NFL Super Bowl XXXII: Broncos 31 Packers 24
The Broncos Defeat the Packers 31-24 to win Super Bowl XXXII, Broncos RB Terrell Davis named MVP
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Terrell Davis rushed for 157 yards and a Super Bowl-record three touchdowns to lead the Broncos to their first NFL championship and break the NFC's streak of Super Bowl victories at 13.
The defending Super Bowl champion Packers took the opening kickoff and marched 76 yards in just over four minutes, scoring the first points on Brett Favre's 22-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Freeman. The Broncos responded with a 10-play, 58-yard drive capped by Davis's 1-yard run to tie the game.
Tyrone Braxton intercepted Favre two plays later, and John Elway scored on a third-and-goal play to begin the second quarter. Steve Atwater forced Favre to fumble three plays later, and Neil Smith recovered at the Packers' 33. Jason Elam converted a 51-yard field goal, the second longest in Super Bowl history, to give the Broncos a 17-7 lead with 12:21 left in the half.
After an exchange of punts, the Packers produced a 17-play, 95-yard drive that consumed 7:26 and finished with Favre's 6-yard touchdown pass to Mark Chmura on third-and-5 with 12 seconds left in the half.
Tyrone Williams forced and recovered Davis's fumble at the Broncos' 26 on the first play from scrimmage in the second half. However, the Broncos' defense kept the Packers out of the end zone as Ryan Longwell's 27-yard field goal tied the game with 11:59 left in the third quarter.
After another exchange of punts, Elway's 36-yard pass to Ed McCaffrey keyed a 13-play, 92-yard drive capped by Davis's 1-yard touchdown run with 34 seconds left in the third quarter. Tim McKyer recovered Freeman's fumble at the Packers' 22 on the ensuing kickoff return, giving the Broncos a golden opportunity, but Eugene Robinson intercepted Elway's pass in the end zone on the next play.
Sparked by Robinson's play, the Packers took just four plays, three on passes to Freeman, to score the tying touchdown with 13:32 remaining. Each defense stiffened, forcing two punts, but the Broncos got great field position following Craig Hentrich's 39-yard punt to the Packers' 49 with 3:27 left and the score tied 24-24.
Davis rushed for two yards on the first play, but Darrius Holland's 15-yard facemask penalty moved the ball to the Packers' 32. Elway threw a 23-yard pass to Howard Griffith two plays later, and after a holding penalty, Davis rushed 17 yards to the Packers' 1 with 1:47 left. After a timeout, Davis waltzed into the end zone to give Denver a 31-24 lead with 1:45 remaining.
Freeman returned the kickoff 22 yards to the Packers' 30, and Favre completed 22- and 13-yard screen passes to Dorsey Levens to reach the Broncos' 35 with 1:04 left. But after a 4-yard pass to Levens and incompletions to Freeman and Brooks, John Mobley knocked away Favre's pass to Chmura with 32 seconds left to give the Broncos the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Elway was 12 of 22 for 123 yards, with an interception. Favre was 25 of 42 for 256 yards and a touchdown, with one interception. Freeman had nine receptions for 126 yards. Davis was named the game's most valuable player.
Super Bowl XXXII: MVP Terrell Davis, RB, Denver Broncos
John Elway had waited 15 years — not to mention his entire life — for this moment. And when the Super Bowl XXXII Championship was finally his, it turned out that he, the player the Broncos had relied on to bring them victories ever since he joined the franchise, was not the player who brought them victory. That distinction went to running back Terrell Davis and with it, the Super Bowl MVP.
As the 196th pick in the 1995 draft, the rookie out of Georgia became the lowest-drafted player to rush for 1,000 yards in his inaugural season. His 1,117 rushing yards also made him the the first Bronco to rush for 1,000 yards in four seasons. He had made his mark, and he intended to build on it.
After rushing for over 1,500 in his second season, he began the 1997 campaign as a man on a mission. Davis, along with Dolphins running back Karim Abdul-Jabbar, led the league with 15 rushing touchdowns. His 1,750 rushing yards led the AFC and were second only to Lions running back Barry Sanders' 2,053. He was also second in the league with 369 carries.
Davis carried that momentum deep into the postseason. When Denver hosted the AFC Wildcard Playoff Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Davis set franchise records with the most carries (31), rushing yards (184) and rushing touchdowns (2). Then, against the Kansas City Chiefs, the 1997 AFC West champions, Davis accounted for both Bronco touchdowns. His 101 yards on 25 carries vaulted Denver to a 14-10 victory and into AFC Championship game against the Steelers in Pittsburgh.
Despite the hostile environment, Davis posted his third straight 100-yard game. On 26 carries, Davis ran up 139 yards and added his fifth postseason touchdown of 1997. His effort launched him into second place for most rushing yards in a single postseason.
Finally, in Super Bowl XXXII, Davis capped one of the most remarkable seasons ever with a 157-yard, three-touchdown performance to help lead the Broncos past the Green Bay Packers for the World Championship. His third touchdown gave the Broncos a 31-24 lead, which they would never relinquish. The effort was more than enough to earn him the Most Valuable Player Award.
