Honestly, if you only looked at the first fifteen minutes of the game, you would’ve bet your house that the Denver Broncos were going to cruise to a blowout victory. It was January 31, 1988. San Diego’s Jack Murphy Stadium was packed. John Elway, the golden boy of the AFC, had just carved up the defense for a 56-yard touchdown on his very first throw.
Then it got worse for the underdogs.
Washington’s quarterback, Doug Williams, slipped on the grass. His knee buckled. He stayed down, clutching his leg, and eventually had to be helped off the field. By the end of the first quarter, Denver led 10-0. Washington looked absolutely cooked.
But history is rarely a straight line.
Who Won Super Bowl 22?
The Washington Redskins (now the Commanders) won Super Bowl 22, defeating the Denver Broncos with a final score of 42-10.
While the final score looks like a lopsided beating—which, technically, it was—the way they got there remains the most explosive offensive display in the history of the NFL playoffs. We aren't just talking about a comeback. We’re talking about a 15-minute blitzkrieg that basically deleted the Denver Broncos from the game.
After that disastrous first quarter, Washington didn't just respond; they erupted. They scored 35 points in the second quarter alone. Thirty-five. In one quarter. It’s a record that hasn't been touched since.
The Quarter That Defied Logic
When people ask who won Super Bowl 22, they are usually looking for the stats, but the stats don't capture the sheer speed of the collapse. Doug Williams came back onto the field with a taped-up knee and a point to prove.
Here is how that legendary second quarter went down:
- Play 1: Williams launches an 80-yard bomb to Ricky Sanders. Touchdown.
- Possession 2: A 27-yard strike to Gary Clark. Touchdown.
- Possession 3: Rookie Timmy Smith (who didn't even know he was starting until just before kickoff) rips off a 58-yard run. Touchdown.
- Possession 4: Williams finds Sanders again for a 50-yarder. Touchdown.
- Possession 5: An 8-yard toss to Clint Didier. Touchdown.
By the time the halftime whistle blew, a 10-0 Denver lead had morphed into a 35-10 Washington advantage. The Broncos’ defense, which had been top-tier all season, looked like they were standing in a hurricane.
The Magnitude of Doug Williams
You can't talk about Super Bowl XXII without talking about the social weight on Doug Williams’ shoulders. He was the first Black quarterback to start a Super Bowl.
The week leading up to the game was filled with reporters asking him some of the most ridiculous, racially coded questions imaginable. People doubted if a Black quarterback had the "intellectual capacity" to lead a team on the biggest stage. It sounds insane now, but in 1988, that was the narrative.
Williams didn't just win; he shattered the ceiling.
He finished the day with 340 passing yards and four touchdowns, earning the MVP award. He did all of this while playing through a hyper-extended knee that probably would have sidelined most people for a month. It wasn't just a win for Joe Gibbs and Washington; it was a fundamental shift in how the league viewed the quarterback position.
Why Timmy Smith is the Game's Great Mystery
While Williams got the MVP, rookie running back Timmy Smith put up numbers that still look like a video game glitch.
He rushed for 204 yards.
That remains the Super Bowl record for rushing yards in a single game. What makes it weird? Smith was a total nobody before this game. He was a fifth-round pick who had only rushed for 126 yards in the entire regular season. Then, on the biggest stage in the world, he goes for over 200.
He never really did anything of note in the NFL ever again. He’s the ultimate "one-hit wonder," but if you're going to have a single great day, doing it in the Super Bowl is the way to go.
The Elway Factor
On the other side of the ball, John Elway was having a nightmare.
He was sacked five times. He threw three interceptions. After that opening touchdown pass to Ricky Nattiel, the Washington defense—led by guys like Charles Mann and Dexter Manley—absolutely suffocated him.
Denver was the favorite heading into the game. They had the experience. They had the "star" quarterback. But they lacked the sheer physicality that the NFC East teams of that era brought to the table. Washington's offensive line, famously known as "The Hogs," opened holes big enough to drive a truck through, and Denver’s smaller defense simply got worn down.
Breaking Down the Records
The 1988 Washington team didn't just win; they rewrote the record books. Even today, the sheer volume of production from that game is staggering.
Total Offense: Washington put up 602 yards of total offense. Think about that. Most teams are happy to get 350.
Rushing Dominance: They outrushed Denver 280 to 97.
Efficiency: In that wild second quarter, Washington scored those five touchdowns on just 18 offensive plays. They were scoring nearly every three times they touched the ball.
What You Should Take Away From This Game
Super Bowl 22 wasn't just a football game; it was a cultural moment. It proved that the "NFC dominance" of the 80s was very real, and it permanently ended the debate about whether a Black quarterback could win the big one.
If you want to understand the history of the NFL, you have to watch the second quarter of this game. It is the perfect example of "the zone"—that rare moment where an entire team becomes literally unstoppable.
Next Steps for the History Buff:
- Watch the Highlights: Go find the NFL Throwback footage of the second quarter. The velocity on Williams’ throws to Ricky Sanders is still impressive by today's standards.
- Study "The Hogs": If you're a coach or a fan of the "trenches," look at the film of Russ Grimm and Joe Jacoby. They provided a masterclass in zone blocking that day.
- Read Up on the 1987 Strike: This was the "Replacement Player" season. Washington’s regular players actually refused to cross the picket line, yet the team stayed unified. That chemistry is a huge reason they were able to stay focused during the Super Bowl.