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DENVER 31, GREEN BAY 24Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 25, 1998; Attendance: 68,912; Time: 3:25; Weather: 67° F sunnyBehind a dominating rushing performanceby San Diego native Terrell Davis, a pass which narrowly skirted the fingertips of a leaping defender.back right corner of the end zone just 12 seconds before halftime,four-time Super Bowl loser Denver garneredits first-ever victory in the NFL’s title riencing migraine-headache symptoms, fumbled on the first playDavis, who had missed the entire second quarter after expe-game to dethrone the reigning champion from scrimmage of the second half, an error which turned into aPackers in what some called “the best game-tying Ryan Longwell field goal only minutes later.Super Bowl ever.” In the process, the The Broncos went ahead again late in the third period, whenBroncos also ended a 13-game Super Davis scored his second touchdown of the game to culminateBowl winning streak by the National a 92-yard, seven-plus minute drive. And when, on the ensuingFootball Conference representative and kickoff, Freeman fumbled at his own 22, things looked dire forsent Green Bay to its initial Super Bowl Green Bay as it stared at a potential two-touchdown deficit headingdefeat after three triumphs.into the final quarter. But when the Broncos went for the jugularDavis, named as the game’s most valuable player, averaged 5.2 on their first play, free safety Eugene Robinson intercepted Elwayyards per carry as he rushed for 157 yards and three touchdowns, in the end zone.including the final, decisive score with less than two minutes Favre completed three passes to Freeman on the ensuing Greenremaining.Bay possession, including a 13-yardAfter the opening possession – acrossing route for the receiver’s secondtouchdown, which knotted the76-yard scoring sequence by GreenBay – it appeared (falsely) that thescore at 24 with 13½ minutes remaining.Freeman made nine receptionsgame might turn into just anotherrout by the NFC against an overmatchedAFC opponent. The Packersclub’s all-time playoff record.(for 126 yards) on the day to equal theeasily traversed the field, cappingAfter the Packers failed to takethe drive with an arching, 22-yardadvantage of one fourth-quarter drivetouchdown pass from Brett Favrewhich neared midfield, Denver ran theto Antonio Freeman at the back ofball down their throat for the game’sthe end zone, Freeman tap-dancingwinning touchdown, a drive whichto get his feet down, and Green Baycovered 49 yards in only five plays –had a 7-0 lead less than five minutesfour on the ground. Davis strolled intointo the contest.the end zone untouched up the middleBut the Broncos stormed back, scoring the first three times for a 31-24 lead with just 105 ticks of the clock left.that they had the ball to commandeer a 17-7 advantage. After Davis Still facing the relentless blitzing which had characterized thewent over from a yard out for Denver’s initial points, the Broncos play of the Denver defense throughout the game, from his ownforced a pair of turnovers in Green Bay territory. First, Favre was 30-yard line Favre moved the Packers 39 yards down the field onintercepted when he prematurely unloaded a pass for Robert Brooks four straight passes to Dorsey Levens to reach the Broncos’ 31 withwhile under a heavy blitz, a miscue which resulted in a 1-yard 42 seconds remaining.touchdown run by Broncos quarterback John Elway on a bootleg But when his next three throws fell incomplete, including ato the right. Then, after Favre fumbled when hit by Denver safety fourth-down pass intended for Chmura which was knocked downSteve Atwater on another blitz, the Broncos tacked on a long field by linebacker John Mobley, the game was Denver’s, giving Elwaygoal by Jason Elam.a long-awaited Super Bowl victory after he personally had enduredGreen Bay mounted an impressive, 95-yard touchdown drive three losses. In the process, the Broncos became just the secondto consume the latter half of the second quarter and pull to within wild-card team to capture a Super Bowl.17-14. Favre lofted a perfect aerial to tight end Mark Chmura in thecontinued on next page1 2 3 4 TotalGreen Bay . . . . . . . . 7 7 3 7 — 24Denver . . . . . . . . . . 7 10 7 7 — 31SUPER BOWL XXXIIGreen Bay PackersDenver BroncosOffense Defense Offense DefenseWR 86 A.Freeman LE 92 R.White WR 80 R.Smith LE 90 N.SmithLT 78 R.Verba DT 71 S.Dotson LT 65 G.Zimmerman LT 94 K.TraylorLG 73 A.Taylor NT 93 G.Brown LG 69 M.Schlereth RT 98 M.TanuvasaC 52 F.Winters RE 98 G.Wilkins C 66 T.Nalen RE 91 A.WilliamsRG 63 A.Timmerman LLB 54 S.Joyner RG 75 B.Habib WLB 51 J.MobleyRT 72 E.Dotson MLB 55 B.Harris RT 77 T.Jones MLB 57 A.AldridgeTE 89 M.Chmura LLB 51 B.Williams TE 84 S.Sharpe SLB 53 B.RomanowskiWR 87 R.Brooks LCB 37 T.Williams WR 87 E.McCaffrey LCB 39 R.CrockettQB 4 B.Favre RCB 33 D.Evans QB 7 J.Elway RCB 23 D.GordonRB 25 D.Levens SS 36 L.Butler RB 30 T.Davis SS 34 T.BraxtonFB 30 W.Henderson FS 41 E.Robinson FB 29 H.Griffith FS 27 S.AtwaterReferee: Ed Hochuli (85)Team Qtr Time Play Description (Extra Point) (Drive Info) GB DenPackers 1 10:58 A.Freeman 22 yd. pass from B.Favre (R.Longwell kick)(8-76, 4:02). .7 0Broncos 1 5:39 T.Davis 1 yd. run (J.Elam kick) (10-58, 5:19) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 7Broncos 2 14:55 J.Elway 1 yd. run (J.Elam kick) (8-45, 4:54) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 14Broncos 2 12:21 J.Elam 51 yd. Field Goal (4-0, 1:02). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 17Packers 2 0:12 M.Chmura 6 yd. pass from B.Favre (R.Longwell kick) (17-95, 7:26) . .14 17Packers 3 11:59 R.Longwell 27 yd. Field Goal (7-17, 2:42). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 17Broncos 3 0:34 T.Davis 1 yd. run (J.Elam kick) (13-92, 7:12) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 24Packers 4 13:32 A.Freeman 13 yd. pass from B.Favre (R.Longwell kick)(4-85, 1:39). . 24 24Broncos 4 1:45 T.Davis 1 yd. run (J.Elam kick) (5-49, 1:42) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 31FIELD GOALS (made ( ) & missed)R.Longwell (27) J.Elam (51)COMMUNITYPACKERS SUPER BOWLSADMIN. &COACHESDRAFT &VETERANS FREE AGENTS 2012 REVIEWSUPERBOWLSLAMBEAUFIELD MISC.465