1997 Green Bay Packers season
Encyclopedia
The 1997 Green Bay Packers
season concluded with the team winning its second consecutive NFC championship, but losing in a 31-24 upset to John Elway
's Denver Broncos
in Super Bowl XXXII
. The team narrowly missed its opportunity to post back-to-back Super Bowl wins.
After a dominating 1996 campaign which ended with a victory in Super Bowl XXXI
, many expected the Packers to repeat as champions in 1997. During training camp, star safety LeRoy Butler
, among others, said that the Packers had the chance to run the table and go 19-0. This opinion drew increased coverage from the media as the Packers notched impressive victories in all five preseason games. The undefeated hype ended quickly, however, when Green Bay lost week 2 in Philadelphia. Following a relatively slow 3-2 start, the Packers caught fire in the second half of the season, finishing with a 13-3 regular season record and 8-0 home record for the second consecutive year. In the playoffs, Green Bay defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
at Lambeau Field
in the divisional round, and San Francisco 49ers
at 3Com Park in the NFC Championship. Some in the media dubbed the NFC title game as "the real Super Bowl" because of the 49ers' and Packers' league dominance, and the relative inferiority of the AFC in recent Super Bowls. Green Bay's win marked the third consecutive year the team had defeated San Francisco in the playoffs. The Packers entered Super Bowl XXXII
as 11 1/2 point favorites. The point spread was likely determined by Green Bay's victory in the previous Super Bowl, the AFC's string of 13 consecutive Super Bowl losses, and Denver's losses in four previous Super Bowls. The game itself was a seesaw battle, and one of the most exciting Super Bowls in history. The Broncos won the thriller 31-24, earning John Elway his first Super Bowl victory at the age of 37, and the first championship in franchise history. Years later, Brett Favre
said the Broncos were far underrated, and credited Denver's innovative blitz packages and strategies, foreign to the league at that time, for confusing the Packers.
Packers' quarterback Brett Favre
was named the league's MVP for the third year in a row in 1997. Favre was the first player in the history of the award to win three MVPs, and remains the only player to have won three MVPs consecutively. The Packers became the first team to have six NFL MVP award winners.
and free safety Darren Sharper
.
Ronnie McAda was Mr. Irrelevant
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
season concluded with the team winning its second consecutive NFC championship, but losing in a 31-24 upset to John Elway
John Elway
John Albert Elway, Jr. is a former American football quarterback and currently is the executive vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He played college football at Stanford and his entire professional career with the Denver Broncos...
's Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in Super Bowl XXXII
Super Bowl XXXII
Super Bowl XXXII was an American football game played on January 25, 1998 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1997 regular season...
. The team narrowly missed its opportunity to post back-to-back Super Bowl wins.
After a dominating 1996 campaign which ended with a victory in Super Bowl XXXI
Super Bowl XXXI
Super Bowl XXXI was an American football game played on January 26, 1997, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1996 regular season. The National Football Conference champion Green Bay Packers defeated the American...
, many expected the Packers to repeat as champions in 1997. During training camp, star safety LeRoy Butler
LeRoy Butler
LeRoy Butler, III is a former American football strong safety who played his entire career with the Green Bay Packers . He spent his childhood in Jacksonville, Florida, challenged by physical problems that forced him to wear leg braces and use a wheelchair at times while undergoing therapy...
, among others, said that the Packers had the chance to run the table and go 19-0. This opinion drew increased coverage from the media as the Packers notched impressive victories in all five preseason games. The undefeated hype ended quickly, however, when Green Bay lost week 2 in Philadelphia. Following a relatively slow 3-2 start, the Packers caught fire in the second half of the season, finishing with a 13-3 regular season record and 8-0 home record for the second consecutive year. In the playoffs, Green Bay defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
at Lambeau Field
Lambeau Field
Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field...
in the divisional round, and San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
at 3Com Park in the NFC Championship. Some in the media dubbed the NFC title game as "the real Super Bowl" because of the 49ers' and Packers' league dominance, and the relative inferiority of the AFC in recent Super Bowls. Green Bay's win marked the third consecutive year the team had defeated San Francisco in the playoffs. The Packers entered Super Bowl XXXII
Super Bowl XXXII
Super Bowl XXXII was an American football game played on January 25, 1998 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1997 regular season...
as 11 1/2 point favorites. The point spread was likely determined by Green Bay's victory in the previous Super Bowl, the AFC's string of 13 consecutive Super Bowl losses, and Denver's losses in four previous Super Bowls. The game itself was a seesaw battle, and one of the most exciting Super Bowls in history. The Broncos won the thriller 31-24, earning John Elway his first Super Bowl victory at the age of 37, and the first championship in franchise history. Years later, Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
said the Broncos were far underrated, and credited Denver's innovative blitz packages and strategies, foreign to the league at that time, for confusing the Packers.
