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==Background==
===Host selection process===
NFL owners voted to award Super Bowl XXVI to Minneapolis during their May 24, 1989, meeting in [[New Orleans]]. [[Indianapolis]] ([[RCA Dome|Hoosier Dome]]), [[Detroit]] ([[Pontiac Silverdome]]), and [[Seattle]] ([[Kingdome]]) also made bids for the game.<ref>{{
Super Bowl XXVI became the second Super Bowl to be played in a cold, winter climate city. The first one was [[Super Bowl XVI]] on January 24, 1982, at the [[Silverdome]] in [[Pontiac, Michigan]], a suburb of [[Detroit, Michigan|Detroit]]. Temperatures in Minneapolis on game day were a high of {{convert|26|F}} and low of {{convert|9|F}}, about {{convert|2|F-change}} above average. This and [[Super Bowl LII]], played at the Metrodome's replacement [[U.S. Bank Stadium]], remain the northernmost Super Bowls ever played.
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{{See also|1991–92 NFL playoffs}}
The Redskins first defeated the [[1991 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons]], 24–7, in a rain-soaked playoff game that was closer than their 56–17 regular season win over Atlanta. Rypien had 442 passing yards and 6 touchdowns in the earlier game, but could only complete 14 out of 28 passes for 170 yards and no touchdowns in the rematch. Still, Washington dominated the Falcons again by forcing 6 turnovers and rushing for 162 yards. The Redskins held the ball for over 36 minutes while running back [[Ricky Ervins]] recorded 104 rushing yards and a touchdown.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Atlanta Falcons at Washington Redskins - January 4th, 1992 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199201040was.htm |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
Then Washington crushed the [[1991 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] 41–10 in the NFC Championship Game. The Lions posted a 12–4 regular season record and were coming off a 38–6 playoff blowout over the [[1991 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]. Many sports writers predicted that the NFC Championship Game would be much closer than the Redskins' win over the Lions in the season opening game because Detroit's future Hall of Fame running back, [[Barry Sanders]], did not play in it due to injury. He had recorded 1,548 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in the remaining 15 games of the season, and 99 combined rushing and receiving yards against Dallas in the playoffs. However, the Redskins crushed Detroit in this game as well, quickly forcing two Lions turnovers and building up a 10–0 lead before the game was five minutes old. The Redskins scored 41 points off of two touchdown runs by Riggs, two field goals from kicker [[Chip Lohmiller]], a pair of touchdown passes from Rypien to Monk and Clark, and Green's 32-yard 4th-quarter interception return for a touchdown. Sanders was held to just 59 total yards, and linebacker [[Wilber Marshall]] sacked Lions quarterback [[Erik Kramer]] three times.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NFC Championship - Detroit Lions at Washington Redskins - January 12th, 1992 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199201120was.htm |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
Meanwhile, the Bills first defeated the [[1991 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] 37–14, avenging a 33–6 [[Monday Night Football|Monday night]] loss during the regular season, in which the Chiefs recorded six sacks, recovered five fumbles, and gained 239 rushing yards, with running backs Harvey Williams and [[Christian Okoye]] recording over 100 rushing yards each. During this playoff game, the Bills jumped to a 24–0 lead in the 3rd quarter, with Kelly throwing three touchdown passes, the first two to Reed and the third to Lofton. The Bills also got a big performance out of Thomas, who rushed for over 100 yards, and kicker [[Scott Norwood]], who made three field goals. Meanwhile, unconcerned with Kansas City's weak passing game, Buffalo played Bennett and Talley close to the line of scrimmage on nearly every play to stuff the run. Both players combined for 13 tackles, while the Bills' defense held Kansas City to 77 yards on the ground. Chiefs running back [[Barry Word]], who became their primary rusher since the Monday Night game and rushed for over 100 yards in each of Kansas City's previous three games, was limited to just 50 yards. In addition, Buffalo's defense knocked Chiefs quarterback [[Steve DeBerg]] out of the game and intercepted backup quarterback Mark Vlasic four times.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills - January 5th, 1992 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199201050buf.htm |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
Buffalo then played against the [[1991 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]], who were coming off a 26–24 win over the [[1991 Houston Oilers season|Houston Oilers]], in which quarterback [[John Elway]] led them on an 87-yard drive to set up kicker [[David Treadwell]]'s game-winning field goal with only 16 seconds left. It was predicted that this AFC Championship Game would be a shootout between the Bills' powerful offense and the superb postseason play of Elway. But neither Elway nor the Bills' offense had much success in the 10–7 Bills victory in a game totally dominated by defense. Bennett, who spent almost as much time in the Denver backfield as Elway, had another great game, constantly pressuring Elway, sharing one sack, and tackling Denver rushers behind the [[line of scrimmage]] three times. Bills linebacker [[Carlton Bailey]] also made a big impact late in the 3rd quarter, intercepting a [[screen pass]] from Elway and returning it 11 yards for Buffalo's only touchdown of the game. After backup quarterback [[Gary Kubiak]] scored Denver's only touchdown with less than two minutes to go, the Bills then clinched the victory when defensive back [[Kirby Jackson]] forced and recovered a fumble from running back [[Steve Sewell]] on Denver's final drive of the game. Treadwell's three missed field goals were a large factor in the outcome of the defensive struggle.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFC Championship - Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills - January 12th, 1992 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199201120buf.htm |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
===Super Bowl pregame news===
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==Broadcasting==
The game was broadcast in the [[United States]] by [[NFL on CBS|CBS]], and featured the broadcast team of [[Sports commentator|play-by-play announcer]] [[Pat Summerall]] and [[color commentator]] [[John Madden]] for the fifth time. [[Lesley Visser]], [[Jim Gray (sportscaster)|Jim Gray]], and [[Pat O'Brien (television)|Pat O'Brien]] reported on the sidelines; Visser would later preside over the presentation of the [[Vince Lombardi Trophy|Lombardi Trophy]] to the Redskins, becoming the first woman to do so. ''[[The NFL Today|The Super Bowl Today]]'' was hosted by [[Greg Gumbel]] and [[Terry Bradshaw]] with [[Randy Cross]] and [[Dan Fouts]] contributing team reports, and Visser, Madden, Jim Gray, [[Bernard Goldberg]] and [[Mike Francesa]] (among others) contributing feature segments.
