Editing Super Bowl XXXII (section)

==Background==
===Host selection process===
NFL owners voted to award Super Bowl XXXII to San Diego during their October 26, 1993, meeting in [[Chicago]]. The bidding process was scheduled to award two Super Bowl sites ([[Super Bowl XXXI|XXXI]] and XXXII), the first time that multiple hosts were selected at the same meeting since [[Super Bowl XXIII|XXIII]] and [[Super Bowl XXIV|XXIV]] were voted on in 1985. This was the second time that San Diego hosted the game; the city previously hosted [[Super Bowl XXII|XXII]] ten years earlier. The Broncos played in both XXII and XXXII, the first franchise to play two different Super Bowls in the same stadium twice; they had already played twice at the [[Caesars Superdome|Superdome]] ([[Super Bowl XII|XII]] and [[Super Bowl XXIV|XXIV]]).

Four cities entered the bidding for the two games: [[New Orleans]] ([[Caesars Superdome|Superdome]]), [[San Diego]] ([[San Diego Stadium|Jack Murphy Stadium]]), [[Los Angeles]]/[[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]] ([[Rose Bowl (stadium)|Rose Bowl]]), and [[Tampa]] ([[Tampa Stadium]]). The New Orleans representatives bid only on XXXI, Los Angeles only bid on XXXII, while San Diego and Tampa made themselves available for both games. Rules required a candidate to receive a {{frac|3|4}} vote (21 of 28 owners) in order to win the bidding. If no winner received the necessary votes after three rounds, the fourth round would revert to a simple majority.<ref name="Trib010-27-1993pg112">{{cite news|title=Tampa Bay faces long odds in securing 3rd Super Bowl (Part 1)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/144252986/|newspaper=The Tampa Tribune|first=Joe|last=Frisaro|page=112|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=October 27, 1993|accessdate=March 27, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref><ref name="Trib010-27-1993pg114">{{cite news|title=Tampa Bay faces long odds in securing 3rd Super Bowl (Part 2)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/144253099/|newspaper=The Tampa Tribune|first=Joe|last=Frisaro|page=114|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=October 27, 1993|accessdate=March 27, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref>

New Orleans was selected for XXXI, at which time the voting for XXXII commenced. Tampa was eliminated during the first ballot, leaving San Diego and Los Angeles as the two finalists for XXXII. The prospects for Los Angeles suffered after [[Los Angeles Raiders|Raiders]] owner [[Al Davis]] left the meeting before the presentation. San Diego representatives, meanwhile promised to add 12,000 temporary seats to [[San Diego Stadium|Jack Murphy Stadium]] to counter the Rose Bowl's capacity advantage. In addition, since San Diego had not hosted the Super Bowl in a decade, and Pasadena had just hosted one nine months earlier, owners tipped towards San Diego. After two deadlocked rounds, San Diego won by simple majority on the fourth vote.<ref name="Trib010-28-1993pg24">{{cite news|title=Tampa Bay loses Super Bowl bid (Part 1)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/144253635/|newspaper=The Tampa Tribune|first=Joe|last=Frisaro|page=24|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=October 28, 1993|accessdate=March 27, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref><ref name="Trib010-28-1993pg29">{{cite news|title=Tampa Bay loses Super Bowl bid (Part 2)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/144253688/|newspaper=The Tampa Tribune|first=Joe|last=Frisaro|page=29|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=October 28, 1993|accessdate=March 27, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref>

===Green Bay Packers===
{{main|1997 Green Bay Packers season}}

The Packers entered the 1997 season coming off of their win in [[Super Bowl XXXI]]. They then repeated as [[NFC Central]] division champions, earning a 13–3 regular-season record.  Green Bay's offense ranked 2nd in the league in points scored (only behind their eventual Super Bowl opponent, the Broncos) and 4th in yards gained, while their defense respectively ranked 5th and 7th in those two categories.

