With Super Bowl XLVIII less than 24 hours away, I present to you a list to beat all lists: every single Super Bowl, ranked from best to worst.
Criteria were as follows: I separated the games that were close (within one score) at any point in the fourth quarter from those that weren't. Among the two main divisions, I ranked the games based on point differential, surprise (in other words, a four-point underdog who won by 20 would be ranked significantly high, while a four-point favorite who won by 20 would be ranked considerably lower), star power (number of future Hall of Famers who participated), story appeal (based on personal opinion), stadium attendance and Nielsen TV rating.
Without further ado, here's the complete list. Let me know what I got right, and what I missed on.
1. Super Bowl XIII- Pittsburgh 35, Dallas 31
January 21, 1979, Miami
After 35 years, it appears the first truly great Super Bowl is still the one to beat. There are plenty of reasons why SBXIII deserves the top spot. The Steelers became the first three-time Super Bowl champion, defeating their chief rival for the second time in as many championships to earn the title Team of the Seventies. You want star power? 16 future Hall of Famers competed in this game, including both legendary head coaches and quarterbacks. This number ties for second most; only Dallas's first championship featured more. And the game had drama, too. I'll leave it at this: "Bless his heart, he's got to be the sickest man in America."
How it stacked up: Number 13 ranked in the top ten of close games in every category other than surprise factor. Pittsburgh, 3 1/2 point favorites entering the contest, won by an expected four points.
2. Super Bowl XLII- Giants 17, New England 14
February 3, 2008- Glendale, Ariz.
Clearly the best Super Bowl in recent history, will this still be as memorable in ten years? The answer, for me, is a definitive "yes". It doesn't get much bigger than 18-0 megateam of offensive efficiency meeting its demise at the hand of 12-7 Cinderella team that oh, by the way, is being led by a quarterback yet to get out of the shadow of his perennial all-pro older brother. Eli channeled his best Archie Manning to avoid about three sacks in arguably the greatest play in Super Bowl history, before copying Peyton's pinpoint accuracy for the game's winning score. This game also effectively ended the Patriots dynasty of the early 2000's. Like I said, it doesn't get much bigger.
How it stacked up: 42 is only second on this list because stadium attendance and television rating both ranked outside the top 10 of close games. It was ranked biggest storyline and fifth greatest upset.
3. Super Bowl VII- Miami 14, Washington 7
January 14, 1973- Los Angeles
SB7 was this close to missing the top 25 altogether, but Garo Yepremian had to make the kookiest play in football history to make it a one-scorer. Of course, this certainly had the ultimate story line- chasing and achieving the only perfect season of the Super Bowl era. In addition, there was quite the number of stars out that night. Also, when Don Shula - about whom the song "All I Do Is Win" was obviously written - is on your sideline, your ranking suddenly looks better than expected. By the way, who knew that the Dolphins were one-point dogs at 16-0?
How it stacked up- Miami's underdog status and the game's 11 future Hall of Famers helped Seven's rank, but its high stadium attendance seemed to catapult the game into the top three.
4. Super Bowl XXXII- Denver 31, Green Bay 24
January 25, 1998- San Diego
As far as number of stories goes, SB32 is one of the best. Favre versus Elway. Brett, the young 11-point favorite, trying to win two straight. John, the old horse, trying to win before heading back to the stable for a well-deserved retirement. On top of this, the mighty Pack had a 3-0 record in the Big Game, and had won all three previous appearances handily. The also-ran Broncs were 0-4, recipients of the worst beatdown in Super Bowl history. For what it's worth, the NFC had also won 13 straight to that point. So, when Pat Bowlen said "This one's for John," he was also saying "Welcome back to relevance, The Super Bowl." Favre never got back in the final 10 years of his career, Elway won back-to-back to enter retirement and the AFC holds a 10-5 advantage since TD played through a migraine.
How it stacks up: 32 had a low attendance number, but was top 10 among close games in all other categories.
5. Super Bowl XXXVI- New England 20, St. Louis 17
February 3, 2002- New Orleans
Six years to the date before the Patriots' dynasty began to come to a stop, the New England squad was a sympathetic underdog choice for a nation still reeling from 9/11. Football aside, there is nothing more fitting than a team named the Patriots winning the Super Bowl when we were all needing a little extra national pride. They did it with an all-American boy who had a chip on his shoulder larger than Steve Young's monkey playing at quarterback. Sadly, this feel-good story turned sour real quickly when we found out the evil behind Bill Belichick's genius some four or five years later. But at the time, this one was really sweet.
How it stacked up: Like its 2008 counterpart, the 2002 game suffered from somewhat low attendance and TV ratings. The story aspect ranked second among close games.
6. Super Bowl XLIV- New Orleans 31, Indianapolis 17
February 7, 2010- Miami
Remember XXXVI when we all were cheering for the Patriots because of their nickname? This sob story took a little longer to come to fruition, but was just as meaningful to those of us that saw the destruction of Hurricane Katrina in 2006. Long the lovable losers, the Saints changed the entire history of the franchise with a gutsy onside kick and an iconic pick-six. Don't believe me? Take out Bountygate, and the Saints haven't missed the playoffs since the most adorable father-son moment ever. The only one not happy about it was New Orleans' favorite son, who has had to hear even more crap over the past five years about being a choke artist.
How it stacked up: You may have noticed that a 14-point game doesn't seem close enough for such a high position. Take into consideration that this is the second-best underdog performance in the close game category (and it was close until Peyton threw it away in the fourth), and add that Brees, Manning and Sean Payton will all be in the Hall of Fame someday. The story is obviously one of the best, and the TV rating wasn't too shabby either. That's enough to make 44 the sixth best.
7. Super Bowl XXV- Giants 20, Buffalo 19
January 27, 1991- Tampa, Fla.