So while the press devoted most of their time to Elway, who had finally reached the ultimate prize, Davis was the true hero of Super Bowl XXXII.
Super Bowl XXXII
SUPER BOWL XXXII SCORING
Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final | ||
Green Bay Packers | 7 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 24 | |
Denver Broncos | 7 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 31 | |
1st Quarter
GB Freeman 22 pass from Favre (Longwell kick), 4:02
DEN Davis 1 run (Elam kick), 9:21
2nd Quarter
DEN Elway 1 run (Elam kick), 0:05
DEN FG Elam 51, 2:39
GB Chmura 6 pass from Favre (Longwell kick), 14:48
3rd Quarter
GB FG Longwell 27, 3:01
DEN Davis 1 run (Elam kick), 14:26
4th Quarter
GB Freeman 13 pass from Favre (Longwell kick), 1:28
DEN Davis 1 run (Elam kick), 13:15
January 25, 1998
Qualcomm Stadium (San Diego, California)
Attendance: 68,912
Super Bowl XXXII: Ticket and Championship Ring
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Super Bowl Games & Super Bowl MVP History
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Super Bowl I
Green Bay Packers 35 Kansas City Chiefs 10 -
Super Bowl II
Green Bay Packers 33 Oakland Raiders 14 -
Super Bowl III
New York Jets 16 Baltimore Colts 7 -
Super Bowl IV
Kansas City Chiefs 23 Minnesota Vikings 7 -
Super Bowl V
Baltimore Colts 16 Dallas Cowboys 13 -
Super Bowl VI
Dallas Cowboys 24 Miami Dolphins 3 -
Super Bowl VII
Miami Dolphins 14 Washington Redskins 7 -
Super Bowl VIII
Miami Dolphins 24 Minnesota Vikings 7 -
Super Bowl IX
Pittsburgh Steelers 16 Minnesota Vikings 6 -
Super Bowl X
Steelers 21 Dallas Cowboys 17 -
Super Bowl XI
Oakland Raiders 32 Minnesota Vikings 14 -
Super Bowl XII
Cowboys 27 Denver Broncos 10 -
Super Bowl XIII
Pittsburgh Steelers 35 Dallas Cowboys 31 -
Super Bowl XIV
Pittsburgh Steelers 31 Los Angeles Rams 19 -
Super Bowl XV
Oakland Raiders 27 Philadelphia Eagles 10 -
Super Bowl XVI
San Francisco 49ers 26 Cincinnati Bengals 21 -
Super Bowl XVII
Washington Redskins 27 Miami Dolphins 17 -
Super Bowl XVIII
Los Angeles Raiders 38 Washington Redskins 9 -
Super Bowl XIX
San Francisco 49ers 38 Miami Dolphins 16 -
Super Bowl XX
Chicago Bears 46 New England Patriots 10 -
Super Bowl XXI
New York Giants 39 Denver Broncos 20 -
Super Bowl XXII
Washington Redskins 42 Denver Broncos 10 -
Super Bowl XXIII
San Francisco 49ers 20 Cincinnati Bengals 16 -
Super Bowl XXIV
San Francisco 49ers 55 Denver Broncos 10 -
Super Bowl XXV
New York Giants 20 Buffalo Bills 19 -
Super Bowl XXVI
Washington Redskins 37 Buffalo Bills 24 -
Super Bowl XXVII
Dallas Cowboys 52 Buffalo Bills 17 -
Super Bowl XXVIII
Dallas Cowboys 30 Buffalo Bills 13 -
Super Bowl XXIX
San Francisco 49ers 49 San Diego Chargers 26 -
Super Bowl XXX
Dallas Cowboys 27 Pittsburgh Steelers 17 -
Super Bowl XXXI
Green Bay Packers 35 New England Patriots 21 -
Super Bowl XXXII
Denver Broncos 31 Green Bay Packers 24 -
Super Bowl XXXIII
Denver Broncos 34 Atlanta Falcons 19 -
Super Bowl XXXIV
Saint Louis Rams 23 Tennessee Titans 16 -
Super Bowl XXXV
Baltimore Ravens 34 New York Giants 7 -
Super Bowl XXXVI
New England Patriots 20 Saint Louis Rams 17 -
Super Bowl XXXVII
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48 Oakland Raiders 21 -
Super Bowl XXXVIII
New England Patriots 32 Carolina Panthers 29 -
Super Bowl XXXIX
New England Patriots 24 Philadelphia Eagles 21 -
Super Bowl XL
Steelers 21 Seahawks 10 -
Super Bowl XLI
Colts 29 Bears 17 -
Super Bowl XLII
New York Giants 17 New England Patriots 14 -
Super Bowl XLIII
Pittsburgh Steelers 27 Arizona Cardinals 23 -
Super Bowl XLIV
New Orleans Saints 31 Indianapolis Colts 17
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