On Sunday, we’ll get the 58th edition of the Super Bowl.
For much of the game’s early history, the buildup far outperformed the evening itself. In fact, through the first 35 Super Bowls, only nine ended as seven-point games.
In the 22 Super Bowls since, parity has kicked in with 12 being within a touchdown.
Last year gave us one of the best, with the Kansas City Chiefs outlasting the Philadelphia Eagles, 38–35. Now, the Chiefs are back again, taking on a San Francisco 49ers team they beat four years ago in a 31–20 decision.
But where do those, and the other 55 Super Bowls rank? Which one was the biggest dud? Which was the best?
Let’s break them all down.
57. Super Bowl 50: Denver Broncos 24, Carolina Panthers 10
56. Super Bowl XL: Pittsburgh Steelers 21, Seattle Seahawks 10
55. Super Bowl XXIX: San Francisco 49ers 49, San Diego Chargers 26
This might be the biggest mismatch in Super Bowl history from a talent perspective.
The 49ers came into the game with a slew of Hall of Famers on their roster including Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Deion Sanders, Bryant Young, Rickey Jackson and Richard Dent. The Chargers had Stan Humphries at quarterback, throwing to Shawn Jefferson, Tony Martin and Mark Seay.
The result was a 19-point spread going into the night, a figure San Francisco easily covered. By halftime, the score was 28–10, and the only drama was whether the Chargers could keep the Niners under 50 points.
54. Super Bowl XXXIII: Denver Broncos 34, Atlanta Falcons 19
53. Super Bowl VIII: Miami Dolphins 24, Minnesota Vikings 7
52. Super Bowl XII: Dallas Cowboys 27, Denver Broncos 10
Super Bowl XII was a first for the game in two respects.
It was the inaugural Super Bowl played in a dome, being hosted by the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. It’s also the only time the MVP was split, with Randy White and Harvey Martin both earning the honor.
Despite both teams being 12–2 during the regular season, the Cowboys were expected to roll over the Broncos and their Orange Crush defense. And although Roger Staubach and the Dallas offense fumbled six times, only two were lost. Conversely, Denver turned the ball over eight times, leading to quarterback Craig Morton's benching.
51. Super Bowl XXXV: Baltimore Ravens 34, New York Giants 7
50. Super Bowl LIII: New England Patriots 13, Los Angeles Rams 3
49. Super Bowl XXXVII: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48, Oakland Raiders 21
48. Super Bowl XLVIII: Seattle Seahawks 43, Denver Broncos 8
47. Super Bowl XXIV: San Francisco 49ers 55, Denver Broncos 10
46. Super Bowl XX: Chicago Bears 46, New England Patriots 10
The 1985 Chicago Bears have an argument as the greatest team in NFL history. The New England Patriots were plucky underdogs who reached Super Sunday as a wild-card team.
So, unsurprisingly, the Bears rolled the Patriots in dominant fashion. The 36-point margin was the biggest in Super Bowl history to that point, with Chicago falling behind 3–0 before rattling off 44 consecutive points.
All told, Chicago's famed "46" defense allowed just 123 yards while forcing six turnovers. On 11 carries, New England managed just seven rushing yards. At game's end, the Bears carried both head coach Mike Ditka and defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan off the field.
45. Super Bowl LV: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31, Kansas City Chiefs 9
44. Super Bowl XVIII: Los Angeles Raiders 38, Washington 9
43. Super Bowl XXVII: Dallas Cowboys 52, Buffalo Bills 17
This game launched one dynasty, and continued a dynasty of losing for another.
The Cowboys came into the game not having won a Super Bowl since 1977, while the Bills were attempting to erase the pain of losing the prior two seasons. Instead, Buffalo had its worst performance yet, committing nine turnovers in a 52–17 blowout.
Meanwhile, Troy Aikman had his finest day, throwing for 273 yards and four touchdowns, earning MVP honors. Michael Irvin also had a memorable afternoon at the Rose Bowl, catching six passes for 114 yards and two scores in the victory.
