Over the years, the Super Bowl has given us some of the most magical and inspiring moments in all of sport.
Some of those moments have been moments of otherworldly skill, others due to exceptionally poor play or an extremely poor decision made at the crucial moment.
But regardless of the context, these moments are etched into the memory because of the sheer drama that they created in the game.
So to continue our ten best series, in which we’ve looked at the ten best defenses in the NFL previously as well as the 10 best quarterbacks, we are going to give you our ten best moments in Super Bowl history.
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So let’s get our list underway with some of the most incredible moments in Super Bowl history. If you are looking to bet on the 2022/2023 Super Bowl, betting odds are already available.
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Ten Greatest Moments In Super Bowl History
10. Joe Namath Guarantees A Jets Win
Back in Super Bowl III, the New York Jets legendary quarterback Joe Namath broke ranks from the trusted soundbites spouted by players ahead of the game. Namath was adamant that the Jets would win, so much so he went on TV and personally guaranteed it.
That was shocking because their opponents, the Baltimore Colts, were the strong favourites to win the game. However, Namath was true to his word and led the Jets to a 16-7 victory over the Colts and landed the AFC (soon to become the AFC) its first ever Super Bowl victory.
9. The Philly Special – Nick Foles Catches A TD
When Carson Wentz went down late in the Eagles season, many felt that their hopes of a Super Bowl were over. However, Nick Foles came in and led the Eagles through the playoffs and into the big game where they would face the New England Patriots.
Facing a fourth and one on the Patriots one yard line in the second quarter, head coach Doug Pederson gambled on a trick play where QB Folks would shift out to the right and Tight End Trey Burton would take the snap and toss the ball to Folks.
It worked perfectly and became known as the “Philly Special” playing a key role in the Eagles eventual victory.
8. Garo’s Gaffe – Miami’s Only Blunder On A Perfect Season
In Super Bowl VII, the Miami Dolphins led Washington 14-0 and looked set to complete a 17-0 perfect season. Coach Don Shula watched as his team drove into the Washington half late in the game and rather than go for it on 4th and 4, Shula felt it would be great to mirror a 17-0 perfect season with a 17-0 Super Bowl victory.
He called kicker Garo Yepremian to attempt a 42 yard field goal . Yepremian’s kick was blocked by Bill Brundige.
What followed was comical as Yepremian picked the ball up, rather than falling on it, and attempted to pass the ball to his teammate Larry Csonka, Unforutnately, the ball slipped out of his hands and went up in the air.
Yepremian then tried to bat the ball out of bounds but only succeeded in batting it to Mike Bass who returned the fumble 49 yards for Washington’s only score of the game. This would be the only blemish on an otherwise perfect season for Miami who went on to win the game.
7. Scott Norwood Field Goal Miss Hands Snatches Defeat From Jaws Of Victory For Bills
In one of the closest ever Super Bowls, Super Bowl XXV, the New York Giants led the Buffalo Bills 20-19 late in the fourth quarter, but the Bills were driving down field in an attempt to land any score to win the game.
Jim Kelly led the K-Gun offense downfield and they reached the Giants 29 yard line with eight seconds left on the clock.
Kicker Scott Norwood came in to attempt to win the game for Buffalo, but his 47-yard attempt just missed wide right handing the Giants a victory and leaving the Bills still without a Super Bowl win.
6. Harrison 100 yard interception and Santonio Holmes Hand Steelers Last Gasp Win
Super Bowl XLIII had plenty of drama, with the Steelers dominating early on before the Arizona Cardinals took the lead for the first time late in the fourth quarter.
The game was lit up in the second quarter when linebacker James Harrison intercepted the ball at the goal line and returned it 100 yards for a Steelers touchdown, which was then a record at the time.
However, two scores by the Cardinals in the fourth quarter put them 23-20 ahead and meant the Steelers had just over two minutes to land the win.
Ben Roethlisberger drove his team down field and landed a spectacular pass to Santonio Holmes to put the Steelers 27-23 in front to snatch the victory.
