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Super Bowl XXVIII
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==Background== ===Host selection process=== NFL owners voted to award Super Bowl XXVIII to [[Atlanta]] during their May 23, 1990 meetings in [[Irving, Texas]]. It would be Atlanta's first of three Super Bowls (as of 2024) and first of two played at the [[Georgia Dome]]. Four cities submitted bids including Atlanta ([[Georgia Dome]]), [[Miami]] ([[Hard Rock Stadium|Joe Robbie Stadium]]), [[New Orleans]] ([[Caesars Superdome|Superdome]]), and [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]] ([[Tampa Stadium]]). On the first ballot, Tampa was eliminated, mostly due to the fact that they were already scheduled to host [[Super Bowl XXV|XXV]]. [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers|Tampa Bay]] representative Hugh Culverhouse Jr. immediately threw their support behind the Atlanta bid.<ref name="AC05-24-1990pg46b">{{cite news|title=Losing cities were hopeful until the end|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution/141132734/|newspaper=The Atlanta Constitution|first=Len|last=Pasquarelli|page=46|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=May 24, 1990|accessdate=February 16, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref> Atlanta won on the fourth ballot, with owners rewarding [[Atlanta Falcons|Falcons]] owner [[Rankin M. Smith Sr.|Rankin Smith]] for his decision to keep the franchise in Atlanta, and for orchestrating the construction of the new stadium.<ref name="AC05-24-1990pg46c">{{cite news|title=Falcons' Smith secures biggest win of career|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution/141132960/|newspaper=The Atlanta Constitution|first=Glenn|last=Sheeley|page=46|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=May 24, 1990|accessdate=February 16, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref> However, the NFL attached conditions to Atlanta's hosting duties. The [[Georgia Dome]] was still under construction; the first concrete footings had just been poured that same week. The league gave Atlanta a deadline of September 1 to finalize the construction schedule and budget, otherwise they may consider reassigning the game.<ref name="AC05-24-1990pg37">{{cite news|title=Atlanta joins NFL's Super club (Part 1)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution/141132419/|newspaper=The Atlanta Constitution|first=Glenn|last=Sheeley|page=37|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=May 24, 1990|accessdate=February 16, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref><ref name="AC05-24-1990pg46a">{{cite news|title=Atlanta joins NFL's Super club (Part 2)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution/141132643/|newspaper=The Atlanta Constitution|first=Glenn|last=Sheeley|page=46|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=May 24, 1990|accessdate=February 16, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref> In September of that year, Atlanta was selected as the host for the [[1996 Summer Olympics]], with the Georgia Dome a key [[Venues of the 1996 Summer Olympics|venue]] for the games. Almost immediately, the stadium's luxury boxes began to sell out,<ref name="AC09-19-1990pgA-7">{{cite news|title=Suites seats snapped up at Ga. Dome|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution/141138017/|newspaper=The Atlanta Constitution|first=David|last=Beasley|page=7|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=September 19, 1990|accessdate=February 16, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref><ref name="AC10-27-1990pg1">{{cite news|title=Skyboxes Big-Bucks private suites (Part 1)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution/141138258/|newspaper=The Atlanta Constitution|first=Joe|last=Earle|page=1|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=September 19, 1990|accessdate=February 16, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref><ref name="AC10-27-1990pg13">{{cite news|title=Skyboxes Big-Bucks private suites (Part 2)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution/141138538/|newspaper=The Atlanta Constitution|first=Joe|last=Earle|page=13|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=September 19, 1990|accessdate=February 16, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref> helping ensure the stadium would be completed within budget.