What date did the playoff season, resulting in the New England Patriots third overall Super Bowl victory, began?
1996–97 NFL playoffs: The National Football League playoffs for the 1996 season began on December 28, 1996. Super Bowl XXXI:  The Packers defeated the Patriots by the score of 35–21, earning their third overall Super Bowl victory, and their first since Super Bowl II.
December 28, 1996