1996 Green Bay Packers season

1996 Green Bay Packers season
Head coach Mike Holmgren
Home field Lambeau Field
Results
Record 13–3
Division place 1st NFC Central
Playoff finish Won Divisional Playoffs (49ers) 35–14
Won Conference Championship (Panthers) 30–13
Won Super Bowl XXXI (Patriots) 35–21

The 1996 Green Bay Packers season was the team's 77th in the National Football League, which culminated with the franchise winning its third Super Bowl and league-record 12th NFL World Championship . The Packers posted a league-best 13–3 regular season won-loss record, going 8–0 at home and 5–3 on the road. It was the first time since 1962 that the club went undefeated at home.[1] Additionally, the Packers had the NFL's highest-scoring offense (456) and allowed the fewest points on defense (210). Green Bay was the first team to accomplish both feats in the same season since the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins. They finished the season with the number one ranked offense, defense, and special teams. They also set a then NFL record for the least amount of touchdowns allowed in a 16-game season, with 19. The Packers also allowed the fewest yards in the NFL and set a record for punt return yardage. Brett Favre won his second straight MVP award while also throwing for a career high and league leading 39 touchdown passes.

In the postseason, the Packers defeated the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round and the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Championship Game. Green Bay beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI to win their third Super Bowl and twelfth NFL Championship.[2]

In 2007, the 1996 Packers were ranked as the 16th greatest Super Bowl champions on the NFL Network's documentary series America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions. The 1996 Packers were ranked 6th-greatest Super Bowl team of all-time by a similar panel done by ESPN and released in 2007.

Offseason

NFL Draft

Main article: 1996 NFL Draft
1996 Green Bay Packers draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 27 John Michels  Offensive tackle USC
2 56 Derrick Mayes  Wide receiver Notre Dame
3 90 Mike Flanagan *  Center UCLA
3 93 Tyrone Williams  Cornerback Nebraska
4 123 Chris Darkins  Running back Minnesota
6 208 Marco Rivera *  Guard Penn State
7 240 Kyle Wachholtz  Quarterback USC
7 252 Keith McKenzie  Defensive end Ball State
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[3]

Personnel

Staff

1996 Green Bay Packers staff
Front office
  • President/Chief Executive Officer – Bob Harlan
  • Executive Vice President/General Manager – Ron Wolf
  • Director of Pro Personnel – Ted Thompson
  • Director of College Scouting – John Math
  • Pro Personnel Assistant – Reggie McKenzie

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

[4]

Roster

1996 Green Bay Packers final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists



Practice squad



Rookies in italics
 Active, Inactive, Practice squad

Preseason

Week Date Opponent Result Game site TV Time Record Attendance

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Game site TV Time Record Attendance
1 September 1, 1996 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 34–3 Houlihan's Stadium FOX 3:00pm 1–0
54,102
2 September 9, 1996 Philadelphia Eagles W 39–13 Lambeau Field ABC 8:00pm 2–0
60,666
3 September 15, 1996 San Diego Chargers W 42–10 Lambeau Field NBC 12:00pm 3–0
60,584
4 September 22, 1996 at Minnesota Vikings L 21–30 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome FOX 12:00pm 3–1
64,168
5 September 29, 1996 at Seattle Seahawks W 31–10 Kingdome FOX 3:00pm 4–1
59,973
6 October 6, 1996 at Chicago Bears W 37–6 Soldier Field FOX 12:00pm 5–1
65,480
7 October 14, 1996 San Francisco 49ers W 23–20 (OT) Lambeau Field ABC 8:00pm 6–1
60,716
8 Bye Week
9 October 27, 1996 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 13–7 Lambeau Field FOX 12:00pm 7–1
60,627
10 November 3, 1996 Detroit Lions W 28–18 Lambeau Field FOX 12:00pm 8–1
60,695
11 November 10, 1996 at Kansas City Chiefs L 20–27 Arrowhead Stadium FOX 12:00pm 8–2
79,281
12 November 18, 1996 at Dallas Cowboys L 6–21 Texas Stadium ABC 8:00pm 8-3
65,032
13 November 24, 1996 at St. Louis Rams W 24–9 Trans World Dome ESPN 7:00pm 9–3
61,499
14 December 1, 1996 Chicago Bears W 28–17 Lambeau Field FOX 12:00pm 10–3
59,682
15 December 8, 1996 Denver Broncos W 41–6 Lambeau Field NBC 12:00pm 11–3
60,712
16 December 15, 1996 at Detroit Lions W 31–3 Pontiac Silverdome FOX 12:00pm 12–3
73,214
17 December 22, 1996 Minnesota VikingsW 38–10 Lambeau Field FOX 12:00pm 13–3
59,306

