The 48th edition of one of the most beloved events in sports will occur on Sunday, February 2nd: The NFL Super Bowl. This year the Seattle Seahawks of the NFC and the Denver Broncos of the AFC will face off in the championship football game, pitting future hall-of-fame quarterback Peyton Manning, who is capping off his first season playing with a team other than the Indianapolis Colts and vying for a second Bowl victory, against sophomore sensation quarterback Russell Wilson, who leads a team that was more consistently dominant than any other in the 2013 regular season.
With the sure-to-be interesting game just days away, take a look back at the Super Bowls of the past—the ones in which records were set and broken, in which upsets were dealt out, and in which history was made. Here are the top 10 Super Bowls of all time.
Honorable Mentions:
Super Bowl XLI (2007): Indianapolis Colts vs. Chicago Bears
Result: Colts won 29-17
The game wasn't a particularly wild or close one, but it had its historic moments: A) The Bears took the earliest lead in Super Bowl history when punt returner Devin Hester ran the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. B) the Colts overcame a first quarter deficit and outscored the Bears 23-3 in the last three quarters. C) the Colts forced five turnovers, and D) the game featured a 56-yard interception return for a touchdown by Colts' cornerback Kelvin Hayden.
The game was also memorable for its historic elements. Both teams had come out of Super Bowl draughts; the Bears were in it for the first time since winning Super Bowl XX, and the Colts were in it for the first time since winning Super Bowl V as the Baltimore Colts. It was also the first Super Bowl played in rainy conditions, and it was the first Super Bowl won by an African American coach, Tony Dungy. But perhaps the most legendary part about the game is that it was quarterback Peyton Manning's first Super Bowl win after dominating the NFL for nine years, including five consecutive playoff berths. It quieted his critics and sealed his place as one of the NFL's greatest quarterbacks.
Super Bowl V (1971): Dallas Cowboys vs. Baltimore Colts
Result: Colts won 16-13
This game was one of many firsts. It was the first game to be played on artificial turf, the first to be played after the AFL-NFL Merger, and the first and only Bowl in which the MVP honor was given to someone from the losing team—Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley, who was also the first non-quarterback to win the award.
But it's the game's infamy that makes it noteworthy. Dubbed the "Blunder Bowl," it was a game in which both teams committed a Super Bowl record combined 11 turnovers, with the Colts' seven being the most ever committed by a winning team to date. The Cowboys set a Bowl record of 10 penalties. Somehow, in all the mess, and after losing their starting quarterback, the Colts were able to overcome a 13-6 deficit to win the game.
10. Super Bowl XXV (1991): New York Giants vs. Buffalo Bills
Result: Giants won 20-19
The game was a special one before it even began, as it was played during the height of the Gulf War, and thus, it was played before a very patriotic-feeling American audience.
The matchup itself was expected to be interesting, as the Bills had finished the season 13-3 and led the league in total points scored, thanks to their explosive no-huddle offense, and the Giants had achieved a 13-3 record with a ball-control offense and a defense that had allowed the lowest amount of points in the league. For the Bills it was their first Super Bowl appearance—and loss—for what would be four consecutive years, and for the Giants it was their second Super Bowl appearance.
The game was indeed interesting. The Giants, in overcoming a 12-3 second-quarter deficit to win when the Bills' placekicker missed the game-winning field goal, set a Super Bowl record for possession of the ball—40 minutes and 33 seconds. They also set a record for the most time-consuming drive, with a 9 minute, 29 second, 75-yard touchdown drive.
Thus, it was memorable across the board.
9. Super Bowl XXXIX (2005): New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Result: Patriots won 24-21
It was a back-and-forth game, with the score at 14-14 by the end of the third quarter. But in the fourth quarter, the Patriots scored 10 points and despite a 30-yard touchdown pass from Eagles' quarterback Donovan McNabb to cut the deficit to 24-21, the Eagles couldn't pull off a total comeback.
Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch shined, earning himself the MVP award and tying the record for catches (11), as well as setting it for the most combined receptions in two consecutive Super Bowls.
