Super Bowl XXXI Recap

Betting Odds:
Point Spread: Green Bay -14
Total: 49

Super Bowl 31 Game Recap

Green Bay was all about Brett Favre in 1996.

Super Bowl XXXI was all about Desmond Howard.

The special teams player and occasional wide receiver returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown and generated 244 yards in return yardage as the Packers beat New England 35-21.

Howard was named Super Bowl XXXI MVP, the first special teamer so honored.

Favre flung two touchdown passes and ran for another as Green Bay finally got back to the top nearly three decades after Bart Starr led them to the first two Super Bowls.

The Packers were favored by two touchdowns and they got the first one on the game's second play. Favre found Andre Rison for a 54-yard touchdown pass and they scored a field goal minutes later after Drew Bledsoe was intercepted.

But the Patriots, who were enduring controversy with coach Bill Parcells reportedly set to leave the team for the New York Jets, scored twice to take their only lead of Super Bowl XXXI.

Favre was at it again in the second quarter, hitting Antonio Freeman with an81-yard bomb and Green Bay took a 27-14 halftime lead.

The Patriots scored again when Curtis Martin plowed in from 18 yards, but Desmond turned the game on the ensuing kickoff.

Lineman Reggie White earned three sacks to set a Super Bowl record and Bledoe threw four interceptions as he tried in vain to rally the underdog Patriots.

It was the coolest halftime show as well, as the Blues Brothers Bash featured Dan Aykroyd, James Belushi and John Goodman along with ZZ Top and James Brown.

Final Score: 35-21
Winning Side Bet: Push
Winning Total Bet: Over 49