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1996 Green Bay Packers season

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The 1996 season was the Green Bay Packers' 76th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 78th overall and their fifth under head coach Mike Holmgren. The franchise won its third Super Bowl and league-record 12th NFL Championship. The Packers posted a league-best 13–3 regular season win-loss record, going 8–0 at home and 5–3 on the road. It was the first time since 1962 that the team 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 fewest 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.

1996 Green Bay Packers season
OwnerGreen Bay Packers, Inc.
General managerRon Wolf
PresidentBob Harlan
Head coachMike Holmgren
Home fieldLambeau Field
Results
Record13–3
Division place1st NFC Central
Playoff finishWon Divisional Playoffs
(vs. 49ers) 35–14
Won NFC Championship
(vs. Panthers) 30–13
Won Super Bowl XXXI
(vs. Patriots) 35–21
Pro Bowlers
5
AP All-Pros
3

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, with team commentary from Brett Favre, Mike Holmgren, and Desmond Howard, and narrated by Kevin Bacon. The 1996 Packers were ranked 6th-greatest Super Bowl team of all time by a similar panel done by ESPN and released in 2007. Later, they ranked #20 on the 100 greatest teams of all time presented by the NFL on its 100th anniversary.[3][4] As of 2023, the Packers are the only team since the implementation of the salary cap to score the most points and allow the fewest in the regular season.

Offseason

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Additions Subtractions
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)
DT John Jurkovic (Jaguars)

NFL draft

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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

[5]

Undrafted Free Agents

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1996 Undrafted Free Agents of note
Player Position College
Brad Keeney Defensive tackle The Citadel
Eric Matthews Wide receiver Indiana
Troy Stark Offensive tackle Georgia

Staff

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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


[6]

Roster

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1996 Green Bay Packers roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Practice squad

Reserve

Rookies in italics
53 active, 6 reserve, 5 practice squad

1996 Green Bay Packers season

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Preseason

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Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site Game
recap
1 August 2 New England Patriots W 24–7 1–0 Lambeau Field Recap
2 August 11 Pittsburgh Steelers W 24–17 2–0 Lambeau Field Recap
3 August 17 at Baltimore Ravens W 17–15 3–0 Memorial Stadium Recap
4 August 24 at Indianapolis Colts L 6–20 3–1 RCA Dome Recap

Regular season

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Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site Recap
1 September 1 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 34–3 1–0 Houlihan's Stadium Recap
2 September 9 Philadelphia Eagles W 39–13 2–0 Lambeau Field Recap
3 September 15 San Diego Chargers W 42–10 3–0 Lambeau Field Recap
4 September 22 at Minnesota Vikings L 21–30 3–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Recap
5 September 29 at Seattle Seahawks W 31–10 4–1 Kingdome Recap
6 October 6 at Chicago Bears W 37–6 5–1 Soldier Field Recap
7 October 14 San Francisco 49ers W 23–20 (OT) 6–1 Lambeau Field Recap
8 Bye
9 October 27 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 13–7 7–1 Lambeau Field Recap
10 November 3 Detroit Lions W 28–18 8–1 Lambeau Field Recap
11 November 10 at Kansas City Chiefs L 20–27 8–2 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
12 November 18 at Dallas Cowboys L 6–21 8–3 Texas Stadium Recap
13 November 24 at St. Louis Rams W 24–9 9–3 Trans World Dome Recap
14 December 1 Chicago Bears W 28–17 10–3 Lambeau Field Recap
15 December 8 Denver Broncos W 41–6 11–3 Lambeau Field Recap
16 December 15 at Detroit Lions W 31–3 12–3 Pontiac Silverdome Recap
17 December 22 Minnesota Vikings W 38–10 13–3 Lambeau Field Recap

Postseason

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Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Recap
Wild Card First-round bye
Divisional January 4, 1997 San Francisco 49ers (4) W 35–14 1–0 Lambeau Field Recap
NFC Championship January 12, 1997 Carolina Panthers (2) W 30–13 2–0 Lambeau Field Recap
Super Bowl XXXI January 26, 1997 New England Patriots (A2) W 35–21 3–0 Louisiana Superdome Recap

Game summaries

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Week 1: at. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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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 (27 °C); wind 6 mph (9.7 km/h)
  • Referee: Walt Coleman
  • Television network: Fox
Scoring summary
Q1GBJacke 23-yard field goalGB 3–0
Q1GBJackson 1 yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick)GB 10–0
Q2TBHusted 48-yard field goalGB 10–3
Q2GBJackson 4-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick)GB 17–3
Q2GBJackson 51-yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick)GB 24–3
Q3GBJacke 40-yard field goalGB 27–3
Q3GBLevens 1 yard pass from Favre (Jacke kick)GB 34–3

[7]

Week 5: at. Seattle Seahawks

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Week Five: Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Packers 10 7 7731
Seahawks 0 7 3010

at Kingdome, Seattle

Game information

Standings

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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

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Brett Favre broke the Packers single-season record for touchdown passes by throwing 39.[8]

Playoffs

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NFC Divisional Playoff vs. San Francisco 49ers

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NFC Divisional Playoff: San Francisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Quarter 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
  • Referee: Dick Hantak

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

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NFC Championship Game: Carolina Panthers vs. Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Quarter 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
  • Referee: Bob McElwee

Super Bowl XXXI vs. New England Patriots

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

at Louisiana Superdome

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

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

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  • 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[9]
  • 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
  • Keith Jackson, NFC Pro Bowl selection

References

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  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". Archived from the original on August 8, 2002. Retrieved November 26, 2006.
  3. ^ "NFL Top 100 Teams". Pro Football Reference.
  4. ^ "100 Greatest Teams: Numbers 100-1 SUPERCUT". NFL.com.
  5. ^ "1996 Green Bay Packers Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  6. ^ "All Time Coaches Database". Packers.com. Archived from the original on December 27, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  7. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Jun-20.
  8. ^ "Green Bay Packers 1996 Statistics". ESPN. Archived from the original on November 8, 2006. Retrieved November 26, 2006.
  9. ^ "Maxwell Football Club - Bert Bell Award Past Recipients". Archived from the original on June 19, 2009. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
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