Super Bowl XXI took place on January 25, 1987 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

The final result was New York Giants 39, Denver Broncos 20.

Giants quarterback Phil Simms was named the Super Bowl MVP completing 22 of 25 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns.

The game was telecast in the United States by CBS. Pat Summerall and John Madden called the game.

The Game

The Broncos took a 10-9 lead at halftime, but the Giants scored 30 points in the second half to win the game.

Denver took the opening drive 45 yards for a 48-yard field goal. The Giants responded with a nine play, 78-yard drive to take a 7-3 lead with Simms' 6-yard touchdown to tight end Zeke Mowatt . Then on their second drive, the Broncos marched 58-yards in six plays, ending with quarterback John Elway's 4-yard touchdown run, to take the lead again 10-7.

The Giants made a key defensive stand early in the second quarter when the Broncos had a first down at the Giants' 1-yard line. The Giants defense stopped Denver short of the goal line on three straight running plays. The Broncos then missed the field goal on fourth down.

With 2:46 left to go in the second quarter, Giants defensive end George Martin sacked Elway in the end zone for a safety, cutting Denver's lead 10-9.

In the second half, everything seemed to go right for the Giants, while everything went wrong for the Broncos.

New York took the lead on the opening drive of the third quarter with tight end Mark Bavaro's 13-yard touchdown catch. The Giants added a field goal and running back Joe Morris ' 1-yard touchdown run to increase their lead 26-10.

Denver's drives in the third quarter ended with punts. And as the period expired, Elway recovered his own fumble -- only to throw an interception on the first play of the fourth quarter.

With 10:56 left in the game, Simms' pass to Bavaro was tipped into the air -- only to fall into the arms of Giants receiver Phil McConkey for another New York touchdown.

The Broncos finally scored a field goal on the next drive. But the Giants quickly responded with Morris' two yard touchdown run to increase their lead 39-13.

By the time Elway threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to receiver Vance Johnson to cut the score 39-20, there was only a little more than two minutes left in the game.

Scoring Summary

• DEN- FG Karlis 48
• NYG- Mowatt 6 pass from Simms (Allegre kick)
• DEN- Elway 4 run (Karlis kick)
• NYG- Safety, Martin sacked Elway in end zone
• NYG- Bavaro 13 pass from Simms (Allegre kick)
• NYG- FG Allegre 21
• NYG- Morris 1 run (Allegre kick)
• NYG- McConkey 6 pass from Simms (Allegre kick)
• DEN- FG Karlis 28
• NYG- Anderson 2 run (kick failed)
• DEN- Johnson 47 pass from Elway (Karlis kick)

Playoffs

See NFL playoffs, 1986-87