Now that the NFL playoffs are ready, we should think about what truly matters, the Super Bowl. Only 12 teams enter and each one shares the goal of finishing with the Lombardi Trophy. However, not all Super Bowls are equal—some are better than others.
Originally known as the AFL-NFL World Championship the game, the Super Bowl has seen its’ fair share of bad games. The very first one in fact was a 35-10 blowout win for the Green Bay Packers over the Kansas City Chiefs. Even though some may be a letdown, not all Super Bowls leave fans feeling disappointed. Some, in fact, go on to live in the memories of dedicated fans for the rest of their lives. These ten Super Bowls were best the NFL could offer.
10. Baltimore Ravens vs. San Francisco 49ers: Feb. 3, 2013
Super Bowl 47, New Orleans, Louisiana
Final Score: Ravens-34 49ers-31
MVP: Joe Flacco
This game had plenty of intrigue right out of the gate. It was the first time ever two brothers would be coaching against each other in the big game. Jim Harbaugh for the 49ers versus John Harbaugh of the Ravens. At first it seemed like a blowout for the Ravens, but San Fran climbed back from a 22-point second half deficit to trail by just five while on the Baltimore 5-yard line. Unfortunately for the Niners, they would not convert a key fourth down.
9. San Francisco 49ers vs. Cincinnati Bengals: Jan. 22, 1989
Super Bowl 23, Miami, Florida
Final Score: 49ers-20 Bengals-16
MVP: Jerry Rice
This game is more memorable for its’ all-time great ending. At half, these two teams were stuck in a defensive struggle tied at 3-3. By the fourth quarter, the Bengals had the 13-6 lead. That lead would not stay put, as Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice could not be stopped en route to a Super Bowl record of 11 catches for 215 yards. Joe Montana would be the last memory as he threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to John Taylor with only 24 seconds remaining.
8. Denver Broncos vs. Green Bay Packers: Jan. 25, 1998
Super Bowl 32, San Diego, California
Final Score: Broncos-31 Packers-24
MVP: Terrell Davis
This one really was for John. Elway had been to three Super Bowls before this, failing to even make it close in any of those. However, with the help of Terrell Davis’ 157 yards rushing and three touchdowns, he was finally able to get over the hump. People will forever remember John Elway’s helicopter diving run.
7. New York Jets vs. Baltimore Colts: Jan. 12, 1969
Super Bowl 3, Miami, Florida
Final Score: Jets-16 Colts-7
MVP: Joe Namath
The game itself in this instance is kind of forgettable. It was a low-scoring slugfest of sorts that would not wow people by today’s standards. But the memory this game gives us is Jets’ quarterback Joe Namath personally guaranteeing a win over the heavy favorite Colts. This game would mark the first time an AFL team beat an NFL team in the Super Bowl.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Dallas Cowboys: January 21, 1979
Super Bowl 13, Miami, Florida
Final Score: Steelers-35 Cowboys-31
MVP: Terry Bradshaw
The amount of hall of fame players in this game was ridiculous. Both sides had dominated the decade, with Dallas and Pittsburgh having won two Super Bowls apiece, at the time. The team of the decade title was on the line. The Steelers had a 35-17 lead in the game before Roger Staubach made an epic comeback that fell just short.
5. Buffalo Bills vs. New York Giants: Jan. 27, 1991
Super Bowl 25, Tampa, Florida
Final Score: Giants-20 Bills-19
MVP: Ottis Anderson
This game lives in infamy for Bills’ fans, as it started the streak of four straight Super Bowl loses. On this evening, the Giants did everything in their power to slow down the high-powered and fast-paced Bills’ offense. Jim Kelly and company still had the ball last and drove it down the field into field goal range. Unfortunately for all of Buffalo, kicker Scott Norwood would miss the 47-yard field goal wide right.
4. St. Louis Rams vs. Tennessee Titans: Jan. 30, 2000
Super Bowl 34, Atlanta, Georgia
Final Score: Rams-23 Titans-16
MVP: Kurt Warner
The new millennium was kicked off in dramatic fashion with one of the best Super Bowls ever. Some of the elements in this game included a great comeback by Steve McNair of the Titans and Kurt Warner’s amazing passing day of over 400 yards. But the best storyline came in the final seconds as Kevin Dyson was tackled one yard short by Mike Jones to seal the win for the Rams.
3. New York Giants vs. New England Patriots: Feb. 3, 2008
Super Bowl 42, Glendale, Arizona
Final Score: Giants-17 Patriots-14
MVP: Eli Manning
The perfect season was on the line for New England at 18-0. Having already beaten the Giants in the regular season, it looked like all but a sure thing they would reach 19. It was not to be, as New York pressured Brady all game. The moment that makes this game so great was when Eli did everything in his power to avoid a sack than throw a bomb down the field to David Tyree who made a helmet catch. From there Plexico Burress caught the touchdown to take the late lead and the win.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals: Feb. 1, 2009
Super Bowl 43, Tampa, Florida
Final Score: Steelers-27 Cardinals-23
MVP: Santonio Holmes
Just one year after we saw one epic Super Bowl, we saw another. The Cardinals finally made it to the promised land and after trailing 20-7 in the second half, the comeback was one. After Larry Fitzgerald caught a 55-yard touchdown, it was Ben Roethlisberger who drove the Steelers down the field to win it on a remarkable corner of the end zone grab by Santonio Holmes.
1. New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks: Feb. 1, 2015
Super Bowl 49, Glendale, Arizona
Final Score: Patriots-28 Seahawks-24
MVP: Tom Brady
The last Super Bowl fans saw was probably the best one yet. The Legion of Boom faced off against Brady and the results were fantastic. The Seahawks claimed a 24-14 lead before seeing Brady pick them apart to take the lead. Russell Wilson had his chance to guide his team back, and boy did he; they were at the three-yard line with a chance to win. However, head coach Pete Carroll decided to throw for it, only to see the ball picked off by Malcolm Butler.
These were the best of the best, and hopefully this year’s Super Bowl can be even better than anything we have ever seen.
