breaking touchdown (the longest in Super Bowl history), bursting through the center of the Packers' well-blocked wedge, then juking kicker Adam Vinatieri to bolt free. Howard, who had 244 total return yards in the game including key punt runbacks of 32 and 34 yards, was voted the game's most valuable player, becoming the first special teams player to be so honored. A subsequent, successful two-point conversion, where Favre found Mark Chmura along the back of the end zone, gave the Green and Gold an insurmountable two-touchdown lead. The top-ranked Green Bay defense, which had four interceptions of Bledsoe, was led by Reggie White, who sacked the New England quarterback a Super Bowl-record three times, including twice in a row on the possession immediately following Howard's scoring return. Favre, playing less than an hour from his hometown, completed 14 of 27 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, while his counterpart, Bledsoe, threw for 253 yards and two TD on 25-of-48 passing.
NEW ENGLAND - 14 0 7 0 - 21
GREEN BAY - 10 17 8 0 - 35
1st - GB - Rison, 54-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 3:32 GREEN BAY 7-0
1st - GB - Jacke, 37-yard field goal 6:18 GREEN BAY 10-0
1st - NE - Keith Byars, 1-yard pass from Bledsoe (Adam Vinatieri kick) 8:25 GB 10-7
1st - NE - Ben Coates, 4-yard pass from Bledsoe (Vinatieri kick) 12:27 NE 14-10
2nd - GB - Freeman, 81-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 0:56 GREEN BAY 17-14
2nd - GB - Jacke, 31-yard field goal 6:45 GREEN BAY 20-14
2nd - GB - Favre, 2-yard run (Jacke kick) 13:49 GREEN BAY 27-14
3rd - NE - Curtis Martin, 18-yard run (Vinatieri kick) 1:33 GREEN BAY 27-21
September 1 : Green Bay Packers (1-0) 34, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1) 3
(TAMPA BAY) - The Green Bay Packers looked like the Super Bowl contenders they're supposed to be, and Brett Favre played like the quarterback who can get them there. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Well, they were a lot like the perennial NFL losers they've been for 20 years Sunday in their first game under coach Tony Dungy, a 34-3 loss to the Packers. Favre, last year's league MVP, launched his comeback from an offseason battle to overcome an addiction to painkillers with 247 yards passing and four touchdown passes, answering the question of how long it might take him to regain his 1995 form. Favre threw three of his TD passes to Keith Jackson (1, 4 and 51 yards), all in the first half when the Packers built a 24-3 lead. The other was a 1-yarder to Dorsey Levcns set up by completions of 21 yards to Antonio Freeman and 18 yards to Mark Chmura.
GREEN BAY - 10 14 10 0 - 34
TAMPA BAY - 0 3 0 0 - 3
1st - GB - Jacke, 23-yard field goal 8:17 GREEN BAY 3-0
1st - GB - K.Jackson, 1-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 10:53 GREEN BAY 10-0
2nd - TB - Michael Husted, 48-yard field goal 0:55 GREEN BAY 10-3
2nd - GB - K.Jackson, 4-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 13:20 GREEN BAY 17-3
2nd - GB - K.Jackson, 51-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 14:21 GREEN BAY 24-3
3rd - GB - Jacke, 40-yard field goal 5:08 GREEN BAY 27-3
3rd - GB - Levens, 1-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 9:25 GREEN BAY 34-3
September 9 : Green Bay Packers (2-0) 39, Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) 13
(GREEN BAY) - Green Bay Packers rapper-receiver Robert Brooks followed his own advice one week after giving President Clinton his debut CD titled "Jump Into The Stands". Brooks caught five passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns as the Packers routed the dazed and outmatched Philadelphia Eagles 39-13 in the first Monday Night Football game at Lambeau Field in 10 years. Brooks vaulted himself into the end zone seats packed with delirious denizens decked in green and gold after TD receptions of 25 and 20 yards from Brett Favre, who overcame a rough start to throw three touchdowns. Dorsey Levens even got into the act, doing his version of the Lambeau Leap after a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. A Lambeau Field record crowd of 60,666 watched their Packers go 2-0 for the first time since the strike-shortened 1982 season, when they won their first three. Brooks had four catches for 116 yards in the first half as the Packers built an astonishing 30- 7 lead at halftime against an Eagles team that thinks it can unseat Dallas as ruler of the NFC East. Edgar Bennett gained 93 yards on 17 carries and also scored on a 25-yard reception when he grabbed Favre's pass in the flat and rumbled his way into the end zone for a 37-7 lead with six minutes left in the third period. The blowout capped an exhilarating week in Green Bay, which began with President Clinton visiting the Packers at Lambeau Field on Labor Day. In two weeks, Favre, who was 17-of-31 for 261 yards, has seven touchdowns and no interceptions as the Packers have outscored their opponents 73-16. But it was the Packers' defense that really spoiled the return of Philadelphia coach Ray Rhodes, who served as defensive coordinator in Green Bay from 1992-93. The Packers, who had just 16 takeaways last season, already have 10, including four in the first half Monday night that Green Bay converted into 13 points.
PHILADELPHIA - 0 7 0 6 - 13
GREEN BAY - 10 20 7 2 - 39
1st - GB - Jacke, 29-yard field goal 2:25 GREEN BAY 3-0
1st - GB - Brooks, 25-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 13:20 GREEN BAY 10-0
2nd - GB - Jacke, 44-yard field goal 0:04 GREEN BAY 13-0
2nd - GB - Levens, 1-yard run (Jacke kick) 5:40 GREEN BAY 20-0
2nd - GB - Jacke, 38-yard field goal 9:42 GREEN BAY 23-0
2nd - PHI - Ricky Watters, 1-yard run (Gary Anderson kick) 13:04 GB 23-7
2nd - GB - Brooks, 2-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 14:34 GREEN BAY 30-7
3rd - GB - Bennett, 25-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 8:46 GREEN BAY 37-7
4th - GB - Safety, Peete sacked by White and Dotson in end zone 3:54 GB 39-7
4th - PHI - Charlie Garner, 1-yard run (Conversion failed) 14:30 GREEN BAY 39-13
September 15 : Green Bay Packers (3-0) 42, San Diego Chargers (2-1) 10
(GREEN BAY) - So far this year, the only competition the Green Bay Packers seem to have is themselves. The offense, defense and special teams all got to do the Lambeau Leap in Sunday's 42-10 rout of the previously unbeaten Chargers at Lambeau Field. LeRoy Butler returned an interception 90 yards for a touchdown and Desmond Howard returned a punt 65 yards for a TD as the Packers, who have pummelled their opponents by a combined score of 115-26, started out 3-0 for the first time since 1982. San Diego was actually still in it with 6 1/2 minutes left, trailing 28-10 and threatening again when Butler stepped in front of Terrell Fletcher at the Packers 10. Butler raced down the left sideline for the score, then vaulted himself into the stands as has become customary at Lambeau Field. Brett Favre completed 22 of 34 passes for 231 yards and TD passes of 19 yards to Freeman, 8 to William Henderson and 7 to Keith Jackson. Robert Brooks led the Packers with eight catches for 108 yards. Favre also had two interceptions, the last of which led to San Diego's only touchdown, a 9-yard pass from Stan Humphries to Tony Martin that made it 28-10 with 8:16 left.
