NFL Draft
The burning question in both college football and the NFL was whether Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning would declare early for the NFL Draft. After much media hype, Manning decided to take the bold plunge to go professional in 1997.
Manning’s decision made the beginning of the 1997 NFL Draft rock solid: the New York Jets would take Manning, uniting one of the highest regarded quarterback prospects in years with one of the highest regarded NFL coaches in history in Bill Parcells. While the Jets made the first pick boring on draft day, excitement came on the rest of the first round with multiple big trades. No one was more aggressive than the Seattle Seahawks, who were able to attain both the 2nd and 3rd overall picks, securing the talents of two Ohio State greats in Orlando Pace and Shawn Springs. Seattle got the big party started, but it continued well on into the first round: the Raiders traded up for Darrell Russell, and the Steelers traded up for James Farrior.
Regular Season
| AFC | W | L | NFC | W | L | |||
| 3 | Jets | 10 | 6 | 3 | Giants | 11 | 5 | |
| 6 | Patriots | 9 | 7 | Redskins | 8 | 8 | ||
| Dolphins | 9 | 7 | Eagles | 7 | 9 | |||
| Bills | 6 | 10 | Cowboys | 6 | 10 | |||
| Colts | 3 | 13 | Cardinals | 4 | 12 | |||
| 2 | Steelers | 11 | 5 | 2 | Packers | 13 | 3 | |
| 5 | Jaguars | 11 | 5 | 4 | Buccaneers | 10 | 6 | |
| Oilers | 8 | 8 | 5 | Lions | 9 | 7 | ||
| Bengals | 7 | 9 | 6 | Vikings | 9 | 7 | ||
| Ravens | 6 | 10 | Bears | 4 | 12 | |||
| 1 | Chiefs | 13 | 3 | 1 | 49ers | 13 | 3 | |
| 4 | Broncos | 12 | 4 | Panthers | 7 | 9 | ||
| Seahawks | 8 | 8 | Falcons | 7 | 9 | |||
| Raiders | 4 | 12 | Saints | 6 | 10 | |||
| Chargers | 4 | 12 | Rams | 5 | 11 |
Playoffs
Wild Card
- Vikings 23, Giants 22
- Broncos 42, Jaguars 17
- Jets 17, Patriots 14
- Buccaneers 20, Lions 10
Divisional
- Jets 13, Steelers 7
- 49ers 38, Vikings 22
- Packers 21, Buccaneers 7
- Broncos 14, Chiefs 10
Upsets ruled this weekend in the AFC. Despite having regular struggles at Arrowhead Stadium, the Broncos took down the Chiefs, and a patient showing by rookie Peyton Manning paid off against the Steelers’ usually strong defense, with a touchdown late in the game to Keyshawn Johnson sealing the road win for the Jets.
Conference Championships
- Broncos 41, Jets 10
- Packers 23, 49ers 10
The steady performance Peyton Manning showed in earlier playoff games was wrecked by the Denver defense, as they intercepting Manning twice and also forced out of him two lost fumbles. Terrell Davis was the beneficiary of most of those turnovers, as he found the end zone three times in a dominant Broncos win that forced some observers to reconsider just how much of an underdog they should be against the NFC powers.
Super Bowl XXXII
- Broncos 31, Packers 24