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 NFC Championship (Panthers) 30–13
Won Super Bowl XXXI (Patriots) 35–21

The 1996 Green Bay Packers season was their 78th season overall and their 76th in the National Football League, which culminated with the franchise winning its third Super Bowl and league-record 12th NFL 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

AdditionsSubtractions
WR Don Beebe (Panthers)QB Ty Detmer (Eagles)
WR Desmond Howard (Jaguars)WR Mark Ingram Sr. (Eagles)
FS Eugene Robinson (Seahawks)LB Joe Kelly (Eagles)
DT Santana Dotson (Buccaneers)LB Fred Strickland (Cowboys)
FS George Teague (Cowboys)

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]

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

WeekDateOpponentResultGame siteTVTimeRecordAttendance

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultGame siteTVTimeRecordAttendance
1September 1, 1996at Tampa Bay BuccaneersW 34–3Houlihan's StadiumFOX3:00pm1–0
54,102
2September 9, 1996Philadelphia EaglesW 39–13Lambeau FieldABC8:00pm2–0
60,666
3September 15, 1996San Diego ChargersW 42–10Lambeau FieldNBC12:00pm3–0
60,584
4September 22, 1996at Minnesota VikingsL 21–30Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeFOX12:00pm3–1
64,168
5September 29, 1996at Seattle SeahawksW 31–10KingdomeFOX3:00pm4–1
59,973
6October 6, 1996at Chicago BearsW 37–6Soldier FieldFOX12:00pm5–1
65,480
7October 14, 1996San Francisco 49ersW 23–20 (OT)Lambeau FieldABC8:00pm6–1
60,716
8Bye Week
9October 27, 1996Tampa Bay BuccaneersW 13–7Lambeau FieldFOX12:00pm7–1
60,627
10November 3, 1996Detroit LionsW 28–18Lambeau FieldFOX12:00pm8–1
60,695
11November 10, 1996at Kansas City ChiefsL 20–27Arrowhead StadiumFOX12:00pm8–2
79,281
12November 18, 1996at Dallas CowboysL 6–21Texas StadiumABC8:00pm8-3
65,032
13November 24, 1996at St. Louis RamsW 24–9Trans World DomeESPN7:00pm9–3
61,499
14December 1, 1996Chicago BearsW 28–17Lambeau FieldFOX12:00pm10–3
59,682
15December 8, 1996Denver BroncosW 41–6Lambeau FieldNBC12:00pm11–3
60,712
16December 15, 1996at Detroit LionsW 31–3Pontiac SilverdomeFOX12:00pm12–3
73,214
17December 22, 1996Minnesota VikingsW 38–10Lambeau FieldFOX12:00pm13–3
59,306

All times are CENTRAL time

Game summaries

Week 1

1 234Total
• Packers 10 14100 34
Buccaneers 0 300 3
  • Date: September 1
  • Location: Houlihan's Stadium
  • Game start: 4:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 54,102
  • Game weather: 81°F; wind 6
  • Television network: Fox

[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

RoundDateOpponentResultGame siteTVTimeRecordAttendance
NFC Divisional PlayoffJanuary 4, 1997San Francisco 49ersW 35–14Lambeau FieldFOX11:30am14–3
60,787
NFC Championship GameJanuary 12, 1997Carolina PanthersW 30–13Lambeau FieldFOX11:30am15–3
60,216
Super Bowl XXXIJanuary 26, 1997New England PatriotsW 35–21Louisiana SuperdomeFOX5:00pm16–3
72,031


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

  • Brett Favre, Club Record, Most Touchdown Passes in One Season, 39
  • Brett Favre, NFC Leader, Touchdown Passes (39)
  • Brett Favre, NFC Leader, Passing Yardage (3,899)
  • Brett Favre, NFL MVP
  • Brett Favre, Bert Bell Award[7]
  • Brett Favre, Offense, UPI NFC Player of the Year
  • Brett Favre, NFC Pro Bowl Selection
  • Brett Favre, All-Pro Selection
  • Brett Favre, Best NFL Player ESPY Award
  • Desmond Howard, Super Bowl XXXI MVP
  • Reggie White, NFC Pro Bowl Selection

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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