Ranking the Super Bowls, #32: Super Bowl XXXI

(photo credit: kaynetothe.com)

Super Bowl XXXI was a game between two teams that rose to supremacy in the 1990s, as the New England Patriots took on the Green Bay Packers at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, LA.

Both of these teams were looked at as mainly losers during the ‘70s and ‘80s, but they got back to the top of the totem pole. After Green Bay hired head coach Mike Holmgren, and after they brought in quarterback Brett Favre, the team was back to its winning ways that once made them an NFL power in the ‘60s.

The Patriots fortunes turned when they hired head coach Bill Parcells, and when they drafted quarterback Drew Bledsoe. New England advanced to their second Super Bowl in franchise history after posting an 11-5 record during the regular season. Green Bay recorded an NFC-best 13-3 record during the 1996 season. Favre won the NFL’s Most Valuable Player Award during the 1996 season, after throwing for 3,899 yards and an NFC record 39 touchdowns.

The Patriots defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-3, and the Jacksonville Jaguars 20-6, in the playoffs on the way to the Super Bowl. Green Bay defeated the San Francisco 49ers 35-14, and the Carolina Panthers 30-13, on their way to yet another Super Bowl. Green Bay entered the game as large favorites, as they were favored to win by 14 points.

This was the first Super Bowl broadcast by FOX, as it was the highest rated program that FOX had ever broadcasted at the time. The game began with the two teams combining to score 24 points in the first quarter, which was the most in the Super Bowl history. New England held the 14-10 lead at the end of the first, but it didn’t take long for the Packers to take over the game.

Green Bay dominated the Patriots in the second quarter, as they outscored New England 17-0, which helped the Packers take a 27-14 lead at the halftime break. The Patriots scored a touchdown to cut the lead to six, but the Packers put the game away after a touchdown and a two-point conversion put them up two touchdowns. The score would remain the same the rest of the way, as the Packers defeated the Patriots 35-21, to claim the franchise’s third Super Bowl, and their first one since Super Bowl II.

Former Hesiman Trophy winner Desmond Howard took home Super Bowl MVP honors. Howard returned a kickoff for a then Super Bowl record 99-yard kick return touchdown. Howard became the first special teams player ever to win Super Bowl MVP. Howard tied the Super Bowl record for most total return yards (244), and he set the Super Bowl record for most punt return yards in a game (90).

Green Bay dominated New England on both sides of the ball, as they outgained the Patriots in yards 323-257. They also picked off Bledsoe four times, and lineman Reggie White set a Super Bowl record with three sacks. Favre completed 14 of his 27 pass attempts for 246 yards and two touchdowns. Antonio Freeman hauled in three catches for 105 yards and one touchdown.

Bledsoe completed 25 of his 48 pass attempts for 253 yards and two touchdowns. Curtis Martin had 11 carries for 42 yards and one touchdown. Wide receiver Ben Coates added six catches for 67 yards and one touchdown.