Full NFL season
1996
Explore the indexed regular season, conference races, divisions and every playoff round from the 1996 NFL season.
Postseason map
Playoff bracket
Follow the complete path from the Wild Card round through the Super Bowl. Open any game for its box score, players, highlights and historical context.
Swipe through the bracket
1 / 4
Wild Card
Divisional Round
Conference Championships
Super Bowl XXXI
Season honors
Awards and statistical leaders
Season totals from verified box scores. Press any column to rerank the compact top eight.
AP NFL MVPBrett FavrePlayer season →AP NFL Defensive Player of the YearBruce SmithPlayer season →Super Bowl MVPDesmond HowardPlayer season →
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League showcase
Pro Bowl rosters
AFC and NFC selections load independently so the season page stays fast.
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Regular season
Conference standings
Ranked by indexed winning percentage, then wins and point differential. Historical league formats may appear under “League standings.”
AFC standings
Indexed regular season| Rank | Team | Record | Pct | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Denver Broncos | 13–3 | .813 | 391 | 275 |
| 2 |  New England Patriots | 11–5 | .688 | 418 | 313 |
| 3 |
Around the league
Division standings
AFC East
AFC North
AFC South
Start with these
Defining games
Championship stakes and close finishes bring the most consequential indexed games to the front.
Super Bowl
XXXIGREEN BAYPACKERS
NEW ENGLANDPATRIOTS
Score hidden
JAN 26, 1997
Green Bay Packers vs New England Patriots
Super Bowl XXXI · Jan 26, 1997
Conference Championship
1996JACKSONVILLEJAGUARS
NEW ENGLANDPATRIOTS
Score hidden
JAN 12, 1997
Jacksonville Jaguars vs New England Patriots
Conference Championship · Jan 12, 1997
Conference Championship
1996CAROLINAPANTHERS
GREEN BAYPACKERS
Score hidden
JAN 12, 1997
Carolina Panthers vs Green Bay Packers
Conference Championship · Jan 12, 1997
Divisional Round
1996JACKSONVILLEJAGUARS
DENVERBRONCOS
Score hidden
JAN 4, 1997
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Denver Broncos
Divisional Round · Jan 4, 1997
Divisional Round
1996DALLASCOWBOYS
CAROLINAPANTHERS
Score hidden
JAN 5, 1997
Dallas Cowboys vs Carolina Panthers
Divisional Round · Jan 5, 1997
Divisional Round
1996SAN FRANCISCO49ERS
GREEN BAYPACKERS
Score hidden
JAN 4, 1997
San Francisco 49ers vs Green Bay Packers
Divisional Round · Jan 4, 1997
Divisional Round
1996PITTSBURGHSTEELERS
NEW ENGLANDPATRIOTS
Score hidden
JAN 5, 1997
Pittsburgh Steelers vs New England Patriots
Divisional Round · Jan 5, 1997
Wild Card
1996JACKSONVILLEJAGUARS
BUFFALOBILLS
Score hidden
DEC 28, 1996
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Buffalo Bills
Wild Card · Dec 28, 1996
Wild Card
1996PHILADELPHIAEAGLES
SAN FRANCISCO49ERS
Score hidden
DEC 29, 1996
Philadelphia Eagles vs San Francisco 49ers
Wild Card · Dec 29, 1996
Wild Card
1996MINNESOTAVIKINGS
DALLASCOWBOYS
Score hidden
DEC 28, 1996
Minnesota Vikings vs Dallas Cowboys
Wild Card · Dec 28, 1996
Wild Card
1996INDIANAPOLISCOLTS
PITTSBURGHSTEELERS
Score hidden
DEC 29, 1996
Indianapolis Colts vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Wild Card · Dec 29, 1996
Regular Season
1996NEW ENGLANDPATRIOTS
NEW YORKGIANTS
Score hidden
DEC 21, 1996
New England Patriots vs New York Giants
Regular Season · Dec 21, 1996
