Super Bowl XXXI
Green Bay 35, New England 21
The NFC's Super Bowl win streak reached 13 games, thanks to big plays from Brett Favre and Desmond Howard that fueled the Packers. Favre threw for two touchdowns and ran for a third, while Howard's 99-yard kickoff-return TD in the third quarter stemmed New England's momentum. On Green Bay's second play from scrimmage, Favre hit Andre Rison for a 54-yard touchdown and he later connected with Antonio Freeman on an 81-yarder. But it wasn't until Howard's return late in the third quarter that the Packers' lead was safe.
January 26, 1997
Louisiana Superdome
Attendance 72,301
Desmond Howard returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown and Brett Favre passed for 2 touchdowns and ran for a score as the Packers won their first Super Bowl in twenty-nine years. Howard, en route to garnering the MVP trophy, equaled a Super Bowl record with 244 total return yards. It was Favre's arm that struck first, as he hit Andre Rison for a 54-yard touchdown pass on the Packers' second play from scrimmage to take a 7-0 lead. Two plays later, Doug Evans made a diving interception of Drew Bledsoe's pass at the 28-yard line, setting up Chris Jacke's field goal and giving the Packers a 10-0 lead just 6:18 into the Super Bowl. The Patriots answered with touchdowns on their next two possessions. Craig Newsome's pass interference penalty set up the first touchdown and a 44-yard completion from Bledsoe to Terry Glenn preceding Ben Coates' touchdown gave New England its first and only lead. The 24 combined first quarter points were the most in Super Bowl history. Green Bay struck again 56 seconds into the second quarter as Favre hit Antonio Freeman with a Super Bowl-record 81-yard touchdown bomb. Jacke booted his second field goal on Green Bay's next possession. After a Mike Prior interception, Favre orchestrated a 74-yard, nearly 6-minute drive that concluded with a diving Favre touching the ball against the pylon to give Green Bay a 27-14 halftime lead. Curtis Martin brought the Patriots to within a score by running in from 18 yards out with 3:27 left in the third quarter. But Howard broke the Patriots' spirit by returning the ensuing kickoff a Super Bowl-record 99 yards. Favre found Mark Chmura for the 2-point conversion to finish the scoring. Bledsoe was intercepted twice in the fourth quarter as the Patriots never crossed midfield in 4 fourth-quarter possessions. Reggie White set a Super Bowl record with 3 sacks. Favre completed 14 of 27 passes for 246 yards, with no interceptions. Bledsoe completed 11 more passes than Favre, but for just 7 more yards, and threw 4 interceptions.
Game Notes
The Patriots were within 6 points (27-21) in the 3rd quarter, but Green Bay's 4 interceptions and a kickoff return for a touchdown helped the Packers to victory.
The 2 teams combined for a Super Bowl record 24 points in the 1st quarter. (New England 14, Green Bay 10)
Green Bay's Desmond Howard became the first special teams player to be awarded the Super Bowl MVP trophy.
The New England Patriots take on the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXI on January 26, 1997 at the Louisiana Superdome.
