Super Bowl XXXI
Green Bay 35, New England 21
MVP: KR Desmond Howard, Green Bay

January 26, 1997
New Orleans, Louisiana; Louisiana Superdome
Attendance: 72,301

Super Bowl XXXI
Photograph by: Al Tielemans
Howard's 99-yard return sent the Patriots packing.

QB Brett Favre threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score as the Packers won their first Super Bowl in XXIX years. Howard, the league's premier kick-return man, became the first special teams player to be named Super Bowl MVP. He returned two punts for 34 and 32 yards to set up 10 Green Bay points in the first half. Then, after New England closed to within 27-21 late in the third quarter, Howard split the Patriots' coverage for a 99-yard kickoff return that clinched the championship. "I knew that sooner or later I was going to scorch 'em," he said.

Super Bowl XXXI Drive Charts and Play-by-Play

New England won the coin toss and elected to receive.

First Quarter
New England (15:00) Hentrich kick to NE 3, Graham 18 return (McKenzie).
NE 21	1-10	Martin 1 sweep right (B. Williams).
NE 22	2-9	Bledsoe 14 pass to Jefferson middle (Robinson).
NE 36	1-10	Martin sweep right, no gain (B. Williams, Cox).
NE 36	2-10	Martin draw middle, no gain (S. Dotson).
NE 36	3-10	Bledsoe pass to Meggett right overthrown, incomplete.
NE 36	4-10	Tupa 51 punt, Howard 32 return left sideline (Whigham, Tupa).
Green Bay (12:19)
GB 45	1-10	Bennett 1 run left (Johnson, McGinest).
GB 46	2-9	Favre 54 pass to Rison left (caught at NE 22), touchdown (11:28). Jacke kicked extra point.
	Green Bay scoring drive: 55 yards, 2 plays, :51. Green Bay 7, New England 0
New England (11:28) Hentrich kick into end zone, touchback.
NE 20	1-10	Bledsoe 1 pass to Martin right (Brown, Newsome).
NE 21	2-9	Bledsoe pass to Glenn left sideline intercepted at NE 28, Evans no return.
Green Bay (10:40)
NE 28	1-10	Favre sacked, loss of 10 (Collons).
NE 38	2-20	Levens 5 run middle (Collons, M. Jones).
NE 33	3-15	Favre 14 screen pass to Levens left (Bruschi, Henderson).
NE 19	4-1	Jacke, 37-yard field goal (8:42).
	Green Bay scoring drive: 9 yards, 3 plays, 1:58. Green Bay 10, New England 0
New England (8:42) Hentrich kick 5 yards into end zone, Meggett 26 return (Mickens).
NE 21	1-10	Bledsoe pass to Byars left deflected (S. Dotson), incomplete.
NE 21	2-10	Bledsoe 32 screen pass to Byars right (Evans).
GB 47	1-10	Bledsoe 20 dump-off pass to Martin right flat (B. Williams, Newsome).
GB 27	1-10	Bledsoe screen pass to Martin left incomplete.
GB 27	2-10	Bledsoe pass to Glenn right batted down (Wilkins), incomplete.
GB 27	3-10	Bledsoe deep pass to Jefferson incomplete. Play nullified and Green Bay penalized 26 for pass interference (Newsome).
GB 1	1-goal	Bledsoe 1 pass to Byars middle end zone, touchdown (6:35). Vinatieri kicked extra point.
	New England scoring drive: 79 yards, 6 plays, 2:07. Green Bay 10, New England 7
Green Bay (6:35) Vinatieri kick to GB 5, Howard 13 return (Ray).
GB 18	1-10	Bennett run right end, loss of 4 (Slade, Milloy).
GB 14	2-14	Levens 3 run right (Slade).
GB 17	3-11	Favre pass to Freeman middle almost intercepted, incomplete (McGruder).
GB 17	4-11	Hentrich 39 punt, Meggett return, loss of 1 (Harris).
New England (4:44)
NE 43	1-10	Bledsoe bootleg right, 7 pass to Martin left (Simmons).
50	2-3	Martin 2 run middle (Brown, Cox).
GB 48	3-1	Bledsoe 44 pass to Glenn deep right (leaping catch at GB 4) (Robinson).
GB 4	1-goal	Bledsoe bootleg right, 4 pass to Coates right end zone, touchdown (2:33). Vinatieri kicked extra point.
	New England scoring drive: 57 yards, 4 plays, 2:11. New England 14, Green Bay 10
Green Bay (2:33) Vinatieri kick to GB 7, Howard 19 return (Bruschi).
GB 26	1-10	Favre deep pass to Rison left underthrown, incomplete.
GB 26	2-10	Favre 5 swing pass to Levens middle (Johnson, Collins).
GB 31	3-5	Favre sacked, loss of 2 (Bruschi).
GB 29	4-7	Hentrich 58 punt, Meggett 20 return (Prior, Levens).
New England (1:03)
NE 33	1-10	Bledsoe bootleg right, pass out of bounds.
NE 33	2-10	Martin 5 draw middle (Jones).
NE 38	3-5	Bledsoe deep pass to Jefferson left almost intercepted (Williams), incomplete.
NE 38	4-5	Tupa 51 punt, Howard 6 return (Bartrum).
Green Bay (:03)
GB 17	1-10	Favre 4 screen pass to Levens left (Collins).
	END OF FIRST QUARTER: New England 14, Green Bay 10
Second Quarter