<ref name="AC07-21-1991pg85">{{cite news|title=Georgia Dome is taking shape|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution/141138850/|newspaper=The Atlanta Constitution|page=85|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=July 21, 1991|accessdate=February 16, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref> The stadium was completed on-time for the [[1992 Atlanta Falcons season|1992 season]]. ===Dallas Cowboys=== {{main|1993 Dallas Cowboys season}} The Cowboys' journey to Super Bowl XXVIII proved more difficult than the previous season. [[Pro Bowl]] running back [[Emmitt Smith]] held out the first two regular season games over a contract dispute, and Dallas lost both of those contests, including a 13β10 loss at home to the Bills.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dallas Cowboys 1993 Games and Schedule |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal/1993/gamelog/ |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Pro Bowl quarterback [[Troy Aikman]], along with a few other key players, missed games due to injuries. Following the loss to the Bills, Cowboys defensive end [[Charles Haley]] was so upset he slammed his helmet through a locker room wall, screaming "We'll never win with a fucking rookie running back, and we have the greatest one ever sitting at home watching TV!" in reference to Smith's replacement, [[Derrick Lassic]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Brenner |first=Richard |date=1996 |title=The Complete Super Bowl Story |isbn= 978-0943403311}}</ref> Team owner [[Jerry Jones]] apparently agreed, quickly signing Smith to a contract that made him the highest paid running back in the NFL. Jerry Jones, who was in the locker room when the helmet was thrown, said that it missed him by about 2 feet. With Smith back in the starting lineup and Aikman healthy, Dallas went on to win their next seven games, including a dominating 26β17 win over the [[San Francisco 49ers]] and a 23β10 win on the road against the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] in which Smith rushed for 237 yards, the 6th highest total in NFL history. Their winning streak was finally snapped against the [[Atlanta Falcons]], with Aikman on the sidelines with an ankle injury, and Smith knocked out of the game after his first carry. They also lost their next game against Miami due to an infamous error by defensive lineman [[Leon Lett]] that enabled the Dolphins to kick a game-winning field goal, but then went on to win their remaining five games. In the season finale against the [[1993 New York Giants season|New York Giants]], with the Cowboys desperately trying to clinch the [[NFC East]] title and a first-round bye in the playoffs, Aikman showed he was at full health, completing 24 of 30 passes with no interceptions, while for Smith it was his career signature game. He suffered a first-degree separation in his right shoulder during the first half, but still finished with 229 total yards (168 yards rushing, 10 passes caught for 61 yards, and the team's only touchdown) in a 16β13 overtime win which enabled Dallas to finish with an NFC-best 12β4 record. Though not as dynamic as the previous year, Dallas' offense remained incredibly efficient, led by Aikman, who finished the regular season completing 271 out of 392 passes for 3,100 yards, 15 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Despite missing the first two games, Smith recorded 1,486 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, while catching 57 passes for 414 yards and another touchdown, earning him his third consecutive NFL rushing title and the [[NFL Most Valuable Player Award]]. Fullback [[Daryl Johnston]] was also a reliable backfield threat, scoring four touchdowns and contributing a career-high 50 receptions for 371 yards. Pro Bowler [[Michael Irvin]] was once again the team's leading wide receiver, catching 88 passes for 1,330 yards and seven touchdowns. Wide receiver [[Alvin Harper]] caught 36 passes for 777 yards and five touchdowns, while Pro Bowl tight end [[Jay Novacek]] had 44 receptions for 445 yards and one touchdown. Pro Bowlers [[Mark Stepnoski]], [[Erik Williams]], and [[Nate Newton]] anchored the offensive line. On special teams, rookie receiver [[Kevin Williams (wide receiver, born 1971)|Kevin Williams]] ranked seventh in the NFL with 381 yards on 36 punt returns, while also gaining 689 kickoff return yards and catching 20 passes for 151 yards. The Cowboys' defense was anchored by such Pro Bowlers as lineman [[Russell Maryland]], and [[Ken Norton Jr.]], and defensive backs [[Thomas Everett]] and [[Kevin Smith (cornerback)|Kevin Smith]], who