Again, Green Bay Is Leader of the Pack

Again, Green Bay Is Leader of the Pack

By Richard Justice
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, January 27, 1997; Page D1

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 26 – The Green Bay Packers reclaimed the old man's trophy. They raised it into the air and they showed it to the world. Their reconstruction was completed with a convincing 35-21 victory over the New England Patriots tonight in Super Bowl XXXI at the Louisiana Superdome.

Twenty years after their most recent championship, Lombardi's team once more has Lombardi's trophy. His memory both haunts and enriches every player who wears the Green Bay uniform, but now this generation of Packers has a legacy of its own.

Desmond Howard's dazzling 99-yard kickoff return late in the third quarter clinched victory for the Packers and won him a Super Bowl most valuable player trophy. That return was the longest in an NFL playoff game, and it occurred after the Patriots had closed within 27-21.

Howard's earlier punt returns of 32 and 34 yards also set up scores for Green Bay as Howard used the biggest stage in sports to prove that he belonged in the NFL. A step ahead of the competition tonight, he was a step from being out of football last summer after three disappointing seasons with the Washington Redskins and one with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

He has proven he's something special, but so did a lot of others. Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre threw a pair of long touchdowns passes – 81 yards to Antonio Freeman and 54 yards to Andre Rison. His 81-yard pass is the longest play in Super Bowl history.

"It's hard to express what I feel right now," Packers Coach Mike Holmgren said. "I look at the faces of coaches and players and ownership, and I'm humbled by that. I'm sure it'll set in sometime tomorrow. It's a great sense of accomplishment. Our football team worked so hard for this."

Defensive end Reggie White ended a 12-year quest for a championship with three sacks, highlighting a defensive effort in which the Packers intercepted New England quarterback Drew Bledsoe four times.

The Patriots entered the game having not allowed a touchdown in this postseason. The Packers finished with four in what is likely to be the end of New England Coach Bill Parcells's tenure with his team. He's expected to resign in the next week and move to the New York Jets or return to broadcasting. "I think something will happen in the next couple of days," Parcells said.

It was the end of a marvelous run for Favre, who has won back-to-back NFL MVP trophies and now is at the top of his profession with the best team. And it was sweet for veteran players such as White and Sean Jones, who'd played a combined 25 seasons without a title. White helped seal the victory with back-to-back sacks of Bledsoe late in the game.

"This organization stands for pride and dignity and all those good things," Freeman said. "It's the Vince Lombardi Trophy and it's going back home."

The Packers led 27-14 after a wild first half that included the highest scoring first quarter in Super Bowl history. The Packers struck first and most often, beginning with Howard's 32-yard punt return, which put the Packers at their 45-yard line for their first possession.

Favre gave it to tailback Edgar Bennett for one yard, then fired a beautiful 54-yard touchdown pass to Rison (pictured) for a 7-0 lead. Rison got open by slipping behind cornerback Otis Smith, but Favre made the play by staying poised in the pocket.

"Brett changed the play," Holmgren said. "He saw the safeties come up and he called the play. I don't mind him doing it as long as something good happens. He made a perfect throw."

Two plays later, Bledsoe made a mistake. He tossed a sideline pass toward wide receiver Terry Glenn, but cornerback Doug Evans stepped in front of him and made a nice, bobbling catch at the New England 28. The Packers got Chris Jacke's 37-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead with 8:42 left in the first quarter.

The Patriots didn't fold. Bledsoe promptly led a 79-yard drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown pass to Keith Byars (pictured). And moments later, he led a 57-yard drive that ended with a four-yard touchdown pass to tight end Ben Coates.

All of a sudden, the Patriots were in front, 14-10.

Fifty-six seconds into the second quarter, Freeman slipped behind a safety and caught an 81-yard touchdown pass from Favre. That play was the longest in Super Bowl history, surpassing an 80-yard pass from the Redskins' Doug Williams to Ricky Sanders in Super Bowl XXII.

The Packers forced another punt, and Howard returned it 34 yards to the Patriots 47. Eight plays later, Jacke's 31-yard field goal made it 20-14 with 8:15 left in the second quarter.

Bledsoe dug the Patriots a little deeper with another mistake.

He left a ball in the air too long, and safety Mike Prior, playing center field, had an easy interception. From their 26-yard line, the Packers put together their best drive of the half, going 74 yards in nine plays. It ended with Favre diving in from two yards out for a 27-14 lead.

Curtis Martin's tackle-breaking 18-yard run got the Patriots within 27-21, but then Howard's kickoff broke it open. He became the first player to return both a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown in the same NFL postseason tournament.

Holmgren decided to go for two points and the Packers got them when Favre scrambled around, bought time and flipped to tight end Mark Chmura in the back of the end zone to make it 35-21.

Enter White. Shut out for most of the postseason, the NFL's all-time sacks leader got to Bledsoe on consecutive plays, forcing a punt and keeping the Patriots in check.

"That kick return [by Howard] kind of turned it their way," Parcells said. "Until that point, I thought we still had an opportunity to win."

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