Lombardi’s Going Home Packers Down Patriots 35-21, Return Trophy To Green Bay

The Pack is back - all the way back.

Twenty-nine years after coach Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers won the second of two straight Super Bowl titles, Mike Holmgren’s Packers pounded the New England Patriots 35-21 in Super Bowl XXXI.

“Vince, we gave you your trophy back,” said Green Bay defensive end Reggie White.

The Packers (16-3) built an early 10-0 lead, survived a swift Patriots rally, and then rolled to the win behind the passing of quarterback Brett Favre and the scintillating kick returns of Desmond Howard, who became the first special teams player to be named Super Bowl MVP.

Howard set a Super Bowl record with a combined 244 yards on kickoff and punt returns. He ran back four kickoffs for 154 yards and six punts for 90 yards.

Howard’s 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the third quarter was the longest in NFL postseason history. Howard also excited the Packers’ cheesehead-wearing fans with two of the four longest punt returns in Super Bowl history (32 and 33 yards) - both in the first half.

“There’s an old saying that the cream always rises to the top,” Howard said. “I was just another strong link in this very, very strong chain.”

Favre, the NFL’s MVP the past two seasons, was masterful. He picked apart the New England defense, completing 14-of-27 passes for a 246 yards, two touchdowns, and a two-point conversion. He also scored a TD on a 2-yard run and didn’t throw an interception.

“It would be great to win the Super Bowl anywhere, but it adds a little bit doing it here so close to home,” said Favre, who grew up less than an hour away in the tiny town of Kiln, Miss.

The Packers offense was virtually unstoppable early, compiling six more points in the first half (27) than any team coached by New England’s Bill Parcells had allowed in a full playoff game.

It was the 15th postseason game in Parcells’ headcoaching career with the New York Giants and the Patriots, and probably his last with New England. He’s expected to step down this week, possibly to become coach of the New York Jets.

“No one could be more disappointed than I am, because I do think we had a chance there for a moment,” Parcells said. “You never know when this opportunity is going to come again.”

Green Bay’s victory should bring some solace to the Carolina Panthers, who lost to the Packers 30-13 in the NFC championship game 15 days ago. New England finished its season 13-6 and got a topsy-turvy performance from quarterback Drew Bledsoe, who threw for four interceptions and two touchdowns.

“Year in and year out, Super Bowls are won on big plays,” said Bledsoe. “The Packers made more than we did and they basically played mistake-free. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to play at that same level.”

The game opened with a rip-roaring first quarter - the highest scoring first period in Super Bowl history (24 points).

The Packers struck first on their second offensive play when Favre threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to Andre Rison, who put a nifty move on cornerback Otis Smith to get wide open deep in the Patriots secondary.

“I took a chance and checked to max protection (by the offensive line) and gave Andre a chance to beat his man on the post,” Favre said. “I was so excited. It turned out exactly the way we’d practiced.”

Two plays later, the Packers had the ball again after cornerback Doug Evans intercepted a pass by Bledsoe at the New England 28.

Favre couldn’t get the Packers into the end zone again, however, and they settled for a 37-yard field by Chris Jacke for a 10-0 lead.

A 26-yard pass interference call against Green Bay gave the Patriots a first-andgoal at the Packers 1. From there, Bledsoe threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Byars to cut the lead to 10-7.

Packers 35, Patriots 21

New England 14 0 7 0 - 21

Green Bay 10 17 8 0 - 35

GB-Rison 54 pass from Favre (Jacke kick) GB-FG Jacke 37 NE-Byars 1 pass from Bledsoe (Vinatieri kick) NE-Coates 4 pass from Bledsoe (Vinatieri kick) GB-Freeman 81 pass from Favre (Jacke kick) GB-FG Jacke 31 GB-Favre 2 run (Jacke kick) NE-Martin 18 run (Vinatieri kick) GB-Howard 99 kickoff return (Chmura pass from Favre) A-72,301.

NE GB First downs 16 16 Rushes-yards 13-43 36-115 Passing 214 208 Punt Returns 4-30 6-90 Kickoff Returns 6-135 4-154 Interceptions Ret. 0-0 4-24 Comp-Att-Int 25-48-4 14-27-0 Sacked-Yards Lost 5-39 5-38 Punts 8-45.1 7-42.7 Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0 Penalties-Yards 2-22 3-41 Time of Possession 25:45 34:15 Individual statistics RUSHINGNew England, Martin 11-42, Bledsoe 1-1, Meggett 1-0. Green Bay, Levens 14-61, Bennett 17-40, Favre 4-12, Henderson 1-2.

PASSINGNew England, Bledsoe 25-48-4-253. Green Bay, Favre 14-27-0-246.

RECEIVINGNew England, Coates 6-67, Glenn 4-62, Byars 4-42, Jefferson 3-34, Martin 3-28, Meggett 3-8, Brisby 2-12. Green Bay, Freeman 3-105, Levens 3-23, Rison 2-77, Henderson 2-14, Chmura 2-13, Jackson 1-10, Bennett 1-4.

MISSED FIELD GOALSGreen Bay, Jacke 47 (WR).