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Super Bowl XXXI

 

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Super Bowl XXXI



 
 
Super Bowl XXXI was an American football
American football

American football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, is a competitive team sport known for mixing strategy with physical play....
 game played on January 26, 1997 at the Louisiana Superdome
Louisiana Superdome

The Louisiana Superdome, often informally referred to simply as the Superdome, The Dome or the New Orleans Superdome is a large, multi-purpose sports and exhibition facility located in the Central Business District, New Orleans of New Orleans, Louisiana....
 in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana. New Orleans is the center of the New Orleans metropolitan area metropolitan area, the largest metro area in the state....
 to decide the National Football League
National Football League

The National Football League is the Major North American professional sports leagues American football Sports league in the United States. It is an unincorporated 501#501.28c.29.286.29 association controlled by its members....
 (NFL) champion following the 1996 regular season
1996 NFL season

The 1996 NFL season was the 77th regular season of the National Football League and the season was marked by notable controversies from beginning to end....
. The National Football Conference
National Football Conference

The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . The NFC was created after the league AFL-NFL Merger with the American Football League in 1970....
 (NFC) champion Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the NFC North of the National Football Conference in the National Football League and are the third-oldest franchise in the NFL....
 (16-3) defeated the American Football Conference
American Football Conference

The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . The AFC was created after the NFL AFL-NFL Merger with the American Football League in early 1970....
 (AFC) champion New England Patriots
New England Patriots

The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats" by sports writers and fans, are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts, Massachusetts....
 (13-6), 35–21. This was the Packers' third overall Super Bowl
Super Bowl

In professional American football, the Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League . The game and its ancillary festivities constitute Super Bowl Sunday....
 victory, and their first one since Super Bowl II
Super Bowl II

The second Super Bowl in professional American football, later to be known as Super Bowl II, was played on January 14, 1968 at the Miami Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida....
. The Packers also extended its league record for the most overall NFL championships to 12.

Beginning with Super Bowl XIX in 1985, the NFC won twelve consecutive Super Bowl games.






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Encyclopedia


Super Bowl XXXI was an American football
American football

American football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, is a competitive team sport known for mixing strategy with physical play....
 game played on January 26, 1997 at the Louisiana Superdome
Louisiana Superdome

The Louisiana Superdome, often informally referred to simply as the Superdome, The Dome or the New Orleans Superdome is a large, multi-purpose sports and exhibition facility located in the Central Business District, New Orleans of New Orleans, Louisiana....
 in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana. New Orleans is the center of the New Orleans metropolitan area metropolitan area, the largest metro area in the state....
 to decide the National Football League
National Football League

The National Football League is the Major North American professional sports leagues American football Sports league in the United States. It is an unincorporated 501#501.28c.29.286.29 association controlled by its members....
 (NFL) champion following the 1996 regular season
1996 NFL season

The 1996 NFL season was the 77th regular season of the National Football League and the season was marked by notable controversies from beginning to end....
. The National Football Conference
National Football Conference

The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . The NFC was created after the league AFL-NFL Merger with the American Football League in 1970....
 (NFC) champion Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the NFC North of the National Football Conference in the National Football League and are the third-oldest franchise in the NFL....
 (16-3) defeated the American Football Conference
American Football Conference

The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . The AFC was created after the NFL AFL-NFL Merger with the American Football League in early 1970....
 (AFC) champion New England Patriots
New England Patriots

The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats" by sports writers and fans, are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts, Massachusetts....
 (13-6), 35–21. This was the Packers' third overall Super Bowl
Super Bowl

In professional American football, the Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League . The game and its ancillary festivities constitute Super Bowl Sunday....
 victory, and their first one since Super Bowl II
Super Bowl II

The second Super Bowl in professional American football, later to be known as Super Bowl II, was played on January 14, 1968 at the Miami Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida....
. The Packers also extended its league record for the most overall NFL championships to 12.

Beginning with Super Bowl XIX in 1985, the NFC won twelve consecutive Super Bowl games. With this Packer win, the NFC streak was extended to thirteen consecutive wins, with fifteen of the last sixteen contests. The NFC domination in the Super Bowl was indicative with the overall record of 17-10, not including the 1966-1969 Super Bowls when the games were played between the old NFL and AFL.

Kick returner/punt returner Desmond Howard
Desmond Howard

Desmond Kevin Howard is a former American football wide receiver, punt returner, and kickoff returner in the National Football League.He played for the Washington Redskins , Jacksonville Jaguars , Green Bay Packers , Oakland Raiders and Detroit Lions ....
 was named Super Bowl MVP
Super Bowl MVP

File:Eli Manning Giants QB.jpgThe Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award, or Super Bowl MVP, is an award presented annually to the most valuable player of the Super Bowl, the National Football League's championship game....
, the first special teams player ever to do so. He ran for 154 kickoff return yards, and scored the game-clinching touchdown on a Super Bowl record 99-yard kickoff return. Howard also recorded a Super Bowl record 90 punt return yards, thus setting the Super Bowl records of total return yards (244) and combined net yards gained (244). Howard became the 4th Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy

The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , was named after the former college football coach John Heisman, is awarded annually by the Heisman Trophy Trust to the most outstanding player in collegiate football....
 winner to be named Super Bowl MVP.

Background

NFL owners awarded Super Bowl XXXI to New Orleans during their October 26, 1993 meeting in Chicago
Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in the U.S. state of Illinois and the Midwestern United States, as well as the List of United States cities by population city in the United States with more than 2.8 million residents....
. This was the eighth time that New Orleans hosted the game.

Green Bay Packers

After winning Super Bowl II
Super Bowl II

The second Super Bowl in professional American football, later to be known as Super Bowl II, was played on January 14, 1968 at the Miami Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida....
 after the 1967 regular season
1967 NFL season

The 1967 NFL season was the 48th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 16 teams with the addition of the New Orleans Saints....
, the Packers became a losing team for much of the 1970s and 1980s, only making the playoffs in 1972
1972 NFL season

The 1972 NFL season was the 53rd regular season of the National Football League. The Miami Dolphins became the first NFL team to finish a championship season undefeated and untied when they beat the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII....
 and the strike-shortened 1982 season
1982 NFL season

The 1982 NFL season was the 63rd regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, a verdict was handed down against the league in the trial brought by the Oakland Raiders and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum back in 1980....
. In addition to having the reputation of being a poor team, the Packers were unable to attract good players because many did not want to play in Green Bay's
Green Bay, Wisconsin

Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County, Wisconsin in the U.S. state of Wisconsin.The city is located at the head of its namesake Green Bay , a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River ....
 cold winter climate and the fact that they were a small market team. All that changed when Mike Holmgren
Mike Holmgren

Michael George Holmgren is a retired American football Coach . He served as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers from 1992 to 1998, and the Seattle Seahawks from 1999 to 2008....
 became the Packers head coach in 1992
1992 NFL season

The 1992 NFL season was the 73rd regular season of the National Football League.Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, the New England Patriots - Miami Dolphins game, that was scheduled for September 6 at Joe Robbie Stadium, was rescheduled to October 18....
. During his first year, the team improved to a 9-7 regular season record, barely missing the playoffs. One of the significant players on the 1992 Packers team was second year quarterback Brett Favre
Brett Favre

Brett Lorenzo Favre is a retired American football quarterback of the National Football League . He was the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers between the 1992 Green Bay Packers season and 2007 Green Bay Packers season NFL seasons and the New York Jets in 2008....
, who spent his rookie season playing for the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons are an American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia . They are currently a member of the NFC South division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League ....
. During a September 20, 1992 game against the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio, Ohio. It is currently a member of the AFC North of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
, Favre replaced injured starter Don Majkowski
Don Majkowski

Donald Vincent Majkowski, "Majik Man", is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions....
 and proceeded to lead the team to a comeback victory. Afterwards, Favre became the starter for the rest of that season and held that position with the Packers until his purported retirement and subsequent conditional trade to the New York Jets
New York Jets

The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. They are members of the AFC East of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
 in 2008.