SAN DIEGO - 3 0 0 7 - 10
GREEN BAY - 7 14 7 14 - 42
1st - GB - Bennett, 10-yard run (Jacke kick) 5:09 GREEN BAY 7-0
1st - SD - John Carney, 43-yard field goal 13:55 GREEN BAY 7-3
2nd - GB - Freeman, 19-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 2:00 GREEN BAY 14-3
2nd - GB - Henderson, 8-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 13:47 GREEN BAY 21-3
3rd - GB - Jackson, 7-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 13:08 GREEN BAY 28-3
4th - SD - Tony Martin, 9-yard pass from Humphries (Carney kick) 6:44 GB 28-10
4th - GB - Butler, 90-yard interception return (Jacke kick) 8:29 GREEN BAY 35-10
4th - GB - Howard, 55-yard punt return (Jacke kick) 10:01 GREEN BAY 42-10
September 22 : Minnesota Vikings (4-0) 30, Green Bay Packers (3-1) 21
(GREEN BAY) - The Minnesota Vikings are for real. And the Green Bay Packers are real beatable, at least away from Lambeau Field. The Vikings hounded the NFL's top-rated quarterback and offense Sunday, upsetting the Packers, 30-21, behind seven sacks and Robert Smith's 37-yard touchdown run with 4:13 remaining. The win made Minnesota the surprising NFC Central leader, and sent the Packers to their 12th loss in their last 13 games on artificial turf. Green Bay is 21-4 at home under coach Mike Holmgren, but 4-19 on turf and the Packers never have won at the Metrodome in five trips under Holmgren. Winning at Minnesota was a huge priority for Green Bay, which was looking for its best start since the 1966 team opened 4-0 on its way to a victory in the first Super Bowl. But the Packers fell behind for the first time this season when Warren Moon's 20-yard pass to Qadry Ismail gave the Vikings a 14-7 halftime lead. The Packers rallied from a 17-7 deficit early in the third quarter on an 80-yard touchdown catch by Don Beebe and George Koonce's 75-yard interception return. But Smith's 37-yard run over the right side against the league's second-rated run defense gave Minnesota a 24-21 lead.
GREEN BAY - 7 0 14 0 - 21
MINNESOTA - 7 7 3 13 - 30
1st - GB - Brooks, 13-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 4:14 GREEN BAY 7-0
1st - MIN - Jake Reed, 26-yard pass from Moon (Scott Sisson kick) 9:00 TIED 7-7
2nd - MIN - Qadry Ismail, 20-yard pass from Moon (Sisson kick) 9:59 MINN 14-7
3rd - MINN - Sisson, 34-yard field goal 5:22 MINNESOTA 17-7
3rd - GB - Koonce, 75-yard interception return (Jacke kick) 11:02 GREEN BAY 21-17
4th - MINN - Robert.Smith, 37-yard run (Sisson kick) 10:47 MINNESOTA 24-21
4th - MINN - Sisson, 44-yard field goal 12:29 MINNESOTA 27-21
4th - MINN - Sisson, 33-yard field goal 14:32 MINNESOTA 30-21
September 29 : Green Bay Packers (4-1) 31, Seattle Seahawks (1-4) 10
(SEATTLE) - It was Brett Favre at his MVP best and Rick Mirer at his worst Sunday. Favre threw four touchdown passes, one less than his career high, and Mirer threw a career-worst four interceptions and lost a fumble as the Green Bay Packers beat the Seattle Seahawks 31-10 Sunday. A pro-Green Bay crowd of 59,973, with hundreds of Packers fans wearing cheeseheads, provided the Kmgdome's first sellout of the season and those fans saw what they wanted. The Packers, an NFC favorite, improved to 4-1 after a loss at Minnesota last Sunday. The Seahawks dropped to 1-4, including 0-3 at home. The five takeaways by the NFL's most opportunistic defense gave the Packers 22 for the season. Favre, the league's top-rated quarterback, converted Mirer's mistakes into 24 of Green Bay's points. He had touchdown passes of 13 and 4 yards to Antonio Freeman, 4 yards to Dorsey Levens and 10 yards to Keith Jackson. He was 20-for-34 for 209 yards with no interceptions. Mirer was 10-for-30 for 156 yards with no touchdowns. Chris Warren of the Seahawks had his first 100-yard rushing game and accounted for their only touchdown on a 37-yard run. Warren, who had 129 yards yards in Seattle's first four games, had 103 yards on 18 carries. Favre has 16 touchdown passes and two interceptions for the season.
GREEN BAY - 10 7 7 7 - 31
SEATTLE - 0 7 3 0 - 10
1st - GB - Freeman, 13-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 10:24 GREEN BAY 7-0
1st - GB - Jacke, 36-yard field goal 14:26 GREEN BAY 10-0
2nd - GB - Levens, 4-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 11:06 GREEN BAY 17-0
2nd - SEA - Chris Warren, 37-yard run (Todd Peterson kick) 13:04 GREEN BAY 17-7
3rd - GB - Jackson, 10-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 6:36 GREEN BAY 24-7
3rd - SEA - Peterson, 44-yard field goal 9:25 GREEN BAY 24-10
4th - GB - Freeman, 4-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 5:10 GREEN BAY 31-10
October 6 : Green Bay Packers (5-1) 37, Chicago Bears (2-4) 6
(CHICAGO) - For the first time since 1960-'62, the Packers won five straight against the Bears. The 31-point margin of victory matched Green Bay's largest in Chicago. Brett Favre threw four touchdown passes, while the Packer defense recorded three interceptions and a sack. When Chicago made a small run in the third quarter to draw within 14, Don Beebe ripped off a 90-yard kickoff return to essentially end the game.
