[Todd Pence]

Now that Supe 44 has concluded, and I'm currently snowbound here with time on my hands, I thought I'd make an attempt to rank every single one of the 44 Super Bowls to date in terms of the excitement and competitiveness of each individual game, starting from the worst Super Bowl ever and working upward. So let's start with the bottom eleven:

#44 - SUPER BOWL 24
49ERS 55 BRONCOS 10
King of all the many lopsided blowouts in Super Bowl history.

#43 - SUPER BOWL 29
49ERS 49 CHARGERS 26
A redux of Supe 24, except with Steve Young instead of Joe Montana.

#42 - SUPER BOWL 20
BEARS 46 PATRIOTS 10
The Patriots play the Washington Generals to the Bears’ Harlem Globetrotters.

#41 - SUPER BOWL 8
DOLPHINS 24 VIKINGS 7
Easily the most boring of all the Super Bowl games. At least the Niners showed some flash and dazzle in their rout in game 24.

#40 - SUPER BOWL 18
RAIDERS 38 REDSKINS 9
A season filled with brilliant gems of games, like the Redskins 37-35 win over the Raiders, ends with a dud in this horrific rematch.

#39 - SUPER BOWL 22
REDSKINS 42 BRONCOS 10
Broncs’ second-quarter collapse turns what started out looking like one of the most entertaining Super Bowls into one of the most anticlimactic.

#38 - SUPER BOWL 26
REDSKINS 37 BILLS 24
One of the Super routs that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score indicated.

#37 - SUPER BOWL 27
COWBOYS 52 BILLS 17
This 52-17 blowout ranks this high only because the Bills kept the game competitive for most of the first half, before suffering one of the most devastating implosions of any football team ever.

#36 - SUPER BOWL 15
RAIDERS 27 EAGLES 10
Has any team ever entered a Super Bowl game tighter than the Eagles did in this one? Has any team ever entered one more relaxed than the Raiders?

#35 - SUPER BOWL 19
49ERS 38 DOLPHINS 16
For a game that promised such offensive fireworks, this had one of the dullest second halfs of any SB ever.

#34 - SUPER BOWL 37
BUCCANEERS 48 RAIDERS 21
Yet another Super Bore that makes one want to flip channels to see if there is a good movie showing on the Lifetime Network.

Next post, I'll reveal the next eleven . . .

[Tod Maher]

Todd Pence, on 08 February 2010 - 02:51 PM, said:

Now that Supe 44 has concluded, and I'm currently snowbound here with time on my hands, I thought I'd make an attempt to rank every single one of the 44 Super Bowls to date in terms of the excitement and competitiveness of each individual game, starting from the worst Super Bowl ever and working upward. So let's start with the bottom eleven:

#44 - SUPER BOWL 24
49ERS 55 BRONCOS 10
King of all the many lopsided blowouts in Super Bowl history.

#43 - SUPER BOWL 29
49ERS 49 CHARGERS 26
A redux of Supe 24, except with Steve Young instead of Joe Montana.

#35 - SUPER BOWL 19
49ERS 38 DOLPHINS 16
For a game that promised such offensive fireworks, this had one of the dullest second halfs of any SB ever.

Being a lifelong 49er fan, these are three of my top four games! LOL
And how dare you not use Roman numerals in the numbering the games! LOL

[Todd Pence]

Tod Maher, on 08 February 2010 - 07:37 PM, said:

Being a lifelong 49er fan, these are three of my top four games! LOL
And how dare you not use Roman numerals in the numbering the games! LOL

Who reads roman numerals nowadays?
And some franchises did come off worse than others as far as the quality of the games they were involved in - 49ers, Raiders, Redskins - although the Redskins game XVII (there, there's your Roman Numeral) - will assuredly be a top five finisher.

[Rupert Patrick]

Todd Pence, on 08 February 2010 - 05:51 PM, said:

#39 - SUPER BOWL 22
REDSKINS 42 BRONCOS 10
Broncs’ second-quarter collapse turns what started out looking like one of the most entertaining Super Bowls into one of the most anticlimactic.

I would rate this game higher, as Doug Williams put on the most exciting eleven minutes of Football I've ever seen.

