Top 12 most shocking Super Bowl moments

The Washington Redskins Steamroll The Broncos Behind Unexpected Stars

Super Bowl XXII took place at the end of the strike shortened 1987 season. That was the season that league owners responded to the strike by bringing in replacement players. In a way, that was a theme for the Redskins in the Super Bowl as well.

The Redskins started out the year with Jay Schroeder at quarterback and George Rogers at halfback. By the time they got to the playoffs, however, an ineffective Schroeder had been replaced by Doug Williams, and someone had to replace an injured George Rogers.

Doug Williams was always talented, but faced an uphill fight for legitimacy as an African-American quarterback. He had been drafted by the Buccaneers, left after a contract dispute, joined the USFL, and found himself unemployed after his team folded. He joined the Redskins as a backup.

The rest is history, of course. Williams became the first African-American to start at quarterback in the Super Bowl. The Broncos were favored to win the game, and took a quick 10-0 lead as the Redskins struggled to get the offense going. No team had ever overcome a 10 point deficit in the Super Bowl.

And then the 2nd quarter hit. Doug Williams passed for 4 touchdowns – in the second quarter alone. What was a 10 point deficit became a 35-10 lead by halftime. The one touchdown that wasn’t a pass was unheralded rookie halfback Timmy Smith’s 58 yard burst.

The Redskins shocked the Broncos in an epic second quarter, behind Doug Williams and Timmy Smith. Williams was 9 for 11 in the quarter with 228 yards and 4 touchdowns. Smith had five rushes for 122 yards and a score in the same quarter.

Next: The Jets Shock the World, Making the Super Bowl the Spectacle it is Today