Actual Result: Green Bay Packers 35 New England Patriots 21, the Pack wins its first title since SB2.
Simulation: Dallas won its 7th SB last year and won the NFC East in '96. The 6 time champion 49ers and 5 time champion Steelers are also into the divisional round.
NFC DIVISIONAL ROUND
Jan 4, 1997
San Francisco 49ers (12-4) at Green Bay Packers (13-3)
35 degrees
Pack -5
GB 35 SF 14
PACKERS 18 49ERS 10
The Packers won the first SB 30 years ago and have never returned. They will host the NFC Championship next week.
1st: Reggie White safety (GB 2-0)
2nd: William Floyd 5 yd reception (Young SF 7-2)
William Henderson 15 yd run (9-7)
3rd: Jeff Wilkins 29 yd FG (SF 10-9)
Chris Jacke 43 yd FG (GB 12-10)
4th: Gilbert Brown 11 yd fumble return (missed XP 18-10)
MVP: Reggie White sack, safety, forced fumble
AFC DIVISIONAL ROUND
Jan 4, 1997
Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7) at Denver Broncos (13-3)
36 degrees
Denver -12.5
Jags 30 Broncos 27
BRONCOS 24 JAGUARS 6
Denver played its lone SB a decade ago, losing to the Giants; next week, they host the AFC Championship.
1st: Shannon Sharpe 53 yd reception (Elway Den 7-0)
2nd: Mike Hollis 39 yd FG (7-3)
Terrell Davis 3 yd run (14-3)
4th: Mike Hollis 30 yd FG (14-6)
Jason Elam 49 yd FG (17-6)
Shannon Sharpe 12 yd reception (Elway 24-6)
MVP: Shannon Sharpe 6 catches, 91 yds 2 TDs
AFC DIVISIONAL ROUND
Jan 5, 1997
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) at New England Patriots (11-5)
42 degrees
NE -3
New England 28 Pittsburgh 3
STEELERS 23 PATRIOTS 10
The Steelers won SB 29, their 5th SB and they will go to Denver next week for the right to head to SB31.
1st: Jahine Arnold 9 yd reception (Tomczak Pitt 7-0)
Adam Vinatieri 39 yd FG (7-3)
2nd: Norm Johnson 33 yd FG (10-3)
Curtis Martin 20 yd reception (Bledsoe 10-10)
3rd: Norm Johnson 29 yd FG (Pitt 13-10)
4th: Eric Pegram 2 yd run (20-10)
Norm Johnson 40 yd FG (23-10)
MVP: Jerome Bettis 22 carries, 142 yds
NFC DIVISIONAL ROUND
Jan 5, 1997
Dallas Cowboys (10-6) at Carolina Panthers (12-4)
64 degrees
Dallas -3.5
Carolina 26 Dallas 17
COWBOYS 20 PANTHERS 16
Dallas has won 3 consecutive NFC Championships and will go to Lambeau to face the Packers as they try to win their 4th.
1st: Chris Boniol 49 yd FG (Dall 3-0)
Mark Carrier 14 yd reception (Collins Carol 7-3)
2nd: John Kasay 47 yd FG (10-3)
Daryl Johnston 4 yd reception (Aikman 10-10)
John Kasay 54 yd FG (Carol 13-10)
3rd: Chris Boniol 30 yd FG (13-13)
John Kasay 29 yd FG (Carol 16-13)
4th: Deion Sanders 29 yd INT (Collins Dall 20-16)
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan 12, 1997
Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers
3 degrees
PACKERS 22 COWBOYS 17
30 years after they won the first Super Bowl, the Packers will return. Brett Favre with a Hail Mary to win the NFC Championship.
1st: Chris Boniol 28 yd FG (Dall 3-0)
Deion Sanders 59 yd INT (Favre 10-0)
2nd: Edgar Bennett 40 yd run (missed XP 10-6)
3rd: Desmond Howard 101 yd KR (GB 13-10)
4th: Chris Jacke 30 yd FG (16-10)
Michael Irvin 11 yd reception (Aikman Dall 17-16)
as clock hit :00
Robert Brooks 57 yard reception (Favre, no XP attempt 22-17)
MVP: Desmond Howard TD
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan 12, 1997
Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos
BRONCOS 23 STEELERS 14
A year ahead of schedule, the Packers and Broncos will face off in Super Bowl 31. John Elway vs Brett Favre.
1st: Jason Elam 47 yd FG (Den 3-0)
2nd: Charles Johnson 49 yd reception (Tomczak Pitt 7-3)
3rd: Shannon Sharpe 17 yd reception (Elway Den 10-7)
John Elway 6 yd run (Den 17-7)
4th: Eric Pegram 3 yd run (17-14)
Jason Elam 40 yd FG (20-14)
Jason Elam 30 yd FG (23-14)
MVP: Terrell Davis 25 carries 129 yds
SUPER BOWL XXXI
Jan 26, 1997
Green Bay Packers v. Denver Broncos
New Orleans
PACKERS 20 BRONCOS 13
As happened in the actual world - the Green Bay Packers win Super Bowl 31. 30 years after starting the SB with a win over the Bills they are once again World Champions.