In personal opinion, it's a crime the closest game in Super Bowl history doesn't crack the top five. Scott Norwood, unlike Jackie Smith, didn't have a Hall of Fame career to make up for his Super Goof. He'll forever be remembered as the guy who sent the Bills, a much better team than history gives them credit for, into a spiral the likes of which no other team has ever seen. When you talk about history-altering Super Bowls, the 1990 Bills are the antithesis to the 2009 Saints. Whether it is in the top five or not, one thing is for certain: A hundred Super Bowls will come and go before the 25th version isn't one of the best 10 ever played.
How it stacked up: Though the 1990s Bills were talented, few Hall of Famers participated in 25. Attendance and TV rating also fell outside of the top 10 among close games for XXV. The seventh-best game was saved by having the third-most intriguing story.
8. Super Bowl X- Pittsburgh 21, Dallas 17
January 18, 1976, Miami
Pittsburgh's 14 fourth-quarter points launched the third pair of back-to-back champions in the game's first decade, and the second Steelers-Cowboys game to crack the top ten. The stories were nearly identical to that of XIII, minus three more years of history between the two teams. Everyone wanted to see the top two teams in America face off. They got their money's worth in this instant classic.
How it stacked up: Star power and stadium attendance both ranked in the top 10 among competitive games. The story appeal ranked 11th, just good enough to place number 10 in the top 10.
9. Super Bowl XIV- Pittsburgh 31, Rams 19
January 20, 1980- Pasadena, Calif.
14 earns the title of most underrated Super Bowl. History knows it as the Steelers' fourth title in six years, a mark that has never since been matched. A little research shows it was one of the best-attended, most-watched and least-expected Super Bowls ever. The matchup of the best team of the 1970s and a perennial championship loser would have leaned heavily in the Steelers' favor. The Rams were actually leading 19-17 entering the fourth quarter and were beginning to seem like a team of destiny. Pittsburgh pulled out a victory that was much closer than the 12-point deficit suggests because one or two lucky plays.
How it stacked up: The 14th world championship of pro football was top five in Hall of Famers, attendance and TV rating among competitive games, catapulting it into its surprise top 10 spot.
10. Super Bowl XXX- Dallas 27, Pittsburgh 17
January 28, 1996- Tempe, Ariz.
The Cowboys' 1990s legacy was sealed and the top 10 is closing out with the 30th edition of the Super Bowl. Super Bowl XXX was the final chapter to date of the Steelers-Cowboys Super Bowl rivalry. While the Cowboys had found their next batch of legends in Aikman, Irvin and Smith, the combination of Neil O'Donnell, Yancey Thigpen and Bam Morris were nowhere close to being Bradshaw, Swann and Franco for the Steelers. As such, it was Dallas that was the two-touchdown favorite to be the second team with five Super Bowl wins. What made the game a classic was Pittsburgh keeping the game close. The score was 20-17 until the game's waning moments, when unexpected MVP Larry Brown picked off O'Donnell for the second time, setting up Emmitt Smith's clinching touchdown. Just like Pittsburgh's two wins in the rivalry, Dallas' third championship in four years was an instant classic between the two greatest teams of the Super Bowl era.
How it stacked up: XXX ranked between fifth and 15th in all five categories in competitive games. Its highest rank was in TV rating (seventh) and lowest was surprise (13th).
11. Super Bowl XVII- Washington 27, Miami 17
January 30, 1983- Pasadena, Calif.
This Super Bowl was an exciting end to an otherwise forgettable strike-shortened season. Miami went into the ten-year anniversary of its 17-0 season as three-point favorite against Washington. The rematch of Super Bowl VII, however, didn't quite go the same way. The Redskins were competitive early in the game, so they were able to launch a fourth-quarter comeback in 1983. The rematch went to the nation's capital for the first time.
How it stacked up: I was surprised how high XVII ranked. The star power and story categories certainly suggested a mid-20s ranking (I found it the least storied of the competitive Super Bowls). However, people wanted to watch this game. Its Nielsen rating and attendance both ranked second among competitive games. It also ranked top 10 in surprise, as the Redskins beat the spread by 13 points.
12. Super Bowl III- Jets 16, Baltimore 7
January 12, 1969, Miami
Ah, yes. The controversial Super Bowl III. Many before me have called this a top-five Super Bowl solely based on Joe's guarantee and the magnitude of the AFL's upset. While I agree that that alone should be enough, the game truly wasn't that great. Had the Colts played a good game, the Jets would have just been the last AFL champions and Joe Namath would be where he belongs- out of the Hall of Fame. In addition, the game's true biggest star came off the bench and played hurt. Other than Unitas and Namath (and "All I Do Is Win" Shula), the star power of SB3 was lacking.
How it stacked up: The biggest upset of the competitive games, Number Three also was the lowest rated on television despite Joe's pregame guarantee. Lackluster rankings in stars and attendance dropped this game from my top 10.
13. Super Bowl XLV- Green Bay 31, Pittsburgh 25
February 6, 2011, Arlington, Tex.
Although this game has not had time to gain historical significance, 45 sure was fun to watch. Nick Collins' pick-six set the tone early, but the two stars of the game still wound up being the Pack's Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers. It helped that these were the two most storied franchises in NFL history, too. My biggest premonition against putting this game in the top 15 is that neither team has played at the Super level since Mike McCarthy became the third Packers coach to hoist the trophy now named after Vince Lombardi.
How it stacked up: XLV was high in attendance and TV rating, middle-of-the-pack in stars and storylines, and low in surprise.