GREEN BAY - 0 20 14 3 - 37
CHICAGO - 0 3 3 0 - 6
2nd - GB - Brooks, 18-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 5:33 GREEN BAY 7-0
2nd - CHI - Jeff Jaeger, 40-yard field goal 12:48 GREEN BAY 7-3
2nd - GB - Jackson, 2-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 14:25 GREEN BAY 14-3
2nd - GB - Freeman, 50-yard pass from Favre (PAT failed) 15:00 GREEN BAY 20-3
3rd - CHI - Jeff Jaeger, 41-yard field goal 3:43 GREEN BAY 20-6
3rd - GB - Beebe, 90-yard kickoff return (Jacke kick) 4:00 GREEN BAY 27-6
3rd - GB - Freeman, 35-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 10:53 GREEN BAY 34-6
4th - GB - Jacke, 32-yard field goal 6:28 GREEN BAY 37-6
October 14 : Green Bay Packers (6-1) 23, San Francisco 49ers (4-2) 20 (OT)
(GREEN BAY) - Chris Jacke's lackluster start to his eighth season in Green Bay turned to jubilation when he kicked a 53-yard field goal 3:41 into overtime to give the Packers a gripping victory over the 49ers in a Monday night classic. It was the fifth field goal of the night for Jacke, who had missed three of his first 10 field goals plus an extra point in the first six games. By winning, the Packers improved to 6-1 -- the best record of any team in the National Football League -- and into first place in the Central Division of the National Football Conference. Without Steve Young, their injured quarterback, the 49ers played a resourceful game behind Elvis Grbac and had the lead until the final eight seconds of overtime, when Jacke's 31-yard field goal forced the extra session. Packers quarterback Brett Favre, under intense pressure throughout from the 49ers' superb defense, completed 28 of his club-record 61 passes for 395 yards.
SAN FRANCISCO - 0 17 0 3 0 - 20
GREEN BAY - 6 0 8 6 3 - 23
1st - GB - Jacke, 30-yard field goal 9:37 GREEN BAY 3-0
1st - GB - Jacke, 25-yard field goal 12:02 GREEN BAY 6-0
2nd - SF - Jeff Wilkins, 48-yard field goal 7:45 GREEN BAY 6-3
2nd - SF - Jerry Rice, 7-yard pass from Elvis Grbac (Wilkins kick) 12:40 SF 10-6
2nd - SF - Rice, 13-yard pass from Grbac (Wilkins kick) 14:37 SAN FRAN 17-6
3rd - GB - Beebe, 59-yard pass from Favre (Bennett pass from Favre) 7:46 SF 17-14
OT - GB - Jacke, 53-yard field goal 3:41 GREEN BAY 23-20
October 27 : Green Bay Packers (7-1) 13, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-7) 7
(GREEN BAY) - The Buccaneer defense held the high-powered Packer attack to just 13 points in Lambeau Field but saw its counterpart hold the Tampa Bay offense to a single score. Trent Dilfer and Brett Favre put up similar numbers, but Edgar Bennett ran for 93 yards as the home team held the rushing advantage 129 yards to 57. Green Bay took a 13-0 lead into the intermission, a margin that could have been wider but for the efforts of John Lynch, who had seven tackles, one interception and two passes defensed in the first two quarters. Though Tampa Bay did not crack the end zone at hostile Lambeau field until midway through the final period on an 11-yard TD catch by TE Dave Moore, the Bucs still held the ball in the final minutes with a chance to pull off a significant upset. but the visitors’ final comeback shot ended when Dilfer was sacked for a nine-yard loss on fourth-and-six.
TAMPA BAY - 0 0 0 7 - 7
GREEN BAY - 3 10 0 0 - 13
1st - GB - Jacke, 40-yard field goal 9:19 GREEN BAY 3-0
2nd - GB - Levens, 1-yard run (Jacke kick) 0:52 GREEN BAY 10-0
2nd - GB - Jacke, 48-yard field goal 14:01 GREEN BAY 13-0
4th - TB - Dave Moore, 11-yard pass from Dilfer (Michael Husted kick) 9:32 GB 13-7
November 3 : Green Bay Packers (8-1) 28, Detroit Lions (4-5) 18
(GREEN BAY) - Having won for the 23rd time in the last 24 regular-season and playoff games in Green Bay, the Packers matched their best start in any season since 1963. Brett Favre completed 24 of 35 passes for 281 yards and four touchdowns as the Packers won for a record 12th consecutive time in the 40-year history of Lambeau Field. Former Packer Don Majkowski started for the Lions and went 15 for 32 and 153 yards.
DETROIT - 3 7 0 8 - 18
GREEN BAY - 7 7 14 0 - 28
1st - DET - Jason Hanson, 48-yard field goal 6:11 DETROIT 3-0
1st - GB - Levens, 1-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 15:00 GREEN BAY 7-3
2nd - DET - Barry Sanders, 18-yard run (Hanson kick) 3:37 DETROIT 10-7
2nd - GB - Mickens, 1-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 7:14 GREEN BAY 14-10
3rd - GB - Mickens, 6-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 10:27 GREEN BAY 21-10
3rd - GB - Beebe, 65-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 13:52 GREEN BAY 28-10
4th - DET - Brett Perriman, 8-yard pass from Don Majkowski (Herman Moore pass from Majkowski) 10:33 GREEN BAY 28-18
November 10 : Kansas City Chiefs (7-3) 27, Green Bay Packers (8-2) 20
(KANSAS CITY) - For the second consecutive week, the Packers' supposedly impregnable run defense was gouged. Last week, the greatness of Barry Sanders was given as the explanation for why Detroit rushed for 166 yards. This time, the Chiefs gained 182 yards on the ground with a corps of five running backs that doesn't have a standout. Kansas City RB Greg Hill destroyed the Packers with 94 yards in 14 rushes and three touchdowns, including a 34-yard touchdown catch. Brett Favre threw for 310 yards but was sacked four times in the loss.
GREEN BAY - 3 3 7 7 - 20
KANSAS CITY - 3 17 7 0 - 27
1st - KC - Pete Stoyanovich, 26-yard field goal 2:01 KANSAS CITY 3-0
1st- GB - Jacke, 24-yard field goal 8:08 TIED 3-3
2nd - KC - Stoyanovich, 22-yard field goal 0:56 KANSAS CITY 6-3
2nd - KC - Greg Hill, 8-yard run (Stoyanovich kick) 4:42 KANSAS CITY 13-3
2nd - KC - Hill, 34-yard pass from Steve Bono (Stoyanovich kick) 7:15 KC 20-3
2nd - GB - Jacke, 49-yard field goal 15:00 KANSAS CITY 20-6
3rd - KC - Hill, 24-yard run (Stoyanovich kick) 0:22 KANSAS CITY 27-6
3rd - GB - Beebe, 25-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 11:10 KANSAS CITY 27-13
4th - GB - Mayes, 6-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 13:58 KANSAS CITY 27-20
November 18 : Dallas Cowboys (7-4) 21, Green Bay Packers (8-3) 6
(DALLAS) - Brett Favre completed 21 of 37 passes for 194 yards and one touchdown and find the going tough with TE Mark Chmura and WRs Antonio Freeman and Robert Brooks out with injuries. Dallas outgained the Packers, 213-61, in the first half. Dallas K Chris Boniol's five first-half field goals tied a NFL record. His seven in the game broke a club record shared by Eddie Murray and Roger Ruzek and tied for most in NFL history with Jim Bakken and Rich Karlis.
