# 1997 NFL season
The 1997 NFL season was the 78th regular season of the [National Football League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-football-league), played from September 1997 to December 1997 and capped by [Super Bowl XXXII](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-bowl-xxxii) on January 25, 1998, in which the [Denver Broncos](https://www.edgepedia.org/denver-broncos) defeated the Green Bay Packers 31-24 before 68,912 fans at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.[1](https://americanfootball.fandom.com/wiki/1997_NFL_season) • [2](https://edge-operations.nfl.com/media/6101/2022-record-and-fact-book.pdf) The game ended the NFC's streak of Super Bowl victories at 13 and gave the Broncos their first NFL championship.[3](https://edge-operations.nfl.com/media/nppjkdp1/2023-record-and-fact-book.pdf)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Season number | 78th NFL regular season[1](https://americanfootball.fandom.com/wiki/1997_NFL_season) |
| Champion | Denver Broncos, 12-4, defeated Green Bay 31-24 in Super Bowl XXXII[4](https://www.nfl.com/standings/division/1997/reg) • [2](https://edge-operations.nfl.com/media/6101/2022-record-and-fact-book.pdf) |
| Super Bowl MVP performance | Terrell Davis: 157 rushing yards and a Super Bowl-record 3 touchdowns[3](https://edge-operations.nfl.com/media/nppjkdp1/2023-record-and-fact-book.pdf) |
| Best records | Kansas City, Green Bay, and San Francisco each finished 13-3[4](https://www.nfl.com/standings/division/1997/reg) |
| Broncos offense | Led the NFL with 472 points; Davis rushed for 1,750 yards, John Elway threw for 3,635[5](https://gazette.com/2014/09/25/klee-broncos-first-super-bowl-champions-as-underdogs-in-hindsight-its-true-7076fdf6-4592-54f0-a5e4-c21c7faff772/) |
| Relocation | Houston Oilers' transfer to Nashville approved April 30, 1997, effective for the 1997 season[6](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/upload/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2024/2024_Record_and_Fact_Book_incl_Supplemental.pdf) |
| Postseason pool | $25.1 million, the largest to that point, divided among 737 players[7](https://www.profootballhof.com/football-history/general-history-chronology-1980-to-1999) |
## Regular season
Three teams finished 13-3 and tied for the league's best record: the [Kansas City Chiefs](https://www.edgepedia.org/kansas-city-chiefs), who won the [AFC West](https://www.edgepedia.org/afc-west) over Denver, the [Green Bay Packers](https://www.edgepedia.org/green-bay-packers) in the NFC Central, and the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West.[4](https://www.nfl.com/standings/division/1997/reg) The Broncos finished 12-4, second in the AFC West, but outscored every other team with 472 points and a net point differential of +185.[4](https://www.nfl.com/standings/division/1997/reg) In the AFC Central, Jacksonville and Pittsburgh both went 11-5, and the New England Patriots took the AFC East at 10-6.[4](https://www.nfl.com/standings/division/1997/reg)
Davis and Elway carried the Denver offense. Behind an offensive line that dominated opponents, Davis rushed for 1,750 yards and Elway passed for 3,635 yards.[5](https://gazette.com/2014/09/25/klee-broncos-first-super-bowl-champions-as-underdogs-in-hindsight-its-true-7076fdf6-4592-54f0-a5e4-c21c7faff772/) Receiver Rod Smith posted six 100-yard games, second in franchise history behind Lionel Taylor's seven in 1960, and his 43-yard touchdown catch from Elway in Week Three gave Denver a 38-31 win over Washington.[8](https://media.denverbroncos.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2002.pdf)