This would be the last Super Bowl to air on CBS until [[Super Bowl XXXV]] at the end of the [[2000 NFL season|2000 season]]. CBS lost the [[National Football Conference|NFC]] package to [[NFL on Fox|Fox]] following the [[1993 NFL season|1993 season]], leaving the network without the NFL until it acquired the [[American Football Conference|AFC]] package from [[NFL on NBC|NBC]] for the [[1998 NFL season|1998 season]]. Super Bowl XXVI was not originally in CBS' rotation; since it had just broadcast [[Super Bowl XXIV]] two years earlier. CBS would have received [[Super Bowl XXVII]] as part of the rotation while NBC would have aired Super Bowl XXVI. Instead, the NFL made an exception for CBS, which had acquired the rights to the [[1992 Winter Olympics]] (which started 13 days later), and allowed the network to air the Super Bowl as a lead-in program for its [[CBS Olympic broadcasts|Olympics coverage]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Draper |first=Kevin |date=February 5, 2018 |title=
For this game, as they had done for Super Bowl XXIV, CBS debuted a new theme and opening for its NFL coverage. Composed by Frankie Vinci, the theme was used for the next two seasons on television and on [[NFL on Westwood One Sports|CBS Radio]] after that; several remixes of the song were used from the time CBS resumed covering NFL games in [[1998 NFL season|1998]] until the end of the [[2002 NFL season|2002 season]]; after that, CBS began using an [[E.S. Posthumus]] [[Posthumus Zone|composition]] and has used it ever since. In addition, CBS also rolled out a new network-wide graphics package for its sports coverage. With a few minor tweaks, the red, white, and blue graphic displays stayed in place until 1996, when CBS rolled out a new orange and yellow package. [[Diamonds and Pearls|"Willing and Able"]] by [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] was then used in a video montage during the closing credits of CBS' coverage.<ref>{{cite news |last=Williams|first=Jennifer|date=January 27, 1992|title=CBS GETS HIGH MARKS FOR ITS SUPER BOWL COVERAGE|url=http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-xpm-19920127-1992-01-27-9201270106-story.html|work=Daily Press}}</ref>
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===In popular culture===
Super Bowl XXVI was featured in the episode of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' entitled "[[Lisa the Greek]]", which aired three days prior to the game, and correctly predicted that Washington would win.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reid |first=Joe |date=2019-01-23 |title=The Simpsons Made the Best TV Episode About the Super Bowl by Breaking Bills Fans' Hearts (Some More) |url=https://decider.com/2019/01/23/simpsons-greatest-super-bowl-episode/ |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Decider.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Entertainment==
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===Second quarter===
In the second quarter, the Redskins began to take over the game. On their next possession, a 19-yard run by running back [[Earnest Byner]] and a 41-yard completion from Rypien to wide receiver [[Ricky Sanders]] set up Lohmiller's 34-yard field goal to give Washington a 3–0 lead. The Redskins' defense then forced the Bills to a [[three-and-out]] on their ensuing possession, and [[Chris Mohr]]'s 23-yard punt sailed out of bounds at the Washington 49-yard line. The Redskins then drove 51 yards in 5 plays, which included a 16-yard reception by wide receiver [[Gary Clark (American football)|Gary Clark]] and a roughing the passer penalty on Buffalo linebacker [[Cornelius Bennett]]. The drive ended with Rypien's 10-yard touchdown pass to Byner, increasing the Washington lead to 10–0. On the Bills' next drive, Green intercepted a pass from Kelly at the Washington 45-yard line. Three plays later, Rypien completed a 34-yard pass to
After the next three possessions ended in punts, Buffalo had a chance to score with 1:46 left in the half. Bills wide receiver [[Steve Tasker]] downed Mohr's 48-yard punt at the Redskins 1-yard line. Washington did not gain any net yards during the possession, but narrowly avoided a safety on second down when Wright appeared to tackle Byner in the end zone. However, Byner managed to stretch the ball outside of the end zone before his knee hit the ground, ensuring that the Bills would be kept off the board. After Rypien threw an incomplete pass on third down, Buffalo got the ball back after cornerback [[Cliff Hicks]] returned [[Kelly Goodburn]]'s 42-yard punt 2 yards to the Washington 41-yard line. From there, Kelly completed a 21-yard pass to tight end [[Keith McKeller]] to reach the 20. But after an incomplete pass and an 8-yard sack on Kelly by linebacker [[Wilber Marshall]], Edwards broke up a third-down pass intended for Reed in which Edwards hit Reed before the ball got to him; however, no flag for pass interference was thrown. In disgust, Reed threw his helmet to the ground, drawing a mandatory 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that took the Bills out of field goal range and forced them to punt. As the teams ran off the field at halftime, Bills head coach [[Marv Levy]] confronted field judge Ed Merrifield, whom Levy thought missed the pass interference call and then threw the unsportsmanlike conduct flag against Reed.