Quarterback [[Brett Favre]] had another Pro Bowl season and became the first player ever to win the [[National Football League Most Valuable Player Award|NFL MVP]] award three times, winning it for the third consecutive year (Favre was named co-MVP in 1997 with [[Detroit Lions]] running back [[Barry Sanders]]). Favre led the league with 35 passing touchdowns and completed 304 out of 513 attempts for 3,867 yards, with 16 interceptions, while ranking second on the team in rushing with 187 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver [[Antonio Freeman]] led the team in receptions with 81 catches for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns. Wide receiver [[Robert Brooks (American football)|Robert Brooks]] was also a major deep threat, catching 60 passes for 1,010 yards and 7 touchdowns. Pro Bowl tight end [[Mark Chmura]] recorded 38 receptions for 417 yards and 6 touchdowns. Pro Bowl halfback [[Dorsey Levens]], who had the best season of his career, led the team in rushing with 1,435 yards and 7 touchdowns, while also catching 53 passes for 373 yards and 5 touchdowns. Fullback [[William Henderson (American football)|William Henderson]] rushed for 113 yards and caught 41 passes for 367 yards and a touchdown.  On special teams, receiver [[Bill Schroeder (wide receiver)|Bill Schroeder]] led the team with 33 punt returns for 342 yards, while also gaining 562 yards on 24 kickoff returns.

On the Packers' defense, the line was led by veteran Pro Bowl selection [[Reggie White]], who led the team with 11 sacks. Behind him, [[Santana Dotson]] recorded 37 tackles and 5.5 sacks. In the secondary, Pro Bowl defensive back [[LeRoy Butler]] led the team with 5 interceptions, while also adding 70 tackles. Safety [[Eugene Robinson (American football)|Eugene Robinson]] led the team with 74 tackles while also recording 2.5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, and 1 interception. Cornerback [[Mike Prior]] recorded 4 interceptions, while rookie [[Darren Sharper]] recorded 2 of them, both of which he returned for touchdowns.

===Denver Broncos===
{{main|1997 Denver Broncos season}}

The Broncos entered Super Bowl XXXII after suffering four Super Bowl losses: Super Bowls [[Super Bowl XII|XII]], [[Super Bowl XXI|XXI]], [[Super Bowl XXII|XXII]], and [[Super Bowl XXIV|XXIV]] from 1978, 1987, 1988, and 1990, respectively. In all of those losses, the Broncos never had the ability to rush well enough or score enough points to be competitive. Denver had been defeated by a large margin in each one, losing all four by a combined scoring margin of 163–50.

The previous three Super Bowl losses were under starting quarterback [[John Elway]], whose ad-libbing skills enabled the Broncos to advance to the league's championship game in a span of three out of four seasons. Elway also led his team to the [[NFL playoffs, 1991-92#Conference championships|1991 AFC Championship Game]], but they lost in a defensive struggle to the [[1991 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]], 10–7.

The team's fortunes changed when [[Mike Shanahan]] became head coach of the Broncos in [[1995 NFL season|1995]]. Shanahan was previously Denver's [[offensive coordinator]] during Super Bowl XXI and XXII losses but was fired in [[1991 NFL season|1991]] after a power struggle between him and then-head coach [[Dan Reeves]] over the offensive personnel. Shanahan then served as the offensive coordinator for the [[San Francisco 49ers]] from [[1992 NFL season|1992]] to [[1994 NFL season|1994]], including the 49ers' [[Super Bowl XXIX]] win. Under Shanahan, the San Francisco offense ranked first in the league in total yards gained for all three of his seasons there.

When Shanahan returned to the Broncos in 1995, he selected running back [[Terrell Davis]] in the 6th round of the [[NFL draft]]. Davis became the cornerstone of Denver's rebuilt running game, leading the team with 1,117 rushing yards in just his rookie year. The Broncos finished the 1995 regular season with just an 8–8 record. By [[1996 NFL season|1996]], the Broncos had the league's best offense, gaining 5,791 total yards, and recorded the AFC's best regular-season record at 13–3, but they were upset by the second year [[Jacksonville Jaguars]], 30–27 in the playoffs.

During the 1997 regular season, the Broncos once again had the league's best offense with 5,872 total yards and led the league in total points scored with 472. Although they recorded a 12–4 regular-season record, they finished in second place behind the 13–3 [[1997 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] in the [[AFC West]].