Green Bay then made the playoffs in the 1993
1993 NFL season

The 1993 NFL season was the 74th regular season of the National Football League. For the first time in league history, all NFL teams played their 16-game schedule over a span of 18 weeks....
, 1994
1994 NFL season

The 1994 NFL season was the 75th regular season of the National Football League. To honor the NFL's 75th season, a special anniversary logo was designed and each player wore a patch on their jerseys with this logo throughout the season....
, and the 1995
1995 NFL season

The 1995 NFL season was the 76th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 30 teams with the addition of the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars....
 seasons. As Holmgren, Favre, and the Packers continued to win, they were able to attract impact free agent
Free agent

In professional sports, a free agent is a team player whose contract with a team has expired, and the player is able to sign a contract with another team if that player is chosen....
s like veteran defensive end Reggie White
Reggie White

Reginald Howard "Reggie" White was a professional American football player who played defensive end for 17 seasons in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers becoming one of the most decorated players in NFL history....
, nicknamed the "Minister of Defense", who joined the team in 1993.

In 1996, the Packers posted an NFC-best 13–3 regular season record after winning 8 of their first 9 games to start the season. After losing two straight games in November (one to the rival Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team in the National Football Conference East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League ....
), they finished off the regular season winning their remaining five games, including dominating wins over playoff teams Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado, Colorado. They are currently a member of the American Football Conference AFC West in the National Football League ....
, 41–6, and Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings compete in the NFC North of the National Football Conference in the National Football League ....
, 38–10. The Packers also had the best defense in the league in both points and yards. They allowed 210 points and also scored an NFL best 456 points, becoming the first team since the 1972 Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins

. The Miami Dolphins are the professional American football team based in the Miami, Florida South Florida metropolitan area. They play home games at Dolphin Stadium, in the suburb of Miami Gardens, Florida....
 to score the most points in the league and allow the fewest. They set an NFL record with seven wins by at least 25 points.

Favre won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award
NFL Most Valuable Player Award

The National Football League Most Valuable Player Award is given by various entities, most notably the Associated Press , to the player who is considered most valuable in the league....
 for the second straight season after throwing for 3,899 yards and an NFC record 39 touchdown passes during the 1996 regular season, with only 13 interceptions. His 39 touchdown passes was the third highest total in league history at that time. Favre was also a good runner, ranking third on the team with 136 rushing yards and scoring 2 touchdowns.

The Packers also had a triple-whammy in a sense with game-breaking kick returner Desmond Howard
Desmond Howard

Desmond Kevin Howard is a former American football wide receiver, punt returner, and kickoff returner in the National Football League.He played for the Washington Redskins , Jacksonville Jaguars , Green Bay Packers , Oakland Raiders and Detroit Lions ....
. The former Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy

The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , was named after the former college football coach John Heisman, is awarded annually by the Heisman Trophy Trust to the most outstanding player in collegiate football....
 winner's NFL career as a wide receiver was widely viewed as a disappointment up until this point, recording just 92 receptions in his first 4 NFL seasons. After joining Green Bay before the 1996 season, the team used him as a kick returner. Howard excelled in this role and ended up setting an NFL record with 875 punt return yards, while also leading the league in yards per return (15.1) and punt return touchdowns (3). He also caught 13 passes for 95 yards and added another 460 yards returning kickoffs.

Green Bay also had a number of offensive weapons. Wide receiver Antonio Freeman
Antonio Freeman

Antonio Michael Freeman is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League, most notably for the Green Bay Packers. He attended the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, dominating his high school conference....
 led the team with 933 yards and 9 touchdowns. Multi-talented veteran wide receiver Don Beebe
Don Beebe

Don Lee Beebe is a former American football wide receiver who played for the Buffalo Bills , Carolina Panthers and the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League....
 was also a constant breakaway threat, catching 39 passes for 606 yards and adding another 403 yards, and a touchdown returning kickoffs. Beebe was a member of Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the metropolitan area of Buffalo, New York. They sold out every game in 2008....
 during their 4 Super Bowl losses, and was thus extremely eager for another shot at a Super Bowl win. The Packers also had 2 outstanding tight ends: Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl

In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the AFL-NFL Merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl, matching players in the American Football Conference against those in the National Football Conference ....
er Keith Jackson
Keith Jackson

Keith Jackson is an United States former sportscaster, known for his long career with ABC Sports television, his coverage of college football as well as his style of folksy, down-to-earth commentary and deep voice....
 recorded 40 passes for 504 yards and 10 touchdowns, and Mark Chmura
Mark Chmura

Mark William Chmura is a former American football tight end, who played his entire career with the Green Bay Packers ....
 had 28 receptions for 370 yards.

Although Green Bay's running game did not have any standout backs or Pro Bowlers, running backs Dorsey Levens
Dorsey Levens

Hebert Dorsey Levens is a former American football running back in the National Football League....
, Edgar Bennett
Edgar Bennett

Edgar Bennett III is a former National Football League running back who played for the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears , in a professional career lasting for 7 years....
, and fullback William Henderson
William Henderson

William Terrelle Henderson is a former American Football fullback. He had spent all of his playing career with the Green Bay Packers up until his release in 2007....
 were all very good at blocking, running and receiving. Bennett was the team's leading rusher with 899 yards, while also catching 31 passes for 176 yards and scored 3 touchdowns. Levens rushed for 566 yards, caught 31 passes for 226 yards, returned 5 kickoffs for 84 yards, and scored 10 touchdowns. Henderson had 130 rushing yards, caught 27 passes for 203 yards, and returned 2 kickoffs for 38 yards. Up front, Pro Bowl center Frank Winters
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....
 anchored the offensive line, along with guard Adam Timmerman
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....
.

On defense, White continued to be a weapon, recording 29 tackles, 3 fumble recoveries, and led the team with 8.5 sacks. Defensive tackle Santana Dotson
Santana Dotson

Santana N. Dotson was an American football defensive tackle in the National Football League. He won the 1992 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and played in two Super Bowls with the Green Bay Packers....
 was also a big asset, recording 5.5 sacks and 1 fumble recovery. In the secondary, the team was led by safety Eugene Robinson
Eugene Robinson

Eugene Keefe Robinson is a retired professional American football player who played Safety . He played college football at Colgate University#Athletics....
, who recorded 55 tackles, 6 interceptions, and 107 return yards. Defensive back LeRoy Butler
LeRoy Butler

LeRoy Butler, III is a former American football Defensive back who played his entire career with the Green Bay Packers . He spent his childhood in Jacksonville, FL, challenged by physical problems that forced him to wear leg braces and use a wheelchair at times while undergoing therapy....
 was also a major force, recording 65 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 2 fumbles recoveries, and 5 interceptions for 149 return yards and a touchdown.