14. Super Bowl XLI- Indianapolis 29, Chicago 17
February 4, 2007, Miami
I actually think this game could be rated higher. Tony Dungy became the first black coach to win a Super Bowl, Peyton Manning finally (somewhat) proved that he could win the big one, and let's not forget that incredible kickoff return for a touchdown to open the game. This was a great matchup until Rex Grossman literally threw it away to the Colts defense in the fourth quarter. In my opinion, it was the third best Super Bowl of the past 10 years behind XLII and XLIV.
How it stacked up: Unfortunately for me, the rankings don't quite agree. While top 10 in stars and stories, the result was hardly expected. 41 also suffered from mid-range scores in attendance and rating.
15. Super Bowl XVI- San Francisco 26, Cincinnati 21
January 24, 1982, Pontiac, Mich.
San Francisco's first Super Bowl win had the highest Nielsen rating of any Super Bowl ever, but it didn't get interesting until the second half. The first Super Bowl played in a cold-weather city was all Niners in the first 30 minutes. Cincinnati trailed 20-7 after three before launching a furious comeback. The 49ers prevailed, and a dynasty was born.
How it stacked up: 16 was low on star power, surprise and story, but it made up for this with top-five attendance and ratings.
16. Super Bowl XLIII- Pittsburgh 27, Arizona 23
February 1, 2009, Tampa, Fla.
2007-2010 might have been the best four-year stretch in Super Bowl history. Pittsburgh won its sixth ring in 2009 thanks in part to the longest interception return in game history. The game between AFC powerhouse Pittsburgh and Super Bowl newcomer Arizona was basically a highlight-fest, as MVP Santonio Holmes' game-winner was a toe-tap grab and Larry Fitzgerald provided a stellar catch-and-run touchdown for the Cardinals. I believe this game will become absorbed into relative obscurity in the next decade, other than it did provide the Steelers championship number six.
How it stacked up: The game had the eighth-most compelling story of the competitive games but the fourth-worst attendance.
17. Super Bowl IX- Pittsburgh 16, Minnesota 6
January 12, 1975, New Orleans
In conducting this study, I found that you can't compile a list of great Super Bowls without seeing all eight of the Steelers' world championship games near the top. The team is clearly the best of the Super Bowl era. Anyway, this game was so great because of the defenses. The Steel Curtain ended up out-dueling the Purple People Eaters in Super Bowl Nine. It was the first time Pittsburgh had reached the Super Bowl, and before the decade was out the Steelers would be the first dynasty of the Super Bowl era. Meanwhile, Minnesota had lost three of the last six Super Bowls, and would go on to lose again two years later.
How it stacked up: Nine had 16 future Hall of Fame members, tying with XIII for most in a competitive Super Bowl. It also had a high attendance. I ranked the story interest low and the result of the game was seven points higher than the spread, tied for worst of the competitive games.
18. Super Bowl XLVII- Baltimore 34, San Francisco 31
February 3, 2013, New Orleans
The HarBowl was too weird to be called an instant classic, but only history will tell the impact of the most recent installment of the NFL championship. There was plenty of pregame hype, but it was all Baltimore early on. Then the lights went out. The Niners suddenly became competitive. Ultimately, Ray Lewis straight up willed the Ravens to win their second Super Bowl. I believe, for now, 18 is the perfect ranking for the reigning champs.
How it stacked up: It had top 10 marks in surprise and TV, but was bottom 10 in the three other categories among competitive games.
19. Super Bowl XXXIV- St. Louis 23, Tennessee 16
January 30, 2000, Atlanta
I honestly would rather not talk about this game, ever. But it's slightly shocking that 34 isn't higher on the list. Not only did things come down to the game's final play, but at one point the Titans came from a 16-0 deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter. I think the real reason this ranks so low is that both teams came from markets without the national attention of the Northeast or West Coast, and played the game in a Southern location. I'm sure most people north of the Ohio and west of the Mississippi couldn't care less about this game. If Dyson had scored, the only Super Bowl to have gone into overtime would have certainly earned top 10 honors.
How it stacked up: XXXIV neither shined nor failed in any particular category with other competitive games. Its highest rank was 12 (TV rating) and lowest was 18 (attendance).
20. Super Bowl XXIII- San Francisco 20, Cincinnati 16
January 22, 1989, Miami
It seemed the only AFC team that could play San Francisco close in the 1980s were Boomer's Bengals. Notable about this game was that Cincinnati actually led 16-13 until Joe Football launched an 11-play, 92-yard, three-minute drive capped with a touchdown in the game's final minute. For the 13 straight years that the NFC dominated the Super Bowl, this is a rare gem that possibly deserves to be higher on the list.
How it stacked up: The 23rd Super Bowl was 11th and 12th in rating and attendance, respectively, among competitive games. However, it finished bottom 10 in the other three categories, including a 20th place rank in surprise.
21. Super Bowl V- Baltimore 16, Dallas 13
January 17, 1971, Miami
The AFC's third straight Super Bowl victory may have even been a better game than its monumental first one, but time has not treated V as well as it has treated III. This was actually an exciting game, if you don't mind turnovers. It was Unitas versus Staubach, but the victory (and Baltimore's redemption) ultimately came down to Jim O'Brien's field goal with five seconds to go. This was Super-Bowl-coming-down-to-the-wire before that happened every year. Ultimately, we just remember this as a footnote in Super Bowl trivia (who's the only loser to win Super Bowl MVP? Look to 1971).
How it stacked up: Five earned top ten marks in Hall of Famers and attendance, but it was the second-lowest rated competitive Super Bowl and third-least enthralling story.
22. Super Bowl XXXVIII- New England 32, Carolina 29
February 1, 2004, Houston
The primary highlight of this game was NippleGate (I was going to link it, until I realized how racy that ENTIRE SHOW was). Basically, the offenses sucked in the first half, the defenses sucked in the second half, and Carolina would've won if the Panthers had converted every two-point try they attempted in the fourth quarter. Not to mention that so-called superstar Adam Vinatieri went 1-for-3 kicking field goals. This Super Bowl is really a tarnish to the Patriots' early-2000s dynasty (For the record, the only reason I call it a dynasty is because they won three in four; by rights, they should've won XXXVI and not the other two).