The Bills became the ninth team to go scoreless in the
===Third quarter===
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After the turnover, the Redskins drove to the Bills' 7-yard line on a 17-yard reception by Monk and increased their lead to 34–10 on Lohmiller's 25-yard field goal on the second play of the fourth quarter.
On the Bills' ensuing drive, Kelly was sacked for a 9-yard loss by Stokes, then threw an incomplete pass, and then his fourth interception of the game to Edwards, who returned it 35 yards to the Buffalo 33. Five plays later, Lohmiller kicked his third field goal with 11:36 left in the game to increase the Redskins' lead to 37–10. Now comfortable with their lead, the Washington defense began to take it easy on the Buffalo offense. The Bills managed to respond with a 15-play, 79-yard drive, which featured a 15-yard penalty on Mays for delivering a late hit on Lofton, two receptions and a run by Thomas for 14 yards, a 17-yard catch by Lofton, an 11-yard reception by wide receiver [[Al Edwards (American football)|Al Edwards]], and two receptions by running back [[Kenneth Davis (American football)|Kenneth Davis]] for 15 yards. The drive ended with Kelly's 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end [[Pete Metzelaars]] to cut the Buffalo deficit to 37–17. Then, after recovering an onside kick, the Bills drove 50 yards, aided by two runs and a reception by Davis for a total of 28 yards, as well as an 18-yard pass interference penalty on Mays. Kelly then threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Beebe to make the score 37–24, but by then, only 3:55 remained in the game. Buffalo's second onside kick attempt was unsuccessful, and Washington reached the Buffalo 22-yard line to run the clock down to 25 seconds before turning the ball over on downs. From there, the Bills attempted one final pass play before the game ended.<ref name="pfr sb XXVI"/>
Kelly completed 28 of a Super Bowl–record 58 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns, but was sacked four times, intercepted four times, and lost a fumble. Thomas ran for only 13 yards on 10 carries and was limited to 27 yards on four receptions. [[James Lofton]] was the top receiver for the Bills with 7 catches for 92 yards, but Reed was limited to just 5 catches for 31 yards. Clark had seven catches for 114 yards and a touchdown and Monk added seven for 113 yards (Clark and Monk became the third pair of teammates to each have 100 yards receiving in a Super Bowl; they joined the [[1978 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Steelers]]' [[John Stallworth]] and [[Lynn Swann]], who did it in [[Super Bowl XIII]] and the [[1981 Cincinnati Bengals season|Bengals]]' [[Cris Collinsworth]] and [[Dan Ross (American football)|Dan Ross]], who did it in [[Super Bowl XVI]]).
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* {{cite book | title=2006 NFL Record and Fact Book | publisher=Time Inc. Home Entertainment | isbn=1-933405-32-5 | url=https://archive.org/details/2006nflrecordfac00edit | date=July 2006 }}
* {{cite book | title=Total Football II: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League | publisher=[[HarperCollins]] | isbn=1-933405-32-5 | url=https://archive.org/details/2006nflrecordfac00edit | date=July 2006 }}
* {{cite book | title=The Sporting News Complete Super Bowl Book 1995 | isbn=0-89204-523-X |
* [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/super-bowl/xxvi.htm Super Bowl XXVI @ Pro Football Reference]- Large online database of NFL data and statistics
* [https://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/super/superbowl-plays.htm Super Bowl play-by-plays] from [[USA Today]] (Last accessed September 28, 2005)
* [http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page=nfl/superbowl/2005/superbowl-alltime-odds.htm All-Time Super Bowl Odds]{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} from The Sports Network (Last accessed October 16, 2005)
*[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199201260buf.htm Super Bowl XXVI Box Score] at [[Pro Football Reference]]
{{Portal|1990s}}
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