NFL playoffs, 1996-97

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The NFL playoffs following the 1996 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXI.

Playoff seeds
Seed AFC NFC
1 Denver Broncos (West winner) Green Bay Packers (Central winner)
2 New England Patriots (East winner) Carolina Panthers (West winner)
3 Pittsburgh Steelers (Central winner) Dallas Cowboys (East winner)
4 Buffalo Bills San Francisco 49ers
5 Jacksonville Jaguars Philadelphia Eagles
6 Indianapolis Colts Minnesota Vikings

Contents

[edit] Wild Card playoffs

[edit] December 28, 1996

[edit] AFC: Jacksonville Jaguars 30, Buffalo Bills 27

1 2 3 4 Total
Jaguars 10 7 3 10 30
Bills 14 3 3 7 27

at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

The second year Jaguars won their first playoff game in team history as kicker Mike Hollis scored the winning 45-yard field goal with 3:07 left to play. The Bills scored first with quarterback Jim Kelly's 7-yard touchdown pass to running back Thurman Thomas. However, Jacksonville tied the game after defensive end Clyde Simmons intercepted Kelly's shovel pass and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown. For the rest of the game, the score see-sawed back and forth: Hollis and Bills kicker Steve Christie each scored 2 field goals, Thomas ran for a 2-yard touchdown, Jaguars running back Natrone Means ran for a 30-yard score, Buffalo cornerback Jeff Burris scored on a 38-yard interception return, and Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell threw a 2-yard touchdown to Jimmy Smith.

  • Scoring
    • BUF - Thomas 7 pass from Kelly (Christie kick)
    • JAC - Simmons 20 interception return (Hollis kick)
    • BUF - Thomas 2 run (Christie kick)
    • JAC - FG Hollis 27
    • JAC - Means 30 run (Hollis kick)
    • BUF - FG Christie 33
    • BUF - FG Christie 47
    • JAC - FG Hollis 24
    • BUF - Burris 38 interception return (Christie kick)
    • JAC - Smith 2 pass from Brunell (Hollis kick)
    • JAC - FG Hollis 45

[edit] NFC: Dallas Cowboys 40, Minnesota Vikings 15

1 2 3 4 Total
Vikings 0 0 7 8 15
Cowboys 7 23 7 3 40

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

The Cowboys scored 23 points off of 5 Vikings turnovers. Perhaps the turning point of the game occurred in the first quarter after Dallas took the early 7-0 lead with quarterback Troy Aikman's 2-yard touchdown run. Minnesota running back Amp Lee caught a short pass from quarterback Brad Johnson and appeared to be on his way for a 43-yard touchdown. But Cowboys safety George Teague caught up with Lee at the 1-yard line and poked the ball out of his hands, and it ball bounced in and out of the end zone for a touchback. Teague later scored on a 27-yard interception return, running back Emmitt Smith ran for two touchdowns from 37 and 1 yard out, and kicker Chris Boniol made 4 field goals. Johnson threw a 30-yard touchdown to wide receiver Cris Carter and ran for another, but it was not enough.

  • Scoring
    • DAL - Aikman 2 run (Boniol kick)
    • DAL - FG Boniol 28
    • DAL - E. Smith 37 run (Boniol kick)
    • DAL - Teague 29 interception return (Boniol kick)
    • DAL - FG Boniol 31
    • DAL - FG Boniol 22
    • MIN - Carter 30 pass from B. Johnson (Sisson kick)
    • DAL - E. Smith 1 run (Boniol kick)
    • DAL - FG Boniol 25
    • MIN - B. Johnson 5 run (Carter pass from B. Johnson)

[edit] December 29, 1996

[edit] AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 42, Indianapolis Colts 14

1 2 3 4 Total
Colts 0 14 0 0 14
Steelers 10 3 8 21 42

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Steelers blew a 13-point lead in the first half but scored 29 unanswered points in the second half. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh defense held the Colts to 146 total yards of offense. Two field goals by Norm Johnson and a 1-yard touchdown run by Kordell Stewart gave the Steelers the 13-point advantage by the second quarter. However, Indianapolis cornerback Eugene Daniel intercepted Mike Tomczak's pass and returned it 59 yards for a touchdown. Another interception led to a 9-yard touchdown from Colts quarterback Jim Harbaugh to wide receiver Aaron Bailey. But the Steelers controlled the rest of the game. Running back Jerome Bettis, who finished with 102 rushing yards, scored two 1-yard touchdowns, running back Jon Witman recorded a 31-yard touchdown, and Stewart added a 3-yard touchdown.

