As always, I’ll preface this segment by saying these are the best I personally remember as I type this column. I might be forgetting the obvious. Also, I’m too young to remember the Dolphins back-to-back wins and remember only part of the Steeler dynasty – Super Bowls 13 and 14.
That said, I have watched every Super Bowl since Super Bowl 11. My most vivid memory of that game was Raider defensive backs Jack Tatum and Skip Thomas hitting Vikings receiver Sammy White so hard that White’s helmet flew 10 yards downfield. Most impressive was that White held on to the ball. I don’t remember Willie Brown’s interception return (forgive me, I was 6 years old). Otherwise, that might have made this list. Please note that this original list was made before Super Bowl 50.
As always, I won’t base this list on the “That’s my favorite play because my team scored” formula, but you sure can in the comments section! Let’s get to it!
10. Super Bowl 36
Adam Vinatieri‘s winning field goal. The Rams came into the game as heavy favorites to collect their second straight title. The Patriots led 17-3 after three quarters. A Ty Law interception return for a score was an early turning point. The Rams scorching offense tied the score with 1:37 to go in the game, putting the pressure on Tom Brady to deliver. His five completions on the last drive set up a 48-yard field goal attempt, which Vinatieri nailed.
I’m too young to remember Jim O’Brien’s winning FG in Super Bowl 5, but I certainly remember Scott Norwood’s miss in Super Bowl 25. Vinatieri’s kick was a yard longer than Norwood’s attempt, but AV had the advantage of kicking in the Superdome without wind gusts to push the ball wide. Still, a very exciting moment, as we all wondered if Super Bowl 36 would be the first to enter into overtime.
9. Super Bowl 31
Desmond Howard’s kickoff return. The Packers seemed like a team of destiny. Reggie White, the spiritual leader, and a kid from Mississippi named Brett Favre led the Green and Gold back to their glory days. The team owned the NFL’s top offense and top defense under a coaching staff that included a ridiculous amount of future head coaches. But it was Desmond Howard’s kickoff return that everyone remembers from that game, coming at a point when it looked like quarterback Drew Bledsoe and the Patriots might have a chance. Howard slammed the door shut and won MVP honors.
8. Super Bowl 43
Santonio Holmes’ amazing catch. A crazy game that looked like a lock for the Steelers when Bruce Springsteen took the stage at halftime. Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald weren’t going away quietly, however, and a 20-7 Steeler lead with 8 minutes left in the game flipped into a 23-20 Cardinal lead after two Fitzgerald touchdowns and a safety in a five-minute swing.
Ben Roethlisberger’s toughness willed the Black and Gold downfield in the closing moments. Santonio Holmes scored the game-winning touchdown with seconds left, on a breathtaking catch that demonstrated exceptional concentration and balance in a most pressure-filled situation.
7. Super Bowl 49
Malcolm Butler’s interception. A lot of people criticize the play call, but the amount of preparation Butler put in to make that play – the film study, reading the formation – made this play truly remarkable. For Butler, a rookie, to make that kind of a play with the Super Bowl on the line will always stand out in my mind far above whether the correct play was called. NFL football comes down to who executes best no matter what the play call, and Butler positioned himself based on his preparation. That’s a champion.
6. Super Bowl 17
John Riggins‘ first down and more. Joe Gibbs beat Bill Belichick to the playbook punch. Gibbs went for it on fourth-and-one with just over 10 minutes left in the game, with the Miami Dolphins leading his Washington Redskins 17-13. Miami founded its lead on two huge plays — a 76-yard David Woodley to Jimmy Cefalo touchdown and a 98-yard Fulton Walker kickoff return.
The biggest play of the game belonged to Riggins, however, his 43-yard glorious scoring rumble on fourth down not only put Washington up for good, it paved Riggins’ way to Canton. If any Hall of Fame member had his career immortalized from a single play, it might be Riggins from this one.
5. Super Bowl 18
Marcus Allen reverses field. Tables turned the next year as the Los Angeles Raiders pounded Riggins’ Redskins 38-9. One play after the Raiders ironically stuffed Riggins on a fourth-and-one, Allen donated his own epic moment in Super Bowl lore.
The play seemed almost doomed from the start, as Jim Plunkett nearly bumped into Allen on the handoff. Allen next ran straight into Washington linebacker Rich Milot, but Milot was too busy fighting off three Raider linemen. Allen then found himself trapped by two more defenders — Ken Coffey and Ted Liebenstein. Allen reversed field, squeezed through an opening up the middle, and raced for paydirt. He outmaneuvered a diving Neal Olkewicz and a sprinting Anthony Washington. Cliff Branch made a nice block on Anthony Washington at the end, and Allen’s magic permanently carved itself into the memories of everybody watching.
