Editing Super Bowl XXII (section)

===Playoffs===
{{further|1987–88 NFL playoffs}}

The Broncos routed the [[Houston Oilers]] in the divisional round of the playoffs, 34–10, jumping to a 14–0 first-quarter lead off of two quick Oilers turnovers, with Elway completing 14 of 25 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns in the game.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Houston Oilers at Denver Broncos - January 10th, 1988 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198801100den.htm |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Vance Johnson recorded four catches for 105 yards, including a 55-yard reception to set up Elway's second touchdown pass.  However, Johnson was injured during the game; he ended up missing [[The Fumble|AFC Championship]] game, and played only sparingly in the Super Bowl.  Denver also lost safety Mike Harden for the rest of the season with a broken arm.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/11/sports/redskins-knock-out-bears-broncos-crush-oilers-elway-leads-onslaught.html|title=Redskins Knock Out Bears; Broncos Crush Oilers; Elway Leads Onslaught|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 11, 1988|last1=Janofsky|first1=Michael}}</ref>

Denver then won the AFC Championship Game in exciting fashion over the AFC Central champion [[Cleveland Browns]], 38–33 for the second consecutive year.  The Broncos seemed to be in control of the game during the first half, taking a 21–3 lead. However, with quarterback [[Bernie Kosar]], Cleveland rallied back and tied the score 31–31 in the fourth quarter.  Elway responded with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Sammy Winder, taking the lead back with less than five minutes left in regulation.  The Browns took the ball back and drove to the Denver 8-yard line, but the drive ended with a play that became known as [[The Fumble]], resulting in more bad luck in Cleveland professional sports lore: Denver defensive back [[Jeremiah Castille]] stripped the football from Browns running back [[Earnest Byner]] and recovered the ensuing fumble as Byner was rushing in for the potential tying touchdown, securing the Broncos' win.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFC Championship - Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos - January 17th, 1988 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198801170den.htm |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

Meanwhile, the Redskins had narrow wins in the playoffs. First, they won at Soldier Field against the [[Chicago Bears]], 21–17, ending [[Walter Payton]]'s career.  The key play was a 52-yard punt return for a touchdown by Redskins defensive back [[Darrell Green]] for the go-ahead touchdown.  The Bears' Kevin Butler kicked a field goal to close the deficit to 21–17, but the Bears could get no closer. Noteworthy was the Redskins trailed 14–0 early in the game.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Washington Redskins at Chicago Bears - January 10th, 1988 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198801100chi.htm |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

The Redskins won a defensive battle against the surprising [[Minnesota Vikings]] in the NFC Championship Game, 17–10. The Vikings barely made the playoffs with an 8–7 record during the strike-shortened regular season, but advanced to the NFC championship by winning on the road against the teams with the best records in the NFL, defeating the 12–3 [[New Orleans Saints]] 44–10, and the 13–2 [[San Francisco 49ers]] 36–24. The experienced Redskins, who had narrowly defeated Minnesota in a 27–24 overtime game during Week 15 of the season, put an end to the Vikings' string of upsets, aided by Williams' go-ahead touchdown pass to wide receiver Gary Clark with five minutes remaining to lead 17–10.  Then they sealed the victory with 56 seconds left when Green knocked a pass out of the hands of running back [[Darrin Nelson]] at the one yard line on a fourth down and four play from the Redskins 6-yard line.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NFC Championship - Minnesota Vikings at Washington Redskins - January 17th, 1988 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198801170was.htm |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>