Ranking the Super Bowls, #45: Super Bowl XXII

(photo credit: krge.com)

For the second year in a row, the Denver Broncos had scored 10 points and held a lead heading into the second quarter of the Super Bowl. For the second year in a row, a rout would ensue in their opponent's favor.

Super Bowl XXII between the Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos at San Diego’s Jack Murphy Stadium was entertaining for all of a quarter and a half. When Redskins’ quarterback Doug Williams completed a 50-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Ricky Sanders with 4 minutes left in the first half, Washington climbed to a 28-10 lead that would eventually reach a final score of 42-10.

The 32-point margin of victory was the second-most ever in a Super Bowl at the time. In fact, the Broncos have been on the wrong end of three of the five most lopsided Super Bowls, including losses by 35 points and 45 points in Super Bowls 48 and 24, respectively.

In this game, the Redskins set plenty of records for the Super Bowl up to that point:
            -602 yards of offense (still stands)

            -280 rushing yards (still stands)

            -6 touchdowns

            -356 yards in one quarter (second quarter)

            -35 points in a quarter and half (second quarter)

            -5 touchdowns in a quarter (second quarter)

The game started well for Denver. Quarterback John Elway connected with receiver Ricky Nattiel for a 56-yard touchdown on the game’s fourth play from scrimmage. Rich Karlis added a field goal with 9:32 remaining in the quarter, and that concluded all of Denver’s scoring for the game.

Washington’s historic second quarter began on their first play with an 80-yard touchdown from Williams to Sanders. Three and a half minutes later, Williams found Gary Clark for a 27-yard touchdown. With just under seven minutes remaining in the half, Timmy Smith collected 58 of his Super Bowl-record 204 rushing yards for a touchdown and 21-10 Redskins lead. After Sanders’ second touchdown, Washington concluded their onslaught when Williams found Clint Didier for an 8-yard score with 1:11 left in the half. The second half would be less spectacular, as Denver was shut out and Washington managed just one more Smith touchdown run at the start of the fourth quarter.

Doug Williams’ 340 yards and fourvtouchdowns earned him the MVP honors, though Smith’s 204 yards and two touchdowns and Sanders nine receptions for 193 yards and two touchdowns were right there with him. John Elway was less than stellar in his second Super Bowl appearance; completing just 14 of his 38 pass attempts, getting intercepted three times with only the one first quarter touchdown.

The Redskins would go on to win again in Super Bowl XXVI, while Denver would have to wait until back-to-back victories in XXXII and XXXIII for Elway to earn his titles before retiring.