GB 21	2-6	Favre pass to Jackson middle incomplete.
GB 21	3-6	Favre pass to Rison left broken up (Smith), incomplete.
GB 21	4-6	Hentrich 37 punt, downed at NE 42.
New England (14:39)
NE 42	1-10	Bledsoe screen pass to Byars left overthrown, incomplete.
NE 42	2-10	Bledsoe pass to Coates right overthrown, incomplete.
NE 42	3-10	Bledsoe pressured (Evans), pass deep right incomplete.
NE 42	4-10	Tupa 42 punt, Howard 3 return (Sabb).
Green Bay (14:14)
GB 19	1-10	Favre 81 pass to Freeman deep right (caught at GB 45), touchdown (14:04). Jacke kicked extra point.
	Green Bay scoring drive: 81 yards, 1 play, :10. Green Bay 17, New England 14
New England (14:04) Hentrich kick to NE 2, Meggett 22 return (McKenzie).
NE 24	1-10	Bledsoe 9 pass to Glenn middle (Newsome).
NE 33	2-1	Martin 3 run middle (Cox, Brown).
NE 36	1-10	Bledsoe bootleg right, pass out of bounds left, incomplete.
NE 36	2-10	Martin 3 draw left (S. Dotson, Robinson).
NE 39	3-7	Bledsoe sacked, loss of 9 (Butler).
NE 30	4-16	Tupa 51 punt, Howard 34 return (Ray).
Green Bay (11:13)
NE 47	1-10	Bennett 1 run right (Sabb, Law).
NE 46	2-9	Favre 23 pass to Rison middle (Smith).
NE 23	1-10	Favre deep pass to Rison overthrown, incomplete.
NE 23	2-10	Levens 12 draw middle (Milloy).
NE 11	1-10	Bennett run right, loss of 3 (Milloy).
NE 14	2-13	Favre screen pass to Levens underthrown, incomplete.
NE 14	3-13	Favre pass to Rison middle overthrown, incomplete.
NE 14	4-13	Jacke, 31-yard field goal (8:15).
	Green Bay scoring drive: 33 yards, 7 plays, 2:58. Green Bay 20, New England 14
New England (8:15) Hentrich kick to NE 4, Meggett 21 return (Harris).
NE 25	1-10	Bledsoe 19 pass to Coates middle (Robinson).
NE 44	1-10	Bledsoe hit (Butler), pass to Byars right overthrown, incomplete.
NE 44	2-10	Bledsoe pass to Jefferson left overthrown, intercepted at GB 18, Prior 8 return (Rucci).
Green Bay (7:10)
GB 26	1-10	Favre 10 pass to Jackson right (Slade).
GB 36	1-10	Bennett 2 run middle (Johnson, Collins).
GB 38	2-8	Favre pass to Freeman left incomplete. Play nullified and New England penalized 6 for pass interference (Smith). Automatic first down.
GB 44	1-10	Favre 22 pass to Freeman middle (Milloy).
NE 34	1-10	Levens 9 sweep left (Smith).
NE 25	2-1	Levens 6 run right (Collins, Sabb).
NE 19	1-10	Bennett 1 run left (Smith).
NE 18	2-9	Levens 8 run right (Law). Two-Minute Warning.
NE 10	3-1	Levens 8 run right (Clay, Collins).
NE 2	1-goal	Favre rollout left, 2 run, touchdown (1:11). Jacke kicked extra point.
	Green Bay scoring drive: 74 yards, 9 plays, 5:59. Green Bay 27, New England 14
New England (1:11) Hentrich kick 2 yards into end zone, Meggett 24 return (Hollinquest).
NE 22	1-10	Bledsoe 18 pass to Coates middle (Butler). New England–first time out (:58).
NE 40	1-10	Bledsoe 10 pass to Glenn left (Robinson).
50	1-10	Bledsoe 1 pass to Meggett right (Butler). New England–second time out (:35).
GB 49	2-9	Bledsoe 7 pass to Brisby right (Newsome). Out of bounds with :30 left.
GB 42	3-2	Bledsoe pass to Glenn right incomplete.
GB 42	4-2	Bledsoe pressured, pass to Meggett middle incomplete.
Green Bay (:19)
GB 42	1-10	Favre sacked, loss of 7 (McGinest).
	END OF SECOND QUARTER: Green Bay 27, New England 14
Third Quarter
Green Bay (15:00) Vinatieri kick to GB 2, Howard 23 return (McGruder).
GB 25	1-10	Favre 8 pass to Chmura right (Clay).
GB 33	2-2	Bennett 8 run right (Milloy).
GB 41	1-10	Favre 6 pass to Henderson middle (Johnson).
GB 47	2-4	Henderson 2 run middle (McGinest, Sagapolutele).
GB 49	3-2	Favre 5 pass to Chmura right (Law, Ray).
NE 46	1-10	Levens 1 run middle (Slade).
NE 45	2-9	Favre 8 pass to Henderson left (McGinest).
NE 37	3-1	Levens run middle, no gain (Slade, McGinest).
NE 37	4-1	Levens run right, loss of 7 (Johnson, Slade).
New England (9:32)
NE 44	1-10	Bledsoe 11 pass to Jefferson left (Evans).
GB 45	1-10	Bledsoe 4 pass to Byars right (B. Williams, Simmons).
GB 41	2-6	Bledsoe pass to Coates left deflected (Jones), incomplete.
GB 41	3-6	Bledsoe deep pass to Jefferson left overthrown, incomplete.
GB 41	4-6	Tupa 29 punt, Howard fair catch.
Green Bay (8:07)
GB 12	1-10	Favre sacked, loss of 7 (Smith).
GB 5	2-17	Favre pass to Freeman left overthrown, incomplete.
GB 5	3-17	Bennett 6 draw middle (Jones, Milloy).
GB 11	4-11	Hentrich 48 punt, Meggett 6 return (Jervey).
New England (6:52)
NE 47	1-10	Martin 4 run middle (Brown).
