NFL Super Bowl Winners

Super Bowl XXXI played on January 26, 1997, was won by the Champions of the NFC the Green Bay Packers who defeated the AFC Champions the New England Patriots at the Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Green Bay Packers had finished 1st in the 1996 NFC Central Division coached by Mike Holmgren with a regular season record of 13-3-0. The Packers point scoring average had been 28.5 points per game which made their offense 1st best of 30 in the NFL and they had a points allowed average of 13.1 points conceded per game which ranked their defense 1st in the league.

The Green Bay Packers postseason games began with the NFC Divisional Playoffs in which their opponents were the San Francisco 49ers.

The San Francisco 49ers had finished 2nd (but with identical win record to the Carolina Panthers) in the 1996 NFC West Division coached by George Seifert with a regular season record of 12-4-0. The 49ers point scoring average had been 24.9 points per game which made their offense 3rd best of 30 in the NFL and they had a points allowed average of 16.1 points conceded per game which ranked their defense 4th in the league. The San Francisco 49ers had reached the playoffs as a Wild Card team and in their NFC Wild Card Game they had beaten the Philadelphia Eagles by 14 points to 0.

In regular season the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers had played against each other once when the Packers playing with home field advantage had won a tight game by 23 points to 20.

For the 1996 NFC Divisional Playoff tie between the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers it was the Packers who once again had home field advantage.

This was a very good tie and in other seasons would have more than passed as a Championship Game. However, the Packers showing somewhat more authority over the 49ers than they had in regular season won by 35 points to 14.

The Green Bay Packers next playoff game was the NFC Championship where their opponents were the Carolina Panthers.

The Carolina Panthers had finished 1st in the 1996 NFC West Division coached by Dom Capers with a regular season record of 12-4-0. The Panthers point scoring average had been 22.9 points per game which made their offense 7th best of 30 in the NFL and they had a points allowed average of 13.6 points conceded per game which ranked their defense 2nd in the league.

In regular season the Green Bay Packers and the Carolina Panthers had not played against each other but looking for pointers it was the Packers who definitely had the edge in offense and defense plus a better win record.

In the 1996 Conference Championship the Green Bay Packers proved to be the classier team and beat the Carolina Panthers quite easily by 30 - 13.

The Green Bay Packers opponents in Super Bowl XXXI were the New England Patriots.

The New England Patriots had finished 1st in the 1996 AFC East Division coached by Bill Parcells with a regular season record of 11-5-0. The Patriots point scoring average had been 26.1 points per game which made their offense 2nd best of 30 in the NFL and they had a points allowed average of 19.6 points conceded per game which ranked their defense 14th in the league.

The New England Patriots playoff season games began with the AFC Divisional Playoffs in which their opponents were the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Pittsburgh Steelers had finished 1st in the 1996 AFC Central Division coached by Bill Cowher with a regular season record of 10-6-0. The Steelers point scoring average had been 21.5 points per game which made their offense 11th best of 30 in the NFL and they had a points allowed average of 16.1 points conceded per game which ranked their defense 4th in the league. The Pittsburgh Steelers had reached the playoffs as a Wild Card team and in their AFC Wild Card Game they had beaten the Indianapolis Colts by 42 points to 14.

In regular season the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers had not played against each other. However, the Patriots did have a somewhat superior offense and on that basis looked to be the stronger of the two teams.

The 1996 AFC Divisional Playoff Game between the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers was won by the Patriots in good style by 28 points to 3.

The New England Patriots next playoff game was in the AFC Championship and their opponents were the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Jacksonville Jaguars had finished 2nd in the 1996 AFC Central Division coached by Tom Coughlin with a regular season record of 9-7-0. The Jaguars point scoring average had been 20.3 points per game which made their offense 14th best of 30 in the NFL and they had a points allowed average of 20.9 points conceded per game which ranked their defense 19th in the league. The Jacksonville Jaguars had reached the playoffs as a Wild Card team and in their AFC Wild Card Game they had beaten the Buffalo Bills by 30 points to 27. The Jaguars had then played the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional Playoffs who they had beat 30 - 27.

During regular season the New England Patriots and the Jacksonville Jaguars had played against each other once when the Patriots had won a tight game by 28 points to 25.

Overall though the Patriots looked to be a far superior team to the Jaguars as they had the better averages for points scored and conceded, a better win record and they had already beaten the Jags in regular season. Plus they were playing with home field advantage.

In the 1996 AFC Championship between the New England Patriots and the Jacksonville Jaguars it was the Patriots who easily won by 20 - 6.

Super Bowl XXXI appeared to have an odds on favorite in the Green Bay Packers. The Packers were the number 1 team from regular season in both offense and defense and they had won their NFC Playoff Games against very good opposition in good style. The Packers form looked rock solid.

The New England Patriots certainly had done nothing wrong when winning their AFC Playoff Games but the standard of opposition that they had faced was not particularly strong. However, they were a good attacking side and not to be underestimated.

The first quarter of Super Bowl XXXI saw the Green Bay Packers score the early points and they built up a 10 - 0 lead following an Andre Rison touchdown, Chris Jacke kick and a Chris Jacke field goal.

Before the end of the quarter though the New England Patriots struck back with two touchdowns of their own, one from Keith Byars and the other from Ben Coates along with two successful kicks by Adam Vinatieri.

The Patriots led 14 - 10.

In the second quarter the Packers relentlessly pushed forward and scored two more touchdowns, one from Antonio Freeman and the other by Brett Favre . The Packers also scored a Chris Jacke field goal along with two successful kicks also from Jacke.

By half-time the Green Bay Packers led 27 - 14.

The third quarter saw the New England Patriots reduce the deficit after they scored from a touchdown by Curtis Martin and a kick by Adam Vinatieri but the Packers still led 27 - 21.

Only 17 seconds after the Patriots had given themselves a chance in the game it was the Packers who scored another touchdown from a 99 yard kick-off return by Desmond Howard. This was followed by a 2 point conversion when Brett Favre found Mark Chmura.

Neither team scored in the fourth quarter.

The Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl XXXI by 35 points to 21.

Desmond Howard the the Green Bay Packers punt / kick returner was awarded the Super Bowl XXXI MVP after he totaled 90 punt return yards and 154 kickoff return yards along with one touchdown. Howard was the first player to ever win a Super Bowl Most Valuable Player based solely on a special teams performance.

Note
The Green Bay Packers playoff averages were 33.3 points scored per game (28.5 regular season) and an average of 16 points conceded per game (13.1 regular season).

The New England Patriots playoff averages were 23 points scored per game (26.1 regular season) and an average of 14.7 points conceded per game (19.6 regular season).

In Conclusion
The Green Bay Packers had been the best team all regular season and were still the best after Super Bowl XXXI!

Team	1	2	3	4	OT / Overtime	T / Total
New England Patriots (AFC)	14	0	7	0	-	21
Green Bay Packers (NFC)	10	17	8	0	-	35