1996 · Super Bowl XXXI · Game 1

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Super Bowl XXXI

New England Patriots at Green Bay Packers

Sun January 26, 1997 · Louisiana Superdome, kickoff 6:30pm

Pregame

Pregame: Super Bowl XXXI
AI summary based on verified facts

Super Bowl XXXI: New England Patriots face Green Bay Packers at Louisiana Superdome. Kickoff: Sun January 26, 1997 at 6:30pm. Winner takes home the Lombardi Trophy. There is no next week for the loser.[1][2]

Columnist
AI summary based on verified facts

Super Bowl XXXI is the season's final accounting for 1996. New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers arrive at Louisiana Superdome carrying every snap they have played since training camp. Championship games strip the rest of the schedule away; what is left is whichever team executes its identity longest under the brightest light. The narrative that wins is the one with the trophy attached. Lose, and the season collapses into a footnote no matter how it was played.

Around the league
AI summary based on verified facts

The whole league is watching New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers. Two conferences have produced their finalists; the rest of the 1996 season is already in the books. The Lombardi is decided here. Every other team's offseason calendar starts the morning after this kickoff.

Trend analyst
AI summary based on verified facts

New England Patriots versus Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl XXXI. The teams who reach this round have already proven they survive a long schedule; the stats that matter most now are the ones that compress: scoring differential, red-zone efficiency, turnover margin. At this stage of the year, the simple math is that defenses tighten and the team that protects the ball wins more often than the team that scores the most. Whichever side of New England Patriots-Green Bay Packers cleans up the careless plays first usually walks out with the result. Conservative-game expectations should not surprise the reader; both staffs know exactly what worked all season and will lean hard on what travels. The early answer is the kicking game, where any swing of field position compounds.

League standings entering Week 18

Standings as of kickoff, Week 18 (no future-game spoilers)

Around the league

  • Tied atop the league at 13-3: Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers.

AFC

AFC Central

TeamRecStrk
Pittsburgh Steelers10-6L2
Jacksonville Jaguars9-7W5
Cincinnati Bengals8-8W3
Houston Oilers8-8W1
Baltimore Ravens4-12L3

AFC East

TeamRecStrk
New England Patriots11-5W1
Buffalo Bills10-6W1
Indianapolis Colts9-7L1
Miami Dolphins8-8W2
New York Jets1-15L7

AFC West

TeamRecStrk
Denver Broncos13-3L1
Kansas City Chiefs9-7L3
San Diego Chargers8-8W1
Oakland Raiders7-9L2
Seattle Seahawks7-9W1

NFC

NFC West

TeamRecStrk
Carolina Panthers12-4W7
San Francisco 49ers12-4W2
St. Louis Rams6-10W2
Atlanta Falcons3-13L2
New Orleans Saints3-13L1

NFC Central

TeamRecStrk
Green Bay Packers13-3W5
Minnesota Vikings9-7L1
Chicago Bears7-9L1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers6-10W1
Detroit Lions5-11L5

NFC East

TeamRecStrk
Dallas Cowboys10-6L1
Philadelphia Eagles10-6W2
Washington Redskins9-7W1
Arizona Cardinals7-9--
New York Giants6-10L2

Game video

▶ Open in YouTube Green Bay vs. New England (Super Bowl XXXI, 1996) Green Bay's Greatest Games · channel: OberSports

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More of this game (10):
Brett Favre's First Super Bowl Win! | Packers vs. Patriots Super Bowl XXXI | NFL Full GameBrett Favre's First Super Bowl Win! | Packers vs. Patriots Super Bowl XXXI | NFL Full GameSuper Bowl XXXI Recap: Patriots vs. Packers | NFLSuper Bowl XXXI Recap: Patriots vs. Packers | NFLGreen Bay Packers vs. New England Patriots 1996: NFL Super Bowl XXXI Champions | Full DocumentaryGreen Bay Packers vs. New England Patriots 1996: NFL Super Bowl XXXI Champions | Full DocumentarySuper Bowl XXXI Green Bay 35 New England 21Super Bowl XXXI Green Bay 35 New England 21SUPERBOWL XXXI Patriots vs Packers Fox introSUPERBOWL XXXI Patriots vs Packers Fox introSuper Bowl XXXI - New England Patriots vs Green Bay Packers January 26th 1997 HighlightsSuper Bowl XXXI - New England Patriots vs Green Bay Packers January 26th 1997 Highlights1/26/97 New England Patriots vs Green Bay Packers Super Bowl XXXI (31) Highlights1/26/97 New England Patriots vs Green Bay Packers Super Bowl XXXI (31) HighlightsSUPERBOWL XXXI Patriots vs Packers Highlights (Fox Intro) 3 sacks by Reggie WhiteSUPERBOWL XXXI Patriots vs Packers Highlights (Fox Intro) 3 sacks by Reggie WhiteAmericas Game The 1996 Green Bay Packers Super Bowl XXXIAmericas Game The 1996 Green Bay Packers Super Bowl XXXISuper Bowl XXXI 1996 Green Bay Packers Championship Ring | thechampionrings.comSuper Bowl XXXI 1996 Green Bay Packers Championship Ring | thechampionrings.com
Around the league this week (1):
#40: Reggie White Super Bowl XXXI Highlights | Top 50 Super Bowl Performances#40: Reggie White Super Bowl XXXI Highlights | Top 50 Super Bowl Performances