Davis, a [[Pro Bowl]] selection, remained the team's leading rusher, recording 1,750 yards and 15 touchdowns (first in the AFC and second in the NFL behind only co-league MVP [[Barry Sanders]]'s 2,053 rushing yards), while also catching 42 passes for 287 yards. At 37 years old, Elway still posted a Pro Bowl season with 280 out of 502 completions for 3,635 yards, 27 touchdowns, and only 11 interceptions. He also rushed for 215 yards and another touchdown. Pro Bowl tight end [[Shannon Sharpe]] led the team with 72 receptions for 1,107 yards. Wide receiver [[Rod Smith (wide receiver)|Rod Smith]], who was not drafted by any NFL team and recorded only 22 receptions for 389 yards and 3 touchdowns in his two previous seasons, had a breakout year with 70 receptions for 1,180 yards and 12 touchdowns. Wide receiver [[Ed McCaffrey]], who played in Shanahan's 1994 49ers offense, recorded 45 receptions for 590 yards and 8 touchdowns. Denver's offensive line was led by seven-time Pro Bowl left tackle [[Gary Zimmerman]] and Pro Bowl center [[Tom Nalen]].

On defense, the major acquisition to the team prior to the season was former Chiefs defensive lineman [[Neil Smith (American football)|Neil Smith]]. Smith had a Pro Bowl season for the 6th time in his career with 28 tackles and 8.5 sacks. Defensive end [[Alfred Williams]] recorded 36 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery. The linebacking corps was led by veteran [[Bill Romanowski]], who had 55 tackles and 2 sacks, and [[John Mobley]], who led the team with 97 tackles while also recording 4 sacks, a fumble recovery, and an interception.

The secondary was led by veteran defensive backs [[Tyrone Braxton]], who led the team with 4 interceptions for 113 yards and 1 touchdown, and [[Steve Atwater]], who had 53 tackles, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries, and 2 interceptions for 42 yards and 1 touchdown. Defensive back [[Darrien Gordon]] recorded 50 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 fumble recoveries, 4 interceptions, 64 return yards, and 1 touchdown. He also returned 40 punts for 543 yards and 3 touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Darrien Gordon 1997 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GordDa20/gamelog/1997/ |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

===Playoffs===
{{further|1997–98 NFL playoffs}}
The Broncos entered the playoffs as a [[wild card (sports)|wild-card]] team and defeated the [[1997 Jacksonville Jaguars season|Jacksonville Jaguars]], 42–17, the [[1997 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]], 14–10, and the [[1997 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]], 24–21, making Denver the fifth wild-card team to make it to the Super Bowl.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wild Card - Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos - December 27th, 1997 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199712270den.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs - January 4th, 1998 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199801040kan.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AFC Championship - Denver Broncos at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 11th, 1998 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199801110pit.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Meanwhile, the Packers were victorious against the [[1997 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|Tampa Bay Buccaneers]], 21–7, and the [[1997 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]], 23–10.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Green Bay Packers - January 4th, 1998 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199801040gnb.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NFC Championship - Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers - January 11th, 1998 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199801110sfo.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1997 NFL Standings & Team Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1997/index.htm |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

===Super Bowl pregame news===
The Packers came into the game as 11-point favorites, having compiled a 13–3 record regular-season record compared to the Broncos' 12–4 and coming in as defending Super Bowl champions after winning [[Super Bowl XXXI]] 35–21 over the [[1996 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]].  Furthermore, the Packers had easily crushed their two playoff opponents, while the Broncos had barely edged out their final two postseason victories by a margin of one score.

As the [[Super Bowl#Home team designation|designated home team]] in the annual rotation between AFC and NFC teams, the Broncos chose to wear their newly unveiled home navy uniforms with white pants. The uniforms replaced the "[[Orange Crush Defense|Orange Crush]]" uniforms they previously wore in three of their four Super Bowl losses. The Packers wore their customary road white uniforms with gold pants. Both teams wore the Super Bowl XXXII logo on the left breast of their jersey. The Super Bowl logo was previously worn in [[Super Bowl XXV]] to commemorate the game's silver anniversary. All future Super Bowls contestants would wear the game's logo on their jerseys.<ref>{{cite web|title=Uni Watch's Friday Flashback: Humble Super Bowl patches have fascinating history|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/14700104/uni-watch-friday-flashback-humble-super-bowl-patches-fascinating-history|website=ESPN.com|publisher=ESPN|access-date=September 21, 2022|date=February 5, 2016}}</ref>