42. Super Bowl XLI: Indianapolis Colts 29, Chicago Bears 17
41. Super Bowl VI: Dallas Cowboys 24, Miami Dolphins 3
40. Super Bowl XI: Oakland Raiders 33, Minnesota Vikings 14
39. Super Bowl II: Green Bay Packers 33, Oakland Raiders 14
38. Super Bowl XV: Oakland Raiders 27, Philadelphia Eagles 10
37. Super Bowl IX: Pittsburgh Steelers 16, Minnesota Vikings 6
36. Super Bowl XXII: Washington 42, Denver Broncos 10
This game would have been lower on the list, if it wasn't for such historic implications.
Doug Williams started at quarterback for Washington, becoming the first Black quarterback to start in a Super Bowl. By day’s end, he became the first Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl, earning MVP honors by throwing for four touchdowns—all in the second quarter—in the rout of Denver.
Washington also set a Super Bowl record that still stands, scoring 35 points in a quarter. The Broncos took a 10–0 lead early before surrendering 42 unanswered points, giving them their second straight Super Bowl defeat.
35. Super Bowl V: Baltimore Colts 16, Dallas Cowboys 13
34. Super Bowl I: Green Bay Packers 35, Kansas City Chiefs 10
33. Super Bowl XXVI: Washington 37, Buffalo Bills 24
32. Super Bowl IV: Kansas City Chiefs 23, Minnesota Vikings 7
This game wasn’t particularly memorable for anything that happened on the field, but it had a couple of factors that vaulted it up the list.
For starters, this was the last game in which the American Football League existed. And while the Jets' victory over the Colts in Super Bowl III was a touchstone, the Chiefs' demolition of Minnesota hammered home that the AFL wasn't an inferior league.
Additionally, Kansas City coach Hank Stram was wired for sound, becoming the first coach to ever be mic'd up for a Super Bowl. The tape of Stram from that day remains a classic.
31. Super Bowl XXVIII: Dallas Cowboys 30, Buffalo Bills 13
30. Super Bowl XXI: New York Giants 39, Denver Broncos 20
29. Super Bowl XIX: San Francisco 49ers 38, Miami Dolphins 16
28. Super Bowl VII: Miami Dolphins 14, Washington 7
27. Super Bowl XXX: Dallas Cowboys 27, Pittsburgh Steelers 17
26. Super Bowl XVI: San Francisco 49ers 26, Cincinnati Bengals 20
In 1981, the 49ers and Bengals were Cinderella stories, with neither team expected to be anywhere near the Super Bowl.
Yet for San Francisco, it was the birth of a dynasty under coach Bill Walsh and quarterback Joe Montana. In Super Bowl XVI, the Niners jumped out to a 20–0 lead and held on to win, with the help of a critical goal-line stand in the third quarter, punctuated by a brilliant tackle on third down by linebacker Dan Bunz.
Lastly, this was the first Super Bowl to be played in the northern part of the country, being held at the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan.
25. Super Bowl XXXI: Green Bay Packers 35, New England Patriots 21
24. Super Bowl XXXIX: New England Patriots 24, Philadelphia Eagles 21
23. Super Bowl XVII: Washington 27, Miami Dolphins 17
In a rematch of the Super Bowl from 10 years prior, the Dolphins took on Washington with the hopes of winning a third title in a decade.
Instead, the day would be remembered for John Riggins. Riggins had been the driving force for Washington's run to the Rose Bowl, and he continued to be the offensive engine with 166 yards on 38 carries.
Of course, the night's biggest play came with Washington trailing 17–13 in the fourth quarter, Riggins took a handoff on fourth-and-1 and rumbled 43 yards off left tackle, helping to give coach Joe Gibbs the first of his three titles.
22. Super Bowl XLIV: New Orleans Saints 31, Indianapolis Colts 17
21. Super Bowl XLVI: New York Giants 21, New England Patriots 17
20. Super Bowl III: New York Jets 16, Baltimore Colts 7
No game in NFL annals is more important than Super Bowl III.