GREEN BAY - 0 0 0 6 - 6
DALLAS - 6 9 0 6 - 21
1st - DAL - Chris Boniol, 45-yard field goal 3:38 DALLAS 3-0
1st - DAL - Boniol, 37-yard field goal 10:13 DALLAS 6-0
2nd - DAL - Boniol, 42-yard field goal 0:59 DALLAS 9-0
2nd - DAL - Boniol, 45-yard field goal 8:30 DALLAS 12-0
2nd - DAL - Boniol, 35-yard field goal 14:53 DALLAS 15-0
4th - DAL - Boniol, 39-yard field goal 6:24 DALLAS 18-0
4th - DAL - Boniol, 29-yard field goal 14:40 DALLAS 21-6
November 24 : Green Bay Packers (9-3) 24, St. Louis Rams (3-9) 9
(ST. LOUIS) - Green Bay, a 9 1/2-point favorite, found itself trailing, 9-0, late in the first half before the Rams bungled the return of a punt by Craig Hentrich after a safety. Fueled by Mike Prior's recovery, the Packers secured a 37-yard field goal from Chris Jacke as time expired and then scored 21 unanswered points in the second half. Neither team had a great night offensively. Green Bay ran for 65 yards, the Rams 58.
2nd - STL - Safety, Favre called for intentional grounding in end zone 12:52 STL 9-0
2nd - GB - .Jacke, 37-yard field goal 15:00 ST. LOUIS 9-3
3rd - GB - Evans, 32-yard interception return (Jacke kick) :55 GREEN BAY 10-9
3rd - GB - Jackson, 6-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 11:01 GREEN BAY 17-9
4th - GB - Levens, 5-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) :52 GREEN BAY 24-9
December 1 : Green Bay Packers (10-3) 28, Chicago Bears (5-8) 17
(GREEN BAY) - WR Antonio Freeman hauled in ten passes for 156 yards, while Desmond Howard returned another punt for a touchdown. The victory was the Packers' sixth in a row over the Bears, the first time that has happened in the ancient rivalry since the Packers won seven straight from 1928-'30.
CHICAGO - 0 7 3 7 - 17
GREEN BAY - 0 7 7 14 - 28
2nd - CHI - Bobby Engram, 15-yard pass from Krieg (Jeff Jaeger kick) 13:30 CHI 7-0
3rd - GB - Howard, 75-yard punt return (Jacke kick) 9:30 GREEN BAY 14-7
3rd - CHI - Jaeger, 34-yard field goal 12:46 GREEN BAY 14-10
4th - GB - Levens, 10-yard run (Jacke kick) 2:20 GREEN BAY 21-10
4ht - GB - Favre, 1-yard run (Jacke kick) 9:21 GREEN BAY 28-10
4th - CHI - Engram, 6-yard pass from Krieg (Jaeger kick) 13:05 GREEN BAY 28-17
December 8 : Green Bay Packers (11-3) 41, Denver Broncos (12-2) 6
(GREEN BAY) - The Broncos, who were without John Elway, their best offensive lineman, LT Gary Zimmerman, and any incentive because they already had wrapped up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, suffered their worst loss since November 1988. With QB Bill Musgrave making his first NFL start, the Broncos had no hope to throw downfield and no chance to win unless their defense could hold the Packers to 14 points or fewer. The Broncos finished with just 83 yards net passing, the lowest total against Green Bay since Detroit mustered 54 in Week 10 of 1989. The victory, the Packers' 25th in 26 regular-season and playoff appearances at Lambeau since September 1993, made them the first team since the Chicago Bears of 1984-'88 to win consecutive championships in the NFC Central.
DENVER - 3 0 3 0 - 6
GREEN BAY - 3 10 7 21 - 41
1st - GB - Jacke, 33-yard field goal 7:03 GREEN BAY 3-0
1st - DEN - Elam, 40-yard field goal 12:11 TIED 3-3
2nd - GB - Jacke, 22-yard field goal 13:06 GREEN BAY 6-3
2nd - GB - Freeman, 14-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 14:43 GREEN BAY 13-3
3rd - DEN - Elam, 39-yard field goal 3:04 GREEN BAY 13-6
3rd - DEN - Freeman, 51-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 6:12 GREEN BAY 20-6
4th - GB - Jackson, 1-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 0:44 GREEN BAY 27-6
4th - GB - Freeman, 25-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 7:39 GREEN BAY 34-6
4th - GB - Beebe recovered fumble in end zone (Jacke kick) 9:33 GREEN BAY 41-6
December 15 : Green Bay Packers (12-3) 31, Detroit Lions (5-10) 3
(DETROIT) - Never before has a Mike Holmgren-coached team in Green Bay been assessed more than the 11 penalties that it was in this game. Nonetheless, Green Bay rolled to an easy win and a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs. Despite their transgressions and first-half sluggishness on offense, the Packers still led, 10-0, at halftime thanks to another Desmond Howard punt return for a touchdown.
GREEN BAY - 3 7 6 15 - 31
DETROIT - 0 0 3 0 - 3
1st - GB - Jacke, 20-yard field goal 14:07 GREEN BAY 3-0
2nd - GB - Howard, 92-yard punt return (Jacke kick) 3:11 GREEN BAY 10-0
3rd - GB - Favre, 1-yard run (Kick failed) 4:42 GREEN BAY 16-0
3rd - DET - Hanson, 39-yard field goal 10:10 GREEN BAY 16-3
4th - GB - Levens, 1-yard run (Bennett pass from Favre) 0:05 GREEN BAY 24-3
4th - GB - Freeman, 27-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 12:28 GREEN BAY 31-3
December 22 : Green Bay Packers (13-3) 38, Minnesota Vikings (9-7) 10
(GREEN BAY) - Green Bay posted the best record of any team in the NFC Central since the Chicago Bears were 15-1 in 1985 and 14-2 in '86. Green Bay's winning percentage of .813 is the best for the franchise since the '66 team was 12-2 for .857. For just the third time in 64 years, the Packers finished unbeaten at home (8-0). And the Packers became the first team to lead the league in points scored (a club-record 456) and points allowed (210) since the Miami Dolphins of 1972.