How it stacked up: 38 was in the bottom 10 among close games in all but one category; it was 11th in surprise because of the Panthers covering the spread by four points.
23. Super Bowl XLVI- Giants 21, New England 17
February 5, 2012, Indianapolis
The Giants' second upset of the Patriots was immensely less entertaining than the first. First of all, it had perhaps the worst game-winning score in Super Bowl history. Secondly, it never ever had the fervor that the second-best Super Bowl of all time had. New York and Eli had already won a Super Bowl. New England had already been upset in one; not only were they upset, the greatest regular season in NFL history had been spoiled by it. This game mostly followed my first rule about watching movies: With very little exception, a sequel produced just because the original made a lot of money is going to drop significantly in quality.
How it stacked up: It was the second-worst attended competitive Super Bowl, and had the fifth-least interesting story (been there, done that really weighed heavily on my decision for that). A top-five TV rating was not enough to put 46 any higher.
24. Super Bowl XXXIX- New England 24, Philadelphia 21
February 6, 2005, Jacksonville, Fla.
The third championship in four years for the Patriots was probably the least memorable of the New England dynasty. However, the fact that the Eagles were for years the stepping stone for NFC champions but finally made it to the Big One has to count for something. Also not worth forgetting was Terrell Owens' performance in his first game after a presumed season-ending knee injury. Ultimately, the lack of memorable big plays keeps this one out of the top 20.
How it stacked up: XXXIX was the 10th-best attended close game, but had a low TV rating and star power.
25. Super Bowl XL- Pittsburgh 21, Seattle 10
February 5, 2006, Detroit
My lasting memories of this game were Hines Ward's touchdown from Antwaan Randle El to clinch the game, and the Bus stopping in Detroit. However, this was the least classic Steelers game; although it was a four-point game until the aforementioned trick play, Seattle was, in retrospect, quite overmatched in the Super Bowl marketed as being "Xtra Large." Still, the mere fact that the Steelers won their fifth ring (in the process ending years of disappointment for future Hall of Famer Bill Cowher) makes this game somewhat memorable.
How it stacked up: Top 10 in star power (mostly on Pittsburgh's side), this was the worst-attended competitive Super Bowl and tied for least surprising.
26. Super Bowl IV- Kansas City 23, Minnesota 7
January 11, 1970, New Orleans
Kansas City's 16-point triumph over the first best Super Bowl losers earns the honor of top uncompetitive Super Bowl, mostly because it evened things up in the Big Game between the conferences and because KC went into the merger era where they so often were during the 1960s- on top of the AFL. Len Dawson matriculated the ball down the field in the first "mic'd-up" Super Bowl and torched the vaunted Vikings defense to give the Chiefs their first and only Super Bowl championship. The nostalgia connected to this game is probably the deciding reason this championship gets the nod over every other non-competitive Super Bowl.
How it stacked up: Top five in surprise, stars and stories among uncompetitive games, Four also was the sixth-best attended game in the division. Despite having the third-worst television rating, the Chiefs' win was still able to easily claim the 26th spot.
27. Super Bowl VI- Dallas 24, Miami 3
January 16, 1972, New Orleans
Landry's Cowboys redeemed their miserable Super Bowl V performance by relatively blowing Miami out in Super Bowl VI. The Super Bowl was finally starting to get TV ratings comparable to those of today, and America's Boy Roger Staubach won MVP honors while directing America's Team to its first of five Super Bowl championships. It should be noted that to this point, Dallas had somewhat of a propensity for choking in the league championship, whether it be pre-Super Bowl or the Super Bowl itself. This win, and another championship six years later, began to reverse that idea for football enthusiasts.
How it stacked up: This game had more future Hall of Famers participating in it than any other Super Bowl, competitive or not. Super Bowl Six ranked in the top 10 among non-competitive games in story, attendance and TV rating as well.
28. Super Bowl XXVIII- Dallas 30, Buffalo 13
January 30, 1994, Atlanta
Buffalo's chances of ever winning a Super Bowl disappeared after the dynasty of the 90's came out of the halftime locker room to the tune of 24 second-half points. The Cowboys, still not completely having shattered their championship barrier (after two losses to the Steelers in the 1970s and a Super Bowl XII win, Dallas lost a number of de facto league championships to the 49ers while the NFC ran roughshod over the AFC in the Super Bowl), began once again proving to the world that they could be an elite team.
How it stacked up: It was tenth in surprise (the Bills were favored) and star power among uncompetitive game, ranked second in story and sixth in TV rating.
29. Super Bowl XII- Dallas 27, Denver 10
January 15, 1978, New Orleans
Often known as one of the sloppier Super Bowls, number 12 pitted Roger Staubach against the quarterback he beat out in 1971 before Dallas' first world championship, Craig Morton. However, this game wasn't so much about the quarterbacks as it was the two top-tier defenses. The Doomsday Defense of Dallas manhandled Morton and the Broncos, forcing eight turnovers. However, Denver's Orange Crush was largely ineffective against Staubach and the Cowboys, who put up a 20-3 lead in the third quarter. Trivia note: this is the only Super Bowl with co-MVPs, as Dallas d-linemen Randy White and Harvey Martin shared the honor.
How it stacked up: Dallas' second Super Bowl victory ranked second among non-competitive games in TV rating, and was one of the 10 best-attended in the qualification.
