How a backup quarterback turned a 10–0 deficit into a historic 42–10 rout
In short: In January 1988, the Denver Broncos held a commanding lead, but they were about to witness one of the most explosive scoring bursts in NFL history. Led by a backup quarterback facing immense scrutiny, the Washington Redskins unleashed a second-quarter onslaught that rewrote the record books and changed the league forever.
Super Bowl XXII, played on January 31, 1988, at San Diego's Jack Murphy Stadium, began as a struggle for the Washington Redskins. Trailing the Denver Broncos 10–0 after the first quarter, Washington appeared to be on the verge of a second consecutive Super Bowl loss for Denver. However, the momentum shifted violently in the second quarter, where Washington scored a record-breaking 35 points to take control of the game.
The central figure of this turnaround was Doug Williams. Entering the season as a backup behind Jay Schroeder, Williams had only played five regular-season games due to a season shortened by a players' strike. Despite his lack of recent starts, Williams delivered a legendary performance, completing 18 of 29 passes for 340 yards and four touchdowns. In doing so, he became the first African-American quarterback to start and win an NFL championship game, and the first to throw four touchdowns in a single half of a Super Bowl.
The statistical dominance of the Redskins was overwhelming. They finished the game with 602 total yards and 280 rushing yards, setting several Super Bowl records. While the Broncos relied on the strength of MVP quarterback John Elway, they could not contain the Washington offense. The game's outcome was a stark contrast to the previous year, where the Broncos had lost to the New York Giants, and it remains a landmark moment for both the sport's history and the personal journey of Williams, who had even undergone emergency dental surgery for an abscessed molar the night before the game.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Super Bowl XXII
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-super-bowl-xxii.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