The Packers entered the season with talk of a possible run at an undefeated season after beating New England 35-21 in [Super Bowl XXXI](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-bowl-xxxi), but the roster was weaker than the 1996 edition.[5](https://gazette.com/2014/09/25/klee-broncos-first-super-bowl-champions-as-underdogs-in-hindsight-its-true-7076fdf6-4592-54f0-a5e4-c21c7faff772/) Tight end [Keith Jackson](https://www.edgepedia.org/keith-jackson), kickoff returner [Desmond Howard](https://www.edgepedia.org/desmond-howard), who had 244 return yards in Super Bowl XXXI, and defensive lineman Simmons were among the losses, and Green Bay traded Jackson six games into the season.[9](https://www.packers.com/news/1997-packers-weren-t-the-96-packers-on-paper-or-on-the-field) The team still finished 13-3 and entered the playoffs on a five-game winning streak.[4](https://www.nfl.com/standings/division/1997/reg)
## League events
The season was the Oilers' first after the NFL clubs approved, on April 30, 1997, the transfer of the franchise from Houston to Nashville; the team played as the Tennessee Oilers and finished 8-8.[6](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/upload/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2024/2024_Record_and_Fact_Book_incl_Supplemental.pdf) • [4](https://www.nfl.com/standings/division/1997/reg) On October 5, the [Seattle Seahawks](https://www.edgepedia.org/seattle-seahawks) defeated the Tennessee Oilers 16-13 at the Kingdome in the 10,000th regular-season game in NFL history.[10](https://www.profootballhof.com/football-history/football-history/1980-1999/1997) Week 12 set the highest weekend attendance total in league history, 999,778 paid for 15 games.[10](https://www.profootballhof.com/football-history/football-history/1980-1999/1997)
In the preseason, an American Bowl exhibition in Mexico City matched Elway's Broncos against [Dan Marino](https://www.edgepedia.org/dan-marino)'s Dolphins, with Miami winning 38-19 before 104,209 fans at what was then Estadio Guillermo Cañedo, now [Estadio Azteca](https://www.edgepedia.org/estadio-azteca); Elway suffered a torn right biceps in the game.[11](https://as.com/us/nfl/a-25-anos-de-la-visita-de-los-denver-broncos-al-estadio-azteca-n/)
## Playoffs and Super Bowl XXXII
Green Bay eliminated [Tampa Bay](https://www.edgepedia.org/tampa-bay) in the divisional round on the way to the NFC title, while Denver advanced through the AFC playoffs.[12](https://as.com/us/us/2021/01/18/nfl/1610944643_255270.html)
Davis set the tone early and finished with 157 yards on 30 carries and three touchdowns, a [Super Bowl](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-bowl) record for a single game.[3](https://edge-operations.nfl.com/media/nppjkdp1/2023-record-and-fact-book.pdf) • [13](https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/sacco-sez-how-the-1997-broncos-broke-through-in-super-bowl-xxxii-20331380) Jason Elam's 51-yard field goal, the second longest in Super Bowl history, gave Denver a 17-7 lead with 12:21 left in the first half.[2](https://edge-operations.nfl.com/media/6101/2022-record-and-fact-book.pdf) Ryan Longwell's 27-yard field goal tied the game at 17 with 11:59 left in the third quarter, but the Denver defense kept Green Bay out of the end zone on later possessions, and the Broncos drove from the Packers' 49-yard line for the winning score.[14](https://media.eagles.1rmg.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/28151436/1997.pdf) • [13](https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/sacco-sez-how-the-1997-broncos-broke-through-in-super-bowl-xxxii-20331380) The Packers' fatigued defensive line did not register a sack in the second half.[15](https://www.brrblog.com/the-green-and-gold-1997-back-to-back/)
Davis's postseason totals of 581 rushing yards and eight touchdowns were both records for a single postseason.[13](https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/sacco-sez-how-the-1997-broncos-broke-through-in-super-bowl-xxxii-20331380) The 31-24 result broke the NFC's streak of Super Bowl victories at 13, the first AFC title since the 1983 season.[3](https://edge-operations.nfl.com/media/nppjkdp1/2023-record-and-fact-book.pdf) • [5](https://gazette.com/2014/09/25/klee-broncos-first-super-bowl-champions-as-underdogs-in-hindsight-its-true-7076fdf6-4592-54f0-a5e4-c21c7faff772/)