intercepted six passes during the season. Defensive end [[Tony Tolbert]] led the team with 7.5 sacks, while Charles Haley added 4 and [[Chad Hennings]] had 5.5. ===Buffalo Bills=== {{main|1993 Buffalo Bills season}} The Bills finished at the top of the AFC by clinching the conference's best regular season record, winning 7 of their first 8 games and finished the season at 12β4. Quarterback [[Jim Kelly]] once again led Buffalo's [[no-huddle offense]] by passing for 288 out of 470 regular season completions for 3,382 yards, 18 touchdowns, with 18 interceptions. Kelly was joining an elite class by starting his fourth Super Bowl. The only other quarterbacks to start four were [[Roger Staubach]], [[Terry Bradshaw]] and [[Joe Montana]], with [[John Elway]], [[Tom Brady]], [[Peyton Manning]], and [[Patrick Mahomes]] later doing so. Kelly is the only one to start four consecutive Super Bowl games. Running back [[Thurman Thomas]] led the AFC with 1,315 rushing yards and six touchdowns, while also catching 48 passes for 387 yards. Running back [[Kenneth Davis (American football)|Kenneth Davis]] rushed for 391 yards and six touchdowns, while also recording 21 receptions for 95 yards. Pro Bowl wide receiver [[Andre Reed]] caught 52 receptions for a team-leading 854 yards and six touchdowns; wide receiver [[Bill Brooks (wide receiver)|Bill Brooks]] had 60 receptions for 714 yards and five touchdowns; and wide receiver [[Don Beebe]] recorded 31 receptions for 504 yards and three touchdowns. Also, tight end [[Pete Metzelaars]] led the team with 68 receptions (a higher amount than his last four seasons combined) for 609 yards and four touchdowns. Pro Bowl offensive lineman [[Howard Ballard]] anchored the line. Buffalo's defense was the team's weakness, ranking 27th (second-to-last) in the league, giving up 5,554 total yards. The defense did have a few good contributors, such as Hall of Fame lineman [[Bruce Smith]] (14 sacks, one fumble recovery), Pro Bowl linebacker [[Cornelius Bennett]] (five sacks, two fumble recoveries), linebacker [[Darryl Talley]] (101 tackles, two sacks, two fumble recoveries, three interceptions) and cornerback [[Nate Odomes]], who led the NFL with nine interceptions and one fumble recovery. Linebacker [[Marvcus Patton]], who had moved up to the starting lineup to replace departed Pro Bowler [[Shane Conlan]], was also an impact player, intercepting two passes and recovering three fumbles. ===Playoffs=== {{details|1993β94 NFL playoffs}} In the NFC, Dallas' first opponent in the playoffs was the [[1993 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]], who were coming off a thrilling 28β24 win over the [[1993 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] in the Wild Card Game, in which quarterback [[Brett Favre]] had thrown the winning touchdown pass to [[Sterling Sharpe]] with only 55 seconds left in the game. In this game, the Packers scored first with a field goal, but Dallas stormed back with 17 consecutive points in the second quarter. First, Aikman threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Harper. Then with time running out the period, Dallas scored again on an [[Eddie Murray (American football)|Eddie Murray]] field goal. Green Bay then fumbled the ensuing kickoff, allowing the Cowboys to score again with Aikman's 6-yard pass to Novacek. The Cowboys went on to stave off an attempted Packers comeback in the second half and win the game, 27β17. Aikman finished the game with 28 of 37 completions for 302 yards and 3 touchdowns, with 2 interceptions. Irvin recorded 9 catches for 126 yards and 2 touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys - January 16th, 1994 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199401160dal.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> One week later, Dallas faced the [[1993 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]] in the NFC Championship Game for the second year in a row in what was, at the time, the last NFL game to air on [[CBS]]. The 49ers had the NFL's highest scoring offense with 473 points, 97 more than the runner-up Cowboys. The last time the two teams played for the NFC title, Dallas won when Aikman thwarted an attempted 49ers comeback with a touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter. But this time, the game was extremely one-sided. The Cowboys scored touchdowns on four of their five first-half possessions. By the end of the half, Dallas had a commanding 28β7 lead. Aikman completed 14 of 18 passes for 177 