Packers' quarterback Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
was named the league's MVP for the third year in a row in 1997. Favre was the first player in the history of the award to win three MVPs, and remains the only player to have won three MVPs consecutively. The Packers became the first team to have six NFL MVP award winners.
1997 NFL draft
Despite picking last in the 1997 NFL draft, the Packers did well, picking up future all-pro tackle Ross VerbaRoss Verba
Ross Robert Verba is an American professional football player currently is a free agent. A 6'4", 305-lb...
and free safety Darren Sharper
Darren Sharper
Darren Mallory Sharper is an American football safety who currently is a free agent. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at William & Mary....
.
| Round | Sel# | Player | Pos. | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 | Ross Verba Ross Verba Ross Robert Verba is an American professional football player currently is a free agent. A 6'4", 305-lb... |
T | Iowa |
| 2 | 60 | Darren Sharper Darren Sharper Darren Mallory Sharper is an American football safety who currently is a free agent. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at William & Mary.... |
FS | William & Mary |
| 3 | 90 | Brett Conway Brett Conway Brett Alan Conway is a former professional American football player. He was a placekicker for seven seasons with various teams in the National Football League. He was drafted in the third round by the Green Bay Packers in the 1997 NFL Draft... |
K | Penn State |
| 4 | 126 | Jermaine Smith Jermaine Smith Jermaine Smith is an American Arena Football League player for Tampa Bay Storm. He went to Laney High School in Augusta, Georgia where he played Defensive Lineman as well as Fullback. He began his collegiate career at Georgia Military College... |
DT | Georgia |
| 5 | 160 | Anthony Hicks | LB | Arkansas |
| 7 | 213 | Chris Miller | WR | Southern California |
| 7 | 231 | Terrance Lucas | DB | Montana State |
| 7 | 240 | Ronnie McAda Ronnie McAda Ronnie McAda is a former American football quarterback for the United States Military Academy. He was drafted with the final pick of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers, thus earning the distinction of being Mr. Irrelevant. In his senior season, he led Army past Navy and to the Independence... |
QB | Army |
Ronnie McAda was Mr. Irrelevant
Mr. Irrelevant
"Mr. Irrelevant" is the title bestowed each year upon the last pick of the annual National Football League draft.- Irrelevant Week :The name arose in 1976, when former Southern California and NFL receiver Paul Salata founded "Irrelevant Week" in Newport Beach, California. He announced the final...
Staff
| 1997 Green Bay Packers staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front Office
Head Coaches
Offensive Coaches
|
Defensive Coaches
Special Teams Coaches
Strength and Conditioning
|
|||||
Roster
This is the roster that is printed in the Green Bay Packers 1997 Official Media Guide. This information was printed previous to the playing of the season and does not reflect the regular season cut down or any mid season transactions.| 1997 Green Bay Packers roster | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
|
Offensive Linemen
Joe Andruzzi Joseph Dominick Andruzzi is a former American football offensive guard. In May 2007 he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.-College career:... Gary Brown (offensive lineman) Gary Lee Brown is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers... Eugene Chung Eugene Yon Chung was a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League from 1992 to 1997... Jeff Dellenbach Jeffrey Alan Dellenbach is a former American football center in the National Football League for the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, and the Philadelphia Eagles. He was a member of the Green Bay Packers when they won Super Bowl XXXI... Earl Dotson Earl Christopher Dotson was an offensive tackle in the NFL. He played for the Green Bay Packers for 10 seasons. He started in Super Bowl XXXI and XXXII.He played college football at Texas A&M–Kingsville.... Mike Flanagan (American football) Michael Christopher Flanagan is an American football center who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft... (IR) Lindsay Knapp Lindsay Haines Knapp is a former American football guard in the National Football League who played for both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers. He was a member of the Packers' Super Bowl XXXI championship team.- Early life :Knapp grew up in Deerfield, Illinois, where he was a... Henry Lusk Hendrick Hamilton Lusk is a former professional American football player who played tight end for two seasons for the New Orleans Saints and the Miami Dolphins. In 2010, Lusk became the head coach of the John F. Kennedy High School football team in Sacramento, CA.... John Michels John Spiegel Michels is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League.-High school career:... Marco Rivera Marco Anthony Rivera is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League. Rivera is of Puerto Rican descent.-Early years:Rivera attended Elmont Memorial High School in Long Island, New York... Marcus Spears (offensive tackle) Marcus DeWayne Spears is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League. He was selected with the tenth pick of the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft out of Northwestern State University by the Chicago Bears. He has also played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the... Adam Timmerman Adam Larry Timmerman is a former American football guard in the National Football League. He played for the Green Bay Packers and St. Louis Rams between 1995 and 2006... Ross Verba Ross Robert Verba is an American professional football player currently is a free agent. A 6'4", 305-lb... Bruce Wilkerson Bruce Alan Wilkerson is a former American football player who played tackle for three NFL teams from 1987 to 1997. He started in Super Bowl XXXI for the Green Bay Packers. He is now employed by the Aluminum Company of America. He has a daughter named Starkicia and a son named Jeremy.... Frank Winters Frank Mitchell Winters is a former American football center in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Green Bay Packers... Defensive Linemen