MINNESOTA - 7 3 0 0 - 10
GREEN BAY - 7 3 14 14 - 38
1st - GB - Bennett, 5-yard run (Jacke kick) 7:10 GREEN BAY 7-0
1st - MIN - C. Carter, 43-yard pass from Johnson (Scott Sisson kick) 12:40 TIED 7-7
2nd - GB - Jacke, 45-yard field goal 9:53 GREEN BAY 10-7
2nd - MINN- Sisson, 34-yard field goal 15:00 TIED 10-10
3rd - GB - Levens, 13-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 3:00 GREEN BAY 17-10
3rd - GB - Rison, 22-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 8:55 GREEN BAY 24-10
4th - GB - Jackson, 23-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 0:05 GREEN BAY 31-10
4th - GB - Levens, 11-yard run (Jacke kick) 9:03 GREEN BAY 38-10
(GREEN BAY) - Triggered by their record-breaking punt returner, Desmond Howard, the Packers charged to an early 14-0 lead in rain-swept, soggy Lambeau Field, then proceeded from there to a three-touchdown victory over the San Francisco 49ers in qualifying for a berth in the NFC Championship Game for the second year in a row. Howard, who shattered the NFL's single-season record for punt return yardage during the regular-season, returned the first punt of the game 71 yards for a touchdown to stun the visiting Prospectors, then returned Tommy Thompson's second punt 46 yards to the San Francisco 7-yard line, setting up a 4-yard, Brett Favre scoring pass to flanker Andre Rison two plays later-in the ninth minute of the first quarter. The Packers expanded that early advantage to 21-0 in the second quarter with the aid of a welcome takeaway-cornerback Craig Newsome's interception of an Elvis Grbac pass. Newsome fumbled when hit after picking up the loose ball but teammate Sean Jones recovered at the 49er 15-yard line. It took Favre only three plays to get the Packers in the end zone a third time. After Dorsey Levens gained 3 yards at right end, Favre hit Edgar Bennett with a 10-yard pass to the 2-yard line and Bennett completed the project on the next play with a burst up the middle. With Chris Jacke's third conversion, the Packers led 21-0 and appeared to have the game well in hand. Two subsequent turnovers, however, made things somewhat tenuous temporarily, leading to a pair of quick touchdowns for the 49ers and reducing Green Bay's lead to 21-14. The first such contretemps occurred when the Packers' Chris Hayes was hit by a San Francisco punt and the 49ers' Curtis Buckley recovered the "muff" at the Green Bay 26-yard line. The 49ers then scored in 6 plays, Grbac hitting running back Terry Kirby from 8 yards out for the touchdown with 24 seconds remaining in the first half. The second costly miscue occurred on the opening kickoff of the second half when the 49ers' Steve Israel recovered the "free ball" and returned it to the Green Bay 4-yard line. Grbac, untouched, scored on first down on a "keeper," wheeling into the left corner of the end zone. Jeff Wilkins second conversion pulled the 49ers within seven points. Responding to these
(GREEN BAY) - Brett Favre shrugged off two early turnovers, misadventures which led to 10 of Carolina's 13 points, to direct three scoring drives of 70-plus-yards and ultimately carry the day in the NFC title game with a substantial degree of comfort. Actually, the 27-year-old field general presided over a four scoring marches of that distance, the first having been sandwiched between the two giveaways and climaxed by a 29-yard strike to running back Dorsey Levens in the right corner of the end zone to tie the score at 7-7. After the Panthers had again gone ahead, 10-7, by way of a John Kasay field goal after Carolina's Lamar Lathon had recovered a Favre fumble at the Green Bay 45-yard line, the Packers quarterback responded with an impressive, 15-play, 71-yard drive capped by his 6-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Freeman in the left corner of the end zone. A highly opportune interception by rookie cornerback Tyrone Williams at the Green Bay 38-yard line on the first play following the kickoff provided another scoring chance seconds later. Favre's 23 and 25-yard throws to Andre Rison and Freeman, respectively, moved the Packers into field goal position and Jacke connected from 31 yards out, sending them into the intermission with a permanent, 17-10 lead. The Green and Gold scored again on their
first possession of the second half, Jacke finishing off an 11-play, 73-yard drive with a 32-yard field goal for a 20-10 advantage. Carolina then made their final response, second-year QB Kerry Collins escorting them 73 yards in 11 plays to set up a 23-yard Kasay field goal, and the Packers margin was reduced to seven points. Favre promptly rectified the situation, putting together an explosive, 3-play, 74-yard scoring drive which included a collaboration with Levens, who was pushed out of bounds at the Carolina 4-yard line on the second
play of the march. Edgar Bennett then finished the project, barging over right guard into the end zone on the succeeding play. Jacke's conversion made it 27-13 with less than two minutes remaining in the third period and the Packers were clearly in charge. The fourth quarter, with the only score a 28-yard Jacke field goal, was relatively uneventful. Aside from an early Sam Mills interception and return to the Green Bay 3-yard line, which led to Carolina's only touchdown, Favre forged another vintage performance, completing 19 of 29 passing attempts under far less than optimum conditions (bitter cold and strong winds) for 292 yards and 2 TDs.
CAROLINA - 7 3 3 0 - 13
GREEN BAY - 0 17 10 3 - 30
1st - CAR - Howard Griffith, 3-yd pass from Collins (John Kasay kick) 9:50 CAR 7-0
2nd - CAR - Kasay, 22-yard field goal 6:20 CAROLINA 10-7
2nd - GB - Freeman, 6-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 14:12 GREEN BAY 14-10
2nd - GB - Jacke, 31-yard field goal 14:50 GREEN BAY 17-10
3rd - GB - Jacke, 32-yard field goal 6:44 GREEN BAY 20-10
3rd - CAR - Kasay, 23-yard field goal 11:37 GREEN BAY 20-13
3rd - GB - Bennett, 4-yard run (Jacke kick) 13:02 GREEN BAY 27-13
4th - GB - Jacke, 28-yard field goal 4:58 GREEN BAY 30-13
