In Super Bowl XLV, the Green Bay Packers will appear in their fifth Super Bowl in franchise history. Here's a look back at their appearance against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI.
Super Bowl History: When Brett Favre And The Packers Took Back The Lombardi Trophy
When Brett Favre first arrived in Green Bay, the Packers had not won the Super Bowl since before it was called the Super Bowl. By his fifth year with the Pack, his team reclaimed the Lombardi Trophy with a 35-21 win over the New England Patriots.
During the 1996 regular season, the Packers amassed a 13-3 record, tying the franchise mark for wins in a season. They entered Super Bowl XXXI a massive favorite, having led the NFL both in points scored and fewest points allowed.
Meanwhile, while the Patriots entered with an average defense, they ranked second-best in points scored, and were led by two-time Super Bowl winner Bill Parcells. The two teams met in the Louisiana Superdome, which was hosting its fifth Super Bowl.
Receiver Andre Rison, acquired in a mid-season trade, scored the Packers' first touchdown of the game when he hauled in a 54-yard touchdown reception. Drew Bledsoe's offense answered with two touchdowns, though, and at the end of the first quarter, the Patriots held a 14-10 lead.
The second quarter was all Green Bay, as the Pack scored 17 unanswered points. At this stage in the game, the Packers' defense began to dominate. Bledsoe threw four interceptions in the game, and Reggie White recorded three sacks. An 18-yard run from running back Curtis Martin was the only score the Patriots managed for the rest of the game.
That touchdown narrowed the Packers’ lead to 27-21, but Desmond Howard broke the Patriots’ backs on the ensuing kickoff. The 1991 Heisman Trophy winner ran back the ensuing kickoff 99 yards, and a successful two-point conversion gave the Packers a 35-21 lead that remained until the whistle.
In addition to his touchdown return, Howard ripped off a couple of returns that placed the Packers in great field position, and after a career which many saw as something of a disappointment, he was named the Super Bowl MVP. It was the third Super Bowl win for the Packers, and the following year, Brett Favre would lead them back to the big game.
As we near Super Bowl Sunday, be sure to follow along with our Packers blog, Acme Packing Company, and our Steelers blog, Behind The Steel Curtain.
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