  • Scoring
    • PIT - FG Johnson 29
    • PIT - Stewart 1 run (Johnson kick)
    • PIT - FG Johnson 50
    • IND - Daniel 59 interception return (Blanchard kick)
    • IND - Bailey 9 pass from Harbaugh (Blanchard kick)
    • PIT - Bettis 1 run (Farquhar pass from Stewart)
    • PIT - Bettis 1 run (Johnson kick)
    • PIT - Witman 31 run (Johnson kick)
    • PIT - Stewart 3 run (Johnson kick)

[edit] NFC: San Francisco 49ers 14, Philadelphia Eagles 0

1 2 3 4 Total
Eagles 0 0 0 0 0
49ers 0 7 7 0 14

at 3Com Park, San Francisco

Although they gained more yards than the 49ers, the Eagles were shut out in a rainy game with 51 miles per hour winds. Kicker Gary Anderson missed a 40-yard field goal attempt on Philadelphia's first possession. In the second quarter, San Francisco quarterback Steve Young ran for a 9-yard touchdown that capped off a 75-yard drive. The Eagles then reached the San Francisco 8-yard line, but quarterback Ty Detmer threw an interception to defensive back Marquez Pope. The 49ers were forced to punt on their next drive, and Philadelphia advanced to the San Francisco 5-yard line. However, 49ers defensive end Roy Barker intercepted Detmer, and the Eagles would never seriously threaten again. Young would later throw a 3-yard touchdown to wide receiver Jerry Rice.

  • Scoring
    • SF - Young 9 run (Wilkins kick)
    • SF - Rice 3 pass from Young (Wilkins kick)

[edit] Byes

[edit] Divisional playoffs

[edit] January 4, 1997

[edit] NFC: Green Bay Packers 35, San Francisco 49ers 14

1 2 3 4 Total
49ers 0 7 7 0 14
Packers 14 7 7 7 35

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Desmond Howard's key punt returns enabled the Packers to jump to a 14-0 lead after only 3 offensive plays. On his first punt return, Howard ran 71 yards for a touchdown. He then returned a punt 46 yards to set up quarterback Brett Favre's 4-yard touchdown to wide receiver Andre Rison. Running back Edgar Bennett would run for two touchdowns from 2 and 11 yards out, as Green Bay forced 5 turnovers from the 49ers. San Francisco backup quarterback Elvis Grbac, who replaced starter Steve Young due to bruised ribs, threw a touchdown and ran for another. However, the Packers marched 72 yards for another touchdown, in which a fumble by Bennett was recovered in the end zone by wide receiver Antonio Freeman.

  • Scoring
    • GB - Howard 71 punt return (Jacke kick)
    • GB - Rison 4 pass from Favre (Jacke kick)
    • GB - Bennett 2 run (Jacke kick)
    • SF - Kirby 8 pass from Grbac (Wilkins kick)
    • SF - Grbac 2 run (Wilkins kick)
    • GB - Freeman recovered fumble in end zone (Jacke kick)
    • GB - Bennett 11 run (Jacke kick)

[edit] AFC: Jacksonville Jaguars 30, Denver Broncos 27

1 2 3 4 Total
Jaguars 0 13 7 10 30
Broncos 12 0 0 15 27

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

The Jaguars overcame a 12-point lead and scored on six consecutive possessions to upset the Broncos, the AFC #1 seed. Denver scored two touchdowns in the first quarter, a 1-yarder from running back Vaughn Hebron and quarterback John Elway's 18-yard pass to tight end Shannon Sharpe, but they could not score the PAT's as Jason Elam's extra point on the first touchdown was blocked and Elway's 2-point conversion pass on the second score failed. Jacksonville then came back to take the lead at the half, 13-12, with two field goals by kicker Mike Hollis and an 8-yard touchdown by running back Natrone Means.

