# Super Bowl XXXIII
**Super Bowl XXXIII** was an [American football](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-football) game played on January 31, 1999, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, in which the [Denver Broncos](https://www.edgepedia.org/denver-broncos) defeated the [Atlanta Falcons](https://www.edgepedia.org/atlanta-falcons) 34-19 to win their second consecutive National Football League championship. Quarterback John Elway, playing the final game of his 16-year career, was named Most Valuable Player after completing 18 of 29 passes for 336 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown pass to Rod Smith, and scoring on a 3-yard run.[1](https://media.denverbroncos.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2002.pdf) • [2](https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/way-back-when-the-two-most-important-moments-in-the-broncos-history-with-atlanta)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date and site | January 31, 1999, Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida; attendance 74,803[1](https://media.denverbroncos.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2002.pdf) |
| Result | Denver Broncos 34, Atlanta Falcons 19[1](https://media.denverbroncos.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2002.pdf) |
| Significance | Denver became the sixth NFL franchise to win back-to-back Super Bowls and the seventh repeat champion in Super Bowl history[3](https://media.denverbroncos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2021_09_postseason.pdf) |
| MVP | John Elway, 18 of 29 for 336 yards, one passing touchdown, one rushing touchdown, in his final NFL game[2](https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/way-back-when-the-two-most-important-moments-in-the-broncos-history-with-atlanta) • [4](https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/mile-high-morning-a-look-back-at-when-the-broncos-went-back-to-back-in-super-bow) |
| Record set | Terrell Davis rushed for 102 yards, his NFL-record seventh consecutive 100-yard game in the postseason[5](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/upload/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2025/DEN.pdf) |
| Opponent | Atlanta, a first-time NFC champion at 14-2, coached by former Broncos head coach Dan Reeves[6](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jan-31-sp-3576-story.html) • [7](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-super-bowl-filled-with-drama/) |
| Team statistics | Broncos 457 total yards and 1 turnover; Falcons 337 total yards and 4 turnovers[8](https://pro-football-history.com/game/1637/1998-atlanta-falcons-vs-denver-broncos-super-bowl-score-19-to-34) |
## Road to the game
Denver entered as the defending [Super Bowl](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-bowl) champion and dispatched the [New York Jets](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-york-jets) in the [AFC Championship Game](https://www.edgepedia.org/afc-championship-game). Atlanta reached its first Super Bowl by upsetting the heavily favored Minnesota Vikings in the NFC championship, a result that two weeks earlier had made observers fear the game would be a mismatch.[2](https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/way-back-when-the-two-most-important-moments-in-the-broncos-history-with-atlanta) • [6](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jan-31-sp-3576-story.html) Both teams finished the regular season 14-2.[8](https://pro-football-history.com/game/1637/1998-atlanta-falcons-vs-denver-broncos-super-bowl-score-19-to-34)
The matchup carried a personal storyline. Falcons head coach [Dan Reeves](https://www.edgepedia.org/dan-reeves) had coached the Broncos for years, was dismissed by owner [Pat Bowlen](https://www.edgepedia.org/pat-bowlen) after the 1992 season amid a widely reported rift with Elway, and now faced his former quarterback and his successor, [Mike Shanahan](https://www.edgepedia.org/mike-shanahan), with an underdog on the biggest stage.[7](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-super-bowl-filled-with-drama/) • [9](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jan-18-sp-64799-story.html) Despite Atlanta's record, bookmakers installed Denver as an eight-point favorite before the teams had even left the locker room after the AFC title game.[2](https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/way-back-when-the-two-most-important-moments-in-the-broncos-history-with-atlanta)
## The game
[Morten Andersen](https://www.edgepedia.org/morten-andersen)'s 32-yard field goal gave Atlanta the game's first points, but Denver pulled ahead and led 17-6 at halftime.[10](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199901310atl.htm) • [2](https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/way-back-when-the-two-most-important-moments-in-the-broncos-history-with-atlanta) The decisive play was Elway's 80-yard touchdown pass to Rod Smith, which was not the longest touchdown pass in Super Bowl history; Elway's 336 passing yards were the third-most in Super Bowl history at the time.[1](https://media.denverbroncos.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2002.pdf) • [19](https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/648442-longest-completed-pass-play-in-a-super-bowl-game) Denver stayed ahead of Atlanta by double digits from that point onward.[4](https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/mile-high-morning-a-look-back-at-when-the-broncos-went-back-to-back-in-super-bow)
