Editing Super Bowl XXXIII (section)

==Background==
===Host selection process===
NFL owners originally voted to award Super Bowl XXXIII to [[Candlestick Park]] in [[San Francisco]] during the owners meeting in [[Rosemont, Illinois]] on November 2, 1994.<ref name="SBee11-03-1994pg14">{{cite news|title='Stick gets 1999 Super Bowl (Part 1)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee/152262274/|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|first=John|last=Schumacher|page=14|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=November 3, 1994|access-date=July 29, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref><ref name="SBee11-03-1994pg21">{{cite news|title='Stick gets 1999 Super Bowl (Part 2)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee/152262549/|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|first=John|last=Schumacher|page=21|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=November 3, 1994|access-date=July 29, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref> Two cities were in consideration for the game, San Francisco and [[Miami]] ([[Hard Rock Stadium|Joe Robbie Stadium]]).<ref name="TMH11-02-1994pg148">{{cite news|title=JRS may not get 1999 Super Bowl|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-super-bowl-33/152261546/|newspaper=The Miami Herald|first=Greg|last=Cote|page=148|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=November 2, 1994|access-date=July 29, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref> Though Miami's bid was considered superior,<ref name="TMH11-02-1994pg148"/> San Francisco was the favorite since the [[San Francisco Bay Area|Bay Area]] had not hosted the game since [[Super Bowl XIX|1985]]. The host committee was also promising $26 million in stadium renovations.<ref name="TpressD11-03-1994pg23bp">{{cite news|title=A great job of selling the 'Stick (Part 1)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-press-democrat/152262008/|newspaper=The Press Democrat|first=Bob|last=Padecky|page=23|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=November 3, 1994|access-date=July 29, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref><ref name="TpressD11-03-1994pg24bp">{{cite news|title=A great job of selling the 'Stick (Part 2)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-press-democrat/152262112/|newspaper=The Press Democrat|first=Bob|last=Padecky|page=24|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=November 3, 1994|access-date=July 29, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref> Before long, however, it became unclear if the proposed stadium renovations would happen. The game was formally withdrawn from San Francisco in March 1996.<ref name="SBee03-17-1996pg41">{{cite news|title=49ers set to give up hosting '99 Super Bowl|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee/152263114/|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|first=Jim|last=Jenkins|page=41|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=March 17, 1996|access-date=July 29, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref> [[Al Davis]] made a pitch to keep the game in the [[San Francisco Bay Area|Bay Area]] by moving it over to [[Oakland Coliseum]],<ref name="TMtel05-24-1996pg7">{{cite news|title=Davis wants to hold 1999 Super Bowl in Oakland|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph/152266833/|newspaper=The Macon Telegraph|first=Gary|last=Swan|page=7|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=May 24, 1996|access-date=July 29, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref> but the idea failed to gain any support.

In the fall of 1996, the NFL reopened the bidding from scratch. The NFL owners scheduled a vote during the October 31, 1996, meeting in [[New Orleans]], which was to award two Super Bowls, XXXIII and [[Super Bowl XXXIV|XXXIV]]. A total of five cities submitted bids: [[Miami]] ([[Hard Rock Stadium|Joe Robbie Stadium]]), [[Atlanta]] ([[Georgia Dome]]), [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]] ([[Raymond James Stadium]]), [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]]/[[Tempe, Arizona|Tempe]] ([[Sun Devil Stadium]]), and [[Los Angeles]] ([[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum|Coliseum]]). Miami, a previous finalist for the game, was an early favorite. Tampa also became a favorite after voters passed a ballot measure in September 1996 to fund the construction of a new stadium.<ref name="STT09-05-1996pg35">{{cite news|title=Tampa Bay steps up its big-games hunt (Part 1)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times/152264948/|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|first=John|last=Romano|page=35|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=September 5, 1996|access-date=July 29, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref><ref name="STT09-05-1996pg42">{{cite news|title=Tampa Bay steps up its big-games hunt (Part 2)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times/152265169/|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|first=John|last=Romano|page=42|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=September 5, 1996|access-date=July 29, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref> NFL [[Commissioner of the National Football League|commissioner]] [[Paul Tagliabue]] threw his support behind Tampa based on the new stadium plans.<ref name="tamtrib03-19-1996pg19">{{cite news|title=Veterans to miss Dungy's 1st minicamp|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/152268019/|newspaper=The Tampa Tribune|first=Nick|last=Pugliese|page=19|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=March 19, 1996|access-date=July 29, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref> The Los Angeles host committee originally was going to partner with [[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]] ([[Rose Bowl (stadium)|Rose Bowl]]),<ref name="KennJ09-01-1996pg25">{{cite news|title=Los Angeles puts in bid to host Super Bowl|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/kennebec-journal/152268938/|newspaper=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|first=Patrick|last=McGreevy|page=25|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=September 1, 1996|access-date=July 29, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref> but switched their plans to the Coliseum after a renovation plan was announced.<ref name="LAT10-13-1996pg373">{{cite news|title=L.A. Coliseum Design Reflect a Marriage of Old and New|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/152269149/|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times|first=Jodi|last=Wilgoren|page=373|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=October 13, 1996|access-date=July 29, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref><ref name="LAT10-30-1996pg102">{{cite news|title=L.A. Will Make a Play for Football|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/152269314/|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times|first=T.J.|last=Simers|page=102|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=October 13, 1996|access-date=July 29, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref> However, the Los Angeles bid was dismissed when their delegation failed to convince the owners that planned stadium renovations would be completed in time.<ref name="OS11011996b"/>