In the third quarter, Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell connected on a 31-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Keenan McCardell. Hollis later kicked a 22-yard field goal to give Jacksonville a 23-12 lead with less than 11 minutes left in the game. But on Denver's next drive, Terrell Davis scored a 2-yard touchdown run, and a successful two-point conversion. But Brunell responded with a 16-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jimmy Smith with 3:39 remaining, making the score 30-20. The Broncos then scored on Elway's 15-yard touchdown to wide receiver Ed McCaffrey with 1:50 left, but they could not recover the onside kick.

Brunell had the best postseason performance of his career, throwing for 245 yards and 2 touchdowns without an interception, and also rushing for 44 yards. Davis rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown, while also catching 7 passes for 24 yards. It turned out to be the only playoff game of his career in which he didn't rush for 100 yards.

  • Scoring
    • DEN - Hebron 1 run (kick blocked)
    • DEN - Sharpe 18 pass from Elway (pass failed)
    • JAC - FG Hollis 46
    • JAC - Means 8 run (Hollis kick)
    • JAC - FG Hollis 42
    • JAC - McCardell 31 pass from Brunell (Hollis kick)
    • JAC - FG Hollis 22
    • DEN - Davis 2 run (Davis run)
    • JAC - Smith 16 pass from Brunell (Hollis kick)
    • DEN - McCaffrey 15 pass from Elway (Elam kick)

[edit] January 5, 1997

[edit] AFC: New England Patriots 28, Pittsburgh Steelers 3

1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 0 3 0 3
Patriots 14 7 0 7 28

at Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

The Patriot blew out the Steelers, 28-3, with 346 yards of total offense. Running back Curtis Martin gained 166 rushing yards and scored three touchdowns. Martin scored from 2, 78, and 23 yards out, while quarterback Drew Bledsoe threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to running back Keith Byars. The Steelers' lone score was Norm Johnson's 29-yard field goal in the third quarter. Pittsburgh quarterback Mike Tomczak was held to 110 passing yards and intercepted twice in the final postseason game of his career.

  • Scoring
    • NE - Martin 2 run (Vinatieri kick)
    • NE - Byars 24 pass from Bledsoe (Vinatieri kick)
    • NE - Martin 78 run (Vinatieri kick)
    • PIT - FG Johnson 29
    • NE - Martin 23 run (Vinatieri kick)

[edit] NFC: Carolina Panthers 26, Dallas Cowboys 17

1 2 3 4 Total
Cowboys 3 8 3 3 17
Panthers 7 10 3 6 26

at Ericsson Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

The second-year Panthers held Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman to 165 passing yards and forced three interceptions en route to their first playoff win in team history. On offense, running back Anthony Johnson was their top performer with 104 rushing yards and a 9-yard reception. Dallas scored first on kicker Chris Boniol's 22-yard field goal, but wide receiver Michael Irvin was knocked out of the game with a separated shoulder. Carolina quarterback Kerry Collins then threw two touchdown passes, a 1-yarder to tight end Wesley Walls and a 10-yarder to wide receiver Willie Green. The Cowboys countered with a 73-yard drive to score on Aikman's 2-yard touchdown pass to running back Daryl Johnston, but they failed on the extra point attempt and the Panthers lead was only cut to 14-9. A bad snap on a Carolina punt attempt went out of the end zone to give the Cowboys a safety. But Panthers safety Chad Cota intercepted a pass and returned it 49 yards to set up kicker John Kasay's 24-yard field goal with three seconds in the half, giving Carolina a 17-11 halftime lead. The second half was a battle of field goals with Kasey kicking 3 over Boniol's 2.