New England Patriots coach Bill Parcells reacts to second quarter action against the Green Bay Packers during Super Bowl XXXI at the Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Jan. 26, 1997. (AP Photo/John Gaps III)
New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe (11) huddles with his teammates during the NFL Super Bowl XXXI game against the Green Bay Packers on January 26, 1997, in New Orleans. The Packers defeated the Patriots 35-21. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
New England Patriots offense lines up against the Green Bay Packers defense during the NFL Super Bowl XXXI game on January 26, 1997, in New Orleans. The Packers defeated the Patriots 35-21. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
New England Patriots Curtis Martin plays in Super Bowl XXXI against Green Bay Packers at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans LA. on January 26,1997. (AP Photo by Tom DiPace)
FILE Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre reacts after his touchdown pass to Andre Rison during the first quarter of Super Bowl XXXI at the Superdome in New Orleans, in this Jan. 26, 1997 file photo. Brett Favre has decided to retire from the NFL after 17 seasons. FOX Sports first reported Tuesday March 4, 2008 that the Green Bay Packers quarterback informed the team in the last few days. (AP Photo/Doug Mills, file)
FILE - IN this Jan. 26, 1997, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe throws as Green Bay Packers' Reggie White (92) and Santana Dotson, right, defend during NFL football's Super Bowl XXXI against the New England Patriots in New Orleans. The Packers' defense took over in the fourth quarter, intercepting Bledsoe twice, and preventing the Patriots from crossing midfield in four possessions and the Packers won 35-21. (AP Photo/Eric Draper, File)
The Superdome is awash in colors during halftime of Super Bowl XXXI Sunday, Jan. 26, 1997, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
The New England Patriots attempt to block a field goal in the first quarter of Super Bowl XXXI Sunday, Jan. 26, 1997 at the Superdome in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
New England Patriots' Keith Byars (41) celebrates his first-quarter touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during Super Bowl XXXI Sunday, Jan. 26, 1997, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Parcells, right, congratulates Green Bay Packers coach Mike Holmgren after the Packers defeated the Patriots 35-21 in Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans Sunday Jan. 26, 1997. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
New England Patriots' Keith Byars, left, congratulates Curtis Martin after Martin scored in the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers during Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans Sunday Jan. 26, 1997. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
New England Patriots coach Bill Parcells watches his team against the Green Bay Packers during the first quarter of Super Bowl XXXI Sunday, Jan. 26, 1997, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
New England Patriots' David Meggett (22) runs with the ball as Green Bay Packers' Jeff Thomason tries to bring him down in the second quarter of Super Bowl XXXI Sunday, Jan. 26, 1997 at the Superdome in New Orleans.(AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Smoke rises from the field during pre-game festivities for Super Bowl XXXI at the Superdome in New Orleans Sunday, Jan. 26, 1997. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
New England Patriots' Keith Byars runs through Green Bay Packers defenders during the first quarter of Super Bowl XXXI Sunday, Jan. 26, 1997, in New Orleans. At right is Patriots' Bob Kratch (61) (AP Photo/Hans Deryk)
Green Bay Packers' Andre Rison (84) tries to catch a pass in the second quarter of Super Bowl XXXI Sunday, Jan. 26, 1997 at the Superdome in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
New England Patriots Keith Byars sits on the bench after the Patriots lost to the Green Bay Packers 35-21 in Super Bowl XXXI Sunday, Jan. 26, 1997, in New Orleans. The Packers won 35-21. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Green Bay Packers LeRoy Butler, left, pulls down New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe during Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans Sunday Jan. 26, 1997. Patriots David Meggett (22) tries to block Butler. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
New England Patriots Hason Graham (81) returns the opening kickoff against the Green Bay Packers during the first quarter of Super Bowl XXXI Sunday, Jan. 26, 1997, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
Green Bay Packers' Desmond Howard (81) returns a 99-yard kickoff return against the New England Patriots during the third quarter of Super Bowl XXXI Sunday, Jan. 26, 1997, in New Orleans. Patroit's Mike McGruder follows the play. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Green Bay Packers' Desmond Howard (81) heads out on a 99-yard kickoff return during the third quarter against New England Patriots during Super Bowl XXXI Sunday, Jan. 26, 1997, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe (11) sets to pass against the Green Bay Packers at Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans on January 26, 1997. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
New England Patriots All-Pro tight end Ben Coates drags a pair of Green Bay Packers along for the ride after a pass reception at Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans on January 26, 1997. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre (4) sneaks into the corner of the endzone for a 2-yard touchdown run during Super Bowl XXXI, a 35-21 victory over the New England Patriots on January 26, 1997, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. Super Bowl XXXI - New England Patriots vs Green Bay Packers - January 26, 1997 (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre (4) gets his pass off despite the pressure from New England Patriots linebacker Chris Slade (53) during Super Bowl XXXI, a 35-21 Green Bay Packers victory over the New England Patriots on January 26, 1996, at the (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre (4) looks downfield during Super Bowl XXXI, a 35-21 Green Bay Packers victory over the New England Patriots on January 26, 1996, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Super Bowl XXXI Program cover. Super Bowl XXXI - New England Patriots vs Green Bay Packers - January 26, 1997 (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Quarterback Drew Bledsoe (11) of the New England Patriots drops back to pass during the NFL Super Bowl XXXI game against the Green Bay Packers on January 26, 1997 in New Orleans. The Packers defeated the Patriots 35-21. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