All times are CENTRAL time

Game summaries

Week 1

1 234Total
• Packers 10 14100 34
Buccaneers 0 300 3

[5]

Standings

NFC Central
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(1) Green Bay Packers 13 3 0 .813 456 210 W5
(6) Minnesota Vikings 9 7 0 .563 298 315 L1
Chicago Bears 7 9 0 .438 283 305 L1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6 10 0 .375 221 293 W1
Detroit Lions 5 11 0 .313 302 368 L5

Season statistical leaders

Brett Favre broke the Packers single-season record for touchdown passes by throwing 39.[6]

Playoffs

Schedule

Round Date Opponent Result Game site TV Time Record Attendance
NFC Divisional Playoff January 4, 1997 San Francisco 49ers W 35–14 Lambeau Field FOX 11:30am 14–3
60,787
NFC Championship Game January 12, 1997 Carolina Panthers W 30–13 Lambeau Field FOX 11:30am 15–3
60,216
Super Bowl XXXI January 26, 1997 New England Patriots W 35–21 Louisiana Superdome FOX 5:00pm 16–3
72,031

NFC Divisional Playoff vs. San Francisco 49ers

NFC Divisional Playoff: San Francisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
49ers 0 7 7014
Packers 14 7 7735

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

  • Date: January 4, 1997
  • Game time: 11:30 a.m

Green Bay was able to win going away on a cold damp day at Lambeau field. With the weather turning the field into a muddy mess both offenses struggled. San Francisco was able to keep pace offensively and defensively for most of the game, with the score 21–14 in favor of Green Bay in the third quarter, but special teams were decisively dominated by the Packers. Penalties also played a factor as San Francisco had 6 for 42 yards, while Green Bay only had 1 for 5.

A muffed kickoff by Green Bay set up a 49ers touchdown, but Green Bay's Desmond Howard returned two kicks for large gains, including one touchdown. The final score was Green Bay 35–14.

NFC Championship Game vs. Carolina Panthers

NFC Championship Game: Carolina Panthers vs. Green Bay Packers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Panthers 7 3 3013
Packers 0 17 10330

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

  • Date: January 12, 1997
  • Game time: 11:30 a.m

Super Bowl XXXI vs. New England Patriots

Super Bowl XXXI: New England Patriots vs. Green Bay Packers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Patriots 14 0 7021
Packers 10 17 8035

at Louisiana Superdome

  • Date: January 26, 1997
  • Game time: 5:30 p.m.

The Packers win their first championship since 1967. Desmond Howard is named the Super Bowl MVP, as he accumulated 244 total yards worth of returns (kick and punt) including a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the 3rd quarter. Patriots Quarterback Drew Bledsoe threw 4 interceptions while Brett Favre threw for 246 yards and 2 touchdowns and ran another one in.

Awards and records

References

  1. ↑ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 266
  2. ↑ "1996 Season in Review". Retrieved 26 November 2006.
  3. ↑ "1996 Green Bay Packers Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  4. ↑ "All Time Coaches Database". Packers.com. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  5. ↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Jun-20.
  6. ↑ "Green Bay Packers 1996 Statistics". ESPN. Retrieved 26 November 2006.
  7. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-06-19. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
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