Editing Super Bowl XXXI (section)

===New England Patriots===
{{further|1996 New England Patriots season}}

After coach [[Raymond Berry]] benched and then cut future [[CFL]] record-setting MVP and champion [[Doug Flutie]] before being fired himself in [[1989 New England Patriots season|1989]], the Patriots had three more losing seasons, including a dismal 1–15 regular season record in [[1990 New England Patriots season|1990]]. Then, in [[1993 New England Patriots season|1993]], New England turned to veteran head coach [[Bill Parcells]] to lead the team, hoping to repeat the success he had with the [[New York Giants]].

Although the Patriots posted a 5–11 regular season record during Parcells' first year, eight of their losses were by 7 points or fewer. To Parcells' credit, much of the improvement was the result of the contributions from their draft picks that they made before the season: linebackers [[Willie McGinest]] and [[Chris Slade (American football)|Chris Slade]]. Tight end [[Ben Coates]] also became a major contributor as a favorite target of quarterback [[Drew Bledsoe]], who was taken with the #1 overall pick in the [[1993 NFL Draft|1993 draft]]. With that improvement, the team was sold to [[Robert Kraft]] in January 1994 for a then-record price of $200 million. It was an astonishing price considering the Patriots had long been considered a laughingstock by local and national media as well as opponents and had one of the worst stadiums in the league ([[Foxboro Stadium]]). During the losing spell they had rarely sold out, resulting in most games going without local television coverage. Sports in New England at that time centered on the beloved, successful, [[Boston Celtics|Celtics]] and [[Boston Red Sox|Red Sox]], and even [[Boston Bruins|Bruins]], not the NFL team orphaned in remote [[Foxborough, Massachusetts]], thirty miles outside Boston. (During an earlier run of 13 years in the 1970s and 1980s with only 1 losing season, the very competitive Patriots sold out that venue regularly.<ref name="Michael Holley">{{cite book|title=Patriots Reign|isbn=0-06-075794-9|author=Michael Holley|date=2004|publisher=HarperCollins|edition=1st ed. HC}}</ref>)

The team then posted a 10–6 record in [[1994 New England Patriots season|1994]] after starting the regular season at 3–6 but were eliminated by the [[1994 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]] in their first playoff game. The Krafts had also eliminated the practice of TV blackouts (and courted and nailed deals with local affiliates), and the season resulted in a resurgence of popularity in the NFL game across the region. New England then had a let down and failed to make the playoffs in [[1995 New England Patriots season|1995]], a year when many organizations were coming to grips with the new [[Salary cap#National Football League|salary cap]] put in by the NFL to improve competition in the league. In the offseason, Parcells hired his old Giants defensive coordinator, [[Bill Belichick]], as assistant head coach and defensive backs coach. Part of the team's spotty performance that season might have been that the head coach, Parcells, and the new owner, Kraft, did not get along well. Belichick came to serve during the 1996 season as the head coach's interface with the Kraft family and the non-football operations side of the business.<ref name="Michael Holley"/>

After losing their first two games in the 1996 regular season with lackluster performances, the Patriots ran through the rest of the season competitive in every game, finishing with an 11–5 record (their best in the Parcells era) and winning the AFC East.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1996 New England Patriots Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nwe/1996.htm |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en |archive-date=December 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228173134/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nwe/1996.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The Patriots' offense became the 7th-best unit in the league in terms of yards, and 2nd-best (behind the Packers) in points. Their pass offense, led by Bledsoe and wide receiver [[Terry Glenn]], ranked third in the NFL. Bledsoe threw for 4,086 yards and 27 touchdowns against 15 interceptions. Glenn set a rookie record with 90 receptions, which yielded 1,132 yards and 6 touchdowns. Tight end [[Ben Coates]] was also a big contributor, catching 62 passes for 682 yards and 9 touchdowns. Wide receiver [[Shawn Jefferson]] recorded 50 receptions for 771 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Running back [[Curtis Martin]] was the focal point of the rushing attack with his 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground, while also catching 46 passes for another 333 yards and 3 touchdowns. Pro Bowl running back [[Dave Meggett]] provided the team with a good special teams threat, gaining 1,369 yards and a touchdown returning kickoffs and punts, while also rushing for 122 yards and catching 33 passes for 292 yards.

On defense, the team's main weapon was Pro Bowler McGinest, who recorded 49 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, an interception which he returned 46 yards for a touchdown, and a team-leading 9.5 sacks.  Linebacker [[Chris Slade]] added 7 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. New England also had a solid secondary, led by defensive backs [[Willie Clay]] (72 tackles, a fumble recovery, 4 interceptions, 50 return yards), [[Ty Law]] (56 tackles, 3 interceptions, 45 return yards, 1 touchdown), and [[Lawyer Milloy]] (54 tackles, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, 2 interceptions).