The game began with the teams combining for 24 first-quarter points, the most in Super Bowl history. Under their respective head coaches and quarterbacks, Green Bay posted an NFC-best 13–3 regular season record in 1996, while New England advanced to their second Super Bowl after recording an 11–5 record and its the Patriots first of its ten Super Bowls appearances under Robert Kraft. After four losing seasons, the Patriots' rise began in 1993 when Bill Parcells was hired as head coach, and the team drafted quarterback Drew Bledsoe. After 24 mostly dismal seasons since Vince Lombardi left, the Packers' fortunes turned after head coach Mike Holmgren and quarterback Brett Favre joined the team in 1992. This Super Bowl featured two clubs that had recently returned to competitiveness. The game was played on Januat the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was also the last in a run of 13 straight Super Bowl victories by the NFC over the AFC. The Packers also extended their league record for the most overall NFL championships to 12. The Packers defeated the Patriots by the score of 35–21, earning their third overall Super Bowl victory, and their first since Super Bowl II. Super Bowl XXXI was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion New England Patriots and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Green Bay Packers to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1996 season. Pat Summerall, John Madden, Ron Pitts and Bill Maas The Blues Brothers, James Brown, and ZZ Top
Past Super Bowl winning coaches: Hank Stram, Mike Ditka, Tom Flores, Tom Landry, Chuck Noll, George Seifert Packers: Ron Wolf (general manager), LeRoy Butler, Brett Favre, Reggie White Patriots: Bill Parcells (head coach), Ty Law, Curtis Martin Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana For the Super Bowl that was played at the completion of the 1997 season, see Super Bowl XXXII.