New England Patriots

The Patriots were also considered a losing team for much of the late 1980s and early 1990s, including a dismal 1–15 regular season record in 1990
1990 NFL season

The 1990 NFL season was the 71st regular season of the National Football League. To increase revenue, the league changed the regular season so that all NFL teams would play their 16-game schedule over a 17-week period....
. Then in 1993
1993 NFL season

The 1993 NFL season was the 74th regular season of the National Football League. For the first time in league history, all NFL teams played their 16-game schedule over a span of 18 weeks....
, New England turned to veteran head coach Bill Parcells
Bill Parcells

Bill Parcells is the current Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He is also a former American football head coach, most recently with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2007....
 to lead the team, hoping to repeat the success he had with the New York Giants
New York Giants

The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The team plays its home games at Giants Stadium, which also serves as its headquarters, and trains at an adjacent practice facility within the Meadowlands Sports Complex....
.

Although the Patriots posted a 5-11 regular season record during Parcells' first year, eight of their losses were by 7 points or less. To Parcells credit, much of the improvement was the result of the contributions from their draft picks that they made before the season: linebackers Willie McGinest
Willie McGinest

William Lee "Willie" McGinest, Jr, , is an American football linebacker for the Cleveland Browns....
 and Chris Slade
Chris Slade

Chris Slade is a United Kingdom Rock and roll drummer who has enjoyed a long and varied career. He has worked with such diverse musicians as Gary Numan, Tom Jones , Olivia Newton-John , Uriah Heep and Manfred Mann's Earth Band from 1972 to 1978....
. Tight end Ben Coates
Ben Coates

Ben Terrence Coates is a former American football tight end in the National Football League, former Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association American football Coach and former NFL tight ends coach....
 also became a major contributor as a favorite target of Drew Bledsoe
Drew Bledsoe

Drew McQueen Bledsoe is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League, best known as the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots from 1993 New England Patriots season-2001 New England Patriots season....
. With that improvement, the team was sold to Robert Kraft
Robert Kraft

File:Robert Kraft at Patriots at Raiders 12-14-08.JPGRobert K. Kraft, is the Entrepreneur, Chair & CEO of The Kraft Group, a diversified holding company with assets in paper & packaging, sports & entertainment, real estate development and a private equity portfolio....
 in January 1994 for a (then) record price of $200,000,000—an astonishing price considering the Pats had generally been considered a laughing-stock and second rate team, had the worst stadium in the league, and couldn't sell out save for select home games resulting in most games going without television coverage—sports in New England centered on the beloved Bruins, Celtics and Red Sox, not the NFL team orphaned in remote Foxborough, Massachusetts
Foxborough, Massachusetts

Foxborough is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, Massachusetts, United States, approximately 22 miles southwest of Boston, Massachusetts and 18 miles northeast of Providence, Rhode Island, Rhode Island....
, forty miles outside Boston.

The team then posted a 10-6 record in 1994
1994 NFL season

The 1994 NFL season was the 75th regular season of the National Football League. To honor the NFL's 75th season, a special anniversary logo was designed and each player wore a patch on their jerseys with this logo throughout the season....
 after starting the regular season at 3-6, but were eliminated by the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland, Ohio, Ohio. They play in the AFC North division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
 in their first playoff game. The Krafts had also eliminated the practice of TV blackouts (and courted and nailed deals with local affiliates), and the season resulted in a resurge of interest in the NFL game across the region. Nonetheless, New England then seemed to return to form and failed to make the playoffs in 1995
1995 NFL season

The 1995 NFL season was the 76th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 30 teams with the addition of the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars....
, a year when many organizations were coming to grips with the new salary cap put in by the NFL to improve competition in the league. In the off season, Parcells hired his old Giants defensive co-ordinator Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick

William Stephen Belichick is the American football head coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. After spending his first 15 seasons in the league as an assistant coach, Belichick got his first head coaching job with the Cleveland Browns in 1991 Cleveland Browns season....
 in January 1996 as Assistant Head Coach and receivers position coach. Part of the teams spotty performance might have been that the new coach and the new owner did not really get along well, and Belichick came to serve during the 1996 season as the head coach's interface with the Kraft family and the non-football operations side of the business.

After losing their first two games in the 1996 regular season with lackluster performances, they would run through the rest of the season competitive in every game to finish with an 11-5 record, their best in the Parcells era. The Patriots offense became the 7th best unit in the league in terms of yards, and 2nd best in points after the Packers. Their pass offense, led by Bledsoe and wide receiver Terry Glenn
Terry Glenn

Terry Tyree Glenn is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New England Patriots seventh overall in the 1996 NFL Draft....
, ranked third in the NFL. Bledsoe would throw for 4,086 yards and 27 touchdowns with just 15 interceptions, and Glenn would set a rookie record with 90 receptions to go along with his 1,132 yards and 6 touchdowns. Tight end Ben Coates
Ben Coates

Ben Terrence Coates is a former American football tight end in the National Football League, former Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association American football Coach and former NFL tight ends coach....
 was also a big contributor, catching 62 passes for 682 yards and 9 touchdowns. Wide receiver Shawn Jefferson
Shawn Jefferson

Shawn Jefferson , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 9th round of the 1991 NFL Draft....
 recorded 50 receptions for 771 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Running back Curtis Martin
Curtis Martin

Curtis James Martin, Jr. is a former American football running back. He is an alumnus of Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh....
 would be the focal point of the rushing attack with his 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground, while also catching 46 passes for another 333 yards and 3 touchdowns. Pro Bowl running back Dave Meggett
Dave Meggett

David Lee Meggett is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League for the New York Giants , New England Patriots , and the New York Jets ....
 provided the team with a good special teams threat, gaining 1,369 yards and a touchdown returning kickoffs and punts, while also rushing for 122 yards and catching 33 passes for 292 yards.

On defense, the team's main weapon was Pro Bowler McGinest, who recorded 49 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, an interception which he returned 46 yards for a touchdown, and a team leading 9.5 sacks. New England also had a solid secondary, led by defensive backs Willie Clay
Willie Clay

Willie James Clay , nicknamed "Big Play Willie Clay", is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, and New Orleans Saints....
 (72 tackles, 1 fumble recovery. 4 interceptions, 50 return yards), Ty Law
Ty Law

Tajuan "Ty" Law is an American football cornerback for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots 23rd overall in the 1995 NFL Draft....
 (56 tackles, 3 interceptions, 45 return yards, 1 touchdown), and Lawyer Milloy
Lawyer Milloy

Lawyer Milloy is an American football Safety who currently plays for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. Milloy was a member of the Patriots Super Bowl XXXVI championship team ....
 (54 tackles, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, 2 interceptions).

Playoffs

Aided by Martin's 166 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns, including a 78-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, the Patriots first eliminated the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania. They are currently a member of the AFC North of the American Football Conference in the National Football League) ....
, 28–3. New England gained a total of 346 yards in the game, while limiting Steelers quarterback Mike Tomczak
Mike Tomczak

Michael John Tomczak is a former American football player. Tomczak played quarterback for several NFL teams including the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers....
 to just 110 passing yards, with no touchdowns and 2 interceptions.