30. Super Bowl XV- Oakland 27, Philadelphia 10
January 25, 1981, New Orleans
The 15th anniversary of the Super Bowl began with patriotic fervor as the Iran hostage situation had just come to a close. The game made history with Oakland becoming the first wild card playoff team to win a Super Bowl. This game was also largely over by the end of the third quarter. The Raiders dismantled Ron Jaworski to the tune of a Super Bowl-record three interceptions by linebacker Rod Martin.
How it stacked up: The 15th Super Bowl ranked among the top 10 of uncompetitive games in every category except star power, where it earned dead last.
31. Super Bowl XXXIII- Denver 34, Atlanta 19
January 31, 1999, Miami
John Elway's swan song was decidedly less exciting than his first championship. For one, Atlanta shouldn't have even been there. If Minnesota won the NFC championship, this may have been one of the best Super Bowls of all time. The Vikings would have lost, of course, because they're 0-for-4. The mere fact that two four-time Super Bowl losers would've matched up in the big game would have at least been a great story. Alas, it didn't happen, and the Broncos sent Elway into retirement a two-time winner.
How it stacked up: Fourth in story appeal and 10th in attendance in non-competitive Super Bowls, 33 had a low television rating and middle-of-the-pack marks in surprise and stars.
32. Super Bowl II- Green Bay 33, Oakland 14
January 14, 1968, Miami
The second Super Bowl was slightly better than the first, merely because the 1967 Raiders were slightly better than the 1966 Chiefs. After winning what can be considered the last great pre-merger NFL championship in the Ice Bowl, the Packers actually only led 16-7 at half over the dominant AFL champions from California. However, the Pack wore down Oakland in the second half to earn the second straight Super Bowl championship.
How it stacked up: Two was top 10 among uncompetitive championships in surprise (Green Bay only won by five points more than they were predicted to), stars and attendance, but was the second-lowest rated Super Bowl ever.
33. Super Bowl I- Green Bay 35, Kansas City 10
January 15, 1967, Los Angeles
Super Bowl I will always have the honor of being the only undisputed best Super Bowl ever, because for a year there was nothing with which to compare it. In the 47 years since the first world championship of football, this game has dissolved largely into a mere trivia fact. Like the following Super Bowl, number one had a close halftime score (14-10 Green Bay), but the Packers pulled away to a 25-point win with a strong second half.
How it stacked up: The best story of uncompetitive games, Super Bowl One also had the second-most Hall of Famers in the group. However, the only Super Bowl not to sell out was, naturally, the worst-attended as well.
34. Super Bowl XI- Oakland 32, Minnesota 14
January 9, 1977, Pasadena, Calif.
The Raiders scored more points in the second quarter (16) than the Vikings did in 60 minutes in the former's first Super Bowl win and the latter's fourth Super Bowl loss. MVP Fred Biletnikoff and the Raiders sealed the victory with a 13-point fourth quarter in the team's first of three championships in eight years.
How it stacked up: The best-attended non-competitive Super Bowl also ranked fourth in stars and eighth in TV ranking. The story was third-worst, however.
35. Super Bowl XVIII- Raiders 38, Washington 9
January 22, 1984, Tampa, Fla.
The third world championship the Raiders won was also the most lopsided. Notable about this game was that it was the last Super Bowl the AFC won for 14 years. The Redskins were actually favored in this game, which makes LA's 29-point win that much more significant. The Raiders put it away by the end of the third quarter, and Marcus Allen won MVP honors.
How it stacked up: 18 was top 10 among non-competitive Super Bowls in surprise, stars and TV rating. I did, however, rank the story appeal last in uncompetitive games.
19. Super Bowl XXXIV- St. Louis 23, Tennessee 16
January 30, 2000, Atlanta
I honestly would rather not talk about this game, ever. But it's slightly shocking that 34 isn't higher on the list. Not only did things come down to the game's final play, but at one point the Titans came from a 16-0 deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter. I think the real reason this ranks so low is that both teams came from markets without the national attention of the Northeast or West Coast, and played the game in a Southern location. I'm sure most people north of the Ohio and west of the Mississippi couldn't care less about this game. If Dyson had scored, the only Super Bowl to have gone into overtime would have certainly earned top 10 honors.
How it stacked up: XXXIV neither shined nor failed in any particular category with other competitive games. Its highest rank was 12 (TV rating) and lowest was 18 (attendance).
20. Super Bowl XXIII- San Francisco 20, Cincinnati 16
January 22, 1989, Miami
It seemed the only AFC team that could play San Francisco close in the 1980s were Boomer's Bengals. Notable about this game was that Cincinnati actually led 16-13 until Joe Football launched an 11-play, 92-yard, three-minute drive capped with a touchdown in the game's final minute. For the 13 straight years that the NFC dominated the Super Bowl, this is a rare gem that possibly deserves to be higher on the list.
How it stacked up: The 23rd Super Bowl was 11th and 12th in rating and attendance, respectively, among competitive games. However, it finished bottom 10 in the other three categories, including a 20th place rank in surprise.
21. Super Bowl V- Baltimore 16, Dallas 13
January 17, 1971, Miami
The AFC's third straight Super Bowl victory may have even been a better game than its monumental first one, but time has not treated V as well as it has treated III. This was actually an exciting game, if you don't mind turnovers. It was Unitas versus Staubach, but the victory (and Baltimore's redemption) ultimately came down to Jim O'Brien's field goal with five seconds to go. This was Super-Bowl-coming-down-to-the-wire before that happened every year. Ultimately, we just remember this as a footnote in Super Bowl trivia (who's the only loser to win Super Bowl MVP? Look to 1971).
How it stacked up: Five earned top ten marks in Hall of Famers and attendance, but it was the second-lowest rated competitive Super Bowl and third-least enthralling story.
