NFL Super Bowl Winners

Super Bowl XXXII played on January 25, 1998, was won by the Champions of the AFC the Denver Broncos who defeated the NFC Champions the Green Bay Packers at the Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California.

The Denver Broncos had finished 2nd in the 1997 AFC West Division coached by Mike Shanahan with a regular season record of 12-4-0. The Broncos point scoring average had been 29.5 points per game which made their offense 1st best of 30 in the NFL and they had a points allowed average of 17.9 points conceded per game which ranked their defense 6th in the league. Although the Denver Broncos had been one of the better teams during regular season their route to the playoffs was as a Wild Card and in their AFC Wild Card Game they had beaten the Jacksonville Jaguars by 42 points to 17.

After the AFC Wild Card Game the Denver Broncos next playoff opponents were the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Playoffs.

The Kansas City Chiefs had finished 1st in the 1997 AFC West Division coached by Marty Schottenheimer with a regular season record of 13-3-0. The Chiefs point scoring average had been 23.4 points per game which made their offense 5th best of 30 in the NFL and they had a points allowed average of 14.5 points conceded per game which ranked their defense 1st in the league.

In regular season the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs had played against each other twice. The Broncos had won the first game easily when playing with home field advantage by 19 points to 3 but they had then lost to the Chiefs in a tight game when playing in Kansas City by 24 points to 22.

For the 1997 AFC Divisional Playoff tie between the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs it was the Chiefs who had home field advantage.

The Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs were two good teams. Both ranked highly in the league for both offense and defense although looking at their averages for point scoring then the Denver Broncos had actually managed to score just over 6 points more per game on average than the Chiefs. The Broncos definitely held the upper hand in offense. Having said that, there was a difference in the points allowed averages as the Broncos had conceded on average over 3 points per game more than the Chiefs.

Please let me do my rule of thumb mathematics. The Broncos were capable of scoring over six points per game more than the Chiefs but conceded over 3 points more too. That could still leave the Broncos about 3 points ahead. How easy spread betting must be!

The Denver Broncos may have been the Wild Card team but they did the business alright to beat the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Playoffs by 14 points to 10 (not quite the 3 guesstimated above).

The Denver Broncos next playoff game was the AFC Championship where their opponents were the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Pittsburgh Steelers had finished 1st in the 1997 AFC Central Division coached by Bill Cowher with a regular season record of 11-5-0. The Steelers point scoring average had been 23.2 points per game which made their offense 7th best of 30 in the NFL and they had a points allowed average of 19.2 points conceded per game which ranked their defense 11th in the league.

In regular season the Denver Broncos and the Pittsburgh Steelers had played against each other once when it had been the Pittsburgh Steelers who had won quite comfortably by 35 points to 24. This could be considered a bit of an upset as the Broncos did appear to be the stronger in both offense and defense. Maybe it had been just an off day for the Broncos.

In the 1997 Conference Championship the Denver Broncos did manage to gain their revenge over the Pittsburgh Steelers but it was a close game and they only won by 24 - 21.

The Denver Broncos opponents in Super Bowl XXXII were the defending Super Bowl Champion′s the Green Bay Packers.

The Green Bay Packers had finished 1st in the 1997 NFC Central Division coached by Mike Holmgren with a regular season record of 13-3-0. The Packers point scoring average had been 26.4 points per game which made their offense 2nd best of 30 in the NFL and they had a points allowed average of 17.6 points conceded per game which ranked their defense 5th in the league.

The Green Bay Packers playoff season games began with the NFC Divisional Playoffs in which their opponents were the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had finished 2nd in the 1997 NFC Central Division coached by Tony Dungy with a regular season record of 10-6-0. The Buccaneers point scoring average had been 18.7 points per game which made their offense 23rd best of 30 in the NFL and they had a points allowed average of 16.4 points conceded per game which ranked their defense 2nd in the league. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had reached the playoffs as a Wild Card team and in their NFC Wild Card Game they had beaten the Detroit Lions by 20 points to 10.