[BD Sullivan]

Todd Pence, on 08 February 2010 - 05:51 PM, said:

#41 - SUPER BOWL 8
DOLPHINS 24 VIKINGS 7
Easily the most boring of all the Super Bowl games. At least the Niners showed some flash and dazzle in their rout in game 24.

The Dolphins primarily relied on their running game to score the first two times they had the ball. By the end of the first quarter, the game was over, even though they "only" won by 17.

[26554]

Tod Maher, on 08 February 2010 - 07:37 PM, said:

Being a lifelong 49er fan, these are three of my top four games! LOL

That's understandable. I would probably go with SB XXIV as the worst/most boring. That one was over even quicker than SB XX was. However, in recent years, I have come to appreciate what a showcase that was for the brilliance of Montana and Rice.

Cold, Hard Football Facts.com also did a 'worst to first' SB list a few days ago:


http://coldhardfootb...t_to_first.html

[Magda]

From that "Cold, Hard..." list, some interesting facts jump out at me...

In the '74 Super Bowl Bob Griese finished the day 6 of 7 passing and still the Dolphins won convincingly.

In the '83 game David Woodley only completed 4 passes all game and yet (this part I forgot) the Dolphins were still leading the 'Skins in the 4th Quarter.

Also, the Rams were leading the Steelers in the 4th Quarter of the '80 game.

[Todd Pence]

I just took a quick glance at that list, and the first two choices (bottom) surprised me. Super Bowl XL the worst ever? I understand that that game left a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths. But it was still a closely contested game, better than at least half the Super Bowls. In the end, the Seahawks were done in by their own mistakes as much as the one-sided officiating.

Super Bowl VI the second-worst ever? Not one of the better games, sure. The Dolphins may have been the only SB team not to score a touchdown, but they nonetheless put up a much better fight against the Cowboys than the Broncos in XXIV or the Patriots in XX.

Also, ranking Colts-Bears as number 33? That was a better game than people remember.

And another Super Bowl V hater. I understand the game was full of turnovers and penalties, but really V belongs in anyone's top ten. The Colts did overcome the largest fourth-quarter deficit in SB history to win, after all.

[Todd Pence]

Time for me to post part II of my rankings . . .

#33 - SUPER BOWL 11
RAIDERS 32, VIKINGS 14
The Vikings tease their fans by recovering an early blocked punt in the shadow of the Raiders goal posts, only to immediately fumble the ball away. The rest of the game was all Raiders. The fact that this game ranks as high as it does is a testament to how many Super Bowls have been really bad games.

#32 - SUPER BOWL 4
CHIEFS 23, VIKINGS 7
For the second straight year, an AFL team upsets an NFL colossus. But this game didn’t have the charisma of the Jets’ win the previous year. The most entertaining thing about it was Hank Stram’s sideline patter.

#31 - SUPER BOWL 2
PACKERS 33, RAIDERS 14
Lombardi’s curtain call. The Raiders didn’t stand a chance in this game and barely put up a fight.

#30 - SUPER BOWL 12
COWBOYS 27, BRONCOS 10
Kudos to the Orange Crush defense for keeping the Broncos close in this one despite the nightmarish game by their offense (seven first half turnovers). Norris Weese replaced Craig Morton in the second half at QB for the Broncos and made things a little more interesting.

#29 - SUPER BOWL 35
RAVENS 34, GIANTS 7
A real yawner between a pair of offensively challenged, defensive minded teams. The only real excitement generated by this one was the back-to-back KO returns for touchdowns. One of three Super Bowl technical shutouts (along with games 7 and 9).

#28 - SUPER BOWL 33
BRONCOS 34, FALCONS 19
Atlanta’s upset of the Vikes in the NFC title game deprived us of what would have been a truly super matchup. At least the Falcons kept things close for a while, although the outcome was a foregone conclusion.

#27 - SUPER BOWL 1
PACKERS 35, CHIEFS 10
First ever meeting between NFL and AFL clubs on the big stage turned out to be the blowout everyone expected. But credit the Chiefs for hanging with the Pack throughout the first half.

#26 - SUPER BOWL 16
49ERS 26, BENGALS 21
A rout disguised as a close game. Might have been a different story if Cincy had been able to convert that fourth-and-goal though.