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, while also rushing for 25 yards, but was knocked out of the game with a concussion in the third quarter. Then San Francisco scored a touchdown, making the score 28β14 with plenty of time left for a comeback. However, their hopes were soon dashed as backup quarterback [[Bernie Kosar]], who had already played in three conference championship games and was unable to advance to the Super Bowl each time, led the Cowboys 82 yards to go up 35β14 on his 42-yard touchdown pass to [[Alvin Harper]]. Murray then put the finishing touches on San Francisco with a 50-yard field goal, while all the 49ers could do was score a useless touchdown in "garbage time" to make the final score 38β21. Smith rushed for 88 yards, caught seven passes for 85 yards, and scored two touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Dallas defense held 49ers running back [[Ricky Watters]], who rushed for over 100 yards and scored 5 touchdowns in the divisional round, to just 37 yards on 12 carries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NFC Championship - San Francisco 49ers at Dallas Cowboys - January 23rd, 1994 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199401230dal.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Buffalo's first opponent was the [[1993 Los Angeles Raiders season|Los Angeles Raiders]], led by quarterback [[Jeff Hostetler]], who had led the [[1990 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] to victory over the Bills in [[Super Bowl XXV]] three years earlier. The Raiders had also edged out the Bills 25β24 in week 14 of the regular season. In this game, the Raiders built up a 17β13 halftime lead, but Buffalo stormed back with 16 second half points. First, they scored on Kelly's 25-yard touchdown pass to Brooks. Then on their next drive, kicker [[Steve Christie]] kicked a 29-yard field goal to give the Bills a 23β17 lead. Los Angeles managed to respond with an 86-yard scoring strike from Hostetler to receiver [[Tim Brown (American football)|Tim Brown]], but Buffalo stormed right back with Brooks' 22-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. The Bills ended up winning the game 29β23, having scored 16 points in a span of 6:18 in the second half. Kelly threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Los Angeles Raiders at Buffalo Bills - January 15th, 1994 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199401150buf.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> One week later, the Bills took on the [[1993 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] for the AFC title. Led by 4-time Super Bowl winning quarterback [[Joe Montana]], Kansas City had defeated the Bills 23-7 during the regular season, and were coming off thrilling narrow wins against the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] and [[Houston Oilers]] in the playoffs. In the days leading up to the game, many sports writers and fans were eager for the possibility of a Super Bowl in which Montana took on the San Francisco 49ers led by [[Steve Young]], who had replaced Montana as their starting quarterback, or the Dallas Cowboys, who had displaced the 49ers to become the most dominant team in the NFC. However, Buffalo quickly crushed this prospect, burying Kansas City with a dominating 30β13 victory in the AFC Championship Game. Thomas rushed for 186 yards and three touchdowns, and caught two passes for 22 yards. On defense, the Bills limited Montana to just 9 of 23 completions for 125 yards and no touchdowns, with one interception. In addition, Kansas City's future Hall of Fame running back, [[Marcus Allen]], was held to just 50 rushing yards on 18 carries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFC Championship - Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills - January 23rd, 1994 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199401230buf.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Both Dallas and Buffalo were the top seeded teams in their respective conferences, earning home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Until the [[2009 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]] and [[2009 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]] qualified for [[Super Bowl XLIV]], this was the last time that both number one seeds advanced to the Super Bowl.