22. Super Bowl XXXVIII- New England 32, Carolina 29
February 1, 2004, Houston
The primary highlight of this game was NippleGate (I was going to link it, until I realized how racy that ENTIRE SHOW was). Basically, the offenses sucked in the first half, the defenses sucked in the second half, and Carolina would've won if the Panthers had converted every two-point try they attempted in the fourth quarter. Not to mention that so-called superstar Adam Vinatieri went 1-for-3 kicking field goals. This Super Bowl is really a tarnish to the Patriots' early-2000s dynasty (For the record, the only reason I call it a dynasty is because they won three in four; by rights, they should've won XXXVI and not the other two).
How it stacked up: 38 was in the bottom 10 among close games in all but one category; it was 11th in surprise because of the Panthers covering the spread by four points.
23. Super Bowl XLVI- Giants 21, New England 17
February 5, 2012, Indianapolis
The Giants' second upset of the Patriots was immensely less entertaining than the first. First of all, it had perhaps the worst game-winning score in Super Bowl history. Secondly, it never ever had the fervor that the second-best Super Bowl of all time had. New York and Eli had already won a Super Bowl. New England had already been upset in one; not only were they upset, the greatest regular season in NFL history had been spoiled by it. This game mostly followed my first rule about watching movies: With very little exception, a sequel produced just because the original made a lot of money is going to drop significantly in quality.
How it stacked up: It was the second-worst attended competitive Super Bowl, and had the fifth-least interesting story (been there, done that really weighed heavily on my decision for that). A top-five TV rating was not enough to put 46 any higher.
24. Super Bowl XXXIX- New England 24, Philadelphia 21
February 6, 2005, Jacksonville, Fla.
The third championship in four years for the Patriots was probably the least memorable of the New England dynasty. However, the fact that the Eagles were for years the stepping stone for NFC champions but finally made it to the Big One has to count for something. Also not worth forgetting was Terrell Owens' performance in his first game after a presumed season-ending knee injury. Ultimately, the lack of memorable big plays keeps this one out of the top 20.
How it stacked up: XXXIX was the 10th-best attended close game, but had a low TV rating and star power.
25. Super Bowl XL- Pittsburgh 21, Seattle 10
February 5, 2006, Detroit
My lasting memories of this game were Hines Ward's touchdown from Antwaan Randle El to clinch the game, and the Bus stopping in Detroit. However, this was the least classic Steelers game; although it was a four-point game until the aforementioned trick play, Seattle was, in retrospect, quite overmatched in the Super Bowl marketed as being "Xtra Large." Still, the mere fact that the Steelers won their fifth ring (in the process ending years of disappointment for future Hall of Famer Bill Cowher) makes this game somewhat memorable.
How it stacked up: Top 10 in star power (mostly on Pittsburgh's side), this was the worst-attended competitive Super Bowl and tied for least surprising.
26. Super Bowl IV- Kansas City 23, Minnesota 7
January 11, 1970, New Orleans
Kansas City's 16-point triumph over the first best Super Bowl losers earns the honor of top uncompetitive Super Bowl, mostly because it evened things up in the Big Game between the conferences and because KC went into the merger era where they so often were during the 1960s- on top of the AFL. Len Dawson matriculated the ball down the field in the first "mic'd-up" Super Bowl and torched the vaunted Vikings defense to give the Chiefs their first and only Super Bowl championship. The nostalgia connected to this game is probably the deciding reason this championship gets the nod over every other non-competitive Super Bowl.
How it stacked up: Top five in surprise, stars and stories among uncompetitive games, Four also was the sixth-best attended game in the division. Despite having the third-worst television rating, the Chiefs' win was still able to easily claim the 26th spot.
27. Super Bowl VI- Dallas 24, Miami 3
January 16, 1972, New Orleans
Landry's Cowboys redeemed their miserable Super Bowl V performance by relatively blowing Miami out in Super Bowl VI. The Super Bowl was finally starting to get TV ratings comparable to those of today, and America's Boy Roger Staubach won MVP honors while directing America's Team to its first of five Super Bowl championships. It should be noted that to this point, Dallas had somewhat of a propensity for choking in the league championship, whether it be pre-Super Bowl or the Super Bowl itself. This win, and another championship six years later, began to reverse that idea for football enthusiasts.
How it stacked up: This game had more future Hall of Famers participating in it than any other Super Bowl, competitive or not. Super Bowl Six ranked in the top 10 among non-competitive games in story, attendance and TV rating as well.
28. Super Bowl XXVIII- Dallas 30, Buffalo 13
January 30, 1994, Atlanta
Buffalo's chances of ever winning a Super Bowl disappeared after the dynasty of the 90's came out of the halftime locker room to the tune of 24 second-half points. The Cowboys, still not completely having shattered their championship barrier (after two losses to the Steelers in the 1970s and a Super Bowl XII win, Dallas lost a number of de facto league championships to the 49ers while the NFC ran roughshod over the AFC in the Super Bowl), began once again proving to the world that they could be an elite team.
How it stacked up: It was tenth in surprise (the Bills were favored) and star power among uncompetitive game, ranked second in story and sixth in TV rating.
29. Super Bowl XII- Dallas 27, Denver 10
January 15, 1978, New Orleans
Often known as one of the sloppier Super Bowls, number 12 pitted Roger Staubach against the quarterback he beat out in 1971 before Dallas' first world championship, Craig Morton. However, this game wasn't so much about the quarterbacks as it was the two top-tier defenses. The Doomsday Defense of Dallas manhandled Morton and the Broncos, forcing eight turnovers. However, Denver's Orange Crush was largely ineffective against Staubach and the Cowboys, who put up a 20-3 lead in the third quarter. Trivia note: this is the only Super Bowl with co-MVPs, as Dallas d-linemen Randy White and Harvey Martin shared the honor.
