From last-second victories to historic upsets, we're diving into the most unforgettable Super Bowl games that left fans on the edge of their seats. Join us as we count down the most thrilling, dramatic, and jaw-dropping moments in Super Bowl history that will be remembered for generations!
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the 20 best and most memorable
00:11Super Bowl games.
00:17Number 20, Super Bowl V.
00:19Super Sunday 1971, a bright day of promise for an extraordinary game of pro football.
00:29Early in the first quarter, the fickle nature of Super Bowl V began to emerge.
00:35This was the first modern era Super Bowl following the merger of the AFL and NFL, and what better
00:41way to celebrate than with one of the worst games of all time.
00:45Often nicknamed the Blunderbowl, the game was total chaos from start to finish.
00:51Referee mistakes, awful gameplay, countless penalties, not to mention a record 11 turnovers,
00:58this game was basically a live blooper reel.
01:01In fact, here are some fun stats for you.
01:04The Colts' 7 turnovers remains the most ever by a winning team, and this is the only
01:10Super Bowl in which the MVP was on the losing side.
01:14If that doesn't speak to the awful level of play, we don't know what does.
01:18Good game?
01:19No.
01:20Unforgettable?
01:21Absolutely.
01:22It's good, it's good!
01:29Number 19, Super Bowl XLV.
01:31A lot of contact, this ball is incomplete, but it was a fourth down pass, and Green Bay
01:40will take over.
01:41This game from 2011 featured two story teams with nine Super Bowl wins between them, the
01:47Packers with three and the legendary Steelers with six.
01:51The Packers dominated the first half of the game, pulling out to a commanding 21-3 lead.
01:57But the Steelers fought valiantly, taking it all the way to 28-25 in the fourth quarter.
02:03It would have been a legendary comeback, but the Packers successfully fought them off and
02:07emerged victorious 31-25 thanks to a Mason Crosby field goal.
02:13And with the win, Aaron Rodgers stepped out of the shadow of Brett Favre, throwing for
02:17304 yards and three touchdowns.
02:20It was a great game, and it firmly cemented Rodgers' place in Packers lore.
02:25The final snap of Super Bowl XLV, the Green Bay Packers have won the Super Bowl!
02:34Number 18, Super Bowl XXIX.
02:37At quarterback, from Brigham Young, number 8, Dee Young.
02:43If there's one player that defines the San Francisco 49ers, it's Joe Montanum.
02:49He had won four Super Bowls with the team, and now it was Steve Young's turn to prove
02:53his quality.
02:54There was a lot riding on the game, with Young hoping to emerge from Montana's shadow and
02:59the 49ers hoping to become the first team to win five Super Bowls.
03:04It was an offensive masterclass, with both teams combining to score 75 points, the most
03:09in Super Bowl history.
03:11The 49ers ultimately won 49-26, cementing their legacy as one of the NFL's greatest
03:18teams.
03:19As for Steve Young?
03:20He threw for 325 yards, set a Super Bowl record with six touchdown passes, and was named MVP.
03:27The success story was real.
03:39Number 17, Super Bowl X.
03:49This game showcased two powerhouse teams with Hall of Fame players.
03:54The Steelers came equipped with the legendary Steel Curtain defensive unit, and the Cowboys
03:59were widely known for their innovative offense, led by quarterback Roger Staubach.
04:04Unsurprisingly, the game was an exciting back-and-forth affair.
04:08Both teams traded leads, and the game ended with a dramatic final drive and end-zone interception
04:14by Glenn Edwards.
04:16And who can forget Lin Swan's spectacular performance, including the breathtaking 53-yard
04:21reception that is considered one of the most iconic catches in football history.
04:27It was enough to earn him MVP, becoming the first wide receiver to accomplish that feat.
04:46Number 16, Super Bowl XVI.
04:59The 1982 Super Bowl felt like an event.
05:02It was played in Detroit, making this the first Super Bowl to be hosted in a cold northern
05:07city.
05:08And what a welcome it received, with Detroit receiving a huge snowstorm and causing logistical
05:13issues for the players, the stadium, and its surrounding traffic.
05:17And with 85 million viewers, it became one of the most watched events in television history.
05:23Of course, the game itself was excellent as well.
05:26The Bengals mounted an exciting, if ultimately unsuccessful, comeback, and the 49ers proved
05:32their offensive and defensive excellence, with four turnovers and an MVP performance
05:37from Joe Montana.
05:39They marked the beginning of the team's dynasty, and they would dominate much of the
05:441980s.
05:55Number 15, Super Bowl XIV.
06:08There was an intense drama coming into Super Bowl XIV, with the Los Angeles Rams being
06:13huge underdogs.
06:15They had just a 9-7 record in the regular season and were facing the legendary Steelers,
06:20who were three-time Super Bowl champions.
06:23And they put up a valiant fight, going up 13-10 at halftime and even leading by the
06:28fourth quarter.
06:29But the Steelers ultimately proved why they were the best and emerged with a 31-19 win
06:34after scoring 14 unanswered points.