(NEW ORLEANS) - Using several momentum-turning big plays, the Packers held off resilient New England to capture their first world championship in 29 years. For Green Bay, the victory also marked its league-high 12th NFL championship as well as its third Super Bowl triumph. The Packers jumped to an early 10-0 lead. Brett Favre, sensing a Patriots blitz, audibled on Green Bay's second play from scrimmage, hitting late-season pickup Andre Rison on a wide-open post pattern for a 54-yard touchdown pass. On the ensuing New England possession, Doug Evans intercepted Drew Bledsoe at the Patriots' 28, which led to a 37-yard field goal by Chris Jacke. New England then was able to turn the tide in its favor, however, as Bledsoe took his club on two long drives for touchdowns. The first, which covered 79 yards and culminated in a short pass to Keith Byars, was aided by two long throws to Pats running backs and a 26-yard pass interference penalty. The second, starting at the New England 43, was spurred by a leaping, 44-yard reception by rookie Terry Glenn. When tight end Ben Coates caught a four-yard TD pass from Bledsoe, the Patriots momentarily had their only lead of the game and had completed the highest-scoring first quarter in Super Bowl history. Green Bay rebounded to re-take the lead when Favre, seeing Patriots' strong safety Lawyer Milloy at the line of scrimmage in tight coverage on Antonio Freeman, watched Freeman elude Milloy's "bump" and lofted a perfect aerial to Freeman along the right sideline. Freeman, able to out-run New England's late-arriving free safety, covered 81 yards for the longest reception in Super Bowl history. After another Jacke field goal, Favre took advantage of a Mike Prior interception and escorted his troops on a nine-play, 74-yard march just before halftime which ended when, on a bootleg left, he lunged the ball over the goal line as he was rolling out of bounds. Taking a 27-14 edge out of the locker room at halftime, Green Bay maintained that lead until late in the third quarter, when the Patriots' Curtis Martin made a magnificent 18-yard run up the middle of the Packers defense to pull New England to within six points at 27-21. That margin was short-lived, though, as Desmond Howard returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a back-
NAMENOPOSHGTWGTCOLLEGEYRPRAGGHOW ACQUIRED
Mike Arthur 50 C 6- 3 280 Texas A&M 2 6 28 5 1995 Trade - N. England
Don Beebe 82 WR 5-11 183 Chadron State 1 8 31 16 1996 UFA - Carolina
Edgar Bennett 34 RB 6- 0 217 Florida State 5 5 27 16 1992 Draft - 4th round
Bucky Brooks 22 CB 6- 0 195 North Carolina 1 2 25 2 1996 FA - Buff (1994)
Robert Brooks 87 WR 6- 0 180 South Carolina 5 5 26 7 1992 Draft - 3rd round
Gary Brown 71 OT 6- 4 315 Georgia Tech 3 3 25 8 1994 FA - Pittsburgh
Gilbert Brown 93 NT 6- 2 325 Kansas 4 4 25 16 1993 FA - Minnesota
LeRoy Butler 36 S 6- 0 200 Florida State 7 7 28 16 1990 Draft - 2nd round
Mark Chmura 89 TE 6- 5 250 Boston College 4 4 27 13 1992 Draft - 6th round
Shannon Clavelle 91 DE 6- 2 287 Colorado 2 2 27 8 1995 FA - Buffalo
Ron Cox 54 LB 6- 2 235 Fresno State 1 7 28 16 1996 UFA - Chicago
Jeff Dellenbach 67 C 6- 6 300 Wisconsin 1 12 33 3 1996 FA - New England
Frank Winters 52 C 6- 3 295 West Illinois 5 10 32 16 1992 Plan B - K. City
NO - Jersey Number POS - Position HGT - Height WGT - Weight YR - Years with Packers PR - Years of Professional Football AGE - Age on September 1 G - Games Played FA - Free Agent
1996 PACKERS PRACTICE SQUAD
NAMEPOSCOLLEGEHOW ACQUIRED
Chris Hayes S Washington St 1996 FA - NY Jets
Eric Matthews WR Indiana 1996 FA
Buster Owens CB Georgia 1996 FA
Michael Robinson CB Hampton 1996 FA
Bill Schroeder WR UW-La Crossee 1996 FA - New England
Walter Scott DE East Carolina 1996 FA
Chris Sedoris OL Purdue 1996 FA
Kylie Wachholtz QB USC 1996 Draft - 7th round
Bold Italics - Made Active Roster
1996 IN REVIEW: 29 years of frustration, poor personnel decisions, false hopes and questionable coaching decisions ended on a January night in New Orleans, as the Packers defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 30. Green Bay opened the season 3-0 and outscored their opponents 115-26. They ended the season with a four-game winning streak, in which they outscored their opponents 138-36. The Packers led the NFL in scoring with 456 points, and allowed the fewest with 210. The road to the Super Bowl did not come easy. QB Brett Favre announced in May that he was addicted to painkillers. He spent 46 days in a Kansas rehabilitation center, then returned to throw a franchise-record 39 touchdown passes and was named NFL MVP for the second straight year. He did this without WR Robert Brooks (lost for the season in October with a torn ACL), WR Antonio Freeman (out four games with a broken arm) and TE Mark Chmura (out three games with a sprained arch). Don Beebe and Andre Rison provided relief for the receiver corps when it was needed. Other key acquisitions included KR Desmond Howard (he set an NFL record with 875 punt returns), DL Santana Dotson, OT Bruce Wilkerson, S Eugene Robinson (team-leading six interceptions).
1996 PRE-SEASON RESULTS (3-1) - AUGUST (3-1)
2 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS W 24- 7 1- 0-0 57,918
11 PITTSBURGH STEELERS W 24-17 2- 0-0 59,284
17 at Baltimore Ravens W 17-15 3- 0-0 62,025
24 at Indianapolis Colts L 6-30 3- 1-0 49,081
1996 REGULAR SEASON RESULTS (13-3) - SEPTEMBER (4-1)
1 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-0) W 34- 3 1- 0-0 54,102 Favre
9 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (1-0) W 39-13 2- 0-0 60,666 Favre
15 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (2-0) W 42-10 3- 0-0 60,584 Favre
22 at Minnesota Vikings (3-0) L 21-30 3- 1-0 64,168 Favre
29 at Seattle Seahawks (1-3) W 31-10 4- 1-0 59,973 Favre
OCTOBER (3-0)
6 at Chicago Bears (2-3) W 37- 6 5- 1-0 65,480 Favre
14 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4-1) W 23-20(OT) 6- 1-0 60,716 Favre
27 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (1-6) W 13- 7 7- 1-0 60,627 Favre
NOVEMBER (2-2)
3 DETROIT LIONS (4-4) W 28-18 8- 1-0 60,695 Favre
10 at Kansas City Chiefs (6-3) L 20-27 8- 2-0 79,281 Favre
18 at Dallas Cowboys (6-4) L 6-21 8- 3-0 65,032 Favre
24 at St. Louis Rams (3-8) W 24- 9 9- 3-0 61,499 Favre
DECEMBER (4-0)
1 CHICAGO BEARS (5-7) W 28-17 10- 3-0 59,682 Favre
15 at Detroit Lions (5-9) W 31- 3 12- 3-0 73,214 Favre
22 MINNESOTA VIKINGS (9-6) W 38-10 13- 3-0 59,306 Favre
1996 PLAYOFFS (3-0)
JANUARY - NFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF
4 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (13-4) W 35-14 60,787 Favre
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
12 CAROLINA PANTHERS (13-4) W 30-13 60,216 Favre
SUPER BOWL XXXI AT NEW ORLEANS
26 New England Patriots (13-5) W 35-21 72,301 Favre
PRE-SEASON - August 2: Green Bay (1-0) 24, New England 7
(GREEN BAY) - Brett Favre got in his work Friday night and then the reigning MVP headed to the sideline. His backup, Doug Pederson, came in and led the Packers over New England. Pederson, getting extended playing time because of an injury to Jim McMahon, sparked scoring drives of 80, 73 and 53 yards in the second half in the exhibition opener for both teams. He completed 13 of 19 passes for 125 yards, hitting nine straight passes at one stretch. Favre, in his first game since completing a stay at an NFL-sanctioned rehabilitation center after admitting he was addicted to painkillers, completed 5-of-10 passes for 54 yards. He played all but the final two series of the first half.