The Patriots then defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team located in Jacksonville, Florida. They are currently members of the American Football Conference South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
, 20–6, in the AFC Championship Game. The 1995 expansion team Jaguars advanced after upsetting the AFC top seeded Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado, Colorado. They are currently a member of the American Football Conference AFC West in the National Football League ....
. However, New England took advantage of several key Jacksonville miscues in a game dominated by defense. A bad snap allowed Patriots defensive back Larry Whigham to tackle Jaguars punter Bryan Barker at the Jacksonville 4-yard line, setting up Martin's 1-yard touchdown run a few plays later. The Jaguars scored a field goal in the second quarter, but Jacksonville punt returner Chris Hudson's fumble set up Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri
Adam Vinatieri

Adam Matthew Vinatieri is an American football placekicker currently playing for the Indianapolis Colts. He has played in five Super Bowls, four with the Patriots and one with the Colts, winning four....
's 29-yard field goal. Eventually the teams exchanged field goals and the Patriots led 13–6 going into the fourth quarter. With under 4 minutes left in the game, the Jaguars reached the New England 5-yard line, but Patriots defensive back Willie Clay
Willie Clay

Willie James Clay , nicknamed "Big Play Willie Clay", is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, and New Orleans Saints....
 intercepted a pass in the end zone. After New England was forced to punt, cornerback Otis Smith recovered a fumble from Jaguars running back James Stewart and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown to put the game away.

Meanwhile, the Packers first eliminated the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team. The team plays its home games in , while the club's headquarters and practice facility are located in Santa Clara, California....
, 35–14. Green Bay's defense and special teams dominated the game, forcing 5 turnovers, and helping the team score 35 points even though Favre was limited to just 79 passing yards. San Francisco starting quarterback Steve Young
Steve Young (athlete)

Steve Young , is a former quarterback for the Los Angeles Express of the short-lived United States Football League, the National Football League Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the NFL's San Francisco 49ers....
, who was still suffering from a rib injury substained during their 14-0 playoff win over the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. They are members of the NFC East of the National Football Conference in the National Football League ....
, had to leave the game in the first quarter. Howard opened up the scoring by returning a punt 71 yards for a touchdown. Later, he returned a punt 46 yards to set up Favre's 4-yard touchdown pass to Andre Rison
Andre Rison

Andre Previn Rison is a retired American football wide receiver who played professionally for the National Football League's Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, and the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts....
. By the time the first half ended, Green Bay had a commanding 21–7 lead. San Francisco cut their deficit to 7 points with a third quarter touchdown, but the Packers responded by driving 72 yards to score a touchdown, in which Bennett's fumble was recovered in the end zone by Freeman. Green Bay then put the game away with an 11-yard touchdown run by Bennett.

Green Bay then defeated the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, representing both North Carolina and South Carolina in the National Football League....
, 30–13, in the NFC Championship Game. Like the Jaguars, the Panthers were also a 1995 expansion team that advanced to the conference title game. But unlike Jacksonville, Carolina came into the contest as the NFC #2 seed and had eliminated the defending Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team in the National Football Conference East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League ....
, 26–17. In the NFC Championship Game, Carolina scored first with a 3-yard touchdown reception by Howard Griffith
Howard Griffith

Howard Griffith is a retired American football fullback who spent 11 seasons in the National Football League . While at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Howard set the NCAA record for touchdowns in a game with eight....
, but Green Bay scored on 2 touchdown passes by Favre and a field goal in the second quarter to take a 17-10 halftime lead. The Packers then dominated the second half, only allowing one more field goal from the Panthers. Levens recorded 5 catches for 117 yards and a touchdown, along with 88 rushing yards. Bennett rushed for 99 yards and a touchdown. Favre threw for 292 yards and 2 touchdowns with 1 interception. Kicker Chris Jacke
Chris Jacke

Christopher Lee Jacke is a former professional American football placekicker best known for playing for the Green Bay Packers in the National Football League....
 scored 3 field goals.

Super Bowl pregame news and notes

The Packers were favored to win the game by 14 points, largely because many thought the Patriots were a Cinderella
Cinderella (sports)

In United States and Canada sports, a Cinderella or "Cinderella Story" refers to a team or player who advances much further in a tournament than expected....
 team, and because of the recent dominance of the NFC in Super Bowl games.

Much of the pregame hype surrounded the conflict between Parcells and Patriots owner Robert Kraft
Robert Kraft

File:Robert Kraft at Patriots at Raiders 12-14-08.JPGRobert K. Kraft, is the Entrepreneur, Chair & CEO of The Kraft Group, a diversified holding company with assets in paper & packaging, sports & entertainment, real estate development and a private equity portfolio....
. Kraft took control of the team after Parcells was hired, and the two of them had different ideas on how to run the organization. Six days before the Super Bowl, in an article by Will McDonough
Will McDonough

William "Will" McDonough was an American sportswriter for the Boston Globe.McDonough attended the English High School of Boston, where he starred in baseball as a pitcher and in football as a quarterback....
, the Globe reported Parcells would leave the Patriots after the Super Bowl to become the coach of the New York Jets. The book Patriot Reign
Patriot Reign

Patriot Reign is a best-selling book by Boston Globe/New York Times sports writer Michael Holley resulting from two years he was given unprecedented access to the inner sanctums of the world champion New England Patriots football operations as they worked to turn a good luck year into a legitimate contender of a team....
 alleges the Patriots have cell phone records showing Parcells was in constant contact with the Jets during the week. Then Patriot defensive coordinator (and now head coach) Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick

William Stephen Belichick is the American football head coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. After spending his first 15 seasons in the league as an assistant coach, Belichick got his first head coaching job with the Cleveland Browns in 1991 Cleveland Browns season....
 is quoted as saying Parcells' plans to leave for the Jets were a distraction, "Yeah, I'd say it was a little bit of a distraction all the way around. I can tell you first-hand, there was a lot of stuff going on prior to the game. I mean, him talking to other teams. He was trying to make up his mind about what he was going to do. Which, honestly, I felt [was] totally inappropriate. How many chances do you get to play for the Super Bowl? Tell them to get back to you in a couple of days. I'm not saying it was disrespectful to me, but it was in terms of the overall commitment to the team." Parcells even refused to travel back with the rest of the Patriots after the game, and was eventually hired by the rival New York Jets
New York Jets

The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. They are members of the AFC East of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
 later on.

To honor the recent death of former NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle
Pete Rozelle

Alvin Ray "Pete" Rozelle was the commissioner of the National Football League from January 1960 to November 1989, when he retired from office....
, who died on December 6, 1996, each player wore a special helmet decal with Rozelle's signature, "Pete," printed across the NFL logo. Tributes to Rozelle were also published in the game program.

Television and entertainment

The game was the first Super Bowl to be televised in the United States by the FOX
Fox Broadcasting Company

The Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox and stylized as FOX, is an United States television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation....
 network. Play-by-play announcer
Play-by-play

Play-by-play, in broadcasting, is a North American term that means the reporting of a sporting event with a voiceover describing the details of the game in progress....
 Pat Summerall
Pat Summerall

George Allen "Pat" Summerall is a former American football player and television sportscaster, having worked at CBS Sports, NFL on FOX, and ESPN Sunday Night Football....
 and color commentator
Color commentator

A color commentator, sometimes known as a color analyst, is a member of the broadcasting team for a sports event who assists the play-by-play announcer by filling in any time when play is not in progress....
 John Madden, both previously of CBS
CBS

CBS Broadcasting Inc. is an American radio network and television network. The name is derived from the initials of Columbia Broadcasting System, its former legal name....
, called the game. James Brown
James Brown (TV personality)

James Brown , commonly called "J.B.", is an United States of America sports announcer known for being the host of the Fox Broadcasting Company's National Football League Pre-game show FOX NFL Sunday....
 hosted all the events with help from his fellow FOX NFL Sunday
FOX NFL Sunday

Ford Drive One FOX NFL Sunday is the pregame show for the Television program NFL on FOX. The program is broadcast on Fox television affiliates nationwide....
 cast members Terry Bradshaw
Terry Bradshaw

Terry Paxton Bradshaw is a former American football quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League. He is currently a football analyst and co-host of FOX NFL Sunday....
, Howie Long
Howie Long

Howard Michael "Howie" Long is a former United States American football player who played as a defensive team. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000 NFL season....
 and Ronnie Lott
Ronnie Lott

Ronald Mandel "Ronnie" Lott is a former American football player who starred as a cornerback, free safety and strong safety in college football and the National Football League....
.

