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| Setting the Stage | Scoring Summary | The Game | Stats | Fan Comments | Links |
 Setting the Stage:
I remember the hype surrounding this game and the anticipation by so many to see Reeves and Elway finally get a shot at a ring. I, personally, couldn't stand either Reeves or Elway and just knew they were in for a rude awakening.
Needless to say I was a little concerned after the first quarter. The second quarter was something dreams are made of. I've never seen anything like it in any game, let alone the Super Bowl. After falling behind by 10 in the first quarter, the Skins completely dominated the Broncos through the air, on the ground and defensively.
Ricky Sanders had a huge day thanks to Doug Williams and superb offensive line protection - that had been with the team throughout the season. Timmy Smith was another beneficiary of an offensive line that not only provided superior pass protection, but also could flat out run block. 204 yards rushing in the Super Bowl, are you kidding me? I remember thinking to myself, 'who the heck is Timmy Smith?' and 'how dominant is he going to be next season?'. Just goes to show you, one huge, even record setting game in the Super Bowl, does not promise or guarantee future success.
-Frank Hastings
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Scoring Summary:
| Team |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
Final |
| Washington Redskins |
0 |
35 |
0 |
7 |
42 |
| Denver Broncos |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
DEN - Nattiel, 56 yard pass from Elway (Karlis kick), 1st
DEN - Karlis, 24 yard field goal, 1st
WAS - Sanders, 80 yard pass from Williams (Haji-Shiekh kick), 2nd
WAS - Clark, 27 yard pass from Williams (Haji-Shiekh kick), 2nd
WAS - Smith, 58 yard run (Haji-Shiekh kick), 2nd
WAS - Sanders, 50 yard pass from Williams (Haji-Shiekh kick), 2nd
WAS - Didier, 8 yard pass from Williams (Haji-Shiekh kick), 2nd
WAS- Smith, 4 yard run (Haji-Shiekh kick), 4th
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The Game:
For fans of both the Denver Broncos and the Washington Redskins, watching Super Bowl XXII was like watching two separate contests.
The Redskins won the toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff, however a quick three and out resulted in a punt. On Denver’s first play from scrimmage, wide receiver Ricky Nattiel started the scoring, taking a John Elway pass for a 56-yard strike. The Broncos held a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the first quarter.
Washington’s next possession did not fare much better, as Gary Clark dropped his second drive-ending pass of the game. Elway drove the team 61 yards in just over two minutes, including a 32-yard pass to Mark Jackson and a 23-yard pass to running back Steve Sewell. The drive stalled on the Washington 7 yard line though, and Denver kicker Rich Karlis pushed a 24-yard kick through the uprights.
Late in the first quarter, Washington quarterback Doug Williams was sacked and twisted his knee, forcing Coach Joe Gibbs to replace Williams with Jay Schroeder. Schroeder was unable to move the ball and the team was once again forced to punt.
The Broncos ended the first quarter and started the second with an extended three and out, and Broncos punter Mike Horan sent a 36-yard punt into the end zone. This marked the beginning of what is known in Redskins history as, “The Quarter”.
Doug Williams returned to the field, and stealing a page from the Broncos’ first quarter antics, lined up on the 20 and fired a pass to streaking wide receiver Ricky Sanders. Sanders caught the ball on the Washington 48-yard line and took it home for a 1 play, 80-yard touchdown drive that lasted all of 10 seconds.
Williams and the Redskins added four more touchdowns on consecutive drives for a total of 35 points in the second quarter.
Williams hit Gary Clark for a 27-yard strike, followed by a 58-yard touchdown run by Timmy Smith. Sanders then added a 50-yard touchdown reception and Clint Didier finished off the historic quarter with an 8-yard pass. No team, before or since, has played a better quarter of football on this stage.
The score coming into the second half was 35-10. Denver having coasted to a 10-0 lead in the first six minutes of the game, never reached the end zone again, thanks to Barry Wilburn’s two interceptions and the 5 sacks turned in by the smothering Washington defense.
Timmy Smith finished off the scoring with a 4-yard scamper early in the fourth quarter, and finished the game with a Super Bowl record 204-yards. Washington won its second championship in 5 years, defeating Denver 42-10.
- Scott Hurrey
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Team Statistics:
|
Redskins |
Broncos |
| TOTAL FIRST DOWNS |
25 |
18 |
| Rushing |
13 |
6 |
| Passing |
11 |
10 |
| Penalty |
1 |
2 |
| TOTAL NET YARDAGE |
602* |
327 |
| Total Offensive
Plays |
72 |
61 |
| Average Gain per
Offensive Play |
8.4 |
5.4 |
| NET YARDS RUSHING |
280 |
97 |
| Total Rushing
Plays |
40 |
17 |
| Average yards Per Rush |
7.0 |
5.7 |
| NET YARDS PASSING |
322 |
230 |
| Pass Att.–Comp.–Int. |
30–18–1 |
39–15–3 |
| Yards lost Attempting to Pass |
18 |
50 |
| Gross Yards
Passing |
340 |
280 |
| Avg. Gain per
Pass (Incl. Sacks) |
10.8 |
5.9 |
| PUNTS–AVERAGE |
4–150 |
7–253 |
| Average Distance |
37.5 |
36.1 |
| Had Blocked |
0 |
0 |
| TOTAL RETURN
YARDAGE |
57 |
106 |
| Kickoff
Returns–Yards |
3–46 |
5–88 |
| Punt
Returns–Yards |
1–0 |
2–18 |
| Interception
Returns–Yards |
3–11 |
1–0 |
| TOTAL TURNOVERS |
1 |
3 |
| Fumbles–Lost |
1–0 |
0–0 |
| Had Intercepted |
1 |
3 |
| PENALTIES–YARDS |
6–65 |
5–26 |
| TOTAL POINTS
SCORED |
42 |
10 |
| Touchdowns
Rushing |
2 |
0 |
| Touchdowns
Passing |
4 |
1 |
| Touchdowns
Returns |
0 |
0 |
| Extra Points |
6 |
1 |
| Field
Goals–Attempts |
0–1 |
1–2 |
| Safeties |
0 |
0 |
| THIRD–DOWN
EFFICIENCY |
9/15 |
2/12 |
| FOURTH–DOWN
EFFICIENCY |
0/0 |
0/0 |
| TIME OF
POSSESSION |
35:15 |
24:45 |
  Click here for individual statistics |
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Fan Commentary:
Danny Carmical - "I remember being 10, living in Germany where my dad was stationed, and the Super Bowl didn't start until midnight. I was amazed at the total domination the Redskins had over Denver in that game. That's when the first drops of Burgundy & Gold flowed through my veins."
