including Lawrence Taylor, who recorded 2 sacks and 1 forced fumble, and Mark Collins, who intercepted 1 pass and returned it for 22 yards. The game was played in front of a crowd of 101,063, including United States Senator Al D'Amato and New York State Assembly member Sheldon Silver.