<ref>{{cite web |title=Top Seeds |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/top-seeds/ |website=Pro Football Hall of Fame |access-date=January 6, 2019}}</ref> ===Pregame news=== Many sportswriters and fans were a bit upset that the Bills advanced to their fourth consecutive Super Bowl. They were distressed with Buffalo having lost the three previous Super Bowl games and did not want to see them lose again. Some Bills fans appeared to be defensive about their team's presence in the game; during Buffalo's victory in the AFC Championship Game a week earlier, one fan displayed a banner defiantly proclaiming, "We're back; deal with it, America!"<ref>{{cite news|last=Murray|first=Jim|title=SUPER BOWL XXVII: Buffalo Bills vs. Dallas Cowboys : It's Tough to Deal With It|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-01-25-sp-15099-story.html|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=January 25, 1994|access-date=January 8, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Warner|first=Gene|title=The Bills go fourth!|url=http://bills.buffalonews.com/1994/01/24/the-bills-go-fourth/|newspaper=[[The Buffalo News]]|date=January 24, 1994|access-date=January 8, 2016}}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Therefore, the Super Bowl hype was more focused onto Cowboys owner/general manager [[Jerry Jones]] and head coach [[Jimmy Johnson (football coach)|Jimmy Johnson]]. Although the two rebuilt the team with young talent that eventually won the previous year's Super Bowl, both men had huge egos that conflicted with each other. Both had different ideas on the future personnel plans for the Cowboys, and both wanted equal credit for the team's recent success. The dispute became so ugly that Super Bowl XXVIII became Johnson's final game coaching the Cowboys after his feud with Jones boiled over. Johnson would join [[Vince Lombardi]], [[Bill Walsh (American football coach)|Bill Walsh]], and [[Bill Parcells]] on the short list of coaches who won a Super Bowl in what turned out to be their last games with the winning franchise; like Lombardi and Parcells but unlike Walsh, Johnson would later return to coach another team, helming the Miami Dolphins between 1996 and 1999 before retiring from coaching for good. This was the fourth rematch in Super Bowl history, and the first time that both teams met in consecutive years.<ref>The Dolphins and Redskins met twice ([[Super Bowl VII|VII]] and [[Super Bowl XVII|XVII]]), as did the Steelers and Cowboys ([[Super Bowl X|X]] and [[Super Bowl XIII|XIII]]) and 49ers and Bengals ([[Super Bowl XVI|XVI]] and [[Super Bowl XXIII|XXIII]]). The Steelers and the Cowboys would also meet again, in [[Super Bowl XXX]].</ref> Both the Bills, as the [[Super Bowl#Home team designation|designated home team]] in the AFC/NFC annual rotation, and the Cowboys wore the same uniforms as the previous year, with the Bills donning the home blue jersey/white pants set and the Cowboys wearing the white jersey/silver pants set. Before the game, the Super Bowl became the target of protests over the [[Flag of Georgia (U.S. state)#Second_flag_(1956%E2%80%932001)|Georgia state flag]], which at the time included the [[Confederate battle flag]] and was seen as offensive by the African-American community. Several high-profile Georgia politicians got involved, including state senator Ralph D. Abernathy. The NFL tried to duck the issue, with spokesman Greg Aiello stating, "We're not a political-advocacy group. It's not our role to get involved in political issues that have nothing to do with the Super Bowl." However, the NFL had cancelled plans to hold the Super Bowl in Phoenix three years earlier after a referendum to make [[Martin Luther King Jr. Day]] an Arizona state holiday was defeated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.philly.com/1994-01-27/sports/25825911_1_state-flag-confederate-battle-flag-flag-issue|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151225152649/http://articles.philly.com/1994-01-27/sports/25825911_1_state-flag-confederate-battle-flag-flag-issue|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 25, 2015|title=Archives - Philly.com|website=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]}}</ref> Ultimately, the flag was not flown inside the Georgia Dome, but was mounted on a pole outside the stadium. [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Al Gore]] attended the game.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 3, 2017 |title=Vice President Mike Pence will attend the Super Bowl|url=https://www.boston.com/sports/super-bowl-li/2017/02/03/vice-president-mike-pence-will-attend-the-super-bowl|work=The Associated Press}}</ref>
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