In regular season the Green Bay Packers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had played against each other twice. The Green Bay Packers had won both times and they looked all set to make it the hat trick of victories over their fellow NFC Central rivals.

Sure enough the Green Bay Packers beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1997 AFC Divisional Playoff Game winning by 21 points to 7.

The Green Bay Packers next playoff game was in the NFC Championship and their opponents were the San Francisco 49ers.

The San Francisco 49ers had finished 1st in the 1997 NFC West Division coached by Steve Mariucci with a regular season record of 13-3-0. The 49ers point scoring average had been 23.4 points per game which made their offense 5th best of 30 in the NFL and they had a points allowed average of 16.6 points conceded per game which ranked their defense 3rd in the league.

During regular season the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers had not played against each other but the Packers had been the better point scoring team of the two by a nice margin. However, the 49ers had been the better defensively but not by a great way and I would say that the Packers would of had to be favorite to take the Championship.

In the 1997 NFC Championship between the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers it was the Packers who won quite comfortably by 23 to 10.

Super Bowl XXXII between the Denver Broncos and the Green Bay Packers had brought together two teams that were not only two of the very best teams from regular season but also quite fairly matched. However, although they were best and 2nd best in offense the Broncos had actually scored on average over 3 points more per game in regular season than the Packers. Defensive average difference was miniscule.

In regular season the Denver Broncos and the Green Bay Packers had not played against each other but as regards picking out a team to win Super Bowl XXXII one would have had to go for the team that was the more likely to score some points and that team was the Denver Broncos.

In the first quarter of Super Bowl XXXII it was the Green Bay Packers who opened the scoring when they got a touchdown scored by Antonio Freeman followed by a Ryan Longwell kick.

The Denvers Broncos soon responded with a touchdown of their own from Terrell Davis along with a Jason Elam kick.

At the end of the first quarter the scores were level 7 - 7.

The second quarter saw the Broncos open up a 10 point lead after a John Elway touchdown, a Jason Elam kick and an Elam field goal. However, the Packers closed the gap to just 3 points when scoring a touchdown by Mark Chmura and a Ryan Longwell kick.

At half-time the score was 17 - 14 to the Broncos.

In the third quarter the Packers levelled the scores when Ryan Longwell scored a field goal but with only 34 seconds left in this period of play the Broncos got themselves back in front again when Terrell Davis scored touchdown and Jason Elam kicked successfully at goal.

The Broncos now led 24 -17.

In the fourth quarter it was the Green Bay Packers who came back again and levelled the scores once more with an Antonio Freeman touchdown and a Ryan Longwell kick.

However, in a game that went right to the wire the Broncos then managed to push their noses back in front. With just 1 minute 45 seconds left on the clock they scored with a touchdown by Terrell Davis and then Jason Elam kicked successfully at goal.

The Denver Broncos won Super Bowl XXXII by 31 points to 24.

Terrell Davis the Denver Broncos running back was named Super Bowl XXXII Most Valuable Player after he rushed for 157 yards and scored 3 touchdowns. Davis was the first player in the history of the Super Bowl to score 3 rushing touchdowns.

Note
The Denver Broncos playoff averages (not including the Wild Card Game) were 23 points scored per game (29.5 regular season) and an average of 18.3 points conceded per game (17.9 regular season).

The Denver Broncos playoff averages (including the Wild Card Game) were 27.8 points scored per game (29.5 regular season) and an average of 18 points conceded per game (17.9 regular season).

The Green Bay Packers playoff averages were 22.7 points scored per game (26.4 regular season) and an average of 16 points conceded per game (17.6 regular season).

In Conclusion
Quite a weird set of average figures for point scoring and conceding for both teams during the playoffs. Improvement can normally be seen in either offense or defense and quite often both but not in this case.

I suppose if one include′s the Wild Card Game in the Broncos averages then at least there is a noticeable difference between the two teams.

The Broncos obviously could score when it mattered most.

Team	1	2	3	4	OT / Overtime	T / Total
Green Bay Packers (NFC)	7	7	3	7	-	24
Denver Broncos (AFC)	7	10	7	7	-	31