GB 49	2-6	Bledsoe 1 scramble middle (Jones).
GB 48	3-5	Bledsoe 13 pass to Coates right (Butler, Robinson).
GB 35	1-10	Fake reverse, Bledsoe pass to Martin left overthrown, incomplete.
GB 35	2-10	Bledsoe 9 pass to Jefferson left (T. Williams).
GB 26	3-1	Martin 8 run left (Robinson, Evans).
GB 18	1-10	Martin 18 draw middle, touchdown (3:27).Vinatieri kicked extra point.
	New England scoring drive: 53 yards, 7 plays, 3:25. Green Bay 27, New England 21
Green Bay (3:27) Vinatieri kick to GB 1, Howard 99 return up middle, then left (at GB 35), touchdown (3:10). Green Bay–first time out (3:10). Favre rollout right, pass to Chmura for 2-point conversion.
	Green Bay scoring drive: 99-yard kickoff return, :17. Green Bay 35, New England 21
New England (3:10) Hentrich kick to NE 1, Meggett 24 return (Thomason).
NE 25	1-10	Bledsoe pressured (White), 5 pass to Byars right (Simmons, B. Williams).
NE 30	2-5	Bledsoe sacked, loss of 8 (White).
NE 22	3-13	Bledsoe sacked, loss of 6 (White).
NE 16	4-19	Tupa 47 punt, out of bounds.
Green Bay (1:14)
GB 37	1-10	Levens 1 run right (Slade).
GB 38	2-9	Favre 12 scramble right (McGinest).
	END OF THIRD QUARTER: Green Bay 35, New England 21
Fourth Quarter
50	1-10	Favre screen pass to Levens right dropped, incomplete.
50	2-10	Levens 1 run middle (Johnson).
NE 49	3-9	Favre pressured, deep pass to Mickens right overthrown, incomplete.
NE 49	4-9	Hentrich 29 punt, Meggett fair catch.
New England (14:03)
NE 20	1-10	Martin draw middle, loss of 2 (Robinson, S. Dotson).
NE 18	2-12	Bledsoe screen pass to Glenn left, loss of 1 (Wilkins, Evans).
NE 17	3-13	Bledsoe pass to Jefferson left incomplete.
NE 17	4-13	Tupa 53 punt, Howard 10 return (Whigham).
Green Bay (12:31)
GB 40	1-10	Favre 4 dump-off pass to Bennett right (Slade, Wheeler).
GB 44	2-6	Bennett 10 draw middle (Slade, Milloy).
NE 46	1-10	Bennett run right, loss of 2 (Slade, Collons).
NE 48	2-12	Favre pass to Freeman left incomplete.
NE 48	3-12	Favre pass to Chmura right dropped, incomplete.
NE 48	4-12	Hentrich 34 punt, Meggett fair catch.
New England (9:57)
NE 14	1-10	Bledsoe 3 pass to Coates right (Butler, Newsome, Robinson).
NE 17	2-7	Bledsoe 5 pass to Meggett left (Simmons).
NE 22	3-2	Bledsoe 10 pass to Coates middle (Butler, Robinson).
NE 32	1-10	Meggett draw right, no gain (S. Dotson).
NE 32	2-10	Bledsoe pass to Jefferson right underthrown, intercepted at GB 31, Newsome no return (Jefferson).
Green Bay (8:14)
GB 31	1-10	Bennett run right, no gain (Collins).
GB 31	2-10	Bennett 7 run right (Slade). Green Bay–second time out (6:45).
GB 38	3-3	Favre 2 pass to Freeman right (Clay). New England penalized 16 for unnecessary roughness (Clay).
NE 44	1-10	Levens 7 run left (Henderson).
NE 37	2-3	Bennett 1 run right (Collons, Johnson). New England–first time out (5:32).
NE 36	3-2	Green Bay penalized 5 for false start (Wilkerson).
NE 41	3-7	Levens 7 run left, cutback middle (C. Brown).
NE 34	1-10	Bennett 3 run middle (Johnson, Wheeler). New England–second time out (4:47).
NE 31	2-7	Bennett 1 run middle (Johnson, Wheeler).
NE 30	3-6	Favre pass to Rison left broken up (Smith), incomplete.
NE 30	4-6	Jacke’s 47–yard field–goal attempt was wide right.
New England (3:56) (New England takes over at spot of field–goal attempt)
NE 37	1-10	Bledsoe pass to Brisby left underthrown, incomplete.
NE 37	2-10	Bledsoe 2 swing pass to Meggett right (Butler).
NE 39	3-8	Bledsoe sacked, loss of 7 (S. Dotson).
NE 32	4-15	Tupa 37 punt, Howard 5 return (Bartrum). Green Bay penalized 10 for holding (T. Williams).
Green Bay (3:11)
GB 26	1-10	Bennett 4 run right (Johnson, Clay).
GB 30	2-6	Bennett 4 run right (Clay). New England–third time out (2:18).
GB 34	3-2	Favre sacked, loss of 12 (Bruschi). Two-Minute Warning.
GB 22	4-14	Hentrich 54 punt, Meggett 5 return (Jervey).
New England (1:49)
NE 29	1-10	Bledsoe sacked, loss of 9 (White).
NE 20	2-19	Bledsoe screen pass to Meggett left broken up (Butler), incomplete.
NE 20	3-19	Bledsoe 5 pass to Brisby right (Newsome).
NE 25	4-14	Bledsoe pass to Brisby right broken up (Newsome), intercepted off deflection at NE 37, B. Williams 16 return (Roberts).
Green Bay (:50)
NE 21	1-10	Favre knelt down, loss of 1.
NE 22	2-11	Favre knelt down, loss of 1.
	FINAL SCORE: Green Bay 35, New England 21
	FINAL RECORDS: Green Bay 16-3, New England 13-6