5. David Tyree Catches The Ball On His Helmet – Super Bowl XLII
The New York Giant’s were driving to try and cause one of the biggest Super Bowl upsets of all time. Trailing to the New England Patriots 14-10, the Giants faced a third and five on their own 44 yard line late in the game.
After the ball was snapped, Giants quarterback Eli Manning was put under pressure by the Patriots defense but managed to elude several players before throwing the ball high downfield. Receiver David Tyree went up for the ball and somehow managed to catch it one handed, by holding it fast against his helmet as he fell to the ground.
That gave the Giants the ball on the New England 25 yard line with 58 seconds left in the game. Manning then hit Plaxico Burress for the game winning score that saw the Giants land the win and end the Patriots hope of a perfect season.
4. The Drive – Montana Leads 49ers To Victory In Super Bowl XXIII
In Super Bowl XXIII, the Cincinnati Bengals led the San Francisco 49ers 16-13 deep in the fourth quarter in what had been a tight game between two well-matched teams. The 49ers started with the ball on their own eight-yard line.
In order to relieve the tension in the huddle, Joe Montana joked about actor John Candy being in the crowd. His diversion tactic worked as he orchestrated a 92-yard drive that ended with Montana finding John Taylor in the end zone for the catch that would win the 49ers the game.
3. Seahawks Elect To Pass From New England 1-Yard Line
In Super Bowl XLIX, the New England Patriots led the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 with the Seahawks driving down field late in the game. The Patriots had already scored twice in the fourth quarter to turn a 24-14 deficit into a 28-24 lead.
The Seahawks though had managed to drive the ball down to the New England five yard line with just over a minute remaining. Beast Mode, Marshawn Lynch, arguably the best running back in the NFL at the time, moved the ball to the New England one yard line and the Patriots did not call a time out, meaning the clock ran down to 26 seconds.
Everyone in the world at this point thought the play would be a hand off to Lynch to rush the one yard to put the Seahawks in front, but Pete Carroll tried to second guess the Patriots, calling a pass play.
It is regarded now as the worst play call in Super Bowl history.
However, the attempted pass to Jermaine Kearse was read by Malcolm Butler who intercepted the pass and earned the turnover which eventually won New England the game.
2. Titans Fall Just One Yard Short Against The Rams – Super Bowl XXXIV
Super Bowl XXXIV saw the Greatest Show On Turf St Louis Rams claim their only Super Bowl win in a topsy turvy game against the Tennessee Titans. The Rams opened up a 16-0 lead in the third quarter in a one-sided showing, before the Titans fought back to tie the game at 16-16.
The Rams then scored a key touchdown through Isaac Bruce giving the ball back to the Titans with little time left on the clock. Led by Steve McNair and Eddie George, the Titans drove downfield and reached the St Louis Rams 10-yard line with six seconds remaining.
Steve McNair hit Kevin Dyson at the five yard line, but Mike Jones managed to wrap up the Titans receiver just short of the goal line to preserve the Rams lead and leave the Titans just a yard short of tying the game.
1. The Patriots Come Back From The Dead Against Atlanta
By midway through the third quarter of Super Bowl LI, it looked like the New England Patriots were dead and buried. Training 28-3 to the Atlanta Falcons, it looked like the Falcons would be lifting the Lombardi Trophy.
However, what followed was arguably the most incredible one-and-a-bit quarters of Super Bowl action in history.
Tom Brady threw a touchdown to James White, then kicked a field goal after just over five minutes of the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 28-12.
Matt Ryan was then sacked for the first time in two months to allow the Patriots to convert a touchdown and a two-point conversion to make it 28-20 with 5.56 left on the clock.
The Falcons couldn’t score on the next possession and punted the ball away to New England, and the Patriots rode their luck to drive downfield to score the game tying field goal and two point conversion to force overtime.
Winning the toss, the Patriots elected to receive and drove the ball downfield for James White to score and clinch the Super Bowl victory in the most unlikeliest of fashions.