This was the first of three Super Bowls to be called by Summerall and Madden while with FOX (Super Bowls XXXIII
Super Bowl XXXIII

Super Bowl XXXIII was an American football game played on January 31, 1999 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1998 NFL season....
 and XXXVI
Super Bowl XXXVI

Super Bowl XXXVI was an American football game played on February 3, 2002 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 2001 NFL season....
 being the others).

Starting with this game, through Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII

Super Bowl XXXVII was an American football game played on January 26, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 2002 NFL season....
, the Super Bowl logo was painted at the 50-yard line, and the teams helmets were placed on the 30-yard lines. During the past Super Bowl games since the 1970 AFL-NFL Merger
AFL-NFL Merger

The AFL?NFL merger of 1970 was the merger of the two major American Professional American football leagues in the United States at the time: the National Football League and the American Football League ....
 (Super Bowl VI
Super Bowl VI

Super Bowl VI was an American football game played on January 16, 1972, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1971 NFL season....
), the NFL logo was painted on the 50-yard line, except for Super Bowls XXV
Super Bowl XXV

Super Bowl XXV was an American football game played on January 27, 1991 at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1990 NFL season....
 and XXIX
Super Bowl XXIX

Super Bowl XXIX was an American football game played on January 29, 1995 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1994 NFL season ....
. The Super Bowl XXV logo was painted at midfield, and the NFL 75th Anniversary logo was painted at midfield in Super Bowl XXIX. The league started to put the NFL logo at midfield again for Super Bowl XXXVIII
Super Bowl XXXVIII

Super Bowl XXXVIII was an American football game played on February 1, 2004 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas to decide the National Football League champion following the 2003 NFL season....
.

The telecast ended up being the highest-rated program in the history of the then ten-year-old FOX network, and it currently ties Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XLII

Super Bowl XLII was an American football game which featured the National Football Conference champion New York Giants and the American Football Conference champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League champion for the 2007 NFL season....
 for the highest-rated program in the entire history of the network. Afterwards, FOX televised The X-Files
The X-Files

The X-Files is a Peabody Award, Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning American cult following science fiction television series, created by Chris Carter , which first aired in 1993 and ended in 2002....
 episode "Leonard Betts".

With the Packers win, they became the third team to win Super Bowls on three different networks (I
Super Bowl I

The First AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, later to be known as Super Bowl I, was played on January 15, 1967 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California....
-broadcast on both CBS
CBS

CBS Broadcasting Inc. is an American radio network and television network. The name is derived from the initials of Columbia Broadcasting System, its former legal name....
 and NBC, II-CBS, and FOX). They also became the first team to win three Super Bowls with FOX as one of the networks to televise their win.

Pregame ceremonies

The pregame show featured Los del Río
Los del Río

Los del R?o is a Music of Spain duo composed of musicians Antonio Romero Monge and Rafael Ru?z. They are originally from the city section of Dos Hermanas in Seville....
 who performed their multi-platinum smash hit "Macarena
Macarena (song)

"Macarena" is a Spanish song by Los del R?o about a woman of the same name, or any woman from the Macarena, Seville neighborhood of Seville, Spain....
", the dance craze that became a worldwide summer hit
Summer hit

A summer hit is a term in entertainment industry which refers to a title released and peaked in its popularity during summer and often later quickly faded away....
 in 1996. Country
Country music

Country music is a blend of popular American music forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. It has roots in Traditional music, Celtic music, gospel music, and old-time music and evolved rapidly in the 1920s....
 singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter

File:Joan Baez Bob Dylan crop.jpgSinger-songwriter is a term that refers to performers who Lyricist, composer and singing their own Musical piece including lyrics and melody....
 Mary Chapin Carpenter
Mary Chapin Carpenter

Mary Chapin Carpenter is an American folk and country music artist. Carpenter spent several years singing in Washington, D.C. clubs before signing in the late 1980s with Columbia Records, who marketed her as a country singer....
 and Cajun
Cajun music

Cajun music, an emblematic music of Louisiana, is rooted in the ballads of the French-speaking Acadians of Canada. Cajun music is often mentioned in tandem with the Louisiana Creole people-based, Cajun-influenced zydeco form, both of Acadiana origin....
 musical group Beausoleil
Beausoleil

BeauSoleil is a musical group specializing in Cajun music. Based in Lafayette, Louisiana, the group members are brothers Michael Doucet and David Doucet , Jimmy Breaux , Billy Ware , Tommy Alesi , and Mitchell Reed ....
 also appeared.

R&B
Rhythm and blues

Rhythm and blues is the name given to a wide-ranging genre of popular music first created by African Americans in the late 1940s and early 1950s....
 singer Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross

Luther Ronzoni Vandross was an United States rhythm and blues and soul music singer-songwriter, and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times....
 later sang the national anthem and Miss Louisiana 1996 Erika Schwarz Wright performed sign language for the national anthem

The coin toss
Coin flipping

Coin flipping or coin tossing is the practice of throwing a coin in the air to resolve a dispute between two parties or otherwise choose between two alternatives....
 ceremony featured the following past Super Bowl winning head coaches: Hank Stram
Hank Stram

Henry Louis "Hank" Stram , was an American Football coach . He is best known for his 14-year tenure with the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League....
, Mike Ditka
Mike Ditka

Michael Keller Ditka, Jr. , also known as "Iron Mike", is a former American football National Football League player, television commentator, and coach....
, Tom Flores
Tom Flores

Thomas R. "Tom" Flores is a retired American football quarterback and coach. Flores and Mike Ditka are the only two people in the NFL to win Super Bowls as a player, an assistant coach and a head coach....
, Tom Landry
Tom Landry

Thomas Wade Landry was an American football player and coach. He is legendary for his successes as the coach of the Dallas Cowboys. He is ranked as one of the greatest and most innovative coaches in NFL history....
, Chuck Noll
Chuck Noll

Charles Henry Noll is a former professional American football player and coach and now works in the steelers front office as Administration Advisor, most notably the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League from 1969 to 1991....
, and George Seifert
George Seifert

George Seifert is a former National Football League head coach of the San Francisco 49ers and the Carolina Panthers. Seifert joined the 49ers' coaching staff under Bill Walsh in 1980 as defensive backs coach and served as the team's defensive coordinator from 1983–88....
.