## Aftermath
The victory ended Denver's four-game Super Bowl losing streak and began a run in which the franchise repeated as champion in the 1998 season.[5](https://gazette.com/2014/09/25/klee-broncos-first-super-bowl-champions-as-underdogs-in-hindsight-its-true-7076fdf6-4592-54f0-a5e4-c21c7faff772/) • [16](https://as.com/us/nfl/cuantos-equipos-comodines-han-ganado-el-super-bowl-n/) The 1998 Broncos opened with 13 consecutive wins, part of an NFL-record-tying 18-game winning streak combining regular-season and postseason games, and Denver put four members of the 1997 offense into the Hall of Fame.[17](https://media.denverbroncos.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Denver2004.pdf) • [13](https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/sacco-sez-how-the-1997-broncos-broke-through-in-super-bowl-xxxii-20331380) For Green Bay, 1997 proved to be the Packers' last opportunity for a championship during the [Brett Favre](https://www.edgepedia.org/brett-favre) era.[15](https://www.brrblog.com/the-green-and-gold-1997-back-to-back/)
## References
1. [1997 NFL season, American Football Wiki](https://americanfootball.fandom.com/wiki/1997_NFL_season)
2. [Super Bowl Summaries, 2022 NFL Record and Fact Book](https://edge-operations.nfl.com/media/6101/2022-record-and-fact-book.pdf)
3. [Super Bowl Summaries, 2023 NFL Record and Fact Book](https://edge-operations.nfl.com/media/nppjkdp1/2023-record-and-fact-book.pdf)
4. [1997 NFL Division Standings, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/standings/division/1997/reg)
5. [Klee: Broncos first Super Bowl champions as underdogs? In hindsight, it's true, The Gazette](https://gazette.com/2014/09/25/klee-broncos-first-super-bowl-champions-as-underdogs-in-hindsight-its-true-7076fdf6-4592-54f0-a5e4-c21c7faff772/)
6. [Chronology of Professional Football, 2024 NFL Record and Fact Book](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/upload/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2024/2024_Record_and_Fact_Book_incl_Supplemental.pdf)
7. [General History Chronology 1980-1999, Pro Football Hall of Fame](https://www.profootballhof.com/football-history/general-history-chronology-1980-to-1999)
8. [Denver Broncos 2002 media guide](https://media.denverbroncos.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2002.pdf)
9. [1997 Packers weren't the '96 Packers on paper or on the field, Packers.com](https://www.packers.com/news/1997-packers-weren-t-the-96-packers-on-paper-or-on-the-field)
10. [1997, Pro Football Hall of Fame](https://www.profootballhof.com/football-history/football-history/1980-1999/1997)
11. [A 25 años de la visita de John Elway y Dan Marino al estadio Azteca, AS](https://as.com/us/nfl/a-25-anos-de-la-visita-de-los-denver-broncos-al-estadio-azteca-n/)
12. [NFL Playoffs 2021: AFC and NFC championship games, AS](https://as.com/us/us/2021/01/18/nfl/1610944643_255270.html)
13. [Sacco Sez: How the 1997 Broncos broke through in Super Bowl XXXII, DenverBroncos.com](https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/sacco-sez-how-the-1997-broncos-broke-through-in-super-bowl-xxxii-20331380)
14. [1997 NFL Week One summaries, Philadelphia Eagles](https://media.eagles.1rmg.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/28151436/1997.pdf)
15. [The Green and Gold - 1997: Back to Back?, Bradley Ruzicka](https://www.brrblog.com/the-green-and-gold-1997-back-to-back/)
16. [¿Cuántos equipos comodines han ganado el Super Bowl?, AS](https://as.com/us/nfl/cuantos-equipos-comodines-han-ganado-el-super-bowl-n/)
17. [Denver Broncos 2004 media guide](https://media.denverbroncos.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Denver2004.pdf)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › National Football League › NFL teams and franchises*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license