Super Bowl XXV 1990 Buffalo Bills season

to counteract bills no-huddle offense, giants strategy use power running game utilizing o.j. anderson, aided quarterback rollouts, bootlegs, , play-action fakes. tight end mark bavaro later recalled, [w]e came out 3 tight ends, fat slobs picking , moving , letting tackle o.j., if could. enabled them take time off clock , limit buffalo s possessions. giants set super bowl record time of possession 40 minutes, 33 seconds, including 22 minutes in second half. on defense, new york wanted physical buffalo s wideouts, , play defensive backs concentrate on stopping bills passing game, while conceding running game.

the contrast in strategies evident during first period. after forcing bills punt on opening drive of game, giants consumed 6:15 off clock marching 58 yards in 10 plays score on 28-yard field goal matt bahr. in drive, new york ran 5 rushing plays , 5 passing plays. bills struck right on ensuing possession five-play, 66-yard drive took 1:23 off clock, including tipped 61-yard completion quarterback jim kelly receiver james lofton set scott norwood s 23-yard field goal tie game @ 3–3.

after forcing giants punt on ensuing possession, bills offensive strategy started work perfection. kelly led bills on 12-play, 80-yard scoring drive consumed 4:27 , moved ball team never faced third down. kelly completed 6 consecutive passes (four andre reed) 62 yards, , running don smith capped off one-yard touchdown run give buffalo 10–3 lead. smith s 1-yard touchdown run carry of game , last carry of career. reed s 5 first quarter receptions super bowl record.

after trading punts, giants pinned @ own 7-yard line. on second down, defensive lineman bruce smith sacked quarterback jeff hostetler in end zone safety, increasing bills lead 12–3. on play, smith had chance force fumble since hostetler holding football throwing hand. credit, hostetler held ball away smith, helping ensure 2 points surrendered.

the bills started out on next drive great field position following free kick, forced punt after 3 plays. taking ball @ own 13-yard line 3:43 left in second quarter, giants abandoned long drive strategy , employed quick strike attack of own. hostetler led giants 87 yards, scoring on 14-yard touchdown pass wide recieiver stephen baker 25 seconds left in half cut new york s deficit 12–10.

the giants opened third quarter , resumed original game strategy driving 75 yards in 14 plays score on ottis anderson s one-yard touchdown run, taking first lead of game since opening possession @ 17–12. drive consumed super bowl record 9 minutes , 29 seconds, , included 4 successful third down conversions. highlight 14-yard pass wide receiver mark ingram on 3rd down , 13 yards go. ingram caught short pass , broke 5 buffalo tackles first down , keep drive alive.

after forcing buffalo punt on ensuing possession, new york drove bills 35-yard line. on fourth , two, smith tackled anderson 2-yard loss. buffalo took on , stormed down field, advancing 63 yards in 4 plays , scoring on 31-yard burst running thurman thomas on first play of fourth quarter, regaining lead @ 19–17. thomas fourth-quarter touchdown run marked 1,000 points scored in super bowl history (1,001 point).

however, before bills defenders had chance catch breath, found on field trying contain long giants drive. 1 went 14 plays , 74 yards, half of came off passes hostetler tight end mark bavaro, , took 7:32 off clock. bills managed halt drive @ own 3-yard line when linebacker cornelius bennett broke hostetler s third down pass, bahr kicked second field goal give new york 20–19 lead.

on bills ensuing possession, advance own 41-yard line before having punt, enabling giants take more time off clock. bills forced new york punt , took ball @ own 10-yard line 2:16 remaining. kelly led them down field mix of scrambles, short passes, , thomas runs. buffalo drove giants 29-yard line, setting norwood 47-yard field goal attempt 8 seconds left. however, kick barely sailed wide right, sealing new york s victory 4 seconds left.