Halftime show

The halftime show was titled "Blues Brothers Bash" and featured actors Dan Aykroyd
Dan Aykroyd

Daniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd, Order of Canada is an Academy Awards-nominated and Emmy Award-winning Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter, musician, winemaker and ufologist....
, John Goodman
John Goodman

John Stephen Goodman is a Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning United States actor. He is known for his deep, booming voice, and his large and robust size....
, and Jim Belushi as the Blues Brothers. The show highlighted blues music
Blues

Blues is a music genre based on the use of the blues chord progressions and the blue notes. Though several blues musical form s exist, the 12-bar blues chord progressions are the most frequently encountered....
 and also had performances by the rock
Rock and roll

Rock and roll is a form of music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Its roots lay mainly in rhythm and blues, Country music, folk music, gospel music, and jazz....
 band ZZ Top
ZZ Top

ZZ Top is an American Rock music trio formed in late 1969 in Houston, Texas, United States. The group members are Billy Gibbons , Dusty Hill , and Frank Beard ....
 and singer James Brown.

While practicing for the show, Laura Patterson, one of a 16-member professional bungee jumping team, died of massive cranial trauma when she jumped from the top level of the Superdome with improperly handled bungee cords and smashed head-first into the concrete-based playing field. The bungee jumping portion of the show was removed from the program and a commemoration of Patterson was added.

Game summary

The Packers dominated the Patriots on both sides of the ball, outgaining New England 323 yards to 257 and intercepting quarterback Drew Bledsoe
Drew Bledsoe

Drew McQueen Bledsoe is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League, best known as the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots from 1993 New England Patriots season-2001 New England Patriots season....
 four times. Packers defensive lineman Reggie White
Reggie White

Reginald Howard "Reggie" White was a professional American football player who played defensive end for 17 seasons in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers becoming one of the most decorated players in NFL history....
 set a Super Bowl record with three sacks, including back-to-back takedowns in the 3rd quarter.

Green Bay forced New England to punt on the opening possession of the game and started their first drive with great field position after receiver Desmond Howard
Desmond Howard

Desmond Kevin Howard is a former American football wide receiver, punt returner, and kickoff returner in the National Football League.He played for the Washington Redskins , Jacksonville Jaguars , Green Bay Packers , Oakland Raiders and Detroit Lions ....
 returned the ball 32 yards to the Packers 46-yard line. Green Bay then opened up the scoring with Brett Favre
Brett Favre

Brett Lorenzo Favre is a retired American football quarterback of the National Football League . He was the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers between the 1992 Green Bay Packers season and 2007 Green Bay Packers season NFL seasons and the New York Jets in 2008....
's 54-yard touchdown pass to Andre Rison
Andre Rison

Andre Previn Rison is a retired American football wide receiver who played professionally for the National Football League's Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, and the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts....
 on their second offensive play of the game. Then on the Patriots' ensuing drive, Packers defensive back Doug Evans
Doug Evans (American football)

Douglas Edwards Evans is a former American football cornerback and Safety in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 6th round of the 1993 NFL Draft out of Louisiana Tech University....
 intercepted a pass from Bledsoe at the New England 28-yard line. On the first play after the turnover, New England lineman Ferric Collons
Ferric Collons

Ferric Collons is a National Football League player who played defensive end for the New England Patriots....
 sacked Favre for a 10-yard loss, but running back Dorsey Levens
Dorsey Levens

Hebert Dorsey Levens is a former American football running back in the National Football League....
 rushed for 4 yards and caught a pass for 14 over the next two plays, setting up Chris Jacke
Chris Jacke

Christopher Lee Jacke is a former professional American football placekicker best known for playing for the Green Bay Packers in the National Football League....
's 37-yard field goal to make the score 10–0.

New England stormed back, scoring touchdowns on each of their next 2 possessions. On the second play of the Patriots ensuing drive, Bledsoe completed a 32-yard screen pass
Screen pass

A screen pass is a type of play in American football. During a screen pass, many things are going on at the same time in order to fool the defense into thinking a long pass is being thrown, when in fact the pass is merely a short one, just beyond the defensive linemen....
 to fullback Keith Byars
Keith Byars

Keith Alan Byars is a sports broadcaster and former American football player....
 and followed it up with a "dump-off" pass to running back Curtis Martin
Curtis Martin

Curtis James Martin, Jr. is a former American football running back. He is an alumnus of Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh....
, who caught the ball near the line of scrimmage and ran 20 yards to the Packers 27-yard line before being tackled. Bledsoe then threw three straight incompletions, but on the third one, Packers defensive back Craig Newsome was called for a 26-yard pass interference penalty, giving New England a first down at the 1-yard line. On the next play, Bledsoe completed a 1-yard touchdown pass to Byars to cut his team's deficit to 10–7.

New England's defense then forced the Packers to punt from their own 17-yard line after a three-and-out
Three-and-out

Three and out is an American Football term used to describe a game situation where the team on their first drive of the series with the ball is unable to get a first down on their possession and is forced to punt after they run 3 plays....
, giving the Patriots the ball back after running back Dave Meggett
Dave Meggett

David Lee Meggett is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League for the New York Giants , New England Patriots , and the New York Jets ....
 received Craig Hentrich
Craig Hentrich

Craig Hentrich is an American football Punter for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft....
's 39-yard punt at the New England 43-yard line. After a 7-yard reception and a 2-yard run by Martin on their first 2 plays, Bledsoe completed a 44-yard pass to wide receiver Terry Glenn
Terry Glenn

Terry Tyree Glenn is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New England Patriots seventh overall in the 1996 NFL Draft....
 to advance to the Green Bay 4-yard line. From there, tight end Ben Coates
Ben Coates

Ben Terrence Coates is a former American football tight end in the National Football League, former Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association American football Coach and former NFL tight ends coach....
's 4-yard touchdown reception gave New England a 14–10 lead. The Packers and Patriots combined for a total of 24 points, the most ever scored in the first quarter of a Super Bowl.

New England's lead was short lived. After both teams exchanged punts, Favre threw a Super Bowl record 81-yard touchdown pass to receiver Antonio Freeman
Antonio Freeman

Antonio Michael Freeman is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League, most notably for the Green Bay Packers. He attended the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, dominating his high school conference....
, putting the Packers back in the lead, 17-14. A third down, 9-yard sack by safety LeRoy Butler
LeRoy Butler

LeRoy Butler, III is a former American football Defensive back who played his entire career with the Green Bay Packers . He spent his childhood in Jacksonville, FL, challenged by physical problems that forced him to wear leg braces and use a wheelchair at times while undergoing therapy....
 forced the Patriots to punt on their ensuing drive, and Howard returned Tom Tupa
Tom Tupa

Thomas Joseph Tupa, Jr. is a former American football punter and quarterback in the National Football League....
's punt 34 yards to the New England 47-yard line. The Packers then drove to the 14-yard line to score on Jacke's 31-yard field goal to increase their lead, 20–14.

Meggett returned the ensuing kickoff 21 yards to the Patriots 25-yard line. On the first play of the drive, Bledsoe completed a 19-yard pass to Coates to advance to their own 44-yard line. But two plays later, Packers defensive back Mike Prior
Mike Prior

Michael Robert Prior , is a former United States professional American football player who was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 7th round of the 1985 NFL Draft....
 intercepted a long pass that was intended for wide receiver Shawn Jefferson
Shawn Jefferson

Shawn Jefferson , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 9th round of the 1991 NFL Draft....
, and returned it 8 yards to the Green Bay 26-yard line. After the turnover, the Packers went on a 9-play, 74-yard drive that took 5:59 minutes off the clock and scored on Favre's 2-yard touchdown run to give Green Bay a 27–14 lead with just 1:11 left in the half.

