AFC: Denver Broncos

NFC: Atlanta Falcons

Date: January 31, 1999

Super Bowl XXXIII

Scoring:

Team 1 2 3 4 Final

DEN 7 10 0 17 34

ATL 3 3 0 13 19

AFC playmakers:

RB Terrell Davis, DB Tyrone Braxton, QB John Elway, DB Steve Atwater

NFC playmakers:

WR Antonio Freeman, TE Mark Chmura, CB Tyrone Williams, DB Eugene Robinson

Network: FOX

Announcers: Pat Summerall, John Madden

Pregame: Yes – Cher sings the National Anthem

Halftime: No

Postgame: Yes

Commercials: Some

Grade: 7.5

Notes: John Elway, in his last game, passed for 336 yards and ran for a touchdown to earn MVP honors as the Broncos became the first AFC team to win consecutive Super Bowls since the Steelers won XIII and XIV. A 25-yard pass interference penalty on Ray Crockett assisted the Falcons’ 10-play, 48-yard game-opening drive that was capped by Morten Andersen’s 32-yard field goal. Elway’s third-down 41-yard pass to Rod Smith kept alive Denver’s ensuing drive and led to Howard Griffith’s 1-yard touchdown run. Ronnie Bradford’s interception and return to the Broncos’ 35 late in the first quarter

gave Atlanta excellent field position. However, Jamal Anderson was stopped for no gain on third-and-1 and thrown for a 2-yard loss on fourth down.

Denver capitalized on its defensive effort by tacking three points on the board with Jason Elam’s 26-yard field goal. The Falcons responded by driving to the Broncos’ 8, but Andersen’s 26-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide right and on the next play, Elway fired an 80-yard touchdown pass to Smith to turn a possible 10-6 game into a 17-3 Broncos lead. Andersen’s 28-yard field goal and 2 Elam misses on the Broncos’ first two second-half possessions gave Atlanta an opportunity to climb back into the game. However, Darrien Gordon dashed the Falcons’ hopes with interceptions on consecutive possessions inside the Broncos’ 20 to stop drives and set up Broncos touchdowns. Gordon returned the first interception, on a tipped pass, 58 yards to the Falcons’ 24 to set up Griffith’s second touchdown five plays later, and picked the second pass off at the Broncos’ 2 and returned it 50 yards. Terrell Davis turned a short pass into a 39-yard gain, and Elway scored two plays later to give Denver a 31-6 lead. Tim Dwight returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, and, after an Elam field goal, the Falcons offense scored with 2:04 remaining on Chandler’s 3-yard pass to Tony Martin. Byron Chamberlain recovered the ensuing onside kick, but Tyrone Braxton recovered Anderson’s fumble at the Falcons’ 33 with 1:30 remaining to ice the game. The Falcons drove inside the Broncos’ 30 seven times, but tallied just 1 touchdown and two field goals during the opportunities, throwing 2 interceptions, missing 1 field goal, and turning the ball over on downs the other four possessions. Elway was 18 of 29 for 336 yards and 1 touchdown, with 1 interception. Davis had 25 carries for 102 yards. Smith had 5 receptions for 152 yards. Chandler was 19 of 35 for 219 yards and 1 touchdown, with 3 interceptions.

Running time: 3:31 (2 discs)