|
Linebackers
Joe Cummings Joe Cummings is a Canadian poet.His poetry has been published in Canadian and international publications including, Literary Review of Canada, Adirondack Review and Quills Canadian Poetry Magazine... MLB Bernardo Harris Bernardo Harris is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He attended Chapel Hill High School, graduating in 1990. He was recruited by Mack Brown to play at the University of North Carolina and graduated in 1994. After not being drafted, he was signed as a free... MLB Lamont Hollinquest Lamont Bertrell Hollinquest is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and the Green Bay Packers. He played college football at the University of Southern California. He played high school football at Pius X High School Lamont Bertrell... LB Seth Joyner Seth Joyner is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos. Joyner graduated from Spring Valley High School.-Professional career:Joyner was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the... LOLB George Koonce George Koonce is a former linebacker in the NFL and also served as the Director of Athletics at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee between 2009 and 2010.-Atlanta Falcons:... MLB (IR) Keith McKenzie (American football) Keith Derrick McKenzie is a former American football linebacker and defensive end who played for four teams in a 8-year National Football League career.Keith is the nephew of Buffalo Bills legend Reggie McKenzie.... LOLB Wayne Simmons (American football) Wayne General Simmons was an American football linebacker in the National Football League.Simmons, an integral part of Clemson's #1 ranked defense in 1990, was drafted by the Green Bay Packers with the 15th pick of the first round of the 1993 NFL Draft. Simmons played for Green Bay for four and a... LOLB Defensive Backs
Special Teams
Rookies and first-year players in italics |
||||
Preseason
| Date | Opponent | Result | Game site | Record | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 1, 1997 | Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 20-0 | Lambeau Field Lambeau Field Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field... |
1-0 | |
| August 8, 1997 | New England Patriots New England Patriots The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National... |
W 7-3 | Lambeau Field | 2-0 | |
| August 16, 1997 | at Oakland Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 37-24 | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum | 3-0 | |
| August 24, 1997 | at Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 35-3 | SkyDome Rogers Centre Rogers Centre is a multi-purpose stadium, in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated next to the CN Tower, near the shores of Lake Ontario. Opened in 1989, it is home to the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League... |
4-0 | |
| August 28, 1997 | New York Giants New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 22-17 | Camp Randall Stadium Camp Randall Stadium Camp Randall Stadium is an outdoor stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. It has been the home of the Wisconsin Badgers football team in rudimentary form since 1895, and as a complete stadium since 1917. It is located on the center-southern region of the University of Wisconsin campus. The stadium seats... |
5-0 | |
Regular season
The Packers finished the 1997 regular season with a 13-3 record, clinching first place in the NFC Central division, as well as a first-round playoff bye.| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Game site | Record | TV Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 1, 1997 | Chicago Bears Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 38-24 | Lambeau Field | 1-0 | ABC 8:00pm | |
| 2 | September 7, 1997 | at Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 9-10 | Veterans Stadium Veterans Stadium Philadelphia Veterans Stadium was a professional-sports, multi-purpose stadium, located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex... |
1-1 | FOX 3:15pm | |
| 3 | September 14, 1997 | Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 23-18 | Lambeau Field | 2-1 | NBC 12:00pm | |
| 4 | September 21, 1997 | Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
W 38-32 | Lambeau Field | 3-1 | FOX 12:00pm | |
| 5 | September 28, 1997 | at Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
L 15-26 | Pontiac Silverdome Silverdome The Silverdome is an indoor sporting and entertainment venue located in Launceston, Tasmania built in 1984. The Silverdome was built at an estimated cost of A$4 million, as the Tasmanian Government "proposed a world class facility" to replace the run down velodrome in the Launceston suburb of St... |
3-2 | FOX 3:15pm | |
| 6 | October 5, 1997 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West... |