Super Bowl XXXI Boxscore

                           SCORING
New England                                14  0  7  0 -- 21
Green Bay                                  10 17  8  0 -- 35

GB-  Rison 54 pass from Favre (Jacke kick),  3:32 1st
GB-  FG Jacke 37,  6:18 1st
NE-  Byars 1 pass from Bledsoe (Vinatieri kick),  8:25 1st
NE-  Coates 4 pass from Bledsoe (Vinatieri kick), 12:27 1st

GB-  Freeman 81 pass from Favre (Jacke kick),  0:56 2nd
GB-  FG Jacke 31,  6:45 2nd
GB-  Favre 2 run  (Jacke kick), 13:49 2nd

NE-  Martin 18 run  (Vinatieri kick), 11:33 3rd
GB-  Howard 99 kick return  (2-pt Chmura from Favre, T-Formation), 11:50 3rd


TEAM STATISTICS                          N.E.           G.B.
Total First Downs                          16             16
  Rushing                                   3              8
  Passing                                  12              6
  Penalty                                   1              2
Total Net Yardage                         257            323
Total Offensive Plays                      66             68
  Average Gain per Offensive Play           3.9            4.8
Rushes                                     13             36
  Yards Gained Rushing (Net)               43            115
  Average Yards per Rush                    3.3            3.2
Passes Attempted                           48             27
  Passes Completed                         25             14
  Had Intercepted                           4              0
  Tackled Attempting to Pass                5              5
  Yards Lost Attempting to Pass            39             38
  Yards Gained Passing (Net)              214            208
Punts                                       8              7
  Average Distance                         45.1           42.7
Punt Returns                                4              6
  Punt Return Yardage                      30             90
Kickoff Returns                             6              4
  Kickoff Return Yardage                  135            154
Interception Return Yardage                 0             24
Fumbles                                     0              0
  Own Fumbles Recovered                     0              0
  Opponent Fumbles Recovered                0              0
Penalties                                   2              3
  Yards Penalized                          22             41
Total Points Scored                        21             35
Touchdowns                                  3              4
  Rushing                                   1              1
  Passing                                   2              2
  Returns                                   0              1
Extra Points                                3              4
Field Goals                                 0              2
  Field Goals Attempted                     0              3
Safeties                                    0              0
Third-Down Efficiency                    4/14           3/15
Fourth-Down Efficiency                    0/2            0/1
Time of Possession                      25:45          34:15