The win was the Patriots' second consecutive Super Bowl win and third in four years, matching a feat done only by the Dallas Cowboys at that point. The victory helped seal the Patriot's legacy as a dynasty team.
8. Super Bowl XLIII (2009): Pittsburg Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals
Result: Steelers won 27-23
This was a game that pitted a Super Bowl dynasty team versus an unexpected success story. The Steelers already had five big game victories under their franchise belt, and the Cardinals had surprised the football world by finishing the season 9-7 and making it to the championship, after the longest Super Bowl appearance drought in the league. What made it even more special was that it had been a season of a re-emergence for star quarterback Kurt Warner, who played under center for the Cardinals.
For most of the game it seemed like the Steelers had an easy win. But trailing 20-7 at the start of the fourth quarter, Arizona scored 16 unanswered points, thanks largely to wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Despite the strong comeback, the Steelers were able to turn the last two minutes into a game-winning drive, with the effort of MVP wide receiver Santonio Holmes.
The game was the most watched Bowl up to that point, and it made the Steelers the first ever franchise to win six championships.
7. Super Bowl XIII (1979): Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburg Steelers
Result: Steelers won 35-31
This was a game of two Super Bowl/playoff power houses. Both teams were attempting to be the first club to win three championships, and it was the first ever Super Bowl rematch, as the Steelers had defeated the Cowboys in Super Bowl X. In addition, Dallas was the defending Super Bowl champs that year.
The Cowboys were trailing throughout the game but kept it close enough to be interesting. However, they couldn't overcome turnovers, drops and a controversial penalty, while as Steelers quarterback, the legendary Terry Bradshaw shined. Bradshaw set records for passing yards (318) and touchdown passes (4), eclipsing Bart Starr's Bowl record for passing yards in the first half (253 yards in the air) and tied Johnny Unitas for the longest pass in a Bowl—a 75-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. The Steelers also became the first team to win three Super Bowls.
It was a significant game for two dominant teams and a dominant quarterback of the era.
6. Super Bowl XXXVIII (2004): New England Patriots vs. Carolina Panthers
Result: Patriots won 32-29
This was considered so thrilling, that Sports Illustrated writer Peter King dubbed it the greatest Super Bowl of all time. Neither team scored in the first or third quarters—the game was scoreless for a Bowl record 26 minutes, 55 seconds, but the teams combined for 24 points before halftime, and ended up combining for a high total of yards and points. Their combined 37 points in the fourth quarter set a record as well. The back-and-forth game was decided with a Patriots 41-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri in the last four seconds.
The Bowl appearance was the first for the Panthers, and the Patriots victory gave that franchise its second Bowl win in three years. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady earned his second MVP award in three years as well, and set a Bowl record for most pass completions.
But the exciting game was overshadowed by what made it even more famous—or rather infamous: the Janet Jackson halftime show featuring a wardrobe malfunction which horrified the FCC into not using pop stars as the performers for several years. Ten years later, pop musicians have once again been invited as performers, and the Patriots are still a top tier team, though they just missed the Bowl with their conference championship loss to the Denver Broncos.
5. Super Bowl III (1969): New York Jets vs. Baltimore Colts
Result: Jets won 16-7
The game was the first championship competition to officially be called the Super Bowl. It was also one of the greatest upsets in sports history.
Quarterback legend Joe Namath guaranteed a Jets victory prior to the game, despite the fact that the Jets were widely believed to be the heavy underdog. Yet Namath delivered, as the Jets dominated the game and he earned himself the MVP award. To this day, it is considered by many to be one of the best Super Bowls simply because the outcome was so unexpected.
4. Super Bowl XLVI (2012): New York Giants vs. New England Patriots
Result: Giants won 21-17
The Patriots entered it seeking their fourth Super Bowl win, and the game was a rematch of Super Bowl XLII, which the Giants won, spoiling the Patriots' perfect season.