NEW ENGLAND - 0 7 0 0 - 7
GREEN BAY - 0 3 7 14 - 24
2nd - NE - Vincent Brisby, 41-yard pass from Bledsoe (Adam Vinatieri kick) NE 7-0
2nd - GB - Jacke, 39-yard field goal NEW ENGLAND 7-3
3rd - GB - Thomason, 5-yard pass from Pederson (Jacke kick) GREEN BAY 10-7
4th - GB - Brian Satterfield, 1-yard run (Richie Cunningham kick) GREEN BAY 17-7
4th - GB - Satterfield, 3-yard run (Cunningham kick) GREEN BAY 24-7
PRE-SEASON - August 11: Green Bay (2-0) 24, Pittsburgh 17
(GREEN BAY) - It was like old times for Kordell Stewart. Ditto Desmond Howard. Both put on performances reminiscent of old days in Sunday preseason game between the Steelers and Packers. Howard's legs meant just a bit more to the Packers than Stewart's arm did to the Steelers as the Packers prevailed. Howard, the 1991 Heisman Trophy winner at Michigan, returned a punt 77 yards in the third period to give the Packers a 21-14 lead the Steelers could never overcome. To end the first half, Stewart had tossed a desperation pass that Corey Holliday grabbed in the end zone for a 54-yard touchdown play. The play was reminiscent of Stewart's 64-yard TD pass to Michael Westbrook with six seconds left that gave Colorado a 27-26 upset of Michigan in 1994. With the Packers' glut at receiver, Howard's heroics before a crowd of 59,284, the largest ever for a preseason game at Lambeau Field, probably earned him a role on special teams for the Packers. Howard has been an NFL disappointment for the Redskins and Jaguars and he sat out 20 summer practices and the Packers' preseason opener with a hip pointer. Meanwhile, Stewart earned some points in his fight for the Steelers' No. 1 quarterback job. Stewart is competing with Mike Tomczak and Jim Miller for the job vacated by Neil O'Donnell.
PITTSBURGH - 0 11 3 3 - 17
GREEN BAY - 7 7 7 3 - 24
1st - GB - Jackson, 35-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) GREEN BAY 7-0
2nd - PIT - Norm Johnson, 35-yard field goal GREEN BAY 7-3
2nd - GB - Freeman, 64-yard pass from Pederson (Jacke kick) GREEN BAY 14-3
2nd - PIT - Corey Holliday 54 pass from Stewart (Stewart run) GREEN BAY 14-11
3rd - PIT - Joe Wood, 35-yard field goal TIED 14-14
3rd - GB - Howard, 77-yard punt return (Cunningham kick) GREEN BAY 21-14
4th - PIT - Wood 35-yard field goal GREEN BAY 21-17
4th - GB - Jacke, 40-yard field goal GREEN BAY 24-17
PRE-SEASON - August 17: Green Bay (3-0) 17, Baltimore 15
(BALTIMORE) - So much for the phrase, "It's only an exhibition game." The Packers are quite serious about the preseason, particularly because they've got a hunch these exhibition games are a prelude to what could turn out to be a very special regular season. So the Packers are delighted to remain undefeated after beating the Ravens Saturday night on a 42-yard field goal by Richie Cunningham with three seconds left. The kick capped a frenzied drive that came after the Ravens took the lead for the first time with 66 seconds to go. Brett Favre played into the third quarter and directed scoring drives of 93 and 94 yards. The first touchdown march came on Green Bay's first possession of the game, no small feat for a first-team unit that previously had produced only seven points in eight possessions.
GREEN BAY - 7 0 7 3 - 17
BALTIMORE - 0 2 7 6 - 15
1st - GB - R.Brooks, 3-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) GREEN BAY 7-0
2nd - BAL - Safety, Favre called for intentional grounding in end zone GB 7-2
3rd - GB - Satterfield, 5-yard run (Cunningham kick) GREEN BAY 14-2
3rd - BALT - James Roe, 2-yard pass from Eric Zeier (Matt Stover kick) GB 14-9
4th - BALT - Ray Ethridge, 12-yard pass from Zeier (Run failed) BALT 15-14
4th - GB - Cunningham, 42-yard field goal GREEN BAY 17-15
PRE-SEASON - August 24: Indianapolis 30, Green Bay (3-1) 6
(INDIANAPOLIS) - Once again, Jim Harbaugh wrecked Green Bay's shot at a perfect preseason. Harbaugh, who rallied Indianapolis in the final period and beat the Packers in overtime last year, barely needed more than the first two quarters Saturday night as the Colts won. Harbaugh was 11-of-15 for 223 yards and two touchdowns before leaving the game early in the third quarter. Paul Justin replaced Harbaugh on the next series and passed 69 yards to Aaron Bailey for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Green Bay, trying for its first unbeaten and untied preseason since 1967, did not get a first down until early in the second quarter. By that time, the Colts had a 13-0 lead on two field goals by Cary Blanchard and a 54-yard touchdown pass from Harbaugh to rookie Marvin Harrison. Blanchard's field goals of 19 and 36 yards were the only first-quarter points the Packers allowed the entire preseason. And both of the field goals were set up with long passes by Harbaugh, a 43-yarder to Sean Dawkins on the Colts' second possession and 38 yards to Marcus Pollard on the next series.
GREEN BAY - 7 7 21 0 - 6
INDIANAPOLIS - 3 14 0 6 - 30
1st - IND - Cary Blanchard, 19-yard field goal INDIANAPOLIS 3-0
1st - IND - Blanchard, 36-yard field goal INDIANAPOLIS 6-0
2nd - IND - Marvin Harrison, 54-yard pass from Harbaugh (Blanchard kick) IND 13-0
2nd - GB - Jacke, 32-yard field goal INDIANAPOLIS 13-3
3rd - IND - Sean Dawkins, 39-yard pass from Harbaugh (Blanchard kick) IND 20-3
3rd - GB - Jacke, 47-yard field goal INDIANAPOLIS 20-6
4th - IND - Blanchard, 47-yard field goal INDIANAPOLIS 23-6
4th - IND - Aaron Bailey, 69-yard pass from Justin (Blanchard kick) IND 30-6
untoward developments with renewed resolve, the Packers decided it was time to reassert themselves. Taking the succeeding kickoff,they methodically swept 72 yards in plays to mount a 28-14 lead, a drive completed by wide receiver Antonio Freeman's recovery of an Edgar Bennett fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. Unwilling to concede, the 49ers made two other significant bids before calling it a day. The first, midway through the third quarter, saw them go for it on fourth-and-one at the 50, a maneuver which failed when Packers nose tackle Gilbert Brown plugged up the middle and right end Sean Jones and linebacker Wayne Simmons stopped Grbac for no gain on a quarterback sneak. The issue was largely settled when the Packers completed their scoring with only 5:31 remaining. Hayes recovered a Kirby fumble, forced by safety Mike Prior, at the San Francisco 32-yard line. Favre then put together a 6-play drive, climaxed by Bennett's 11-yard sweep of right end for the touchdown. With a driving rain and soggy field conditions on this blustery afternoon, it was not a day conducive to producing impressive statistics. The Packers, who had averaged 345.9 yards per game over the regular-season, settled for a modest 210 net yards - 139 rushing and 71 passing.