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
New England                       No.      Yds.     LG    TD
Martin                            11        42      18t    1
Bledsoe                            1         1       1     0
Meggett                            1         0       0     0
Green Bay                         No.      Yds.     LG    TD
Levens                            14        61      12     0
Bennett                           17        40      10     0
Favre                              4        12      12     1
Henderson                          1         2       2     0

Passing
New England                  Att.   Comp.    Yds.   TD   Int.
Bledsoe                       48      25     253     2     4
Green Bay                    Att.   Comp.    Yds.   TD   Int.
Favre                         27      14     246     2     0

Receiving
New England                       No.      Yds.     LG    TD
Coates                             6        67      19     1
Glenn                              4        62      44     0
Byars                              4        42      32     1
Jefferson                          3        34      14     0
Martin                             3        28      20     0
Meggett                            3         8       5     0
Brisby                             2        12       7     0
Green Bay                         No.      Yds.     LG    TD
Freeman                            3       105      81t    1
Levens                             3        23      14     0
Rison                              2        77      54t    1
Henderson                          2        14       8     0
Chmura                             2        13       8     0
Jackson                            1        10      10     0
Bennett                            1         4       4     0

Interceptions
New England                       No.      Yds.     LG    TD
None                              --        --      --    --
Green Bay                         No.      Yds.     LG    TD
Brian Williams                     1        16      16     0
Prior                              1         8       8     0
Evans                              1         0       0     0
Newsome                            1         0       0     0

Punting
New England                       No.      Avg.     LG   Blk.  Yds  IN20
Tupa                               8        45.1    53     0   361    3
Green Bay                         No.      Avg.     LG   Blk.  Yds  IN20
Hentrich                           7        42.7    58     0   299    1

Punt Returns
New England                      No.   FC     Yds.   LG   TD
Meggett                           4     2      30    20    0
Green Bay                        No.   FC     Yds.   LG   TD
Howard                            6     1      90    34    0

Kickoff Returns
New England                       No.      Yds.     LG    TD
Meggett                            5       117      26     0
Graham                             1        18      18     0
Green Bay                         No.      Yds.     LG    TD
Howard                             4       154      99t    1


   New England Patriots        Green Bay Packers  
  
                   ==  Offense  ==                     
Wohlabaugh, Dave        C    Winters, Frank          C 
Roberts, William        G    Taylor, Aaron           G 
Rucci, Todd             G    Timmerman, Adam         G 
Armstrong, Bruce        T    Dotson, Earl            T 
Lane, Max               T    Wilkerson, Bruce        T 
Byars, Keith            TE   Chmura, Mark            TE
Coates, Ben             TE   Freeman, Antonio        WR
Glenn, Terry            WR   Rison, Andre            WR

Jefferson, Shawn        WR   Bennett, Edgar          RB
Martin, Curtis          RB   Henderson, William      FB
Bledsoe, Drew           QB   Favre, Brett            QB

                   ==  Defense  ==                      
Sagapolutele, Pio       DT   Brown, Gilbert          DT 
Wheeler, Mark           DT   Dotson, Santana         DT 
Collons, Ferric         DE   Jones, Sean             DE 
McGinest, Willie        DE   White, Reggie           DE 
Collins, Todd           OLB  Simmons, Wayne          OLB
Slade, Chris            OLB  Williams, Brian         OLB
Johnson, Ted            MLB  Cox, Ron                MLB
Law, Ty                 CB   Evans, Doug             CB 
Smith, Otis             CB   Newsome, Craig          CB 
Clay, Willie            FS   Robinson, Eugene        FS 
Milloy, Lawyer          SS   Butler, LeRoy           SS 

                  ==  Substitute  ==                    
Bartrum, Mike                Beebe, Don                 
Brisby, Vincent              Dellenbach, Jeff           
Brown, Corwin                Harris, Bernardo           
Bruschi, Tedy                Hayes, Chris               
Burke, John                  Hentrich, Craig            
Eaton, Chad                  Holland, Darius            
Gisler, Mike                 Hollinquest, Lamont        
Graham, Hason                Howard, Desmond            
Grier, Marrio                Jacke, Chris               
Henderson, Jerome            Jackson, Keith             
Jones, Mike                  Jervey, Travis             
Kratch, Bob                  Jones, Calvin              
Lucas, Ray                   Knapp, Lindsay             
McGruder, Mike               Levens, Dorsey             
Meggett, Dave                McKenzie, Keith            
Moore, Marty                 Michels, John              
Ray, Terry                   Mickens, Terry             
Sabb, Dwayne                 Mullen, Roderick           
Sullivan, Chris              Prior, Mike                
Tupa, Tom                    Thomason, Jeff             
Vinatieri, Adam              Wilkins, Gabe              
Whigham, Larry               Williams, Tyrone           

