With Super Bowl XLVIII rapidly approaching, NFL Network is showing it's "Top Ten Super Bowls." These "Top Ten" episodes are always entertaining and always triggers thoughts of my own top tens. This episode was no different. Here's the top ten Super Bowls as presented by NFL Network:
10. Super Bowl III Jets 16 Colts 7
9. Super Bowl XXXVI Patriots 20 Rams 17
8. Super Bowl XLIV Saints 31 Colts 17
7. Super Bowl XXIII 49ers 20 Bengals 16
6. Super Bowl XIII Steelers 35 Cowboys 31
5. Super Bowl XXXVIII Patriots 32 Panthers 29
4. Super Bowl XXV Giants 20 Bills 19
3. Super Bowl XXXII Broncos 31 Packers 24
2. Super Bowl XLII Giants 17 Patriots 14
1. Super Bowl XLIII Steelers 27 Cardinals 23
The only game that really surprises me is the #10 game. Super Bowl III was certainly an historically significant Super Bowl but it was a very sloppy game. The Colts couldn't get out of their own way. I can understand the presence of the other nine games in anyone's top ten Super Bowls. I can even understand the presence of Super Bowl III even though I don't necessarily agree with it.
Anyway, here's the Flea Flicker's current top ten:
10. Super Bowl XXXIII 49ers 20 Bengals 16
The ending of this game was fantastic. Among the best, if not the best. The rest of the game just seemed like neither team really wanted to win the game.
9. Super Bowl XXXIV Rams 23 Titans 16
This game was remarkable to me in that no one was supposed to be able to slow that Rams offense. The Titans did. Steve McNair was terrific. Kevin Dyson reaching for the end zone is one of those plays that will always be a picture in my football memories.
8. Super Bowl XXXII Broncos 31 Packers 24
John Elway finally wins a Super Bowl.
7. Super Bowl XVI 49ers 26 Bengals 21
I almost want to combine the two 49ers-Bengals Super Bowls and move both up the list. I thought that both were great games. The second game gets most of the attention because of the Joe Montana-led drive to win it but I thought this was the better game. The 49ers goal line stand that may have taken some of the life out of the Bengals might be the best series of defensive plays in Super Bowl history. As with the Mike Jones tackle of Kevin Dyson, Dan Bunz tackling Charles Alexander short of the goal line will live in my memories.
6. Super Bowl XIII Steelers 35 Cowboys 31
Despite the closeness of the final score, it felt like the Steelers were in control of this game throughout. If Jackie Smith catches that touchdown, maybe it's a different game. If he makes that catch, the game is tied. Maybe the Cowboys wrestle control of the game away from the Steelers.
5. Super Bowl XXXVIII Patriots 32 Panthers 29
The day after this game everyone was talking about Janet Jackson. I found that very depressing as this was one of the most entertaining Super Bowls ever. The back-and-forth at the end was awesome. Jake Delhomme? Who would have guessed?
4. Super Bowl X Steelers 21 Cowboys 17
As with the 49ers-Bengals Super Bowls, I want to combine the two Steelers-Cowboys Super Bowls in the 1970s. Both were great games. As with the 49ers-Bengals, the the second game gets more attention than the first. I like the first game in this series as well. I felt like this game could go either way throughout the game.
3. Super Bowl XXV Giants 20 Bills 19
The only real knock that I have with this game is that it was decided on a missed field goal. It certainly made for an exciting finish but I'd rather see a game decided by a team or player making a play rather than failing to make it. It's a minor complaint as this was a terrific game. I've always wondered if the next three Super Bowls would have been different for the Bills if Scott Norwood made that kick.
2. Super Bowl XLVIII Steelers 27 Cardinals 23
This was a very entertaining game from the opening kickoff to the final gun. Larry Fitzgerald was magnificent in the second half. James Harrison's 102-yard interception return at the end of the first half might have been the greatest play in Super Bowl history. 14 point swing just before the half. That's a tough blow. Most teams don't recover from something like that. The Cardinals did.
1. Super Bowl XLII Giants 17 Patriots 14
This game might be best remembered by Eli Manning's escape and David Tyree's catch. I remember it for the defense. As with the Titans against the Rams about a decade earlier, there was supposed to be no way that the Giants could slow the Patriots offense. This was a great game.
I might come up with a different ten tomorrow.
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