SAN FRANCISCO - 0 7 7 0 - 14
GREEN BAY - 14 7 7 7 - 35
1st - GB - Howard, 71-yard punt return (Jacke kick) 2:15 GREEN BAY 7-0
1st - GB - Rison, 4-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick) 8:44 GREEN BAY 14-0
2nd - GB - Bennett, 2-yard run (Jacke kick) 11:42 GREEN BAY 21-0
2nd - SF - Terry Kirby, 8-yard pass from Grbac (Jeff Wilkins kick) 14:36 GB 21-7
3rd - SF - Grbac, 2-yard run (Wilkins kick) 0:16 GREEN BAY 21-14
3rd - GB - Freeman recovered fumble in end zone (Jacke kick) 8:10 GB 28-14
4th - GB - Bennett, 11-yard run (Jacke kick) 9:29 GREEN BAY 35-14
1996 PACKERS DRAFT (April 20-21, 1996)
RND-PCKNAMEPOSCOLLEGENOTES
1 27 John Michels T USC
2 56 Derrick Mayes WR Notre Dame
3a 90 Mike Flanagan C UCLA
3b 93 Tyrone Williams CB Nebraska (A)
4 123 Chris Darkins RB Minnesota
5 161 Traded to Kansas City in Lindsay Knapp
6a 197 Traded to Philadelphia for Joe Sims
6b 208 Marco Rivera G Penn State (A)
7a 240 Kyle Wachholtz QB USC
7b 252 Keith McKenzie LB Ball State (A)
A-Free agency compensatory pick
Bold Italics - Played for the Green Bay Packers
FREE AGENCY - UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
PLAYERS SIGNED - WR Don Beebe (Carolina), LB Ron Cox (Chicago), DT Santana Dotson (Tampa Bay), WR/KR Desmond Howard (Jacksonville)
PLAYERS LOST - QB Ty Detmer (Philadelphia), G Harry Galbreath (N.Y. Jets), NT John Jurkovic (Jacksonville), LB Fred Strickland (Dallas)
FREE AGENCY - RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
PLAYERS LOST - WR Charles Jordan (Miami)
TRANSISTION PLAYER DESIGNATION
S LeRoy Butler
1996 Packers Yearbook
1996 Packers Media Guide
Sports Illustrated - 16 December
Sports Illustrated - 20 January 1997
Sports Illustrated - 27 January 1997
Sports Illustrated - 3 February 1997
Eagles at Packers Program - 9 September
NFC Championship Program
Super Bowl XXXI Program
Edgar Bennett
Robert Brooks
Brett Favre
Derrick Mayes
Reggie White
TRADES AND TRANSACTIONS
JUNE 6 - Traded DB Lenny McGill to ATLANTA for RB Robert Baldwin
JUNE 27 - Traded DE Matt LaBounty to SEATTLE for DB Eugene Robinson
JULY 17 - Traded S George Teague to ATLANTA for a conditional draft choice
WHERE DO THE 1996 PACKERS RANK
So where do the 1996 Packers rank among the all-time Super Bowl champions? There have been many attempts to rank the teams, and ESPN took a shot in 2006 at ranking the top teams. Let the arguments begin:
ESPN.COM (2006) - THE BEST SUPER BOWL TEAMS
1 - 1989 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (14-2) - This team gets our nod due to its excellence on both sides of the ball, mind-boggling statistics and perhaps the most dominant postseason run in NFL history. This team gave us Montana, Rice, Roger Craig, Ronnie Lott and Charles Haley in their primes. It also boasted the largest margin of victory in Super Bowl history, scoring 55 points against the NFL's best scoring defense.
2 - 1985 CHICAGO BEARS( 15-1) - Da Bears were great. But not quite The Greatest. Chicago won its first championship in 22 years behind one of the most fearsome defenses in NFL history. The Bears won 14 games by double digits, including three dominant postseason performances.
3 - 1978 PITTSBURGH STEELERS (14-2) - This season would represent the zenith of a dynasty that captured four Super Bowl championships in six years. Pittsburgh ultimately would send nine players and its head coach to the Hall of Fame. Most of them were in their prime as the Steelers blasted their way through the defending AFC champion Broncos and the upstart Oilers in the playoffs. Pittsburgh then became the first franchise to win three Super Bowls, by defeating an excellent Cowboys team.
4 - 1992 DALLAS COWBOYS (13-3) - The Cowboys returned to glory in a big way, forcing a Super Bowl-record nine turnovers in one of the big game's biggest blowouts. This team boasted the NFL's all-time leading rusher, Emmitt Smith, behind arguably the league's best-ever offensive line. Dallas played defense, too, allowing the fewest yards in the league.
5 - 1984 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (15-1) - Like the Bears the following season, this team came up one victory shy of a perfect season en route to its title. Unlike the Bears, the 49ers' defeat was by a mere field goal, and San Francisco went on to manhandle a dominant offense in the Super Bowl.
6 - 1996 GREEN BAY PACKERS (13-3) - The '96 Packers are one of two postmerger Super Bowl participants to lead the NFL in points scored while allowing the fewest points. Reggie White anchored a defense that also allowed the fewest yards in the league, had more than twice as many interceptions (26) as touchdown passes allowed (12) and limited opponents to a league-best 5.41 yards per passing attempt. All three of the Packers' losses came on the road, and its closest postseason game was 14 points.
7 - 1972 MIAMI DOLPHINS (14-0) - How can the only NFL champion with a perfect record be ranked this far down? The Dolphins played the easiest schedule of all 80 Super Bowl participants, and their passing game was ordinary. All three of Miami's postseason games were decided by seven points or fewer. We have no choice: Undefeated…and No. 7.
OTHER PACKER TEAMS
22 - 1966 GREEN BAY PACKERS (12-2) - The '66 team was pretty mediocre on offense, ranking in the middle of the NFL pack in yards gained. Nevertheless, this team suffered its two losses by a combined four points, and regular-season MVP Bart Starr enjoyed his finest season with a 105.0 passer rating.