                  ==  Did Not Play  ==                   
Reynolds, Ricky               McMahon, Jim

DEFENSE(Tk/As/Sk/Yd)
  NEW ENGLAND: Chr.Slade       10-1-0-0,
               Ted.Johnson      9-1-0-0,
               Law.Milloy       4-4-0-0,
               Wil.McGinest     4-2-1-7,
               Wil.Clay         4-1-0-0,
               Tod.Collins      3-3-0-0,
               Fer.Collons      3-1-1-10,
               Ted.Bruschi      3-0-2-14,
               Oti.Smith        3-0-1-7,
               Ty.Law           2-1-0-0,
               Jer.Henderson    1-1-0-0,
               Mik.Jones        1-1-0-0,
               Cor.Brown        1-0-0-0,
               Dwa.Sabb         1-0-0-0,
               Mar.Wheeler      0-3-0-0,
               Mic.McGruder     0-1-0-0,
               Ter.Ray          0-1-0-0,
               Pio.Sagapolutele 0-1-0-0.
  GREEN BAY:   LeR.Butler       7-0-1-9,
               Eug.Robinson     6-3-0-0,
               Bri.Williams     4-1-0-0,
               Cra.Newsome      3-3-0-0,
               Gil.Brown        3-2-0-0,
               San.Dotson       3-1-1-7,
               Way.Simmons      3-1-0-0,
               Reg.White        3-0-3-23,
               Sea.Jones        3-0-0-0,
               Dou.Evans        2-2-0-0,
               Ron.Cox          1-3-0-0,
               Gab.Wilkins      1-0-0-0,
               Tyr.Williams     1-0-0-0,
               Mik.Prior        0-1-0-0.

PASSES DEFENSED
  NEW ENGLAND: Oti.Smith 1, Mic.McGruder 1.
  GREEN BAY:   Cra.Newsome 2, Bri.Williams 1,
               Mik.Prior 1, Dou.Evans 1,
               Eug.Robinson 1, San.Dotson 1,
               Sea.Jones 1, Gab.Wilkins 1,
               Tyr.Williams 1.

MISSED FIELD GOALS
  NEW ENGLAND: None.
  GREEN BAY:   Chr.Jacke 47

Officials:
Referee    - Gerry Austin.      Umpire      - Ron Botchan.
Linesman   - Earnie Frantz.     Line Judge  - Jeff Bergman.
Back Judge - Scott Steenson.    Field Judge - Phil Luckett.
Side Judge - Tom Fincken.

Time: 3:21

Super Bowl XXXI Recap

The NFC continued its dominance of Super Bowls with Green Bay's 35-21 win over the Patriots. MVP Desmond Howard, set a Super Bowl record for punt returns and Reggie White finally got his ring as the Lombardi trophy is headed to Title Town.

Desmond Howard

Desmond Howard became the first special teams player to be named Super Bowl MVP. (AP)

Brett Favre threw two touchdown passes and ran for one as the Packers won their first Super Bowl in 29 years. The big play was Desmond Howard's 99-yard kickoff return in the third quarter. Howard, the most valuable player, set a Super Bowl record with 244 total return yards.

On the second play from scrimmage, Favre hit Andre Rison with a 54-yard touchdown pass. The score was set up by a 32-yard punt return by Desmond Howard. Drew Bledsoe did not respond well, throwing an interception inside his own 30. Following the Doug Evans interception, the Packers went ahead 10-0 just 6:18 into the game and many of the cheeseheads in the Superdome were thinking blowout. However, Ferric Collons' sack of Favre on the next play following the interception helped hold Green Bay to only a field goal and stop the bleeding. The Patriots came back with consecutive scores in the quarter, Drew Bledsoe passes to Keith Byars and Ben Coates, to take their only lead of the game (14-10) and end the highest scoring quarter in Super Bowl history.

GREEN BAY SCORED 56 SECONDS into the second quarter as Favre hit Antonio Freeman with a Super Bowl record 81-yard touchdown pass. Favre later scored on a 2-yard run to give the Packers a 27-14 halftime lead. The first half was defined by momentum and the pendulum swung back to the Packers in the second quarter as they scored on all three of their possessions, while Reggie White and the defense shut out the Pats.

