Desmond Howard picked the grandest of stages to carve out his niche in NFL history, totaling more than 250 combined yards on his kickoff and punt returns in a 35-21 win over New England.

Howard equaled a Super Bowl record with 244 total return yards.

The key play to his selection as MVP was a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown that dashed hopes of a comeback by the Patriots. Signed as a free agent in the offseason, the former Heisman Trophy winner from Michigan helped the Packers to their first Super Bowl title since the in twenty-nine years.

Brett Favre passed for two touchdowns and ran for a score.

It was Favre's arm that struck first, as he hit Andre Rison for a 54-yard touchdown pass on the Packers' second play from scrimmage to take a 7-0 lead. Two plays later Doug Evans made a diving interception of Drew Bledsoe's pass at the 28-yard line, setting up Chris Jacke's field goal and giving the Packers a 10-0 lead just 6:18 into the Super Bowl.

The Patriots answered with touchdowns on their next two possessions. Craig Newsome's pass interference penalty set up the first touchdown and a 44-yard completion from Bledsoe to Terry Glenn preceeding Ben Coates's touchdown gave New England its first and only lead. The 24 combined first quarter points were the most in Super Bowl history.

Green Bay struck again 56 seconds into the second quarter as Favre hit Antonio Freeman with a Super Bowl-record 81-yard touchdown bomb. Jacke booted his second field goal on Green Bay's next possession. After a Mike Prior interception, Favre orchestrated a 74-yard, nearly 6-minute drive that concluded with a diving Favre touching the ball against the pylon to give Green Bay a 27-14 halftime lead.

Curtis Martin brought the Patriots to within a score by running in from 18 yards out with 3:27 left in the third quarter. But Howard broke the Patriots' spirit by returning the ensuing kickoff a Super Bowl-record 99 yards. Favre found Mark Chmura for the 2-point conversion to finish the scoring.

Bledsoe was intercepted twice in the fourth quarter as the Patriots never crossed midfield in four fourth-quarter possessions.

Reggie White set a Super Bowl record with three sacks. Favre completed 14 of 27 passes for 246 yards, with no interceptions. Bledsoe completed 11 more passes than Favre, but for just seven more yards, and threw four interceptions.

Super Bowl XXXI: MVP Desmond Howard, KR-PR, Green Bay Packers

Desmond Howard enjoyed a celebrated college football career, winning the Heisman Trophy while starring at the University of Michigan in 1991. His pro football career, however, was judged more by potential than actual production.

But in 1996, Howard finally made his mark in the NFL. He picked the perfect stage, too, to showcase his ability -- Super Bowl XXXI.

Signed as a free agent, Howard found his niche as the Packers' return specialist. He led the NFL with a 15.1-yard punt return average and punt returns for touchdowns with 3. He took back a punt 92 yards for a TD in Green Bay's regular-season finale against Detroit and continued his roll into the postseason.

Against the 49ers, Howard set a team record with 117 punt return yards on just two attempts, including a 71-yarder. In the NFC Championship Game against the Panthers, Howard returned 4 kickoffs for 104 yards, including a 46-yarder, as the Packers advanced to their first Super Bowl in 29 years.

Then against New England at the Superdome, Howard made his mark in Super Bowl lore, personally putting a stop to the Patriots' third-quarter comeback with a record 99-yard kickoff return for a TD.

Ironically, Howard didn't think he had a chance at winning the MVP. "I really didn't expect them to be kicking the ball that much," he said.

Howard got his kicks -- and then some -- in Super Bowl XXXI.

SUPER BOWL XXXI SCORING

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

3rd Quarter

4th Quarter

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