Owners initially planned on selecting only two hosts (XXXIII and XXXIV), but decided to name three after strong showings by the respective delegations. Miami, Atlanta, and Tampa were selected to host XXXIII, [[Super Bowl XXXIV|XXXIV]], and [[Super Bowl XXXV|XXXV]], respectively.<ref name="OS11011996a">{{cite news|title=Florida's Super Bowls: Miami '99, Tampa '01 (part 1)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8409532//|newspaper=The Orlando Sentinel|page=27|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=November 1, 1996|access-date=January 17, 2017}}{{Open access}}</ref><ref name="OS11011996b">{{cite news|title=Florida's Super Bowls: Miami '99, Tampa '01 (part 2)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8409537//|newspaper=The Orlando Sentinel|page=31|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=November 1, 1996|access-date=January 17, 2017}}{{Open access}}</ref> This was the eighth time that the South Florida area hosted the game, and the third at [[Hard Rock Stadium|Joe Robbie Stadium]].

===Denver Broncos===
{{main|1998 Denver Broncos season}}

Following the Broncos' victory during [[Super Bowl XXXII]] the previous season, many wondered if 15-year veteran quarterback [[John Elway]] would retire after finally winning a Super Bowl. But Elway decided to stay with Denver and see if he could lead them to a second consecutive championship. Under the leadership of head coach [[Mike Shanahan]], the Broncos stormed to the top of the AFC with a 14–2 regular record in 1998, winning their first 13 games before suffering their first loss to [[1998 New York Giants season|the New York Giants]] and would lose again the very next week against the [[1998 Miami Dolphins season|Dolphins]] on Monday night, only to win a meaningless season finale against the [[1998 Seattle Seahawks season|Seahawks]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Denver Broncos 1998 Games and Schedule |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/den/1998/gamelog/ |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The losses to the Giants and Dolphins didn't hurt the Broncos playoff chances as they already had their division (and home-field advantage) locked up.

The Broncos' offense, under the leadership of Elway and running back [[Terrell Davis]], had another outstanding regular season, ranking second in the NFL with 501 points and third in total offense with 6,276 yards. Davis had one of the greatest seasons of any running back in NFL history, rushing for 2,008 yards, catching 25 passes for 217 yards, and scoring 23 touchdowns to earn him both the [[NFL Most Valuable Player Award]] and the [[NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award]]. Nevertheless, Davis' rushing numbers did not reduce Elway's passing production. The 38-year-old quarterback made the [[Pro Bowl]] for the 3rd year in a row and the 9th time in his career, throwing for 2,806 yards and 22 touchdowns, with only 10 interceptions. A big reason for Elway's passing success was that he had two Pro Bowl wide receivers and a Pro Bowl tight end to throw to. Wide receivers [[Ed McCaffrey]] (64 receptions, 1,053 yards and 10 touchdowns) and [[Rod Smith (wide receiver)|Rod Smith]] (86 receptions, 1,222 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 66 rushing yards) provided the team with outstanding deep threats, while tight end [[Shannon Sharpe]] (64 receptions, 786 yards and 10 touchdowns) provided a sure-handed target over the middle. In week 3, against the Raiders, Elway pulled his hamstring, forcing Denver to go with veteran journeyman [[Bubby Brister]]. Despite losing Elway to injury the Broncos didn't lose a beat, as Brister won all four games that he started and posted a higher quarterback rating than Elway for the season. The Broncos also had three Pro Bowlers anchoring their offensive line: center [[Tom Nalen]], guard [[Mark Schlereth]], and tackle [[Tony Jones (offensive tackle)|Tony Jones]]. On special teams, running back [[Vaughn Hebron]] returned 46 kickoffs for 1,216 yards and a touchdown, giving him a 26.4 yards per return average.