New England closed the gap to within six points on Curtis Martin's 18-yard TD run late in the third quarter. Howard took the ensuing kickoff a Super Bowl record 99 yards to break the Patriots' momentum. The 2-point conversion gave the Pack a 14-point lead that would not be challenged again. The Packers defense took over in the fourth quarter, intercepting Bledsoe twice, and preventing the Patriots from passing midfield in four possessions.

Super Bowl XXXI will be remembered as the one when Howard danced in the Superdome and became the first special teams player to win Most Valuable Player honors.

Bill Parcells put together a highlight reel of Howard for his special teams cover guys to digest during Super Bowl week. But on Super Bowl Sunday, Parcells and the Patriots watched a live four-star performance.

One of the featured matchups of Super Bowl XXXI was between All-Pro returners Howard of Green Bay and New England's David Meggett. Parcells said throughout the Super Bowl hype-fest that Howard "impacted the Packers as much as any single player outside of Brett Favre." Unfortunately for the Patriots, Howard fulfilled Parcells' prophecy.

"I NEVER WOULD HAVE IMAGINED that I would have won the MVP of the Super Bowl, simply because I really didn't expect them to be kicking the ball that much," said Howard. "I said before the game that they can roll the dice and kick it to me if they want, but I have full confidence in my return team that they were going to allow me to pop one sooner or later."

The 99-yard return was an absolute backbreaker for the Patriots, who had just pulled within 27-21 on an 18-yard touchdown run by Curtis Martin with 3:27 left in the third quarter.

"I thought we might have had them rocking a little bit at 27-21," said Parcells. "We had momentum on that drive and our defense was playing a lot better."

But while the Patriots were celebrating their touchdown on the sidelines, Howard fielded the ensuing kickoff at the 1-yard line, accelerated to the middle of the field and raced to Super Bowl glory.

Desmond Howard

Reggie White sacks Drew Bledsoe. (Allsport)

"I usually try not to watch when I'm sitting down but I was looking up at the screen and I saw him running free and my heart just dropped," said Patriots receiver Terry Glenn. "Normally on a kickoff return a lot of guys slow down when they get to the pack. But Desmond does a very good job of running at full speed and hitting the hole like a running back."

"Watching that return was disheartening," said Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe. "We had just scored, there was a little bit of a momentum shift. Then he makes that play and it knocked the wind out of our sails."

HOWARD QUICKLY MADE HIS PRESENCE FELT with a 32-yard punt return to the Green Bay 45-yard line on his first touch. As he was pushed out of bounds, Howard engaged in some chatter on the Patriots sideline.

"There was a lot of mouthing going on," said Howard. "I can't really repeat verbatim what was said. There were some expletives in there."

One play after Howard's 32-yard return, Brett Favre hit Andre Rison with a 54-yard touchdown pass to give the Packers a 7-0 lead three-and-a-half minutes into the game.

As the game continued, so did the trash talking between Howard and the Patriots' special teamers, namely Corwin Brown and Larry Whigham.

"I never really talk trash, I never really get in a jawing match," said Howard. "But there were some things throughout the week, even from my old friend, Corwin Brown, who I went to the University of Michigan with. He had made a statement that he was going to smack me and then strike the Heisman pose over me. And I said, 'Corey, you know better than that. You were at Michigan with me. You know I'm going to scorch you.' You get caught up in the moment and words just start to regurgitate."

But Howard's actions did all the talking throughout the season. He set an NFL record with 875 punt return yards in 1996, easily surpassing the previous mark of 692 by Fulton Walker in 1985 by nearly 200 yards. Howard also became one of only six players in NFL history with three or more punt returns for a touchdown in the same season.

To put an exclamation point on his All-Pro year, Howard became the first player in NFL history to score touchdowns on both a punt return and a kickoff return in postseason play. He had a 72-yard punt return for a touchdown in a 35-14 divisional playoff victory over San Francisco.

Desmond Howard

Jim McMahon. (Allsport)

"Brett Favre was of course the league MVP and his numbers prove that, but if we had to pick a team MVP it had to be Desmond Howard," said Packers defensive end Sean Jones. "He meant so much to the field position game we played this year."

This about a player who was labeled just another Heisman disappointment. After winning the Heisman Trophy at Michigan in 1992, Howard was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 1993 draft by the Washington Redskins.

"Washington took him just ahead of us," said Packers coach Mike Holmgren. "I could never understand why he wasn't more productive. There are a lot of reasons, perhaps, but they don't matter because he's made a difference for us."

Howard struggled in his first three years with the Redskins. Although he showed flashes as a returner, Howard appeared lost as a receiver and was left unprotected in the NFL expansion draft. He didn't even make it to the Jaguars' season opener before being rescued by Green Bay.

"When a career doesn't go right, people stick a label on you that you're not this or not that," said Packers receiver Andre Rison. "But for him to bounce back and play that well in a game of this significance and win the MVP, I think he shocked the world."