Game info

Roof
dome
Surface
astroturf
Vegas line
Green Bay Packers -14
Over/Under
52 (over)

Score

Reveal through:

New England Patriots None, Green Bay Packers None

1234T
New England Patriots140701414212121
Green Bay Packers1017801027353535

Scoring plays

Q1

TeamPlayScore
PackersAndre Rison 54 yard pass from Brett Favre ( Chris Jacke kick)0-7
PackersChris Jacke 37 yard field goal0-10
PatriotsKeith Byars 1 yard pass from Drew Bledsoe ( Adam Vinatieri kick)7-10
PatriotsBen Coates 4 yard pass from Drew Bledsoe ( Adam Vinatieri kick)14-10

Q2

TeamPlayScore
PackersAntonio Freeman 81 yard pass from Brett Favre ( Chris Jacke kick)14-17
PackersChris Jacke 31 yard field goal14-20
PackersBrett Favre 2 yard rush ( Chris Jacke kick)14-27

Q3

TeamPlayScore
PatriotsCurtis Martin 18 yard rush ( Adam Vinatieri kick)21-27
PackersDesmond Howard 99 yard kickoff return ( Mark Chmura pass from Brett Favre )21-35

Q4

TeamPlayScore
No scoring this quarter.

Recap

Recap
AI summary based on verified facts

Green Bay Packers defeated New England Patriots 35-21 at Louisiana Superdome in the Super Bowl XXXI. The final scoring play was Packers: Desmond Howard 99 yard kickoff return ( Mark Chmura pass from Brett Favre ). Top line of the day: Drew Bledsoe: 253 pass yards on 25-of-48, 2 TD, 4 INT. Green Bay Packers take home the Lombardi Trophy.[1][2]

Columnist recap
AI summary based on verified facts

Green Bay Packers walked out of Louisiana Superdome as the team that survived a Super Bowl XXXI New England Patriots will replay in its head for the entire offseason. The scoreboard says 35-21. The final scoring play came from Packers: Desmond Howard 99 yard kickoff return ( Mark Chmura pass from Brett Favre ). Whether it was the game-decider or just the period at the end of the sentence depends on what the camera caught earlier. Green Bay Packers hoist the Lombardi.

By the numbers
AI summary based on verified facts

Green Bay Packers 35, New England Patriots 21. Round: Super Bowl XXXI. Attendance: 72301. Q1: 4 scoring plays. Q2: 3 scoring plays. Q3: 2 scoring plays. Top performers:
- Drew Bledsoe: 253 pass yards on 25-of-48, 2 TD, 4 INT
- Dorsey Levens: 61 rush yards on 14 carries
- Antonio Freeman: 3 catches for 105 yards

Film room
AI summary based on verified facts

Super Bowl XXXI, played at Louisiana Superdome. Final: New England Patriots 21, Green Bay Packers 35, with Green Bay Packers taking the result by 14. **First quarter**

- Packers: Andre Rison 54 yard pass from Brett Favre ( Chris Jacke kick)
- Packers: Chris Jacke 37 yard field goal
- Patriots: Keith Byars 1 yard pass from Drew Bledsoe ( Adam Vinatieri kick)
- Patriots: Ben Coates 4 yard pass from Drew Bledsoe ( Adam Vinatieri kick)

Second quarter

- Packers: Antonio Freeman 81 yard pass from Brett Favre ( Chris Jacke kick)
- Packers: Chris Jacke 31 yard field goal
- Packers: Brett Favre 2 yard rush ( Chris Jacke kick)

Third quarter

- Patriots: Curtis Martin 18 yard rush ( Adam Vinatieri kick)
- Packers: Desmond Howard 99 yard kickoff return ( Mark Chmura pass from Brett Favre )

Top performers

- Drew Bledsoe: 253 pass yards on 25-of-48, 2 TD, 4 INT
- Dorsey Levens: 61 rush yards on 14 carries
- Antonio Freeman: 3 catches for 105 yards

Box score

PatriotsPackers
Team totals
First Downs1616
Total Yards257323
Turnovers40
Passing
Comp/Att25/4814/27
Pass yards253246
Pass TD22
Interceptions40
Sacks taken55
Sack yards lost3938
Net pass yards214208
Rushing
Rushes1336
Rush yards43115
Rush TD11
Discipline
Fumbles00
Fumbles lost00
Penalties23
Penalty yards2241

Passing

PlayerC/AYdsTDIntRate
NWE
Drew Bledsoe25/4825324
GNB
Brett Favre14/2724620

Rushing

PlayerAttYdsTDLong
NWE
Curtis Martin1142118
Drew Bledsoe1101
Dave Meggett1000
GNB
Dorsey Levens1461012
Edgar Bennett1740010
Brett Favre412112
William Henderson1202

Receiving

PlayerRecYdsTDLong
NWE
Ben Coates667119
Terry Glenn462044
Keith Byars442132
Shawn Jefferson334014
Curtis Martin328020
Vincent Brisby21207
Dave Meggett3805
GNB
Antonio Freeman3105181
Andre Rison277154
Dorsey Levens323014
William Henderson21408
Mark Chmura21308
Keith Jackson110010
Edgar Bennett1404

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