The Broncos' defense typically did not get as much attention as their offense, but it was still effective, giving up 308 points (8th fewest in the NFL). Up front, the line was anchored by defensive tackles [[Maa Tanuvasa]] and [[Trevor Pryce]], who each recorded 8.5 sacks. Behind them, Pro Bowl linebacker [[Bill Romanowski]] recorded 55 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, and 2 interceptions. The secondary was led by Pro Bowler [[Steve Atwater]] and [[Darrien Gordon]], who led the team with 4 interceptions, which he returned for 125 yards and a touchdown. Gordon was also a great punt returner, returning 34 punts for 379 yards.

===Atlanta Falcons===
{{main|1998 Atlanta Falcons season}}

The Falcons advanced to their first Super Bowl in franchise history. Like the Broncos, they finished the 1998 regular season with a 14–2 record, including wins in each of their last nine games. Unlike the Broncos, Atlanta's success in 1998 was very surprising to many because they had a 7–9 record in [[1997 Atlanta Falcons season|the previous season]] and a 3–13 record [[1996 Atlanta Falcons season|the year before that]]. In fact, the franchise recorded just four non-losing [[List of Atlanta Falcons seasons|seasons]] in the nineteen years prior to 1998, and just two in its previous fifteen.

The Falcons' fortunes began to improve after [[Dan Reeves]] became their head coach in [[1997 NFL season|1997]]. During Reeves' first season with Atlanta, they finished the season 6–2, after starting out 1–7, to compile a 7–9 record overall. Reeves was Denver's head coach from [[1981 Denver Broncos season|1981]] to [[1992 Denver Broncos season|1992]], leading the Elway-led Broncos to Super Bowls [[Super Bowl XXI|XXI]], [[Super Bowl XXII|XXII]], and [[Super Bowl XXIV|XXIV]]. However Elway and the Broncos lost all three, including a 55–10 loss to [[1989 San Francisco 49ers season|the San Francisco 49ers]] in Super Bowl XXIV. Reeves was in constant conflict with his coaching staff and some of his players for the three ensuing seasons. He left Denver in 1993 and spent four seasons as the [[list of New York Giants head coaches|head coach of the New York Giants]] before joining the Falcons.

Pro Bowl quarterback [[Chris Chandler (American football)|Chris Chandler]] led Atlanta's offense extremely well, throwing for 3,154 yards and 25 touchdowns with just 12 interceptions, while also rushing for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns. Backup quarterback [[Steve DeBerg]] (who was Reeves' quarterbacks coach with the Giants in [[1995 New York Giants season|1995]] and [[1996 New York Giants season|1996]]) had come out of retirement as a player after 5 years and played in place of an injured Chandler in the October 25 game against the [[New York Jets]]. Wide receivers [[Tony Martin (footballer)|Tony Martin]] and [[Terance Mathis]] provided the team with a superb deep threat, each recording over 60 receptions and 1,100 receiving yards, while also combining for 17 touchdowns. Tight end [[O.J. Santiago]] added 27 receptions for 428 yards and 5 scores. However, the biggest threat on offense was Pro Bowl running back [[Jamal Anderson]], who rushed for 1,846 yards, caught 27 passes for 319 yards, and scored 16 total touchdowns. Rookie wide receiver [[Tim Dwight]] gave the team a great special teams attack, gaining a total of 1,236 yards and scoring a touchdown on kickoff and punt returns.

The Falcons' defense ranked second in the league for fewest rushing yards allowed (1,203), eighth for fewest total yards allowed (5,009), and fourth for fewest points allowed. Defensive linemen [[Lester Archambeau]] (10 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 5 forced fumbles), [[Chuck Smith (defensive end)|Chuck Smith]] (8.5 sacks, 4 fumble recoveries, 3 forced fumbles) and [[Shane Dronett]] (6.5 sacks, 4 force fumbles) excelled at pressuring quarterbacks and stopping the run. Behind them, Atlanta had two outstanding linebackers, Pro Bowler [[Jessie Tuggle]] (65 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery) and [[Cornelius Bennett]] (69 tackles, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries). Bennett played with the [[Buffalo Bills]] when they suffered their four consecutive defeats in Super Bowls [[Super Bowl XXV|XXV]], [[Super Bowl XXVI|XXVI]], [[Super Bowl XXVII|XXVII]], and [[Super Bowl XXVIII|XXVIII]]; and thus was determined to finally get a championship ring that had eluded him in the past. Atlanta's secondary was led by Pro Bowl cornerback [[Ray Buchanan]], who recorded 7 interceptions and 102 return yards, and Pro Bowl safety [[Eugene Robinson (American football)|Eugene Robinson]] (4 interceptions), who was with the [[Green Bay Packers]] when they appeared in Super Bowls [[Super Bowl XXXI|XXXI]] and [[Super Bowl XXXII|XXXII]].

