Broncos Defeat Packers



The NFC's dominance of the Super Bowl ended Sunday as the Denver Broncos defeated the Green Bay Packers, 31-24. The game signifies the first Super Bowl win for the Broncos, and the first Super Bowl loss for the Packers.

Elway goes all the way



SAN DIEGO (January 25, 1998) — Terrell Davis' third one-yard touchdown run with 1:45 remaining capped a brilliant 157-yard performance and lifted the Denver Broncos to a stunning 31-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXII in San Diego, their first NFL championship in the 38-year history of the franchise.

The Packers were heavily favored to repeat as Super Bowl champions, but were unable to contain Davis, a San Diego native who set a Super Bowl record with his three rushing touchdowns and earned Most Valuable Player honors.

Denver was 0-4 in Super Bowls, including three losses with quarterback John Elway, who at 37 was taking perhaps his last shot at a Super Bowl title. But it was the electrifying cut-back running of Davis, who carried 30 times behind the smallest offensive line in the NFL, that ended the Super Bowl misery for the Broncos.

"I'm numb right now. ... I can't reflect on my game," Davis said. "It is going to take a while for this to set in."

"I can't believe it," Elway said. "I treasure all those thoughts and the players. It's just great. It's a great organization. I am so proud that this team came together. We did it the hard way, but for all the Bronco fans that never had this feeling, we finally got it done."

The Broncos also snapped the AFC's 13-game losing streak in the Super Bowl. The last win by an AFC team came in Super Bowl XVIII when the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins, 38-9, in 1984.

Denver also became just the second Wildcard team to win a Super Bowl, joining the 1980 Oakland Raiders.

Denver's offensive line, with none of its five starters over 300 pounds, consistently opened holes for Davis against a Green Bay defensive line that featured 345-pound nose tackle Gilbert Brown and 305-pound end Reggie White.

Elway completed just 12-of-22 passes for 123 yards and one interception. But he also scored on a one-yard run and made a handful of key plays.

Three-time NFL MVP Brett Favre completed 25-of-42 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns with one interception, but could not rally the Packers after Davis' go-ahead score. Antonio Freeman had nine catches for 126 yards and Dorsey Levens rushed for 90 yards on 19 carries for Green Bay, which was denied a dynasty.

The game was tied 24-24 when the Broncos took over at the Green Bay 49 with 3:27 remaining. On the first play, Packers defensive end Darius Holland, who had replaced the injured Gabe Wilkins in the first half, was penalized 15 yards for grabbing the facemask of Davis after a two-yard run. One play later, fullback Howard Griffith caught a swing pass from Elway and turned it into a 23-yard gain to the Green Bay 8.

After the two-minute warning, Davis raced around left end for a seven-yard gain, but the play was negated when tight end Shannon Sharpe was penalized 10 yards for holding Packers linebacker Seth Joyner. On the next plale for the winning touchdown.

The Packers took over at their own 39 with a chance to force the first overtime in Super Bowl history. Levens turned a short pass from Favre into a 22-yard gain to the Denver 48. Favre then connected with Levens on a 13-yard play to the Denver 35 with 64 seconds left.

But following another four-yard pass to Levens, Favre threw two incompletions and the Packers faced 4th-and-6 at the Denver 31 with 36 seconds left. Favre attempted to hit tight end Mark Chmura with a quick pass up the middle, but the play was broken up by Broncos linebacker John Mobley.

Elway took a knee, the took the ball and ran toward his end zone as he was mobbed by teammates, completing one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history.

"It means a lot to everyone," Broncos safety Steve Atwater said. "I can't put it into words right now. Our players, our coaches put a lot into it, and to finally achieve the goal we set out to accomplish, there's no greater feeling than that."


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