Super Bowl XXXII

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January 25, 1998, San Diego, California

Denver Broncos 31, Green Bay Packers 24

Before the game

Playoffs:

Wild Card:
- 12/27/1997: NFC: Minnesota Vikings 23, New York Giants 22
- 12/27/1997: AFC: Denver Broncos 42, Jacksonville Jaguars 17
- 12/28/1997: NFC: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20, Detroit Lions 10
- 12/28/1997: AFC: New England Patriots 17, Miami Dolphins 3
- Byes: AFC: Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers; NFC: Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers

Divisional Playoff:
- 1/3/1998: AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 7, New England Patriots 6
- 1/3/1998: NFC: San Francisco 49ers 38, Minnesota Vikings 22
- 1/4/1998: AFC: Denver Broncos 14, Kansas City Chiefs 10
- 1/4/1998: NFC: Green Bay Packers 21, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7

Conference Championship:
- 1/11/1998: AFC: Denver Broncos 24, Pittsburgh Steelers 21
- 1/11/1998: NFC: Green Bay Packers 23, San Francisco 49ers 10

The game

In a game that many fans agree was one of the most exciting Super Bowls in recent years, the Broncos won their first title and snapped a 13-game losing streak for AFC teams in the Super Bowl.

The defending champion Packers were heavy favorites going into the game. On their first drive, Antonio Freeman caught a 22-yard Brett Favre pass to open the scoring.

The Broncos dominated the rest of the first half. Denver came back on their first possession to tie the game with a Terrell Davis one-yard run, then scored another touchdown early in the second quarter with Tyrone Braxton's interception setting up another one-yard run by quarterback John Elway. A Brett Favre fumble set up a Jason Elam field goal to put the Broncos up 17-7.

Late in the half the Packers made it close again with a Mark Chmura touchdown , making it 17-14 at the break.

Green Bay tied it up early in the third quarter when Tyrone Williams recovered a Davis fumble deep in Broncos territory and Ryan Longwell scored a 27-yard field goal. Later in the quarter, Denver regained the lead with a second touchdown by Davis. They had a chance to increase their lead when the Packers fumbled the ensuing kickoff, but it was wasted when Elway threw his only interception of the game in the end zone on the next play.

The Packers took that turnover and marched 80 yards to tie it up once again 1:28 into the fourth quarter, with Antonio Freeman's 13-yard score providing the points.

Later in the quarter, with a possible first overtime in Super Bowl history looming, Denver was back in the lead for good. Terrell Davis (who ran for 157 yards total in the game) ran for 17 yards to the one-yard line, then ran into the end zone on the next play with 1:45 left.

A Packers comeback was stifled when John Mobley broke apart a Favre pass intended for Chmura on fourth down with 32 seconds left. After years of frustration, the Broncos won their first championship in team history.

Davis, who scored three touchdowns, was named MVP.

See Also: