NFL playoffs, 1997-98

 

The NFL playoffs following the 1997 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXII.

Playoff seeds
Seed	AFC	NFC
1	Kansas City Chiefs (West winner)	San Francisco 49ers (West winner)
2	Pittsburgh Steelers (Central winner)	Green Bay Packers (Central winner)
3	New England Patriots (East winner)	New York Giants (East winner)
4	Denver Broncos	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
5	Jacksonville Jaguars	Detroit Lions
6	Miami Dolphins	Minnesota Vikings

Wild Card playoffs

December 27, 1997

NFC: Minnesota Vikings 23, New York Giants 22

	1	2	3	4	Total
Vikings	0	3	7	13	23
Giants	6	13	0	3	22

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

• Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 46 °F (Rain and snow)
• TV announcers (ABC): Mike Patrick and Joe Theismann
• Referee: Ed Hochuli
• Game Attendance: 77,710

The Vikings scored 10 points (a Jake Reed 30-yard touchdown pass from Randall Cunningham and a field goal) in the final 90 seconds of the game to stun the Giants.

• Scoring
  • NYG - FG Daluiso 43
  • NYG - FG Daluiso 22
  • NYG - Pierce 2 pass from Kanell (Daluiso kick)
  • NYG - FG Daluiso 41
  • MIN - FG Murray 26
  • NYG - FG Daluiso 41
  • MIN - Hoard 4 run (Murray kick)
  • MIN - FG Murray 26
  • NYG - FG Daluiso 22
  • MIN - Reed 30 pass from Cunningham (Murray kick)
  • MIN - FG Murray 24

AFC: Denver Broncos 42, Jacksonville Jaguars 17

	1	2	3	4	Total
Jaguars	0	7	10	0	17
Broncos	14	7	0	21	42

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

• Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST/2:00 p.m. MST
• Game weather: 42 °F (Clear)
• TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, and Dan Dierdorf
• Referee: Bernie Kukar
• Game Attendance: 74,481

Denver ran over the Jaguars with 310 rushing yards and 511 total yards of offense. Denver running back Terrell Davis rushed for 184 yards and 2 touchdowns, while running back Derek Loville racked up 103 yards and 2 scores on just 11 carries. Broncos quarterback John Elway completed 16 of 24 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown.

• Scoring
  • DEN - Davis 2 Run (Elam kick)
  • DEN - Smith 43 pass from Elway (Elam kick)
  • DEN - Davis 5 Run (Elam kick)
  • JAC - Means 2 run (Hollis kick)
  • JAC - FG Hollis 38
  • JAC - Davis 29 blocked punt return (Hollis kick)
  • DEN - Loville 25 run (Elam kick)
  • DEN - Loville 8 run (Elam kick)
  • DEN - Hebron 6 run (Elam kick)

December 28, 1997

AFC: New England Patriots 17, Miami Dolphins 3

	1	2	3	4	Total
Dolphins	0	0	0	3	3
Patriots	0	7	10	0	17

at Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

• Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 32 °F (Clear)
• TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg, Phil Simms, and Paul Maguire
• Referee: Gerald Austin
• Game Attendance: 60,041

The Patriot defense held Miami to 162 total yards of offense, 42 rushing yards and forced three Dolphins turnovers. Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino was held to just 17 of 43 completions for 141 yards and was intercepted twice.

• Scoring
  • NE - Brown 24 pass from Bledsoe (Vinatieri kick)
  • NE - Collins 40 interception return (Vinatieri kick)
  • NE - FG Vinatieri 22
  • MIA - FG Mare 38

NFC: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20, Detroit Lions 10

	1	2	3	4	Total
Lions	0	0	3	7	10
Buccaneers	3	10	7	0	20

at Houlihan's Stadium, Tampa, Florida

• Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 57 °F (Partly cloudy)
• TV announcers (FOX): Pat Summerall and John Madden
• Referee: Mike Carey
• Game Attendance: 73,361

Tampa Bay won their first playoff game since 1979 with quarterback Trent Dilfer's 9-yard touchdown pass to receiver Horace Copeland, running back Mike Alstott's 31-yard touchdown run, and two field goals. Their defense limited Lions quarterback Scott Mitchell to just 10 of 25 completions for 78 yards.

• Scoring
  • TB - FG Husted 22
  • TB - Copeland 9 pass from Dilfer (Husted kick)
  • TB - FG Husted 42
  • TB - Alstott 31 run (Husted kick)
  • DET - FG Hanson 33
  • DET - Vardell 1 run (Hanson kick)

Byes

• AFC: Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers
• NFC: San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers

Divisional playoffs

January 3, 1998

AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 7, New England Patriots 6

	1	2	3	4	Total
Patriots	0	3	0	3	6
Steelers	7	0	0	0	7

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 55 °F (Cloudy)
• TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond and Randy Cross
• Referee: Walt Coleman
• Game Attendance: 61,228

Quarterback Kordell Stewart's 40-yard touchdown run made the difference in a defense-dominated game, and lineman/linebacker Mike Vrabel's late sack and forced fumble on quarterback Drew Bledsoe sealed the victory for the Steelers.

• Scoring
  • PIT - Stewart 40 run (Johnson kick)
  • NE - FG Vinatieri 31
  • NE - FG Vinatieri 46

NFC: San Francisco 49ers 38, Minnesota Vikings 22

	1	2	3	4	Total
Vikings	7	0	7	8	22
49ers	7	14	10	7	38

at 3Com Park, San Francisco

• Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST/1:00 p.m. PST
• Game weather: 57 °F (Partly cloudy)
• TV announcers (FOX): Dick Stockton and Matt Millen
• Referee: Bob McElwee
• Game Attendance: 65,018

49ers running back Terry Kirby ran for a career-high 120 yards and two touchdowns and 49ers receiver J.J. Stokes caught a career-high nine passes for 101 yards. Steve Young threw for 220 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 37.

• Scoring
  • SF - Floyd 1 run (Anderson kick)
  • MIN - Carter 66 pass from Cunningham (Murray kick)
  • SF - Kirby 1 run (Anderson kick)
  • SF - Norton 23 interception return (Anderson kick)
  • SF - FG Anderson 34, 8:17.
  • MIN - Carter 3 pass from Cunningham (Murray kick)
  • SF - Owens 15 pass from Young (Anderson kick)
  • SF - Kirby 1 run (Anderson kick)
  • MIN - Hatchette 13 pass from Cunningham (Walsh pass from Cunningham)

January 4, 1998

NFC: Green Bay Packers 21, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7

	1	2	3	4	Total
Buccaneers	0	0	7	0	7
Packers	7	6	0	8	21

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

• Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST/11:30 a.m. CST
• Game weather: 32 °F (Cloudy)
• TV announcers (FOX): Pat Summerall and John Madden
• Referee: Johnny Grier
• Game Attendance: 60,327

Packers running back Dorsey Levens, rushed for a team playoff record of 112 yards and a touchdown while also catching 4 passes for 29 yards as the Green Bay defense held Tampa Bay to 90 rushing yards and intercepted 2 passes from Trent Dilfter, who finished the game with only 11 of 36 completions for 200 yards.

• Scoring
  • GB - Chmura 3 pass from Favre (Longwell kick)
  • GB - FG Longwell 21
  • GB - FG Longwell 32
  • TB - Alstott 6 run (Husted kick)
  • GB - Levens 2 run (Favre run)

AFC: Denver Broncos 14, Kansas City Chiefs 10

	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	0	7	0	7	14
Chiefs	0	0	10	0	10

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

• Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST/3:00 p.m. CST
• Game weather: 32 °F (Light fog)
• TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg, Phil Simms, and Paul Maguire
• Referee: Jerry Markbreit
• Game Attendance: 76,965

Denver running back Terrell Davis ran for 101 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Broncos to victory. Chiefs quarterback Elvis Grbac threw for 260 yards, but his team could only score 10 points. Receiver Andre Rison caught 8 passes for 110 yards.

• Scoring
  • DEN - Davis 1 run (Elam kick)
  • KC - FG Stoyanovich 20
  • KC - Gonzalez 12 pass from Grbac (Stoyanovich kick)
  • DEN - Davis 1 run (Elam kick)

Conference Championships

January 11, 1998

AFC: Denver Broncos 24, Pittsburgh Steelers 21

	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	7	17	0	0	24
Steelers	7	7	0	7	21

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 39 °F (Clear)
• TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg, Phil Simms, and Paul Maguire
• Referee: Ron Blum
• Game Attendance: 61,382

Denver forced three interceptions and a fumble from Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart. After Pittsburgh cut the lead to 24-21 with 2:46 left in the game, the Broncos were able to run out the clock after a key third-down conversion from John Elway to Shannon Sharpe. Sharpe said that Elway made up the converting play in the huddle, seconds before the snap. Terrell Davis rushed for 139 yards and a touchdown. Jerome Bettis rushed for 105 yards and a score.

• Scoring
  • DEN - Davis 8 run (Elam kick)
  • PIT - Stewart 33 run (N. Johnson kick)
  • PIT - Bettis 1 run (N. Johnson kick)
  • DEN - FG Elam 43
  • DEN - Griffith 15 pass from Elway (Elam kick)
  • DEN - McCaffrey 1 pass from Elway (Elam kick)
  • PIT - C. Johnson 14 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)

NFC: Green Bay Packers 23, San Francisco 49ers 10

	1	2	3	4	Total
Packers	3	10	0	10	23
49ers	0	3	0	7	10

at 3Com Park, San Francisco

• Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST/1:00 p.m. PST
• Game weather: 57 °F (Rain)
• TV announcers (FOX): Pat Summerall and John Madden
• Referee: Dick Hantak
• Game Attendance: 68,987

Green Bay opened the game by driving to the 3-yard line before fullback William Henderson dropped a would-be touchdown, forcing the Packers to settle for a field goal. Later in the first half, Packers safety Eugene Robinson intercepted Steve Young's pass and returned it 38 yards in what turned out to be a crucial play. Quarterback Brett Favre would then find wide receiver Antonio Freeman slicing across the middle on a slant for a 29-yard touchdown to give the Packers a 10-0 lead. The Packers led 13-3 at the half and although the 49ers would manage a field goal in the second quarter, they would not manage a touchdown until the closing minutes of the game on a kickoff return by Chucky Levy. Favre finished the game with 16 of 27 pass completions for 222 yards, while the Green Bay defense held the 49ers to 33 rushing yards and forced two turnovers. Running back Dorsey Levens recorded a then-playoff team record of 116 rushing yards and a touchdown, while also catching 6 passes for 37 yards. And in addition to his touchdown reception, Freeman caught 4 passes for 107 yards.

• Scoring
  • GB - FG Longwell 19
  • GB - Freeman 29 pass from Favre (Longwell kick)
  • SF - FG Anderson 28
  • GB - FG Longwell 43
  • GB - FG Longwell 25
  • GB - Levens 5 run (Longwell kick)
  • SF - Levy 95 kickoff return (Anderson kick)

Super Bowl

Further information: Super Bowl XXXII

Denver Broncos (AFC) 31, Green Bay Packers (NFC) 24, at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

Bracket

	Wild Card Playoffs					Divisional Playoffs					Conference Championships					Super Bowl XXXII
	5	Detroit	10
	4	Tampa Bay	20
						4	Tampa Bay	7
						2	Green Bay	21
											2	Green Bay	23
	NFC
										1	San Francisco	10
	6	Minnesota	23
	3	N.Y. Giants	22
						6	Minnesota	22
						1	San Francisco	38
																N2	Green Bay	24
																A4	Denver	31
	5	Jacksonville	17
	4	Denver	42
						4	Denver	14
						1	Kansas City	10
											4	Denver	24
	AFC
										2	Pittsburgh	21
	6	Miami	3
	3	New England	17
						3	New England	6
						2	Pittsburgh	7

References

• Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (ISBN 0-06-270174-6)

Donate to Wikimedia