Top 5 Super Bowl Games of All Time
Top 5 Super Bowl Games Ever Played
This Sunday, February 7th will be the 55th Super Bowl. There have been many great championship games throughout football’s long history and today we are going to break down the top 5 Super Games in the history of football.
While these aren’t in order from best to worst I feel that these are the top 5 Super Bowls to ever be played.
Top 5 Super Bowl Games Ever Played
#1 Super Bowl XLIX
Super Bowl XLIX (2014) was between the New England Patriots and the defending champs at the time, the Seattle Seahawks. Both teams’ initial drives ended in punts bringing a slow start to the game. At halftime, the game was tied 14-14.
In classic Tom Brady fashion, after the Seahawks were up 10 points at the end of the 3rd quarter, he rallied his team together to take a 28 to 24 lead with 2 minutes left in the game.
With 26 seconds left Russell Wilson and the Seahawks were knocking on the Patriots door. On the 1 yard line, the Seahawks decided to go with a pass play that ended up in rookie Malcolm Butler’s hand for the interception.
That play will always be the biggest defining moment of the rookies’ career and the win earned Tom Brady his fourth ring; tying Joe Montana at the time.
#2 Super Bowl XIII
Super Bowl XIII (1979) between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys was truly a historic game not only because of the actual game itself but also because of the players involved. It was a very action-packed Super Bowl and was the first re-match in Super Bowl history at the time.
This matchup was the last Super Bowl to be played at the Orange Bowl which had hosted 5 of the first 13 Super Bowls. The game included 19 Hall of Famers: 12 players, 4 coaches, 2 owners, and 1 GM.
At the time this championship game broke an astounding 5 records. It broke the record for most points in a Super Bowl game. Terry Bradshaw broke the record for passing with 318 yards and throwing with the most touchdowns in a Super Bowl with 4.
He broke the record for the longest play with a 75-yard touchdown pass to John Stallworth. Lynn Swan and Stallworth also broke the record for 2 players from the same team having over 100 receiving yards. Bradshaw led the Steelers to their second Super Bowl win in historic fashion.
#3 Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XLII (2008) between the New York Giants and the Patriots was a defining moment for Eli Manning and his team. The Pats were undefeated this season and were favorites going into this game.
The Giants were 10-6 and were on track to be the first NFC wildcard team to win the Super Bowl and were looking for their 3rd Super Bowl title. The game was tight at all times with both teams’ defenses dominating the offenses.
In the first 3 quarters of play, only 10 points were scored. With 2 minutes left the giants were down 14-10 and had the ball on their own 17-yard line. Just when people thought the Giants were not going to convert on third down David Tyree made an incredible catch.
Tyree was able to leap up and make a one-handed grab bringing the ball to his helmet to complete the catch. This was branded the “Helmet Catch” and set up the opportunity for Randy Moss to make the 6-yard touchdown catch.
The Giants denied Brady and the Patriots a perfect season and a chance to join the 1972 Dolphins in the record books.
#4 Super Bowl LII
Super Bowl LII (2018) was between the Philadelphia Eagles and the defending champs the New England Patriots. Both teams finished the season with 13-3 records and were hungry for a ring.
Unlike Brady, this kind of atmosphere was something that backup QB Nick Foles hadn’t experienced before. Foles had only played 5 games that season before entering the Super Bowl.
Even though Brady threw for 505 yards and 3 touchdowns breaking his previous passing yards record, the Pats couldn’t win. Nick Foles threw for 373 yards and 3 touchdowns catching everyone by storm. The Eagles introduced us to the “Philly Special” where Nick Foles caught a touchdown pass to help the team.
The game went back and forth until the Eagles took a final lead with a 6-yard pass to Zach Ertz with two minutes left to potentially seal the game. Brady had one last opportunity to comeback.
Like most of the world, we expected a comeback from Brady but instead, he was sacked and lost the ball allowing the Eagles to recover it and kick a field goal to clinch the game 41-33.
#5 Super Bowl LI
Super Bowl LI (2017) was the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history. It was between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons. The Patriots defeated the Falcons in the first overtime Super Bowl.
Many have called this game the ultimate choke job by the Falcons. The Patriots were able to overcome a 25 point third quarter deficit proving Tom Brady and Bill Bellicheck the best QB/Coach duo to ever play.
The Falcons led the whole first half 21 to 3 scoring three unanswered touchdowns. They scored again halfway through the third quarter to go up 28-3. At this point, the Patriots flipped a switch and decided to play some football.
The Patriots scored 25 unanswered points to tie the game in the final seconds of regulation time. Going into overtime New England won the coin toss and were set to receive the ball.
The world knew how good Tom Brady was but after this game, I think the haters finally showed some respect for this guy and finally recognized just how good he really was. He has done and continues to do what we think is impossible in the football world.
