 |
|
|
|
|
Denver 31, Green Bay 24
Super Bowl XXXII
Sunday, Jan. 25, 1998 at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA
Attendance: 66,912
Time: 3:25
Weather: 67 F; sunny
 |
| Antonio Freeman caps off the opening drive with a 22 yard TD. |
Behind a dominating rushing performance by San Diego native Terrell Davis,
four-time Super Bowl loser Denver garnered its first-ever victory in the NFL's title game to dethrone the reigning champion Packers in what some called "the best Super Bowl ever." In the process, the Broncos also ended a 13-game Super Bowl winning streak by the National Football Conference representative and sent Green Bay to its initial Super Bowl defeat after three triumphs.
Davis, named as the game's most valuable player, averaged 5.2 yards per carry as he rushed for 157 yards and three touchdowns, including the final, decisive score with less than two minutes remaining.
After the opening possession -- a 76-yard scoring sequence by Green Bay -- it appeared (falsely) that the game might turn into just another rout by the NFC against an overmatched AFC opponent. The Packers easily traversed the field, capping the drive with an arching, 22-yard touchdown pass from Brett Favre to Antonio Freeman at the back of the end zone, Freeman tapdancing to get his feet down, and Green Bay had a 7-0 lead less than five minutes into the contest.
But the Broncos stormed back, scoring the first three times that they had the ball to commandeer a 17-7 advantage. After Davis went over from a yard out for Denver's initial points, the Broncos forced a pair of turnovers in Green Bay territory. First, Favre was intercepted when he prematurely unloaded a pass for Robert Brooks while under a heavy blitz, a miscue which resulted in a 1-yard touchdown run by Broncos quarterback John Elway on a bootleg to the right. Then, after Favre fumbled when hit by Denver safety Steve Atwater on another blitz, the Broncos tacked on a long field goal by Jason Elam.
 |
| Mark Chmura ends the second half with a leaping 6 yard TD catch. |
Green Bay mounted an impressive, 95-yard touchdown drive to consume the latter half of the second quarter and pull to within 17-14. Favre lofted a perfect aerial to tight end Mark Chmura in the back right corner of the end zone just 12 seconds before halftime, a pass which narrowly skirted the finger tips of a leaping defender.
Davis, who had missed the entire second quarter after experiencing migraine headache symptoms, fumbled on the first play from scrimmage of the second half, an error which turned into a game-tying Ryan Longwell field goal only minutes later.
The Broncos went ahead again late in the third period, when Davis scored his second touchdown of the game to culminate a 92-yard, seven-plus minute drive. And when, on the ensuing kickoff, Freeman fumbled at his own 22, things looked dire for Green Bay as it stared at a potential two-touchdown deficit heading into the final quarter. But when the Broncos went for the jugular on their first play, free safety Eugene Robinson intercepted Elway in the end zone.
Favre completed three passes to Freeman on the ensuing Green Bay possession, including a 13-yard crossing route for the receiver's second touchdown which knotted the score at 24 with thirteen-and-a-half minutes remaining. Freeman made nine receptions (for 126 yards) on the day to equal the club's all-time playoff record.
After the Packers failed to take advantage of one fourth-quarter drive which neared midfield, Denver ran the ball down their throat for the game's winning touchdown, a drive which covered 49 yards in only five plays -- four on the ground. Davis strolled into the end zone untouched up the middle for a 31-24 lead with just 105 ticks of the clock left.
Still facing the relentless blitzing which had characterized the play of the Denver defense throughout the game, from his own 30-yard line Favre moved the Packers 39 yards down the field on four straight passes to Dorsey Levens to reach the Broncos' 31 with 42 seconds remaining.
But when his next three throws fell incomplete, including a fourth-down pass intended for Chmura which was knocked down by linebacker John Mobley, the game was Denver's, giving Elway a long-awaited Super Bowl victory after he personally had endured three losses. In the process, the Broncos became just the second wild-card team to capture a Super Bowl.
Favre, while not turning in his usual MVP-like performance, completed 25 of 42 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Elway, who did not complete a pass to one of his wide receivers until late in the third quarter, threw for 123 yards on 12-of-22 passing while being intercepted once.
Stats & Photos
| Scoring Summary |
| 1st Quarter |
GBP: 22 yard TD pass; Favre to Freeman (Longwell kick) (10:58)
Keyplays: 3 consecutive plays for First Downs; 2-13 yard catches by Freeman
DEN: 1 yard Davis TD run (Elam kick) (5:39) |
 |
| 2nd Quarter |
DEN: 1 yard Elway TD run (Elam kick) (14:55)
DEN: 51 yard Elam FG (12:21)
GBP: 6 yard TD pass; Favre to Chmura (Longwell kick) (:12)
Keyplays: 3rd & 9 - 21 yard pass to Chmura; 2nd & 10 - 10 yard pass to Chmura |
| 3rd Quarter |
GBP: 28 yard Longwell FG (11:59)
Keyplay: Terrell Davis Fumble
DEN: 1 yard Davis TD run (Elam kick) (:34) |
|
| 4th Quarter |
GBP: 13 yard TD pass; Favre to Freeman (Longwell kick) (13:32)
Keyplays: Eugene Robinson INT; 27 yard catch by Freeman; 13 yard catch by Freeman
DEN: 1 yard Davis TD run (Elam kick) (1:45) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