After a 24-yard kickoff return by Meggett, Bledsoe completed an 18-yard pass to Coates, and followed it up with a 10-yard pass to Glenn. Then after a 1-yard run by Meggett on the next play, Bledsoe completed a 7-yard pass to receiver Vincent Brisby
Vincent Brisby

Vincent Cole Brisby , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 1993 NFL Draft....
 to bring up 3rd down and 2 yards to go from the Packers 42-yard line. But Green Bay's defense forced 2 pass incompletions from Bledsoe, causing the Patriots to turn the ball over on downs with just 19 seconds left before halftime. The Packers tried to get into scoring range by calling a pass on the next play, but linebacker Willie McGinest
Willie McGinest

William Lee "Willie" McGinest, Jr, , is an American football linebacker for the Cleveland Browns....
 sacked Favre, and the score remained 27–14 at halftime.

Howard returned the second half kickoff 23 yards to the Green Bay 25-yard line. From there, Favre led the Packers all the way to the New England 37, but the Patriots made a key defensive stand, stopping Green Bay running back Dorsey Levens
Dorsey Levens

Hebert Dorsey Levens is a former American football running back in the National Football League....
 for no gain on third down and one, and then tackling him again for a 7-yard loss on a fourth down conversion attempt. Then after driving to the Packers 41-yard line, New England was forced to punt, but they managed to pin Green Bay deep in their own territory when Howard made a fair catch
Fair catch

A fair catch is a feature of American football and several other football. In rugby union and Australian rules football, a fair catch is called a mark; see mark and mark for more information on fair catches in those games....
 of Tupa's 29-yard punt at the 12-yard line. On the ensuing drive, a 7-yard sack by Patriots cornerback Otis Smith
Otis Smith (football)

Otis Smith is a former American football cornerback. He attended East Jefferson High School in the late 1980's. During his playing career he was known by introducing himself as "O-T-I-S"...
 helped the New England defense force the Packers to punt, and the Patriots got the ball back with great field position after Meggett returned Craig Hentrich
Craig Hentrich

Craig Hentrich is an American football Punter for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft....
's 48-yard punt 6 yards to the New England own 47-yard line.

Taking advantage of their excellent starting field position, New England drove 53 yards in 7 plays and scored on an 18-yard touchdown run by Martin to cut the Packers' lead 27–21. But on the ensuing kickoff, Howard returned the ball 99 yards for a touchdown -- the second longest play in Super Bowl history. Favre then completed a pass to tight end Mark Chmura
Mark Chmura

Mark William Chmura is a former American football tight end, who played his entire career with the Green Bay Packers ....
 for the successful two-point conversion
Two-point conversion

In American football and Canadian football, a two-point conversion is a play a team attempts instead of kicking an extra point immediately after it scores a touchdown....
, giving the Packers a 35–21 lead.

The score proved to be the last one of the contest as the defenses of both teams took over for the rest of the game. The Patriots limited the Packers to 3 punts and a missed 47-yard field goal attempt by Jacke. Green Bay did even better, not allowing New England to advance past their own 32 yard line. Furthermore, White sacked Bledsoe on back-to-back plays on the Patriots first drive after Howard's game-clinching touchdown return. White then recorded a third sack late in the fourth quarter. Bledsoe was also intercepted twice in the final period (one by Newsome and the other one by linebacker Brian Williams).

After the game, Favre reflected on his long road to becoming a Super Bowl champion, which included the death of his friend Mark Harvy in a car accident during the season. "Through everything I really believed I'd be here today. Right here in this stairwell, talking about being world champions. My best friend's gone forever. Trouble never seems to be far away, and the future won't be all rosy, but they can't take this away from me. Thirty years from now, the kids will be getting ready for Super Bowl LXI, and NFL Films
NFL Films

NFL Films is a Mount Laurel, New Jersey-based company devoted to producing commercials, television programs, feature films, and documentaries on the National Football League, as well as other unrelated major events and awards shows....
 will drag out Steve Sabol -- he'll be around 102 then -- and he'll talk about how Brett Favre fought through such adversity. And there will be other players and coaches. But I know this: We etched our place in history today."

Freeman was the top receiver of the game, finishing with 105 receiving yards and a touchdown on only 3 receptions. Dorsey Levens
Dorsey Levens

Hebert Dorsey Levens is a former American football running back in the National Football League....
 was the game's leading rusher with 61 rushing yards, and caught 3 passes for 23 yards. Favre completed 14 out of 27 passes for 246 yards and 2 touchdowns, and had 12 rushing yards and another touchdown on 4 carries. Favre became the first Super Bowl winning quarterback to have at least three touchdowns (Favre had 2 throwing, 1 rushing) and not be named Super Bowl MVP.

Bledsoe finished the game with 11 more pass completions (25) then Favre, but only 7 more total passing yards (253). His four interceptions tied a Super Bowl record. Martin was limited to just 41 rushing yards and 1 touchdown on 11 carries, but he also caught 3 passes for 28 yards. Meggett recorded 155 combined net yards (117 kick return, 30 punt return, 8 receiving). Coates was the Patriots leading receiver with 6 catches for 67 yards and a touchdown.

Scoring summary

  • First Quarter
    • GB - TD: Andre Rison 54 yard pass from Brett Favre (Chris Jacke kick) 7-0 GB
    • GB - FG: Chris Jacke 37 yards 10-0 GB
    • NE - TD: Keith Byars 1 yard pass from Drew Bledsoe (Adam Vinatieri kick) 10-7 GB
    • NE - TD: Ben Coates 4 yard pass from Drew Bledsoe (Adam Vinatieri kick) 14-10 NE
  • Second Quarter
    • GB - TD: Antonio Freeman 81 yard pass from Brett Favre (Chris Jacke kick) 17-14 GB
    • GB - FG: Chris Jacke 31 yards 20 -14 GB
    • GB - TD: Brett Favre 2 yard run (Chris Jacke kick) 27-14 GB
  • Third Quarter
    • NE - TD: Curtis Martin 18 yard run (Adam Vinatieri kick) 27-21 GB
    • GB - TD: Desmond Howard 99 yard kickoff return (2-pt conv: Mark Chmura pass from Brett Favre) 35-21 GB


Starting lineups

Source:

Green Bay Position New England
OFFENSE
Andre Rison
Andre Rison

Andre Previn Rison is a retired American football wide receiver who played professionally for the National Football League's Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, and the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts....
 
WR Terry Glenn
Terry Glenn

Terry Tyree Glenn is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New England Patriots seventh overall in the 1996 NFL Draft....
Bruce Wilkerson
Bruce Wilkerson

Bruce Alan Wilkerson was an 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....
 
LT Bruce Armstrong
Bruce Armstrong

Bruce Charles Armstrong is a former offensive tackle in the National Football League from 1987 to 2000, playing all fourteen seasons with the New England Patriots....
Aaron Taylor LG William Roberts
William Roberts (American football)

William Harold Roberts is a former American football Guard who played fourteen seasons in the National Football League. He played in three Super Bowls, winning two of them, each with the New York Giants ....
Frank Winters
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....
 
C Dave Wohlabaugh
Dave Wohlabaugh

David Vincent Wohlabaugh is a former American football Center who played 9 seasons for three National Football League teams. He Starting lineup in Super Bowl XXXI for the New England Patriots....
Adam Timmerman
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....
 
RG Todd Rucci
Todd Rucci

Todd Rucci is a former NFL Guard who played seven seasons in the NFL from 1993–1999. He started in Super Bowl XXXI for the New England Patriots....
Earl Dotson
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 Super Bowl XXXII....
 
