The Super Bowl is the ultimate game. However, some are better than others. A look at the NFL championships that have taken place since the calendar turned to the year 2000.
20. XXXV: Ravens 34, Giants 7
The Ravens dominated a Giants team that was completely outmatched and outclassed. Big Blue’s lone highlight came on a 97-yard kickoff return by Ron Dixon in the third quarter. Brian Billick’s Ravens countered as Jermaine Lewis took a kickoff 84 yards. Two TDs in 18 seconds.
19. XLVIII: Seahawks 43, Broncos 8
The first snap whizzed by Peyton Manning’s head for a Seattle safety and the blowout was on and on and on.
18. 50: Broncos 24, Panthers 10
The Denver defense put on a show, forcing Cam Newton into a miserable game. Denver notched six sacks and scored a defensive TD when Malik Jackson recovered a fumble in the end zone. Von Miller was the MVP.
17. XXXVII: Bucs 48, Raiders 21
How do you say wipeout? The Bucs dominated the Silver and Black as they forced Rich Gannon into five interceptions and sacked the QB five times. Tampa Bay scored 34 straight points after Oakland opened the scoring with a field goal. One of Oakland’s TDs came on a touchdown reception by … Jerry Rice.
16. LIII: Patriots 13, Rams 3
The sixth Super Bowl ring for New England was far from a classic. Defenses were at the forefront and Los Angeles failed to reach the end zone. Julian Edelman had a monster game at the end of Tom Brady passes and was named the MVP.
15. XLI: Colts 29, Bears 17
Devin Hester took the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown for Chicago, which actually led 14-6 before Indy rallied. Kelvin Hayden sealed the deal with a 56-yard interception return of a pass thrown by Rex Grossman.
14. XXXIX: Patriots 24, Eagles 21
This was not as close as the final score made it seem because the Eagles scored a TD in the final two minutes to make the margin three points. However, it is best remembered for the inner turmoil between Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens, who had an enormous game coming back from an injury.
13. XLV: Packers 31, Steelers 25
Aaron Rodgers outdueled Ben Roethlisberger, throwing for 304 yards and three TDs as the Packers opened an 11-point lead and held on late. A Mason Crosby field goal doubled the margin from three to six in the final quarter.
12. XLVI: Giants 21, Patriots 17
The game saw a weird safety called on Tom Brady for intentional grounding on a long pass to give the Giants a 2-0 lead. New England scored 17 points to take an eight-point lead but Tom Coughlin and the Giants rallied and scored the final 12 points for the victory.
11. XLVII: Ravens 34, 49ers 31
Everything was going in the Ravens’ favor and then the lights went out in the Superdome. Colin Kaepernick and the Niners made a fierce charge only to come up short in a game that saw the Harbaugh Bros. coach against each other.
10. XL: Steelers 21, Seahawks 10
Whether Ben Roethlisberger scored was the big controversy. Willie Parker ran 75 yards for a TD and Antwaan Randle El hit Hines Ward on a trick play to ice the game for the Steelers.
9. XLIV: Saints 31, Colts 17
The Big Easy celebrated as Drew Brees and New Orleans won their first Super Bowl. Sean Payton having Thomas Morstead execute a perfect and gutsy onside kick to open the second half and Tracy Porter’s Pick Six to ice the game were only two of the highlights.
8. XXXVIII: Patriots 32, Panthers 29
7. XXXVI: Patriots 20, Rams 17
The beginning of the Tom Brady era. The sixth-round pick from Michigan was not spectacular — actually was pretty ordinary — but the Pats upset the Rams on an Adam Vinatieri field goal.
6. LII: Eagles 41, Patriots 33
Eagles Nation rejoiced as Nick Foles led Philly over the vaunted Patriots. The “Philly Special” will go down in history as one of the best trick plays in the Super Bowl.
5. XLIII: Steelers 27, Cardinals 23
The Cardinals had the lead and the Kurt Warner storybook was going to have another chapter added to it. Then, Santonio Holmes made a great grab of a Ben Roethlisberger pass and Pittsburgh was champion.
4. XLII: Giants 17, Patriots 14
Eli Manning, David Tyree and Plaxico Burress all had a hand in stopping the Patriots’ express from having a perfect season.
3. XLIX: Patriots 28, Seahawks 24
Malcolm Butler saves the day with an interception at the goal line in the final seconds. People still wonder why Pete Carroll had Russell Wilson pass rather than hand the ball to Marshawn Lynch.
2. XXXIV: Rams 23, Titans 16
One yard short of forcing the first overtime in a Super Bowl is what the Titans came up. What are the odds of one player being involved in two of the NFL’s most famous plays. Kevin Dyson scored on the “Music City Miracle” and came up three feet short of the goal line as the Rams staved off the Titans.
1. LI: Patriots 34, Falcons 28 (OT)
The mother of all Super Bowl comebacks. Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the Patriots were down 28-3, yet not out. They rallied and Atlanta passed up what seemed like a game-clinching field goal. The Pats tied it to force the first OT in a Super Bowl and James White won it.
