Editing Super Bowl XXXI (section)

===Playoffs===
{{further|1996–97 NFL playoffs}}

Aided by Martin's 166 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns, including a 78-yard touchdown run in the 2nd quarter, the Patriots first eliminated the defending AFC champion [[1996 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]], 28–3. New England gained a total of 346 yards in the game, while limiting Steelers quarterback [[Mike Tomczak]] to just 110 passing yards with no touchdowns and 2 interceptions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots - January 5th, 1997 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199701050nwe.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en |archive-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712052640/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199701050nwe.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Patriots then defeated the [[1996 Jacksonville Jaguars season|Jacksonville Jaguars]] 20–6 in the AFC Championship Game. The Jaguars, an expansion team in 1995, advanced after upsetting the AFC's top seed, the [[1996 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]]. However, New England took advantage of several key Jacksonville miscues in a game dominated by defense. A bad snap allowed Patriots defensive back Larry Whigham to tackle Jaguars punter Bryan Barker at the Jacksonville 4-yard line, setting up Martin's 1-yard touchdown run a few plays later. The Jaguars scored a field goal in the 2nd quarter, but Jacksonville punt returner Chris Hudson's fumble set up Patriots kicker [[Adam Vinatieri]]'s 29-yard field goal. Eventually, the teams exchanged field goals, and the Patriots led 13–6 going into the 4th quarter. With under 4 minutes left in the game, the Jaguars reached the New England 5-yard line, but Patriots safety [[Willie Clay]] intercepted a pass in the end zone. After New England was forced to punt, cornerback Otis Smith recovered a fumble from Jaguars running back James Stewart and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown to put the game away.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFC Championship - Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots - January 12th, 1997 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199701120nwe.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en |archive-date=June 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617232653/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199701120nwe.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Meanwhile, the Packers first eliminated the [[1996 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]], 35–14. Green Bay's defense and special teams dominated the game, forcing 5 turnovers, and helped the team score 35 points even though Favre was limited to just 79 passing yards. San Francisco starting quarterback [[Steve Young]], who was still suffering from a rib injury sustained during the 49ers' 14–0 playoff win over the [[1996 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles]] the previous week, had to leave the game in the 1st quarter. Howard opened up the scoring by returning a punt 71 yards for a touchdown. Later, he returned a punt 46 yards to set up Favre's 4-yard touchdown pass to [[Andre Rison]]. By the time the first half ended, Green Bay had a commanding 21–7 lead. San Francisco cut their deficit to 7 points with a 3rd-quarter touchdown, but the Packers responded by driving 72 yards to score a touchdown of their own, in which a fumble by Bennett was recovered in the end zone by Freeman.  Green Bay then put the game away with an 11-yard touchdown run by Bennett.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers - January 4th, 1997 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199701040gnb.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en |archive-date=May 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512133124/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199701040gnb.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Green Bay then defeated the [[1996 Carolina Panthers season|Carolina Panthers]] 30–13 in the NFC Championship Game. Like the Jaguars, the Panthers were a 1995 expansion team that advanced to the conference title game. But unlike Jacksonville, Carolina came into the contest as the NFC's #2 seed and had eliminated the defending Super Bowl champion [[1996 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]], 26–17. In the NFC Championship Game, Carolina scored first with a 3-yard touchdown reception by [[Howard Griffith]], but Green Bay scored on two touchdown passes by Favre and a field goal in the 2nd quarter to take a 17–10 halftime lead. The Packers then dominated the second half, only allowing one more field goal from the Panthers. Levens recorded 5 catches for 117 yards and a touchdown, along with 88 rushing yards. Bennett rushed for 99 yards and a touchdown. Favre threw for 292 yards and 2 touchdowns with 1 interception. Kicker [[Chris Jacke]] scored three field goals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NFC Championship - Carolina Panthers at Green Bay Packers - January 12th, 1997 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199701120gnb.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> By advancing to the Super Bowl, the Packers broke a streak since [[Super Bowl XXVI]] that had either the [[Dallas Cowboys]] or the [[San Francisco 49ers]] representing the NFC in the championship game. It also marked the Packers' first Super Bowl appearance since winning the first two to culminate their dynasty under Lombardi and Hall of Fame quarterback [[Bart Starr]].