Holmgren's Super Error -- Losing Track Of Downs Cost Packers Chance To Tie Score

SAN DIEGO - Mike Holmgren made an astonishing blunder late in the wild finish of the Super Bowl that may have cost the Packers their chance to repeat against the Denver Broncos, an error he was not aware of until informed by The New York Daily News.

Holmgren admitted yesterday he lost track of downs at the most crucial point in the game, on Denver's winning touchdown play, a startling day-after confession by the Super Bowl losing coach.

With 1:47 left in the game, the score was tied at 24, and the Broncos had a second-and-goal from the Packer 1 when Holmgren ordered his defense to let the Broncos score. What was he thinking?

Holmgren: "I thought it was going to be an Indianapolis thing (the Packers lost 41-38 on Nov. 16 on a last-second field goal) where we played the game and got into an identical situation. They just ran the clock off until about 10 seconds and kicked the field goal. Denver could have done the same thing."

News: "But it was second down and you had two timeouts left."

Holmgren: "No, no, it was first down."

News: "It was second-and-goal from the 1."

Holmgren: "If that was the case, then we made a mistake."

The Packers had two timeouts left. If they were able to pull off a goal-line stand and force a field goal, they would have gotten the ball back with about 1:25 left, down three, with no timeouts.

The problem was Holmgren believed it was first down and the best he said the Packers could do, even if they stopped the Broncos three straight times and allowed a field goal, was get the ball back with 15 seconds left. Instead, he ordered the defense to let Davis score so Favre could get the ball with 1:45 left and two timeouts.

The first scenario, even without the timeouts, is much more appealing. Between sideline passes and spiking the ball, Favre still would have had enough time to get the Packers into field-goal range.

"I'm never going to question Mike's strategy," Packer linebacker Brian Williams said.

25,000 fans honor Broncos

DENVER - More than 25,000 fans hung on to hear quarterback John Elway say the players and coaches deserved to win "but for 38 years you guys have been there and you deserve it more than anybody."

"I wasn't sure we were ever going to get to do this, but isn't it fun to stick that one finger in the air and say we are the best?"

Officials expected the celebrating to be more controlled yesterday than Sunday night, when officers in riot gear used tear gas to keep crowds under control.

About 25 people were arrested, said Denver Police Sgt. Dennis Cribari.

About 40 people in the crowd were injured by flying rocks and bottles or by falling from trees or power lines, Cribari said. One officer sustained a broken arm.

Elway waiting to decide

DENVER - Denver Bronco Coach Mike Shanahan said he would be surprised if Elway, 37, retired.

"It was a little bit early to ask John last night if he was coming back," Shanahan said.

"But he'll let us know in a short time. He won't leave us hanging. One thing we don't want to do is pressure him too quickly."

Notes

-- President Bill Clinton congratulated Shanahan late yesterday on the Broncos' victory, White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said. Lockhart said Clinton telephoned Shanahan just after 7 p.m. PST and told him that "it was one of the most exciting Super Bowls in recent memory."

-- NBC's telecast of Super Bowl XXXII tied for third on the list of most-watched TV shows, drawing an estimated 133.4 million viewers, according to research based on A.C. Nielsen ratings.

Compiled from The New York Daily News, Associated Press, USA Today and Reuters.