W 21-16 | Lambeau Field | 4-2 | FOX 12:00pm | |
| 7 | October 12, 1997 | at Chicago Bears Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 24-23 | Soldier Field Soldier Field Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears... |
5-2 | FOX 12:00pm | |
| 8 | Bye | ||||||
| 9 | October 27, 1997 | at New England Patriots New England Patriots The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National... |
W 28-10 | Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
6-2 | ABC 8:00pm | |
| 10 | November 2, 1997 | Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
W 20-10 | Lambeau Field | 7-2 | ESPN 7:00pm | |
| 11 | November 9, 1997 | St. Louis Rams St. Louis Rams The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,... |
W 17-7 | Lambeau Field | 8-2 | FOX 12:00pm | |
| 12 | November 16, 1997 | at Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League .... |
L 38-41 | RCA Dome RCA Dome RCA Dome was a domed stadium, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the home of the Indianapolis Colts NFL franchise for 24 seasons .... |
8-3 | FOX 12:00pm | |
| 13 | November 23, 1997 | Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas... |
W 45-17 | Lambeau Field | 9-3 | FOX 12:00pm | |
| 14 | December 1, 1997 | at Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
W 27-11 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, commonly called the Metrodome, is a domed sports stadium in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Opened in 1982, it replaced Metropolitan Stadium, which was on the current site of the Mall of America in Bloomington and Memorial Stadium on the University... |
10-3 | ABC 8:00pm | |
| 15 | December 7, 1997 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West... |
W 17-6 | Houlihan's Stadium | 11-3 | FOX 12:00pm | |
| 16 | December 14, 1997 | at Carolina Panthers Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion... |
W 31-10 | Ericsson Stadium Bank of America Stadium Bank of America Stadium is a 73,778-seat football stadium located on of land in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. It is the home facility of the Carolina Panthers NFL franchise. It also hosts the annual Belk Bowl which features teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big East... |
12-3 | FOX 3:15pm | |
| 17 | December 20, 1997 | Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 31-21 | Lambeau Field | 13-3 | NBC 11:30am | |
Standings
| NFC Central | ||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Bay Packers | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 422 | 282 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1997 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season The 1997 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season began with the team trying to improve on a 6-10 season from 1996. The 1997 season was notable for several reasons... |
10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 299 | 263 |
| Detroit Lions 1997 Detroit Lions season The 1997 season marked the Lions qualifying for the playoffs. Bobby Ross replaced Wayne Fontes as head coach. The highlight of the season was Barry Sanders becoming the third player in NFL history to rush for at least 2,000 yards in a season.-Staff:... |
9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 379 | 306 |
| Minnesota Vikings 1997 Minnesota Vikings season 1997 was the 37th year of season play for the Minnesota Vikings and the 78th regular season of the National Football League. The Vikings finished with a record of nine wins and seven losses. Their record was good enough to qualify for a wild card berth... |
9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 354 | 359 |
| Chicago Bears 1997 Chicago Bears season The 1997 Chicago Bears season was their 78th regular season completed in the National Football League. The club posted a 4-12 record under head coach Dave Wannstedt. It was the club's first 4 win season since the club posted a 4-10 record in 1975.-Schedule:... |
4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 263 | 421 |
Playoffs
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Game site | TV Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Divisional | January 4, 1998 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West... |
W 21-7 | Lambeau Field | FOX 12:00pm | |
| NFC Championship | January 11, 1998 | at San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and... |
W 23-10 | 3Com Park | FOX 3:15pm | |
| Super Bowl | January 25, 1998 | Denver Broncos Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 24-31 | Qualcomm Stadium Qualcomm Stadium Qualcomm Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in San Diego, California, in the Mission Valley area.... |
NBC 5:15pm | |
Awards and records
- Brett Favre, NFC Leader, Completions (304)
- Brett Favre, NFC Leader, Passing Yards (3,867)
- Brett Favre, NFC Leader, Touchdown Passes (35)
- Brett Favre, NFL Most Valuable Player
- Brett Favre, NFC Pro Bowl Selection
- Brett Favre, All-ProAll-ProAll-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
Selection - Brett FavreBrett FavreBrett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
, Best NFL Player ESPY AwardBest NFL Player ESPY AwardThe Best NFL Player ESPY Award has been presented annually since 1993 to the National Football League player adjudged to be the best in a given calendar year, namely in the NFL season immediately precedent to the holding of the ESPY Awards ceremony.... - Brett Favre, First Player to win Three Consecutive MVP Awards
- Robert Brooks, National Football League Comeback Player of the Year Award