Scott Peek - "I remember telling my friend during the first quarter, "Don't worry, it's only 10 points", and then the Skins erupted. That may have been the most joyous quarter of football I have ever experienced."
Dan Hines - "I was stationed in San Antonio; all my friends were Cowboys fan. We had a huge SB party at one of my friends house. After the long TD pass by Elway, they gave it to me good, then Doug Williams and company went on their history making run in the second quarter. My friends got so mad they turned the game off. I had to go home to see the second half!!"
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More Articles:
Redskins.com Game Summary
Washington Post Game Summary
SuperBowl.com's Official Game Summary
Washington Skins Broncos
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| Washington: 11-4 |
| Opponent | Score |
| Philadelphia | W 34-24 |
| at Atlanta | L 21-20 |
| St. Louis | W 28-21 |
| at N.Y. Giants | W 38-12 |
| at Dallas | W 13-7 |
| N.Y. Jets | W 17-16 |
| at Buffalo | W 27-7 |
| at Philadelphia | L 31-27 |
| Detroit | W 20-13 |
| L.A. Rams | L 30-26 |
| N.Y. Giants | W 23-19 |
| at St. Louis | W 34-17 |
| Dallas | W 24-20 |
| at Miami | L 23-21 |
| at Minnesota | W 27-24 |
| at Chicago* | W 21-17 |
| Minnesota* | W 17-10 |
| * NFC Playoffs |
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| Denver: 10-4-1 |
| Opponent | Score |
| Seattle | W 40-17 |
| at Green Bay | T 17-17 |
| Houston | L 40-10 |
| L.A. Raiders | W 30-14 |
| at Kansas City | W 26-17 |
| at Minnesota | L 34-27 |
| Detroit | W 34-0 |
| at Buffalo | L 21-14 |
| Chicago | W 31-29 |
| at L.A. Raiders | W 23-17 |
| at San Diego | W 31-17 |
| New England | L 31-20 |
| at Seattle | L 28-21 |
| Kansas City | W 20-17 |
| San Diego | W 24-0 |
| Houston* | W 34-10 |
| Cleveland* | W 38-33 |
| * AFC Playoffs |
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| Washington Redskins |
| Head Coach - Joe Gibbs |
| Offense |
| WR | Gary Clark |
| TE | Don Warren |
| LT | Joe Jacoby |
| LG | Raleigh McKenzie |
| C | Jeff Bostic |
| RG | R.C. Thielemann |
| RT | Mark May |
| TE | Clint Didier |
| WR | Ricky Sanders |
| QB | Doug Williams |
| RB | Timmy Smith |
| Defense |
| LE | Charles Mann |
| LT | Dave Butz |
| RT | Darryl Grant |
| RE | Dexter Manley |
| LB | Mel Kaufman |
| LB | Neal Olkewicz |
| LB | Monte Coleman |
| CB | Darrell Green |
| CB | Barry Wilburn |
| SS | Alvin Walton |
| FS | Todd Bowles |
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| Denver Broncos |
| Head Coach - Dan Reeves |
| Offense |
| WR | Mark Jackson |
| TE | Clarence Kay |
| LT | David Studdard |
| LG | Keith Bishop |
| C | Mike Freeman |
| RG | Stefan Humphries |
| RT | Ken Lanier |
| RB | Gene Lang |
| WR | Ricky Nattiel |
| QB | John Elway |
| RB | Sammy Winder |
| Defense |
| LE | Rulon Jones |
| NT | Greg Kragen |
| RE | Andre Townsend |
| LB | Simon Fletcher |
| LB | Karl Mecklenburg |
| LB | Ricky Hunley |
| LB | Jim Ryan |
| CB | Mark Haynes |
| CB | Steve Wilson |
| SS | Tony Lilly |
| FS | Dennis Smith |
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To nobody's surprise, Doug Williams was named the game's MVP after going 18 of 29 for 340 yards with 4 TDs and 1 INT. Williams hit 7 different receivers but Ricky Sanders was his favorite target. Sanders caught 9 balls for 193 yards and 2 TDs including one 80-yarder. |
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Timmy Smith could have easliy been named the game's MVP for his record breaking 204 yards rushing on just 22 carries. The Redskins 35-point second quarter (also a record) was helped greatly by 122 yards from Smith, including a 58-yard TD. Amazingly, Smith only managed 126 yards during the entire 1987 season and would play just 15 more games in the NFL after his record setting performance.
The numbers from the Redskins' 2nd quarter alone would match a lot of NFL games, but for one quarter are ridiculous. Five scores for 35 points, 356 total yards, including 228 passing by Williams (9 of 11), 122 yards on five carries by Smith, and 168 yards on 5 receptions by Sanders. The five touchdowns came in 18 plays covering just 5 minutes and 47 seconds of possession time.
Doug Williams had to have emergency root canal surgery the day before his MVP performance in Super Bowl XXII.
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