In 1968, an AFL-NFL merger had already been agreed upon, but many were skeptical about whether the newer league would be competitive. Coming into this afternoon at the Orange Bowl, the Colts were seen as unbeatable after a 13–1 regular season, entering as 18-point favorites over the Jets.
Of course, the game would be remembered for Jets quarterback Joe Namath guaranteeing a victory and then backing it up, throwing for 206 yards in a victory. Namath was named MVP, etching his name in pro football history.
19. Super Bowl XIV: Pittsburgh Steelers 31, Los Angeles Rams 19
18. Super Bowl LVI: Los Angeles Rams 23, Cincinnati Bengals 20
17. Super Bowl XXXII: Denver Broncos 31, Green Bay Packers 24
16. Super Bowl LIV: Kansas City Chiefs 31, San Francisco 49ers 20
15. Super Bowl XLV: Green Bay Packers 31, Pittsburgh Steelers 25
14. Super Bowl LII: Philadelphia Eagles 41, New England Patriots 33
13. Super Bowl XLVII: Baltimore Ravens 34, San Francisco 49ers 31
12. Super Bowl XIII: Pittsburgh Steelers 35, Dallas Cowboys 31
Few Super Bowls have ever had the star power of this one, with 16 Hall of Famers in the starting lineups.
In Super Bowl XIII, the Cowboys were looking to become repeat champions while the Steelers were aiming to win their third Super Bowl in five seasons. It also represented a rematch of Super Bowl X, which Pittsburgh had won, 21–17.
The Steelers again emerged victorious, with Terry Bradshaw eclipsing the 300-yard passing mark for the first time in his career, adding four touchdowns to his ledger. Bradshaw earned MVP honors while receivers John Stallworth and Lynn Swann combined for three scores and 239 yards.
11. Super Bowl XXXVIII: New England Patriots 32, Carolina Panthers 29
10. Super Bowl X: Pittsburgh Steelers 21, Dallas Cowboys 17
9. Super Bowl XXXVI: New England Patriots 20, St. Louis Rams 17
8. Super Bowl XXIII: San Francisco 49ers 20, Cincinnati Bengals 16
7. Super Bowl LVII: Kansas City Chiefs 38, Philadelphia Eagles 35
6. Super Bowl XLIII: Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Arizona Cardinals 23
5. Super Bowl XLII: New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14
Every once in a while, a game is an instant classic. Super Bowl XLII was such an event.
The Patriots entered as inevitable champions, having registered a perfect 18–0 record to that juncture. The Giants were a wild-card team, needing to beat the Buccaneers, Cowboys and Packers on the road to reach the Super Bowl.
That night in Glendale, New York confused and harassed Tom Brady with Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme, holding the Patriots to 14 points. Then, on the Giants’ final drive, David Tyree made his famous “Helmet Catch” before Eli Manning found Plaxico Burress in the left corner of the end zone, producing one of the biggest upsets in American sports history.
4. Super Bowl LI: New England Patriots 34, Falcons 28 (OT)
3. Super Bowl XXXIV: St. Louis Rams 23, Tennessee Titans 16
2. Super Bowl XLIX: New England Patriots 28, Seattle Seahawks 24
1. Super Bowl XXV: New York Giants 20, Buffalo Bills 19
The best ever.
Super Bowl XXV was supposed to be a coronation for the Bills, who romped to their first Super Sunday appearance by scoring 44 and 51 points in wins over the Dolphins and Raiders in the AFC playoffs. Meanwhile, the Giants came into the game with backup quarterback Jeff Hostetler replacing an injured Phil Simms.
Incredibly, New York fell behind 12–3 but managed the game throughout, holding the ball for 40 minutes and 33 seconds. Still, Buffalo had a chance to win late with Jim Kelly engineering a last-minute drive. Unfortunately, and infamously, Scott Norwood's potential championship-winning kick sailed wide right from 47 yards, giving the Giants their second title in four years.