A lot of players put up some big numbers. Antonio Freeman had 105 yards receiving, including an 81-yard TD grab, Reggie White had 3 sacks, a Super Bowl record, and Desmond Howard had 244 yards in punt and kickoff returns.

Super Bowl XXXI Photos

Photograph by: AP Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre (4) is happy during Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans Sunday Jan. 26, 1997.
Photograph by: Damian Strohmeyer LeRoy Butler, Reggie White and the Packers kept the NFC's streak alive.	Photograph by: Reuters/Adrees Latiff Green Bay Packers' quarterback Brett Favre celebrates after throwing a 54-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Andre Rison early in the first quarter of Super Bowl XXXI, January 26 in the Louisiana Superdome.
Photograph by: AP Green Bay Packers Andre Rison catches a first quarter 54-yard touchdown pass against the New England Patriots during Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans Sunday Jan. 26, 1997.
Photograph by: AP Green Bay Packers Andre Rison celebrates his first quarter touchdown against the New England Patriots during Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans Sunday Jan. 26, 1997. At left is Packers Antonio Freeman.	Photograph by: Reuters Green Bay Packers' Antonio Freeman (L) leaps into the arms of wide receiver Andre Rison after Rison caught a 54-yard touchdown reception early in the first quarter of Super Bowl XXXI, January 26 at the Louisiana Superdome. Green Bay is facing the New England Patriots.
Photograph by: AP New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe celebrates a first quarter touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans Sunday Jan. 26, 1997.	Photograph by: Reuters/Mike Blake New England Patriots Terry Glenn (R) makes a leaping catch in front of Green Bay Packers Eugene Robinson (R) in first quarter action in Super Bowl XXXI at the Superdome in New Orleans, January 26. The 46-yard reception set up the Patriots second touchdown giving them a 14-10 lead.
Photograph by: AP Photo/Doug Mills New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe gets hit by the Green Bay Packers' Doug Evans (33), while making a pass in the second quarter of Super Bowl XXXI in this Jan. 26, 1997 photo at the Superdome in New Orleans.	Photograph by: New England Patriots Dave Meggett (22).
Photograph by: AP New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe (11) is taken down by Green Bay Packers LeRoy Butler (36) during Super Bowl XXXI at the Superdome in New Orleans Sunday, Jan. 26, 1997.
Photograph by: AP Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre dives into the endzone for a touchdown in the second quarter despite the defense of New England Patriots' Todd Collins (59) during Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans Sunday Jan. 26, 1997.	Photograph by: Reuters Curtis Martin (C) of the New England Patriots breaks through LeRoy Butler (L) of the Green Bay Packers to score a touchdown in the third quarter of Super Bowl XXXI at the Superdome in New Orleans, January 26. The Packers Doug Evans (R) tries to help.
Photograph by: AP 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. Patriot's Mike McGruder follows the play.	Photograph by: AP Green Bay Packers Desmond Howard celebrates a touchdown in the third quarter of Super Bowl XXXI at the Superdome in New Orleans Sunday, Jan. 26, 1997. Howard was named the Super Bowl MVP.
Photograph by: AP Green Bay Packers Desmond Howard (81) spikes the football following 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.
Photograph by: Reuters New England head coach Bill Parcells reacts to a Patriot miscue against the Green Bay packers in the third quarter during Super Bowl XXXI in the Louisiana Superdome at New Orleans, January 26. The Packers defeated the Patriots 35-21.	Photograph by: AP New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe congratulates Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre after the Packers won Super Bowl XXXI 35-21 in New Orleans Sunday Jan. 26, 1997.
Photograph by: AP Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre.
Photograph by: AP Green Bay Packers wide receiver Antonio Freeman.	Photograph by: AP New England Patriots wide receiver Terry Glenn.
Photograph by: AP Green Bay Packers running back Dorsey Levens.
Photograph by: AP Green Bay Packers Gilbert Brown.
Photograph by: AP Green Bay Packers Ron Cox.
Photograph by: AP Green Bay Packers Tyrone Williams.
Photograph by: Reuters Green Bay Packers All-Pro veteran Reggie White carries the Vince Lombardi Trophy around the field after his team defeated New England 35-21 to win Super Bowl XXXI January 26.
Photograph by: Reuters The Blues Brothers perform on stage during the half time show at Super Bowl XXXI, January 26 in the New Orleans Superdome. Jim Belushi (C) leaps as he is accompanied by original band member Dan Akroyd and recent arrival John Goodman (L). ZZ Top and soul singer James Brown also performed during the show.
Photograph by: Rick Wood Packer Coach Mike Holmgren gets a victory ride after Green Bay beat the New England Patriots, 35-21, in Super Bowl XXXI.

	Curtis Martin (Allsport Photo)