How it stacked up: Dallas' second Super Bowl victory ranked second among non-competitive games in TV rating, and was one of the 10 best-attended in the qualification.
30. Super Bowl XV- Oakland 27, Philadelphia 10
January 25, 1981, New Orleans
The 15th anniversary of the Super Bowl began with patriotic fervor as the Iran hostage situation had just come to a close. The game made history with Oakland becoming the first wild card playoff team to win a Super Bowl. This game was also largely over by the end of the third quarter. The Raiders dismantled Ron Jaworski to the tune of a Super Bowl-record three interceptions by linebacker Rod Martin.
How it stacked up: The 15th Super Bowl ranked among the top 10 of uncompetitive games in every category except star power, where it earned dead last.
31. Super Bowl XXXIII- Denver 34, Atlanta 19
January 31, 1999, Miami
John Elway's swan song was decidedly less exciting than his first championship. For one, Atlanta shouldn't have even been there. If Minnesota won the NFC championship, this may have been one of the best Super Bowls of all time. The Vikings would have lost, of course, because they're 0-for-4. The mere fact that two four-time Super Bowl losers would've matched up in the big game would have at least been a great story. Alas, it didn't happen, and the Broncos sent Elway into retirement a two-time winner.
How it stacked up: Fourth in story appeal and 10th in attendance in non-competitive Super Bowls, 33 had a low television rating and middle-of-the-pack marks in surprise and stars.
32. Super Bowl II- Green Bay 33, Oakland 14
January 14, 1968, Miami
The second Super Bowl was slightly better than the first, merely because the 1967 Raiders were slightly better than the 1966 Chiefs. After winning what can be considered the last great pre-merger NFL championship in the Ice Bowl, the Packers actually only led 16-7 at half over the dominant AFL champions from California. However, the Pack wore down Oakland in the second half to earn the second straight Super Bowl championship.
How it stacked up: Two was top 10 among uncompetitive championships in surprise (Green Bay only won by five points more than they were predicted to), stars and attendance, but was the second-lowest rated Super Bowl ever.
33. Super Bowl I- Green Bay 35, Kansas City 10
January 15, 1967, Los Angeles
Super Bowl I will always have the honor of being the only undisputed best Super Bowl ever, because for a year there was nothing with which to compare it. In the 47 years since the first world championship of football, this game has dissolved largely into a mere trivia fact. Like the following Super Bowl, number one had a close halftime score (14-10 Green Bay), but the Packers pulled away to a 25-point win with a strong second half.
How it stacked up: The best story of uncompetitive games, Super Bowl One also had the second-most Hall of Famers in the group. However, the only Super Bowl not to sell out was, naturally, the worst-attended as well.
34. Super Bowl XI- Oakland 32, Minnesota 14
January 9, 1977, Pasadena, Calif.
The Raiders scored more points in the second quarter (16) than the Vikings did in 60 minutes in the former's first Super Bowl win and the latter's fourth Super Bowl loss. MVP Fred Biletnikoff and the Raiders sealed the victory with a 13-point fourth quarter in the team's first of three championships in eight years.
How it stacked up: The best-attended non-competitive Super Bowl also ranked fourth in stars and eighth in TV ranking. The story was third-worst, however.
35. Super Bowl XVIII- Raiders 38, Washington 9
January 22, 1984, Tampa, Fla.
The third world championship the Raiders won was also the most lopsided. Notable about this game was that it was the last Super Bowl the AFC won for 14 years. The Redskins were actually favored in this game, which makes LA's 29-point win that much more significant. The Raiders put it away by the end of the third quarter, and Marcus Allen won MVP honors.
How it stacked up: 18 was top 10 among non-competitive Super Bowls in surprise, stars and TV rating. I did, however, rank the story appeal last in uncompetitive games.
36. Super Bowl XXVII- Dallas 52, Buffalo 17
January 31, 1993, Pasadena, Calif.
The culmination of the 1992 NFL season was also the end of a three-year turnaround for Jimmy Johnson's Dallas Cowboys. In 1988, the Cowboys were the worst team in the NFL. With 1989 first-overall draft pick Troy Aikman and a host of players gained after the blockbuster Herschel Walker trade, Johnson and owner Jerry Jones turned America's Team into 35-point Super Bowl winners. The Bills, in their third straight Super Bowl, still couldn't get over the NFC hump and became the first team to lose three straight Super Bowls.
How it stacked up: Perhaps a surprisingly low-ranked game, 27 was top 10 in every category but surprise among the uncompetitive games. Such a large score differential was likely the cause of SB27 falling out of the top 30.
37. Super Bowl XIX- San Francisco 38, Miami 16
January 20, 1985, Stanford, Calif.
Perhaps the two greatest quarterbacks of all time squared off in Super Bowl XIX, but it was all Montana by halftime. Notable about this game is that it was Dan Marino's one and only Super Bowl appearance. Perhaps there's another second-year quarterback that would like to know this tidbit. It was also the first of 13 straight Super Bowl wins for the National conference.
How it stacked up: With the Marino-Montana matchup, 19 achieved top-five marks in TV rating and attendance in uncompetitive games. The game ranked bottom 10 in the other three categories, though.
38. Super Bowl XXXI- Green Bay 35, New England 21
January 26, 1997, New Orleans
From the first of 13 straight NFC Super Bowl wins to the last: the 31st world championship would prove to be Brett Favre's only championship win, and the future Hall of Famer didn't even win MVP honors. Like in 10 of the previous 13 Super Bowls, the game was a lackluster blowout.
How it stacked up: 31's highest rank was sixth-most surprising in uncompetitive Super Bowls; as 14-point favorites, the Packers won by exactly that amount. The rest of the ranks were mid-range. The game's lowest rank was 17th in attendance.