  • Scoring
    • DAL - FG Boniol 22
    • CAR - Walls 1 pass from Collins (Kasay kick)
    • CAR - Green 10 pass from Collins (Kasay kick)
    • DAL - Johnston 2 pass from Aikman (pass failed)
    • DAL - Safety, Carolina bad snap went out of end zone
    • CAR - FG Kasay 24
    • DAL - FG Boniol 21
    • CAR - FG Kasay 40
    • CAR - FG Kasay 40
    • DAL - FG Boniol 21
    • CAR - FG Kasay 32

[edit] Conference Championships

[edit] January 12, 1997

[edit] NFC: Green Bay Packers 30, Carolina Panthers 13

1 2 3 4 Total
Panthers 7 3 3 0 13
Packers 0 17 10 3 30

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

The Packers recorded 201 rushing yards and 476 total yards of offense. Green Bay running back Dorsey Levens recorded 117 yards receiving and 88 yards rushing, including a 29-yard touchdown catch. In addition to his touchdown pass to Levens and a 6-yard score to wide receiver Antonio Freeman, quarterback Brett Favre completed 19 out of 29 passes for 292 yards. Packers running back Edgar Bennett, who recorded 99 rushing yards, scored a touchdown from 4 yards out, and kicker Chris Jacke add 3 field goals. The Panthers' lone touchdown was quarterback Kerry Collins' 3-yard pass to running back Howard Griffith. Carolina kicker John Kasey scored 2 field goal, making the first one after Favre lost a fumble.

  • Scoring
    • CAR - Griffith 3 pass from Collins (Kasay kick)
    • GB - Levens 29 pass from Favre (Jacke kick)
    • CAR - FG Kasay 22
    • GB - Freeman 6 pass from Favre (Jacke kick)
    • GB - FG Jacke 31
    • GB - FG Jacke 32
    • CAR - FG Kasay 23
    • GB - Bennett 4 run (Jacke kick)
    • GB - FG Jacke 28

[edit] AFC: New England Patriots 20, Jacksonville Jaguars 6

1 2 3 4 Total
Jaguars 0 3 3 0 6
Patriots 7 6 0 7 20

at Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

Patriots cornerback Otis Smith picked up Jaguars running back James Stewart's fumble and returned it 47 yards for the game-winning touchdown with 2:24 left in the game. The Jaguars were forced to punt on their first possession, but a high snap enabled defensive back Larry Whigham to tackle punter Bryan Barker at the Jacksonville 4-yard line. Moments later, New England running back Curtis Martin scored a 1-yard touchdown. Then after Jaguars kicker Mike Hollis made a 32-yard field goal, Jacksonville punt returner Chris Hudson's fumble set up Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri's 29-yard field goal. Vinatieri then added a 20-yard field goal to give New England a 13-3 lead before halftime. Hollis later kicked a 28-yard field goal in the third quarter to cut the lead, 13-6. With under 4 minutes left in the game, the Jaguars reached the New England 5-yard line and attempted to score the game-tying touchdown, but Patriots defensive back Willie Clay intercepted a pass in the end zone.

  • Scoring
    • NE - Martin 1 run (Vinatieri kick)
    • JAC - FG Hollis 32
    • NE - FG Vinatieri 29
    • NE - FG Vinatieri 20
    • JAC - FG Hollis 28
    • NE - Smith 47 fumble return (Vinatieri kick)

[edit] Super Bowl

Further information: Super Bowl XXXI

Green Bay Packers (NFC) 35, New England Patriots (AFC) 21, at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

[edit] Bracket

  Wild Card Playoffs Divisional Playoffs Conference Championships Super Bowl XXXI
                                     
5  Jacksonville 30  
4  Buffalo 27  
  5  Jacksonville 30  
    1  Denver 27  
      
        
  5  Jacksonville 6  
AFC
  2  New England 20  
6  Indianapolis 14  
3  Pittsburgh 42  
  3  Pittsburgh 3
    2  New England 28  
      
        
  A2  New England 21
  N1  Green Bay 35
6  Minnesota 15  
3  Dallas 40  
  3  Dallas 17
    2  Carolina 26  
      
        
  2  Carolina 13
NFC
  1  Green Bay 30  
5  Philadelphia 0  
4  San Francisco 14  
  4  San Francisco 14
    1  Green Bay 35  
      

[edit] References

  • Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (ISBN 0-06-270174-6)
Preceded by:
NFL playoffs, 1995-96		 NFL playoffs
1996-97		 Succeeded by:
NFL playoffs, 1997-98
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