The season was punctuated by Reeves receiving emergency [[coronary bypass surgery]] after Week 14. Doctors said he could have been "within hours of a catastrophic [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]]."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_52_222/ai_53530986 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050128165016/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_52_222/ai_53530986 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 28, 2005 |work=The Sporting News |title=NFC West |year=1998 }}</ref> Although asked to rest for at least six weeks, Reeves returned to the sidelines for Week 17. Then-defensive coordinator [[Rich Brooks]] substituted for Reeves as head coach in Weeks 15 and 16, and won both games.

The Falcons did not return to the Super Bowl until [[2016 Atlanta Falcons season|2016]], when they lost 34–28 in overtime to [[2016 New England Patriots season|the New England Patriots]] in [[Super Bowl LI]].

===Playoffs===
{{Further|1998–99 NFL playoffs}}

The Broncos avenged their Monday night loss to [[1998 Miami Dolphins season|the Miami Dolphins]], a team which had the number one defense in the league that year, 38–3 in the divisional round and then beat [[1998 New York Jets season|the New York Jets]], who had the second best defense in the NFL that year, 23–10 in the AFC Championship game. After the Jets scored on a [[John Hall (placekicker)|John Hall]] field goal to take a 3-0 lead at halftime, and increasing it on a [[Curtis Martin]] touchdown run to make it 10-0 early in the 3rd quarter, the Broncos took control of the rest of the game scoring 23 unanswered points. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Miami Dolphins at Denver Broncos - January 9th, 1999 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199901090den.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AFC Championship - New York Jets at Denver Broncos - January 17th, 1999 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199901170den.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Meanwhile, the Falcons were victorious against [[1998 San Francisco 49ers season|the San Francisco 49ers]], 20–18 and then upset the heavily favored 15–1 [[1998 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]] on the road, [[1998 NFC Championship Game|30–27 in overtime]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - San Francisco 49ers at Atlanta Falcons - January 9th, 1999 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199901090atl.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NFC Championship - Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings - January 17th, 1999 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199901170min.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

This was the third Super Bowl in history that featured two teams with fewer than three losses, and second since the advent of the 16-game schedule. Both teams came into the game with 16–2 records after the playoffs. The first was [[Super Bowl XII]], featuring two 12–2 teams: [[1977 Dallas Cowboys season|the Dallas Cowboys]] and [[1977 Denver Broncos season|the Denver Broncos]]. The only Super Bowl featuring a better matchup record-wise was [[Super Bowl XIX]], when [[1984 San Francisco 49ers season|the San Francisco 49ers]] had a 17–1 record and [[1984 Miami Dolphins season|the Miami Dolphins]] had a 16–2 record.

===Super Bowl pregame news===
Much of the pregame hype was centered around John Elway confronting his former coach Reeves. Denver head coach Mike Shanahan was hurt and angered by Reeves' pregame assertion that Shanahan and Elway had conspired to have him fired during his stint at Denver.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Freeman|first1=Mike|title=SUPER BOWL XXXIII: A Rivalry Beyond the Game; Rift Makes Reeves and Shanahan More Competitive|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/24/sports/super-bowl-xxxiii-rivalry-beyond-game-rift-makes-reeves-shanahan-more.html|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=September 2, 2017|date=January 24, 1999}}</ref> Media coverage also focused on whether or not Elway would retire after the season (which he eventually did).

Elway became the first quarterback to start five Super Bowls; he previously started Super Bowls [[Super Bowl XXI|XXI]], [[Super Bowl XXII|XXII]], [[Super Bowl XXIV|XXIV]], and [[Super Bowl XXXII|XXXII]]. Broncos defensive lineman [[Mike Lodish]] was making his record sixth appearance in a Super Bowl. He played with Buffalo in all four of their Super Bowl losses ([[Super Bowl XXV]] through [[Super Bowl XXVIII|XXVIII]]) and with Denver's first Super Bowl win the year before.

On the night before the Super Bowl, Falcons [[Safety (American football position)|safety]] [[Eugene Robinson (American football)|Eugene Robinson]] was arrested for solicitation of prostitution. While driving alone in a rented car along a downtown Miami street, he approached a female undercover police officer posing as a prostitute and offered $40 for oral sex. Although he was released from jail and allowed to play the game, he was widely denounced by the press and fans for the incident. Ironically, on the morning of the day Robinson was arrested for the incident, he had received the [[Bart Starr Award]] for his "high moral character."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Anthony|first1=Mike|title=Eugene Robinson Did Everything Right – Except On The Eve Of Super Bowl XXXIII|url=http://www.courant.com/sports/football/hc-super-bowl-lookback-0207-20160207-story.html|newspaper=Hartford Courant|access-date=September 2, 2017|date=February 7, 2016}}</ref>

As the [[Super Bowl#Home team designation|designated home team]] in the annual rotation between AFC and NFC teams, the Falcons chose to wear their regular black home uniforms with silver pants, with the Broncos going for the road white uniforms and pants.