06:37The 103,000 in attendance also brought an electric atmosphere, and the 73-yard touchdown
06:43pass to John Stallworth remains one of the most iconic plays in Super Bowl history.
06:49There was a lot to love about this one.
07:05Number 14, Super Bowl LVI.
07:19The 2022 Super Bowl was a different beast.
07:23It had the bizarre distinction of being the first Super Bowl without a top-three seed,
07:28as both the Rams and the Bengals were the fourth seeds in their respective conferences.
07:33Regardless, both teams put on a spectacular show worthy of the big game.
07:38It was tightly contested through all four quarters, underwent three lead changes, and
07:43ended with a dramatic fourth-down conversion and touchdown catch by Cooper Kopp.
07:48And then there's the redemption arc of veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford, who played 12
07:53unmemorable years in Detroit before moving to Los Angeles and winning a Super Bowl.
07:59That's the kind of stuff that sports movies are made of.
08:08Number 13, Super Bowl LII.
08:23History was made on February 4, 2018.
08:26It was yet another Super Bowl with the New England Patriots, their star quarterback Tom
08:31Brady, and their head coach Bill Belichick.
08:34This was Brady's eighth Super Bowl, and talented though he was, fans were getting
08:39kind of sick of the dominance.
08:41Enter the Philadelphia Eagles, who had yet to win a Super Bowl, and were starting their
08:45backup quarterback owing to Carson Wentz's late-season ending injury.
08:50The game was an offensive masterclass, resulting in just one punt, and it contained many iconic
08:56moments, like the Eagles' late fumble conversion and the famous Philly special.
09:02And with a winning score of 41-33, the Eagles emerged as national heroes, having slayed
09:08the proverbial dragon.
09:21Number 12, Super Bowl XXXII.
09:30There are so many fantastic storylines converging in Super Bowl XXXII.
09:35There was the thrilling underdog story, with the wild-card Broncos defeating the heavily
09:40favored Packers, who were fresh off their win in Super Bowl XXXI.
09:44There's Terrell Davis' brilliant performance, scoring a Super Bowl record three rushing
09:49touchdowns while suffering a debilitating migraine.
09:52And then there's the comeback story of quarterback John Elway, who had lost three previous Super
09:58Bowls.
09:59He finally earned his big win at 37 years old, and performed the iconic helicopter move
10:04in the process, earning himself a place in NFL lore.
10:08You can't script this kind of drama.
10:24Number 11, Super Bowl XXXVI.
10:31Believe it or not, the New England Patriots were actually an underdog at one point.
10:36The Rams, dubbed the greatest show on turf thanks to their high-flying offense led by
10:40Kurt Warner, were favored by 14.
10:43Although they were held in check for the majority of the game, the Rams were able to score two
10:48fourth-quarter touchdowns to tie the game at 17 with a minute 30 left.
10:52That's when Patriots coach Bill Belichick put the ball in the hands of then little-known
10:57quarterback Tom Brady.
10:59Operating with no timeouts, Brady led the Patriots into field goal range, where Adam
11:04Vinatieri nailed a 48-yard kick as time ran out to seal the win.
11:28Number 10, Super Bowl XXXVIII.
11:38While this game may be best remembered for Janet Jackson's infamous wardrobe malfunction
11:42during the halftime show, the on-field performance wasn't so shabby either.
11:47Although the game started slowly, the two teams combined for 24 points by the end of
11:52the first half.
11:53The offense continued in the second half, as both teams executed big play after big
11:58play.
11:59The Panthers were able to tie the game at 29 late in the fourth quarter, but left too
12:04much time on the clock for Tom Brady.
12:06For the second time in three years, Brady led his team down the field, setting up another
12:11game-winning field goal for Adam Vinatieri.
12:28Number 9, Super Bowl XXXIII.
12:45Like several entries on this list, this game started out slowly, with a score just 3-3
12:51at halftime.
12:52Both teams traded scores throughout the second half, but the Bengals were able to pull ahead
12:57in Super Bowl XXXIII thanks to a 40-yard field goal with 3 minutes and 20 seconds remaining.
13:02Things looked bleak for the 49ers when they were forced to start on their own 8-yard line.
13:08That's when Joe Montana took over.
13:10Widely considered one of the greatest clutch quarterbacks in history, Montana led the 49ers
13:1592 yards in less than three minutes.
13:18He eventually passed John Taylor from 10 yards out, which is 34 seconds left, to secure his
13:24third Super Bowl ring.
13:38Number 8, Super Bowl XXXIV.
13:52Led by Kurt Warner, the greatest show on turf seemed destined to win the Super Bowl
13:56as they jumped out to a 16-0 lead in the third quarter.
13:59However, Steve McNair and the Titans rallied back to score three straight times to tie
14:04the score at 16, with just over two minutes remaining.
14:07It didn't take long for Warner to answer, though, connecting with Isaac Bruce for a
14:1273-yard touchdown pass less than 20 seconds later, reclaiming the Rams' lead.