#25 - SUPER BOWL 31
PACKERS 35, PATRIOTS 21
For the first three quarters, this was as exciting a Super Bowl game as ever was. Unfortunately both teams put it to bed in the final frame.

#24 - SUPER BOWL 6
COWBOYS 24, DOLPHINS 3
True, the Dolphins were the only Super Bowl team to be held without a touchdown. But they still put up a pretty good fight against the Cowboys before being finally overpowered and done in by their own mistakes.

#23 - SUPER BOWL 30
COWBOYS 27, STEELERS 17
Steelers dug themselves too deep a hole, despite spirited fourth-quarter rally.

[Mark L. Ford]

Super Bowl V hasn't been mentioned yet by Todd. At the time, it was panned by the critics as torture to watch because of all the errors (the Blooper Bowl, the Blunder Bowl, etc.), and yet from a 2010 perspective, the 1971 game -- which was tied 13-13 until the final seconds-- would qualify as one of the most exciting of the first twenty that were played.

[Todd Pence]

Mark L. Ford, on 09 February 2010 - 07:39 AM, said:

Super Bowl V hasn't been mentioned yet by Todd. At the time, it was panned by the critics as torture to watch because of all the errors (the Blooper Bowl, the Blunder Bowl, etc.), and yet from a 2010 perspective, the 1971 game -- which was tied 13-13 until the final seconds-- would qualify as one of the most exciting of the first twenty that were played.

Actually, I did comment on Super Bowl V in reference to its ridiculously low ranking on the cold hard facts list. See the post previous to my last one.

[BD Sullivan]

Magda, on 08 February 2010 - 10:15 PM, said:

Also, the Rams were leading the Steelers in the 4th Quarter of the '80 game.

That brief threat to the Steeler dynasty was immortalized by NFL Films in the highlight film of the game. At the close of the third quarter, Chuck Noll is shown yelling at an NFL Films guy while Noll is talking to Terry Bradshaw. It's available on www.hulu.com -- the Noll outburst is almost 15 minutes into the 22-minute program:

http://www.hulu.com/...s?show=3817#x-4,vepisode,1,0

[Todd Pence]

A few more:

#22 - SUPER BOWL 7
DOLPHINS 14, REDSKINS 7
The archetypal "not as close as the final score" game.

#21 - SUPER BOWL 3
JETS 16, COLTS 7
Key to the historic upset was the Colts shooting themselves in the foot every time they came close to scoring.

#20 - SUPER BOWL 43
STEELERS 27, CARDINALS 23
Now, if the Cardinals had hung on at the end, this game would probably rank as the best ever. As it is, it's just another case of an underdog digging themselves an early hole, then coming close with a rally at the end but not getting the job done.

#19 - SUPER BOWL 13
STEELERS 35, COWBOYS 31
Steelers actually broke open game midway in the fourth, building 18-point lead, and only a couple of late Dallas touchdowns made the score close at the end. Lot of great plays and what-ifs in this one, though.

#18 - SUPER BOWL 21
GIANTS 39, BRONCOS 20
Few people remember that the Broncos actually led at halftime in this one. You definitely could feel the dam about to burst, though.

#17 - SUPER BOWL 9
STEELERS 16, VIKINGS 6
I probably rated this game higher than it deserves, but I love a good defensive struggle. And we had a classic matchup with the Steel Curtain and the Purple People Eaters, both of whom lived up to their billing. But although the Vikings were within three points in the fourth quarter, they never really had a chance.

[Mark L. Ford]

Todd Pence, on 09 February 2010 - 08:04 AM, said:

Actually, I did comment on Super Bowl V in reference to its ridiculously low ranking on the cold hard facts list. See the post previous to my last one.

Hmmm, well, so you did. It just hadn't shown up in your rankings. Sorry, Casey, I guess I was following the countdown, not the long distance dedications.

[Rupert Patrick]

Todd Pence, on 09 February 2010 - 05:16 PM, said:

#20 - SUPER BOWL 43
STEELERS 27, CARDINALS 23
Now, if the Cardinals had hung on at the end, this game would probably rank as the best ever. As it is, it's just another case of an underdog digging themselves an early hole, then coming close with a rally at the end but not getting the job done.

