Because of the Super Bowl game this coming Sunday I decided to do a early thread on my new top 10 series. This week I will list what I think are the top 10 Super Bowl games in NFL history. These games were picked for their significance to the game, records that were set or broken and for the dramatic finishes.
10. Super Bowl XXIII
Super Bowl 23 is best know as one of the greatest performances by a wide receiver in the championship game ever. Hall Of Famer Jerry Rice added to why he should be considered the greatest to play his position. He ended the game by setting a Super Bowl record of 211 receiving yards with 11 receptions in a 20 to 11 win against the Cincinnati Bengals. The game it self was also suspenseful as the San Francisco won the game in the closing minutes on a Montana to John Taylor touch down pass.
9. Super Bowl III
The NFL had dominated the first few Super Bowls and the AFL was still looked upon as the small brother of the two leagues. But that all changed once "Broadway" Joe Namath entered the discussion. Making a bold statement that the Jets would defeat the Baltimore Colts put a lot of pressure on himself and on his team to make a statement that the AFL would not roll over. Namath was able to take lead his Jets into victory with a 16 to 7 victory giving the AFL the leagues first Super Bowl winner.
8.XLIV
With the devastation of hurricane Katrina there was very little hope in New Orleans for a bright future. But the city turned to it's football team in order to forget the harsh living conditions it was in at the time. Little did they expect that once the team had acquired Drew Bress the team was bound for greatness. From one of the worst teams in the league to becoming one of the most potent offense in NFL history the Saints were able to get to Super Bowl. But it was a key defensive play by the defense on a Payton Manning interception that was able to capture the Saints for championship and also bringing a city together in the process.
7. XXXIX
The game was close through the game but the Patriots took control in the 4th quarter taking a slim lead against the Philadelphia Eagles. with less the 3 minutes to go Donavon McNabb took the Eagles down the field and cut the lead to only three points. But the Patriots proved too much as they won their 3rd Super Bowl of the young decade.
6.XXII
While the game score is not one of the competitive scores in Super Bowl history Super Bowl 22 is still one of the greatest. It is first time that an African American QB had ever taken his team to the Super Bowl and won the championship game. While African American players were still a minority seeing Redskins QB Doug Williams led his team to victory meant a lot for other African American athletes
5. .XXXIV
You don't earn the nickname of "The Greatest Show on Turf" without scoring some points. And that's what we saw from the Saint Louis Rams team's from the late 90's early 00's. But one of the classic games game in Super Bowl 34. The Rams controlled the game from the start taking a dominated lead but the Titans came back to score 10 unanswered points. But the Rams took a late lead with only 2 minutes left on the clock. Steve Mcnair marched his team down the field and with only seconds left threw a pass to wide out Kevin Dyson. Dyson tried to stretch the play out but was tackled down one year away from the goal line in one of the most famous moments in Super Bowl History.
4. XXXVI
Whether you love him or you hate him this Super Bowl was Tom Brady's coming out party. Facing off against a former Super Bowl champion this game came down to the final seconds. Brandy may have been a nobody at the start of the season but he marched his team down the field in the closing seconds for a Adam Vinatirie field goal. This would also be Vinatieri coming out party as it would be one of the many Super Bowl games were he would be the deciding factor.
3. XLIII
Not only did this game become the highest watched Super Bowl game but it was one the best of all time. James Harrison intercepted a Kurt Warner pass and ran it back for a Super Bowl record 100 yard run back for a touch down before half time. The Cardinals were trailing 20 to 7 entering the fourth quarter but with former Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner the Cardinals mounted a furious comeback. With a few moments left on the game clock the Steelers orchestrated a drive down the field capped off by Santonio Holme's incredible touchdown grab .
2.XXXVIII |
Okay no this Super Bowl is not ranked number two for Janet Jackson's flash during half time. But this is one of the only few Super Bowl games the lived up to the hyped. The Patriots were back in familiar grounds and were facing a surprising Carolina Panthers team. While the first half saw very little action (besides Janet's flash) the second half saw more fireworks than the pregame start. The score was tied heading towards the few seconds until Tom Brandy drove the Patriots down the field for Vinatieri to again make Super Bowl History by kicking the game winning field goal.
1. Super Bowl XLVI
It's ironic that in this Super Bowl match the Giants were the David in this David vs. Goliath match. The Patriots were on the verge of becoming only the second team in NFL history to go undefeated but all the was standing was the NY Giants who the Patriots had previously defeated in the final game of the regular season. The Giants confused the Patriots offensive line with their blitzing as they were able to sack Tom Brady numerous times. Eli Manning removed himself form his big brothers shadow as he drove the team down the field and with a incredible scramble kept the drive going by through a pass to David Tyree. The drive was finished off with a touchdown pass to wide out Plaxico burress.
What's your favorite Super Bowl game? How do you think this years game will stack up against previous years?
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