14:18McNair rallied again, driving the Titans down to the Rams' 10.
14:22He then hit Kevin Dyson coming across the middle, who dove for the goal line and extended
14:27his arm, only to come up one yard short as time expired.
14:38Number 7, Super Bowl III.
14:51While at first the score might make some fans question how this could be one of the all-time
14:56great Super Bowls, this was truly a monumental upset.
15:01The Colts, representing the NFL, came into the game with a 13-1 record and were heavily
15:07favored over the AFL's Jets.
15:09New York quarterback Joe Namath boldly guaranteed a victory three days before the game and delivered
15:15on his promise, as the Jets controlled the game from the outset.
15:19This was the first ever title victory by the AFL and was also the first championship game
15:24to officially be called the Super Bowl.
15:39Number 6, Super Bowl XXV.
15:50It is truly remarkable that the Buffalo Bills were able to win the AFC four straight seasons.
15:56What's even more remarkable is that they lost all four Super Bowl appearances.
16:02Their best chance to win was their first matchup against the New York Giants, who were using
16:07a backup quarterback thanks to a season-ending injury to Phil Simms.
16:11The game saw five lead changes, with the Giants jumping ahead 2019 late in the fourth quarter
16:17thanks to a 21-yard field goal.
16:19The Bills had a chance to win soon after, but Scott Norwood's last second field goal
16:24attempt went wide right.
16:30Number 5, Super Bowl XLIX.
16:43Seattle looked to have this game in control in the third quarter when they jumped out
16:48to a 24-14 lead.
16:50However, the fourth quarter saw Tom Brady put on a clinic, throwing touchdown passes
16:55on two consecutive drives to reclaim the lead for the Patriots with just over two minutes
17:00remaining.
17:07A miraculous catch by Jermaine Kearse set up the Seahawks near the Patriots' goal line.
17:12Despite having one of the best running backs in the game in Marshawn Lynch, the Seahawks
17:17elected to throw the ball, and Russell Wilson's pass was intercepted by undrafted rookie free
17:22agent Malcolm Butler, clinching the win for New England.
17:36Number 4, Super Bowl XLIII.
17:54If you're looking for a game full of signature plays, this is the one for you.
17:59The Steelers took a 17-7 halftime lead thanks to a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown
18:05by linebacker James Harrison.
18:07Kurt Warner linked up with Larry Fitzgerald on a 64-yard touchdown late in the fourth
18:11quarter, however, to give Arizona a 23-20 lead with just 2 minutes and 37 seconds remaining
18:18in the game, capping off 16 consecutive points by the Cardinals.
18:22Unfortunately for Arizona, that was too much time for Ben Roethlisberger as he led the
18:27Steelers down the field to connect with Santonio Holmes in the corner of the end zone for a
18:32remarkable touchdown with just 35 seconds left.
18:43Number 3, Super Bowl XIII.
18:55The Steelers and Cowboys have had their fair share of memorable games over the years, including
19:00the aforementioned Super Bowl X, but that was nothing compared to Super Bowl XIII.
19:05Trailing by 7 in the third quarter, the Cowboys had a chance to tie, but Hall of Fame tight
19:10end Jackie Smith dropped an easy touchdown pass.
19:14The Cowboys would have to settle for a field goal, but would soon fall behind 35-17.
19:20A late rally would come up just short and the Steelers would become the first team in
19:24NFL history to win three Super Bowls.
19:34Number 2, Super Bowl LII.
19:4428-3, it's a name known to all football fans, and one loathed by the devout followers
19:51of the Atlanta Falcons.
19:53Atlanta was seeking their first Super Bowl win and they were up against those pesky
19:57Patriots.
19:59Things were looking brilliant for the underdogs as they were up 28-3 in the third quarter,
20:04resulting in the now infamous nickname.
20:07But with a masterful performance from Tom Brady, complete with a mind-blowing 466 passing
20:12yards and a complete breakdown from the Falcons, the Patriots were able to tie the game in
20:17the climactic final seconds.
20:20And following the first overtime in Super Bowl history, the Patriots emerged victorious
20:2534-28.
20:26It was a story of collapse and resilience, and it birthed one of the greatest memes in
20:32sports history.
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20:571.
20:59Super Bowl XLII There's always potential for greatness when
21:14these two teams square off.
21:16While Super Bowl XLVI was an exciting back-and-forth affair with the Giants winning 21-17, we go
21:23back to Super Bowl XLII for possibly one of the greatest upsets in sports history.
21:28The Patriots were attempting to become the first team to go 19-0, with a record-setting
21:33offense led by Tom Brady and Randy Moss.
21:36The Giants, however, came in with an outstanding defensive plan.
21:40The Patriots were able to grab a late lead, but Eli Manning connected with David Tyree,
21:46who made an insane helmet catch to keep the Giants alive.
21:50A few plays later, the Giants scored the go-ahead touchdown to knock off the undefeated Patriots.
22:07Which game do you find the most memorable?
22:09Let us know in the comments below.