I would have to rate this one in the top ten. The key play that won the game was the Harrison coast-to-coast Pick Six to end the first half; without that, the late TD pass by Roethlisberger would have left the Steelers three down and they would have had to recover an onside kick with about 30 seconds left. Thrilling finish, though.

[Bob Gill]

>I would have to rate this one in the top ten.

Yes! I thought it was a great game, no question.

[26554]

I'd also put SB XLIII in the top ten, as well as SB XIII, even though the NFL Films highlight show for the game does exaggerate the Cowboys comeback somewhat.

[BD Sullivan]

26554, on 09 February 2010 - 10:57 PM, said:

SB XIII, even though the NFL Films highlight show for the game does exaggerate the Cowboys comeback somewhat.

Super Bowls X and XIII both involved Dallas and Pittsburgh, both were in Miami and both had late Dallas comebacks that fell short:

*For X, the Steelers held a 21-10 lead at the two-minute warning, but after a quick Dallas score, the Cowboys quickly held the Steelers to get the ball back at their 40 with 1:22 left. They got as close as the Steeler 38, but the dramatic all-or-nothing last pass with no time left was picked off.

*In XIII, the Steelers held a 35-17 advantage when Dallas scored on a Staubach to Billy Joe DuPree pass with 2:27 left. The Boys then got the onside kick, with Staubach hitting Butch Johnson for a four-yard TD pass with 22 seconds left. The onside kick then failed when Rocky Bleier recovered.

Perhaps not so ironically, in X, scenes were shot for the movie, "Black Sunday." Soon after the conclusion of XIII (shown by NBC), CBS showed "Black Sunday."

[Todd Pence]

#16 - SUPER BOWL 28
COWBOYS 30, BILLS 13
Bills played first half like they were ready to be crowned champions. But once again the wheels came off in the second half.

#15 - SUPER BOWL 40
STEELERS 21, SEAHAWKS 10
Pittsburgh had only three good plays on offense, but that was all they needed to win this tightly contested and controversial game.

#14 - SUPER BOWL 32
BRONCOS 31, PACKERS 24
Underdog Broncs set pace all day long. Questionable decision by Mike Holmgren to give Terrell Davis the winning score.

#13 - SUPER BOWL 39
PATRIOTS 24, EAGLES 21
Eagles hung with the Patriots most of the day but questionable clock management cost them game.

#12 - SUPER BOWL 38
PATRIOTS 32, PANTHERS 29
Some fourth quarter, huh? The teams went back and forth in the final frame but Carolina never could get the upper hand.

#11 - SUPER BOWL 42
COLTS 29, BEARS 17
For some reason, even only a couple of years later, people seem to remember this game as a Colt rout. In reality, the Bears dominated early and gave Indy all they could handle.

[Rupert Patrick]

Todd Pence, on 10 February 2010 - 02:42 PM, said:

#15 - SUPER BOWL 40
STEELERS 21, SEAHAWKS 10
Pittsburgh had only three good plays on offense, but that was all they needed to win this tightly contested and controversial game.

#14 - SUPER BOWL 32
BRONCOS 31, PACKERS 24
Underdog Broncs set pace all day long. Questionable decision by Mike Holmgren to give Terrell Davis the winning score.

#12 - SUPER BOWL 38
PATRIOTS 32, PANTHERS 29
Some fourth quarter, huh? The teams went back and forth in the final frame but Carolina never could get the upper hand.

#11 - SUPER BOWL 42
COLTS 29, BEARS 17
For some reason, even only a couple of years later, people seem to remember this game as a Colt rout. In reality, the Bears dominated early and gave Indy all they could handle.

I would rate the Steelers Seahawks much further down the list; it just wasn't a very interesting game I thought. The game wasn't as close as the final score.

Super Bowl 32 I would rate top ten. Great game, but I knew Denver was going to pull the upset. Holmgren made the right move.

Patriots Panthers I would rate higher, the fourth quarter was the most exciting quarter in Super Bowl history.

Colts Bears I would rate lower. The Bears returned the opening kickoff for a TD but after that it was 29-10 Colts. I didn't think the game was as close as the final score.