Super Bowl XXV: Giants vs. Bills

Lore & Background

The game was held at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on January 27, 1991, and was the last time a Super Bowl would be held at Tampa Stadium (replaced by the Raymond James Stadium). A memorable performance of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' by Whitney Houston and the Florida Orchestra preceded the game. Jazz musician John Clayton arranged the piece. ABC, which broadcast the game in the United States, did not air the halftime show (which was headlined by the American boy band New Kids on the Block) live. Instead, the network televised a special ABC News report anchored by Peter Jennings on the progress of the ongoing Gulf War, then aired the halftime show on tape delay after the game. The Bills and their explosive no-huddle offense were making their first of four consecutive Super Bowl appearances after finishing the regular season with a 13–3 record, and leading the league in total points scored with 428. In advancing to their second Super Bowl, the Giants also posted a 13–3 regular-season record, but with a ball-control offense and a defense that allowed a league-low 211 points. Super Bowl XXV became the first Super Bowl to feature two teams representing the same state, even though the Giants technically play in East Rutherford, New Jersey, a nearby suburb of New York City. The game is known for Bills placekicker Scott Norwood's last-second missed field goal attempt that went wide right of the uprights, starting a four-game losing streak in the Super Bowl for the Bills. The game became the first (and so far only) Super Bowl decided by one point and the first Super Bowl in which neither team committed a turnover. The Giants set a Super Bowl record-holding possession of the ball for 40 minutes and 33 seconds. The Giants also overcame a 12–3 second-quarter deficit and made a 75-yard touchdown drive that consumed a Super Bowl-record 9:29 off the clock. Giants running back Ottis Anderson, who carried the ball 21 times for 102 yards and one touchdown, was named Super Bowl MVP. He was the first awardee to receive the newly named 'Pete Rozelle Trophy' (named for the former commissioner, Pete Rozelle). Anderson also recorded one reception for seven yards. The NFL in its 100 Greatest Games series ranked it at number 10. As with Super Bowl XXI, Phil Simms, who quarterbacked the victor Giants, would notably state 'I'm going to Disney World!' immediately after the game on li

In Their Own Story

The lights dimmed over the Northlands Coliseum, not for a kickoff, but for the opening face-off. The air was thick with the scent of hot dogs and cold ice as fans chanted for Gretzky. There were no helmets with facemasks or shoulder pads here, only skates carving deep grooves into the white surface. As the puck dropped, the roar of the crowd echoed off the rafters, a sound distinct from any stadium that hosted football, marking another chapter in the true history of hockey royalty.

Reader's Guide

NFL owners voted to award Super Bowl XXV to Tampa during a May 20, 1987 owners meeting held at Coronado, California. It was the second time that Tampa hosted the game; the city previously hosted XVIII on January 22, 1984. Voting for the 'silver anniversary' Super Bowl drew bids from Tampa (Tampa Stadium), San Diego (Jack Murphy Stadium), Anaheim (Anaheim Stadium), Los Angeles (Coliseum), and Miami (Joe Robbie Stadium). The voting process took six ballots, and eventually narrowed down to two finalists: Tampa and San Diego. Anaheim and Los Angeles were eliminated on the first ballot, then Miami (already scheduled to host XXIII), was eliminated on the second. After three additional rounds, neither Tampa nor San Diego could garner the desired 3⁄4 vote (21 of 28 owners). To break the stalemate, the vote switched to a simple majority. Though the final tally was kept secret, Tampa was said to have won by a close margin of only 2–3 votes. The Tampa Bay area won by virtue of proven success hosting XVIII, and the plans to move the Gasparilla Pirate Festival to Super Bowl week. San Diego was slated to host XXII, but since that day had not yet come, some owners were reluctant to award the city a second Super Bowl before they completed their first.

Did You Know?

• The game was the first Super Bowl to feature two teams representing the same state.
• It was the first (and so far only) Super Bowl decided by one point.
• Neither team committed a turnover in the game.
• The Giants held the ball for a Super Bowl-record 40 minutes and 33 seconds.
• Ottis Anderson was the first recipient of the newly named Pete Rozelle Trophy as Super Bowl MVP.