Denver was 0-4 in Super Bowls, including three losses with quarterback John Elway, who at 37 was taking perhaps his last shot at a Super Bowl title. But it was the electrifying cut-back running of Davis, who carried 30 times behind the smallest offensive line in the NFL, that ended the Super Bowl misery for the Broncos.

The Broncos also snapped the AFC's 13-game losing streak in the Super Bowl. The last win by an AFC team came in Super Bowl XVIII when the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins, 38-9, in 1984.

Three-time NFL MVP Brett Favre completed 25-of-42 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns with one interception, but could not rally the Packers after Davis' go-ahead score. Antonio Freeman had nine catches for 126 yards and Dorsey Levens rushed for 90 yards on 19 carries for Green Bay, which was denied a dynasty.

The game was tied 24-24 when the Broncos took over at the Green Bay 49 with 3:27 remaining.

But following another four-yard pass to Levens, Favre threw two incompletions and the Packers faced 4th-and-6 at the Denver 31 with 36 seconds left. Favre attempted to hit tight end Mark Chmura with a quick pass up the middle, but the play was broken up by Broncos linebacker John Mobley.

What made Davis' performance even more amazing is that he suffered a mild concussion at the end of the first quarter and missed the entire second quarter. But when Davis returned, he fumbled on the first play from scrimmage in the second half and Williams recovered for Green Bay at the Denver 26. The turnover set up a 27-yard field goal by Green Bay's Ryan Longwell, tying the game at 17-17 three minutes into the third quarter.

Elway had just 27 yards passing for the game until he engineered a 13-play, 92-yard scoring drive that consumed 7:12 of the third quarter. Elway completed 3-of-4 passes for 53 yards, including a 36-yard pass to Ed McCaffrey, before Davis scored on a one-yard run to give Denver a 24-17 lead with 34 secons left in the quarter.

Favre then marched the Packers 85 yards in four plays and hit Freeman with a 13-yard touchdown pass 1:28 into the fourth quarter to tie the game at 24-24. He opened the drive with a 27-yard pass to Freeman on the final play of the third quarter. Favre then threw a deep pass down the right sideline to Robert Brooks, who drew a 25-yard pass interference penalty on cornerback Darrien Gordon to the Denver 33. Freeman caught a 17-yard pass to the 13 before the game-tying touchdown.

On Green Bay's second possession, Denver safety Tyrone Braxton intercepted Farve's errant pass at the Green Bay 45. Davis broke off a 16-yard run and Elway hit Sharpe with a nine-yard pass to the Green Bay 20. Five plays later, Elway scored on a one-yard run in which he faked a handoff up the middle and loped around right end untouched into the end zone five seconds into the second quarter.

NFL plays of the year!

Before focusing on the future, Tuff's page is taking one last look at the past season by selecting the best plays of 1997.

Today's category:Today's category: Return of the Year. Teams enjoyed many happy returns, especially with gamebreakers like Tampa Bay's Karl Williams, Atlanta's Byron Hanspard, Aaron Glenn of the Jets, Baltimore's Jermaine Lewis and San Diego's Eric Metcalf, who set an NFL record with his 10th career kick return for a touchdown.

We've selected the plays, but it's up to you to decide which one was No. 1. View the video clips, then cast your vote in our fan polls. The other categories are Run of the Year, Catch of the Year, and Defensive Play of the Year.

Check back for the final tallies -- and the winner of the Coach of the Year fan poll -- as Tuff's page concludes its coverage on another exciting season!

A new name won't be the only noticeable change for NFL Europe, formerly known as the World League of American Football, when the 1998 season kicks off on April 4. The six teams which make up the league will also sport different looks, thanks to a new crop of players.

One of those players will be running back Tyrone Edwards, who was picked first in the 1998 NFL Europe Draft by the England Monarchs on Wednesday. Edwards joins 164 other draftees that will attempt to win a World Bowl title with their respective teams come June 14.

NFL, NFLPA agree on 5-year extension

Commissioner Paul Tagliabue announced a five-year extension of the current collective bargaining agreement.Story

Combining Talent

Let the scouting begin.

More than 300 of the nation's top college football players have gathered at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis this weekend for the annual NFL scouting combine. Hundreds of representatives from the league's 30 teams will be on hand to put the pro prospects through a rigorous series of physical and mental examinations to determine who's the cream of the college crop for the upcoming NFL Draft. All the hot pro prospects will be there for the three-day event, including Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson of Michigan, Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning, Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf and Florida State defensive end Andre Wadsworth. Marshall wide receiver Randy Moss is the only big-name no-show.

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Email: eclipsesoccer@mailexcite.com