Atlanta's errors decided the game as much as Denver's production. Falcons quarterback Chris Chandler was intercepted three times, was sacked twice, and did not produce a touchdown until 2:04 remained.[11](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1999/02/01/mvp-elway-is-effective-denver-is-dominant-in-retaining-title/08105081-af4a-4cb8-a176-280c87a75b2e/) The Falcons finished with four turnovers to Denver's one, and the Washington Post described the performance as Atlanta's worst game of the season on the biggest day of the season.[8](https://pro-football-history.com/game/1637/1998-atlanta-falcons-vs-denver-broncos-super-bowl-score-19-to-34) • [12](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1999/02/01/missed-plays-burn-atlanta/2ce45fee-2731-4595-a1b9-4ec2b8151038/) Both offenses moved the ball well enough that each team punted only once.[13](https://sportshistorynetwork.com/football/nfl/super-bowl-33/)
Running back [Terrell Davis](https://www.edgepedia.org/terrell-davis), the NFL's Most Valuable Player that season and the previous year's Super Bowl MVP, rushed for 102 yards and set an NFL record with his seventh consecutive 100-yard game in the postseason, following 199 yards against Miami, 167 against the New York Jets, and the 102 in this game.[5](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/upload/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2025/DEN.pdf) • [14](https://www.profootballhof.com/players/terrell-davis) Two other Broncos set marks in the same game: defensive tackle Mike Lodish played in his sixth straight Super Bowl, and linebacker [Bill Romanowski](https://www.edgepedia.org/bill-romanowski) became just the second player to win back-to-back titles with two different teams.[1](https://media.denverbroncos.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2002.pdf)
## Elway's finale
The game was the last of Elway's Hall of Fame career; he retired months later, making Super Bowl XXXIII his final NFL appearance and the only Super Bowl MVP award of his career.[4](https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/mile-high-morning-a-look-back-at-when-the-broncos-went-back-to-back-in-super-bow) • [8](https://pro-football-history.com/game/1637/1998-atlanta-falcons-vs-denver-broncos-super-bowl-score-19-to-34) His appearance made him the first NFL player to start in five league championship games.[15](https://www.lines.com/nfl/history-of-super-bowls/XXXIII) The victory gave Denver its second straight title, and the franchise's Super Bowl total later grew to three with wins in [Super Bowl XXXII](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-bowl-xxxii), XXXIII, and 50.[3](https://media.denverbroncos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2021_09_postseason.pdf) • [16](https://as.com/us/us/2020/08/23/nfl/1598148329_954562.html)
For Atlanta, the loss remains one of the franchise's two Super Bowl defeats, the other coming against New England in [Super Bowl LI](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-bowl-li).[17](https://as.com/us/us/2022/02/04/nfl/1643939632_085890.html) The 1998 season stood alone as the Falcons' first and, to date, only NFC championship.[18](https://www.huddle.org/2013/01/sb-history-xxxiii/)
## References
1. [Super Bowl XXXIII game recap, Denver Broncos media guide (PDF)](https://media.denverbroncos.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2002.pdf)
2. [Way Back When: The two most-important moments in the Broncos' history with Atlanta, DenverBroncos.com](https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/way-back-when-the-two-most-important-moments-in-the-broncos-history-with-atlanta)
3. [Denver 34, Atlanta 19 postseason recap, Denver Broncos (PDF)](https://media.denverbroncos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2021_09_postseason.pdf)
4. [Mile High Morning: A look back at when the Broncos went back-to-back in Super Bowl XXXIII, DenverBroncos.com](https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/mile-high-morning-a-look-back-at-when-the-broncos-went-back-to-back-in-super-bow)
5. [Postseason game recaps, Denver Broncos media guide, NFL.com (PDF)](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/upload/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2025/DEN.pdf)
6. [Repeat or Reeves feat? Los Angeles Times, January 31, 1999](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jan-31-sp-3576-story.html)
7. [A Super Bowl Filled With Drama, CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-super-bowl-filled-with-drama/)
8. [1998 Atlanta Falcons vs. Denver Broncos, Super Bowl, Pro Football History.com](https://pro-football-history.com/game/1637/1998-atlanta-falcons-vs-denver-broncos-super-bowl-score-19-to-34)
9. [Class Reunion, Los Angeles Times, January 18, 1999](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jan-18-sp-64799-story.html)
10. [Super Bowl XXXIII box score, Pro-Football-Reference.com](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199901310atl.htm)
11. [MVP Elway is effective, Denver is dominant in retaining title, The Washington Post, February 1, 1999](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1999/02/01/mvp-elway-is-effective-denver-is-dominant-in-retaining-title/08105081-af4a-4cb8-a176-280c87a75b2e/)
12. [Missed plays burn Atlanta, The Washington Post, February 1, 1999](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1999/02/01/missed-plays-burn-atlanta/2ce45fee-2731-4595-a1b9-4ec2b8151038/)
13. [Super Bowl XXXIII (Broncos vs. Falcons): An Ultimate Recount of the Game, Sports History Network](https://sportshistorynetwork.com/football/nfl/super-bowl-33/)
14. [Terrell Davis, Pro Football Hall of Fame](https://www.profootballhof.com/players/terrell-davis)
15. [Super Bowl XXXIII, Lines.com](https://www.lines.com/nfl/history-of-super-bowls/XXXIII)
16. [Broncos confían su futuro en Drew Lock, AS.com](https://as.com/us/us/2020/08/23/nfl/1598148329_954562.html)
17. [Equipos que han jugado en el Super Bowl y no lo han ganado, AS.com](https://as.com/us/us/2022/02/04/nfl/1643939632_085890.html)
18. [SB History XXXIII, Huddle Magazine](https://www.huddle.org/2013/01/sb-history-xxxiii/)
19. [Longest completed pass play in a Super Bowl game](https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/648442-longest-completed-pass-play-in-a-super-bowl-game)
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