1st: William Henderson 24 yd run (GB 7-0)
2nd: Jason Elam 39 yd FG (7-3)
Chris Jacke 28 yd FG (10-3)
3rd: Chris Jacke 33 yd FG (13-3)
Mark Chmura 26 yd reception (Favre 20-3)
4th: Rod Smith 20 yd reception (Elway 20-10)
Jason Elam 38 yd FG (20-13)
MVP: Reggie White 2 sacks
Super Bowl History
SB1: PACKERS 17 BILLS 10 MVP-J.Taylor QB-Starr HC-Lombardi
SB2: RAIDERS 28 COWBOYS 14 MVP-W.Wells QB-Lamonica HC-Rauch
SB3: CHIEFS 19 COLTS 16 MVP-R.Holmes QB-Dawson HC-Stram
SB4: COWBOYS 21 CHIEFS 13 MVP: L.Rentzel QB-Morton HC-Landry
SB5: VIKINGS 20 BENGALS 10 MVP: A.Page QB-Cuozzo HC-Grant
SB6: VIKINGS 27 CHIEFS 16 MVP G.Cuozzo QB-Cuozzo HC-Grant
SB7: STEELERS 20 COWBOYS 6 MVP J.Ham QB-Bradshaw HC-Noll
SB8: COWBOYS 33 BENGALS 27 (OT) MVP: C.Hill QB-Staubach HC-Landry
SB9: STEELERS 20 RAMS 10 MVP: L.McCutcheon QB-Bradshaw HC Noll
SB10: STEELERS 18 RAMS 0 MVP LC Greenwood QB-Bradshaw HC Noll
SB11: COWBOYS 33 PATRIOTS 7 MVP H.Martin QB-Staubach HC-Landry
SB12: COWBOYS 17 RAIDERS 10 MVP T.Dorsett QB-Staubach HC-Landry
SB13: COWBOYS 42 OILERS 21 MVP R.Staubach QB-Staubach HC Landry
SB14: STEELERS 24 EAGLES 7 MVP F.Harris QB-Bradshaw HC-Noll
SB15: FALCONS 24 RAIDERS 8 MVP:W.Andrews QB-Bartkowski HC-Bennett
SB16: 49ERS 39 BENGALS 19 MVP: J.Montana QB-Montana HC-Walsh
SB17: COWBOYS 30 CHARGERS 10 MVP: D.White QB-White HC-Landry
SB18: REDSKINS 30 DOLPHINS 29 MVP: J.Washington QB-Theismann HC-Gibbs
SB19: 49ERS 24 SEAHAWKS 6 MVP: R.Lott QB-Montana HC-Walsh
SB20: BEARS 51 RAIDERS 13 MVP: W.Payton QB-McMahon HC-Ditka
SB21: GIANTS 19 BRONCOS 6 MVP: J.Morris QB-Simms HC-Parcells
SB22: 49ERS 27 BROWNS 9 MVP: R.Craig QB-Montana HC-Walsh
SB23: 49ERS 24 BENGALS 10 MVP: C.Haley QB-Montana HC-Walsh
SB24: 49ERS 34 BILLS 14 MVP: J.Montana QB-Montana HC-Seifert
SB25: BILLS 17 BEARS 14 MVP: B.Smith QB-Kelly HC-Levy
SB26: BILLS 17 REDSKINS 13 MVP: G.Clark QB-Kelly HC-Levy
SB27: 49ERS 35 DOLPHINS 23 MVP: R.Watters QB-Young HC-Seifert
SB28: OILERS 24 COWBOYS 17 MVP: L.White QB-Moon HC-Pardee
SB29: STEELERS 20 COWBOYS 13 MVP: G.Lloyd QB-O'Donnell HC-Cowher
SB30: COWBOYS 37 CHIEFS 27 MVP: E.Smith QB-Aikman HC-Switzer
SB31: PACKERS 20 BRONCOS 13 MVP: R.White QB-Favre HC-Holmgren
ALL SB Team (1-25)
QB-J Montana, R,Staubach - only two 4 time winners with an MVP
RB- T.Dorsett, F.Harris, R.Craig - multiple wins and an MVP, Franco, I think, is the top SB performer of the first 25 years
WR-J. Rice, D. Pearson, I think the only receivers with both multiple and TDs in multiple SBs
TE B.J Dupree, easily the most productive SB TE
DL: A.Page, LC Greenwood, H.Martin, B.Smith
LB: J.Ham, C.Haley
DB: R.Lott, all the defensive MVPs,
ALL SB Team (26-50)
RB E.Smith, MVP, TDs in multiple SBs
WR - J.Taylor, TDs in multiple SBs + multiple titles
DL R.White MVP
LB - G.Lloyd, MVP