The Giants took the lead early but trailed 17-9 in the third quarter. They chipped away at the Patriots lead with two field goals and a strong defensive effort. Then, with the game winding down, the Giants capped off an 88-yard drive with a touchdown throw to Ahmad Bradshaw from quarterback Eli Manning with just about a minute left on the clock. It was a stunning repeat of their last win against the Patriots, as they sealed the victory once more in the last minutes of the game.
Manning became the third consecutive quarterback to win MVP after a no-interception game, while that Super Bowl became the most watched program in American television history.
The Giants victory made the Patriots the fourth team to lose four Super Bowls, gave the Giants their fourth franchise championship win, and set the record for lowest regular season record by a Super Bowl champion, as the Giants had finished the season with nine wins and seven losses.
3. Super Bowl XLIV (2010): Indianapolis Colts vs. New Orleans Saints
Result: Saints won 31-17
The Saints entered their first ever Super Bowl appearance after finishing the season with a 13-3 record, while the Colts entered their fourth after posting a 14-2 record. It was the first time since 16 years prior that the two number one seeds reached the Super Bowl.
The Saints were down 10-6 at halftime, but took the lead after recovering an onside kick and getting a touchdown. The Colts respond with a touchdown run, but the Saints then scored 18 unanswered points, including a 74-yard interception touchdown return by Tracy Porter. Saints quarterback Drew Brees tied Tom Brady for Super Bowl completions (32)which Brady had set in Super Bowl XXXVIII.
The game was made more special by the teams that were playing. The Colts and Peyton Manning were one of America's favorite teams/players, but the Saints had recently attained widespread adoration because New Orleans was still reeling from the damage wrought by Hurricane Katrina, and the tragedy was still on the public conscious. People rooted for the Saints for the sake of the city from which they came. It was a game not only between two star teams and elite quarterbacks, but between the two then-sweethearts of the NFL.
2. Super Bowl XXXIV (2000): Tennessee Titans vs. St. Louis Rams
Result: Rams won 23-16
It was the Rams second Bowl appearance and the Titans first, and both had finished the regular season 13-3, but the Titans had entered the playoffs as a Wild Card team.
The first two quarters were a defensive battle, and the halftime score was only 9-0 Rams, with the only scores coming from field goals. The Rams went up 16-0 in the third quarter with their first touchdown, to which the Titans responded by scoring 16 unanswered points to tie it with 2 minutes and 12 seconds remaining. At the time it was the largest deficit to be erased and the first greater than 10 points.
The Rams regained the lead with a 73-yard touch-down pass to wide receiver Isaac Bruce from quarterback Kurt Warner. The Titans, led by quarterback Steve McNair, who set a Bowl record for QB rushing yards, then drove to the Rams' 10-yard line with six seconds remaining and it looked like a comeback win was in store. But on the final play, Tennessee wide receiver Kevin Dyson was stopped one yard short of the end zone. The play became known as one of the most critical, upsetting ones to date.
1. Super Bowl XLII (2008): New York Giants vs. New England Patriots
Result: Giants won 17-14
This is another game that is considered to be one of the greatest upsets in sports history. The Patriots entered the Super Bowl as the heavy favorites, after they had finished the season with a perfect record. They were the first team to do so since the 1972 Miami Dolphins. Meanwhile, the Giants made it to the playoffs as a Wild Card team with a 10-6 record.
The game began by the Giants consuming a record time on their opening drive—9 minutes and 59 seconds but they came away from it with only a field goal. Only ten total points were scored in the first three quarters. The fourth quarter brought a record of three lead changes, with the first one coming with the Giants scoring a touchdown on the opening drive to take the lead. The Patriots reclaimed it with just 2 minutes and 42 seconds left in the game, making it a 14-10 game. But in the last two and a half minutes, quarterback Eli Manning marched his team 83 yards, a drive which included a leaping one- handed catch by David Tyree for a 32-yard gain, and which was capped off by Plaxico Burress' game-winning 13-yard touchdown catch.
It was a stunning finale to a tight game that delights Giants fans and haunts Patriots supporters to this day.