RT Max Lane
Max Lane

Max Lane is a former NFL offensive tackle who played seven seasons in the NFL from 1994-2000. He started in Super Bowl XXXI for the New England Patriots....
Mark Chmura
Mark Chmura

Mark William Chmura is a former American football tight end, who played his entire career with the Green Bay Packers ....
 
TE Ben Coates
Ben Coates

Ben Terrence Coates is a former American football tight end in the National Football League, former Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association American football Coach and former NFL tight ends coach....
Antonio Freeman
Antonio Freeman

Antonio Michael Freeman is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League, most notably for the Green Bay Packers. He attended the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, dominating his high school conference....
 
WR Shawn Jefferson
Shawn Jefferson

Shawn Jefferson , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 9th round of the 1991 NFL Draft....
Brett Favre
Brett Favre

Brett Lorenzo Favre is a retired American football quarterback of the National Football League . He was the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers between the 1992 Green Bay Packers season and 2007 Green Bay Packers season NFL seasons and the New York Jets in 2008....
 
QB Drew Bledsoe
Drew Bledsoe

Drew McQueen Bledsoe is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League, best known as the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots from 1993 New England Patriots season-2001 New England Patriots season....
Edgar Bennett
Edgar Bennett

Edgar Bennett III is a former National Football League running back who played for the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears , in a professional career lasting for 7 years....
 
RB Curtis Martin
Curtis Martin

Curtis James Martin, Jr. is a former American football running back. He is an alumnus of Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh....
William Henderson
William Henderson

William Terrelle Henderson is a former American Football fullback. He had spent all of his playing career with the Green Bay Packers up until his release in 2007....
 
FB Keith Byars
Keith Byars

Keith Alan Byars is a sports broadcaster and former American football player....
DEFENSE
Reggie White
Reggie White

Reginald Howard "Reggie" White was a professional American football player who played defensive end for 17 seasons in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers becoming one of the most decorated players in NFL history....
 
LE Ferric Collons
Ferric Collons

Ferric Collons is a National Football League player who played defensive end for the New England Patriots....
Gilbert Brown
Gilbert Brown

Gilbert Jesse "The Gravedigger" Brown,...
 
LDT Pio Sagapolutele
Pio Sagapolutele

Pio Alika Sagapolutele was an American football defensive lineman who played seven seasons in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns, the New England Patriots, and the New Orleans Saints....
Santana Dotson
Santana Dotson

Santana N. Dotson was an American football defensive tackle in the National Football League. He won the 1992 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and played in two Super Bowls with the Green Bay Packers....
 
RDT Mark Wheeler
Mark Wheeler

Mark Anthony Wheeler was an American football defensive tackle who played eight seasons in the National Football League. He started in Super Bowl XXXI for the New England Patriots....
Sean Jones
Sean Jones (defensive end)

Dwight Sean Jones is a former American football defensive end, who played for the Oakland Raiders , Tennessee Titans , and the Green Bay Packers ....
 
RE Willie McGinest
Willie McGinest

William Lee "Willie" McGinest, Jr, , is an American football linebacker for the Cleveland Browns....
Wayne Simmons
Wayne Simmons (American football)

Wayne General Simmons was an American football linebacker in the National Football League.Simmons, an integral part of Clemson Tigers footballs #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....
 
LOLB Todd Collins
Todd Collins (linebacker)

Todd Collins is a former National Football League linebacker. He Starting lineup for the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI, and Super Bowl XXXIV for the Rams....
Ron Cox MLB Ted Johnson
Ted Johnson

Ted Curtis Johnson is a former American football player in the National Football League. He grew up in Carlsbad, California where he graduated from Carlsbad High School in 1991....
Brian Williams ROLB Chris Slade
Chris Slade (American football)

Christopher Carroll Slade is a former American football linebacker who played in the National Football League. He played most of his career with the New England Patriots....
Doug Evans
Doug Evans (American football)

Douglas Edwards Evans is a former American football cornerback and Safety in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 6th round of the 1993 NFL Draft out of Louisiana Tech University....
 
LCB Ty Law
Ty Law

Tajuan "Ty" Law is an American football cornerback for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots 23rd overall in the 1995 NFL Draft....
Craig Newsome
Craig Newsome

Craig Newsome is a former National Football League cornerback who played for the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers....
 
RCB Otis Smith
Otis Smith

Otis Smith may refer to:*Otis Smith , American basketball player*Otis Smith , American football player*Otis M. Smith, justice on the Michigan Supreme Court...
LeRoy Butler
LeRoy Butler

LeRoy Butler, III is a former American football Defensive back who played his entire career with the Green Bay Packers . He spent his childhood in Jacksonville, FL, challenged by physical problems that forced him to wear leg braces and use a wheelchair at times while undergoing therapy....
 
SS Lawyer Milloy
Lawyer Milloy

Lawyer Milloy is an American football Safety who currently plays for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. Milloy was a member of the Patriots Super Bowl XXXVI championship team ....
Eugene Robinson
Eugene Robinson

Eugene Keefe Robinson is a retired professional American football player who played Safety . He played college football at Colgate University#Athletics....
 
FS Willie Clay
Willie Clay

Willie James Clay , nicknamed "Big Play Willie Clay", is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, and New Orleans Saints....


Officials

  • Referee: Gerald Austin
    Gerald Austin

    Dr. Gerald "Gerry" Austin was an American football official in the National Football League since the 1982 NFL season. He wore uniform number 34....
  • Umpire: Ron Botchan
    Ron Botchan

    Ronald Leslie "Ron" Botchan was an American football linebacker in the American Football League from 1960 AFL season to 1962 AFL season and later as American football official in the National Football League from 1980 to 2002....
  • Head Linesman: Earnie Frantz
  • Line Judge: Jeff Bergman
  • Field Judge: Phil Luckett
    Phil Luckett

    Phil Luckett is a back judge in the National Football League . His officiating uniform number was 59. He entered the NFL as a field judge in 1991 NFL season, was a referee from 1997-2000, and has since returned to the back judge position ....
  • Side Judge: Tom Fincken
  • Back Judge: Scott Steenson
  • Alternate Referee: Ed Hochuli
    Ed Hochuli

    Edward G. Hochuli is an Lawyer for the firm of Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, P.L.C. since 1983 and better known as an American football Official in the National Football League since the 1990 NFL season....
  • Alternate Umpire: Neil Gereb


Game time and weather conditions

  • 6:00 p.m. EST/5:00 p.m. CST
    Central Time zone

    The Central Time Zone is in the Americas and observes standard time by subtracting six hours from Coordinated Universal Time during standard time and five hours during daylight saving time ....
  • , indoors


See also

  • 1996 NFL season
    1996 NFL season

    The 1996 NFL season was the 77th regular season of the National Football League and the season was marked by notable controversies from beginning to end....
  • NFL playoffs, 1996-97
    NFL playoffs, 1996-97

    The NFL playoffs following the 1996 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXI....


External links

  • Video.
  • (Last accessed December 4, 2005)
  • from USA Today
    USA Today

    'USA TODAY' is a national United States daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Allen Neuharth. The paper has the widest newspaper circulation of any newspaper in the United States , and among English-language broadsheets, it comes second worldwide, behind only the 2.6 million daily paid copies of The Times of...
     (Last accessed September 28, 2005)
  • from The Sports Network (Last accessed October 16, 2005)