4. Super Bowl 13
Rocky Bleier’s catch. Super Bowl 13 is the most exciting Super Bowl, from start to finish, that I remember. As the Steelers and Cowboys battled it out for “Team of the 70s” supremacy, the game produced a lifetime of memories. Thomas Henderson stripped the ball from Terry Bradshaw, and Mike Hegman returned the fumble for a Cowboys touchdown. Franco Harris rushed up the middle for a key score, and Lynn Swann followed shortly afterward with his own touchdown. The Swann touchdown came after a very controversial pass interference call against Cowboy Bennie Barnes. Of course, there’s also the sure Cowboy touchdown pass that Hall of Fame tight end Jackie Smith dropped in the end zone.
The play that made the cover of Sports Illustrated, however, was a leaping Rocky Bleier collecting a late first-half touchdown that Bleier loves to point out “gave us a lead we never relinquished.” Rocky tells the story of his catch in The Game before the Money, noting that he tricked Cowboy linebacker D.D. Lewis into moving up toward the line of scrimmage before Rocky drifted back into the end zone for the score.
3. Super Bowl 34
Mike Jones tackles Kevin Dyson. The Titans tied the game at 16 when Al Del Greco‘s field goal soared between the uprights with just over 3 minutes left in the game. On the Rams first play of their next possession, quarterback Kurt Warner connected with Isaac Bruce for a 73-yard touchdown. The score and ensuing kickoff shaved over a minute off the clock, leaving Titans quarterback Steve McNair with only 1:48 to drive 88 yards. McNair completed five passes, and the Rams committed three penalties. The Titans set up on the Rams 25 with five seconds remaining.
Everybody watching knew a fantastic finish awaited. McNair hit Dyson over the middle, and Jones made an outstanding open-field tackle one yard shy of the goal line. Between the Rams quick TD and the Titans final drive, Super Bowl 34 remains quite possibly the most exciting finish I can remember.
2. Super Bowl 42
How did David Tyree catch that? The Helmet Catch. I remember watching the replays, astounded that the ball didn’t hit the ground. I’m not usually one to trumpet the sensationalized freak plays, but the context in which this grab was made makes it ultra-special. The reception trashed the Patriots undefeated regular season, kept the 1972 Dolphins alive as the only undefeated team in the modern era, and suddenly Eli Manning was no longer just Peyton Manning‘s little brother. While much credit should be given to the Giants defensive line for bull-rushing Tom Brady all night, the crazy catch became the most memorable moment.
1. Super Bowl 23
Montana to Taylor. The Bengals had an excellent team that year. I wasn’t surprised that they held their own against the 49ers, although I was very impressed they did so without defensive standout Tim Krumrie, who went down with a broken leg early in the game. Neither offense did much for most of that day. In fact, the first touchdown wasn’t scored until just before the fourth quarter, and it was on Stanford Jennings‘ 93-yard kickoff return. That gave the Bengals a 13-6 lead going into the final quarter. Joe Montana hit game MVP Jerry Rice for the game’s first offensive touchdown, tying it at 13 early in the fourth.
Both offenses continued to struggle, but Boomer Esiason drove the Bengals to the 49ers 22 for a go-ahead field goal. The drive shaved over five minutes off the clock and left Montana with just 3:04 to drive 92 yards. After famously pointing out John Candy in the crowd, Montana completed seven of eight passes, the last one to John Taylor for the winning touchdown with just 34 seconds remaining.
Joe Cool strikes again.
Honorable Mention
Every Super Bowl has its defining moments. Sometimes they happen early, like the Seahawks early safety in Super Bowl 48. When they happen in groups, during multiple spots, or near the end, those games tend to be the most memorable and exciting. Super Bowl 13 is a great example.
Other moments that almost made the list include John Stallworth‘s 73-yard touchdown in Super Bowl 14. That game was much closer than the 31-19 final score indicates. The Rams led 19-17 in the fourth quarter before Stallworth’s score.
Clay Matthews slamming Rashard Mendenhall and forcing a critical fumble in Super Bowl 45 also stands out. The Cowboys defense smothering Jim Kelly near the goal line, forcing an interception returned for a touchdown was another defensive play that almost made the list.
Besides Howard’s kickoff return, the back-to-back kickoff returns for touchdowns in Super Bowl 35 by the Giants Ron Dixon and the Ravens Jermaine Lewis dashed excitement into a lackluster game. Chicago’s Devin Hester returning Super Bowl 41’s opening kickoff for a 92-yard touchdown also deserves special teams honors.
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