39. Super Bowl XXI- Giants 39, Denver 20
January 25, 1987, Pasadena, Calif.
There's a reason every late-1980's Broncos highlight involves the Cleveland Browns and not any team from the NFC. This was the first of three Super Bowls in four years in which Elway's Broncs lost by an average of 32 points. This was the closest the Broncos of the '80s got to the Lombardi, leading 10-9 at halftime. The Giants shot out of the locker room and cruised to their first NFL title in 30 years.
How it stacked up: 21 was in the top five in attendance and TV rating, but next-to-last in stars and story appeal in non-competitive games.
40. Super Bowl VIII- Miami 24, Minnesota 7
January 13, 1974, Houston
The Dolphins became the second team to win back-to-back Super Bowls after pulling ahead to a 24-0 third-quarter lead over the first team to lose back-to-back Super Bowls (although this was the first of the two for Minnesota). Larry Csonka was the first running back to win MVP honors with 145 yards on 33 carries.
How it stacked up: The eighth world championship of professional football had the fourth-most future Hall of Fame members in the uncompetitive games, but ranked 13th or worse in every other category.
41. Super Bowl XXIX- San Francisco 49, San Diego 26
January 29, 1995, Miami
Steve Young got the monkey off his back in the highest-scoring game in Super Bowl history and the second Super Bowl between two teams from the same state. Once again the 49ers won a Super Bowl against a vastly inferior AFC team; regardless, San Francisco became the first team to win five Super Bowls. Young won MVP honors after throwing a Super Bowl-record six touchdown passes.
How it stacked up: Number 29 finished seventh in surprise among , as San Francisco was supposed to win in a blowout and exceeded that expectation by only a touchdown. With the Chargers bringing no future Hall of Famers to the game, it ranked in the bottom five in star power.
42. Super Bowl XXII- Washington 42, Denver 10
January 31, 1988, San Diego
Denver was up 10-0 early. But then Doug Williams and the Redskins took over. Big time. Washington's 35 second quarter points are still the most ever scored in one quarter of the Super Bowl. And speaking of monkeys off backs, Williams became the first black quarterback to win the Super Bowl. He earned MVP honors for his 340 yards and four touchdowns.
How it stacked up: Denver being favorites, Washington's domination (beating the spread by 35 points) makes 22 the most surprising non-competitive Super Bowl. It tied for fifth-least stars in uncompetitive games, though.
43. Super Bowl XXVI- Washington 37, Buffalo 24
January 26, 1992, Minneapolis
Something about the Washington Redskins in the second quarter. The Redskins won their third Super Bowl in 10 years after scoring 17 in the quarter against the dismal Bills defense, and were able to take their foot off the gas after holding a 31-10 advantage through three. An interesting fact is that within a decade, the Redskins won three championships...with three different starting quarterbacks. Impressive.
How it stacked up: Top 10 in surprise and stars, 26 was next-to-last in uncompetitive games for attendance and fourth-worst in story appeal.
44. Super Bowl XX- Chicago 46, New England 10
January 26, 1986, New Orleans
I saw a fan poll this week that put Super Bowl 20 in the top 10 all time. My only question is, what are you smoking, fans? The game was over by halftime, and even Chicago fans were probably tuned into the Bulls game by the end of the third quarter. The only appeal of this game was the highly-entertaining Super Bowl Shuffle. Chicago was a Monday night away from finishing the season 19-0 with the innovative 46 defense, so the Cinderella Patriots were no match for Da Coach's mighty Midway Monsters. So while the 1985 Bears were one of the greatest teams in NFL history, this game just served as the dot at the bottom of the exclamation point for their season.
How it stacked up: OK, 20 was the highest-rated of the non-competitive Super Bowls. But it was the third-least surprising (like I said, 17-1 monster against 14-5 underdog) and included the second-largest points difference in Super Bowl history.
45. Super Bowl XXXVII- Tampa Bay 48, Oakland 21
January 26, 2003, San Diego
Rich Gannon and the Raiders, though favored by four, were no match for the vaunted Buccaneers defense in the "Gruden Bowl". Newly-minted Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks scored one of three Tampa pick-sixes in the last Super Bowl to date to be a blowout.
How it stacked up: As Tampa Bay was the pregame underdog, this Super Bowl was fifth-most surprising of the non-competitive games. However it had the third-lowest attendance in the group and ranked 16th in both rating and star power.
46. Super Bowl XXXV- Baltimore 34, Giants 7
January 28, 2001, Tampa, Fla.
It was the Giants' only Super Bowl loss in five appearances, and boy was it bad. MVP Ray Lewis and the stingy Ravens defense manhandled Kerry Collins and the New York offense, holding the latter unit to no points (New York's only touchdown was a kick return). Neither offense was that exciting, actually; in the topic of "which quarterbacks won the Super Bowl" Trent Dilfer is often the most-forgotten answer. A lopsided game with little stellar offensive play is good for the second-worst Super Bowl of all time.
How it stacked up: 35 ranked 16th-19th in every category among uncompetitive games, making it perhaps the most consistently poorly-ranked Super Bowl ever.
47. Super Bowl XXIV- San Francisco 55, Denver 10
January 28, 1990, New Orleans
This is often regarded as the worst Super Bowl of all-time. The fact that it was the biggest blowout in Super Bowl history likely helps out a lot in people's judgement of the game. It was the end of a very successful decade for the 49ers, and a terrible Super Bowl stretch for the Broncos. Lucky for Denver, a certain kicker came along the very next year to begin an even worse championship stretch.
How it stacked up: 24 was dead last in points differential and surprise, and second-worst in story lines among non-competitive points.
And one more time, unless I didn't link the video enough in this post: This one's for you, Scott Norwood.
