For most of my childhood, circa 1980's & 90's, the Super Bowl was an a foregone conclusion...it would be a blow-out and in favor of the N.F.C.! Few times were the fans of the most fanatical sport in America treated to something more than chum in shark infested waters. The blood was an early indication of the onslaught that would be sure to come. Just ask the 1989 Denver Broncos, 92 Buffalo Bills & 94 San Diego Chargers, all teams that found their hopes of raising the Vince Lombardi Trophy dashed before the halftime performer even changed into their outfit.
Fortunately, the league has become much more competitive in recent years (SEE PARITY BLOG). In the past 25 seasons, N.F.L. fanatics like all of us watching Super Bowl XLIX in Glendale, Arizona between the defending champion Seahawks and the stalwart Patriots, have been treated to many competitive contests despite last year.
What makes the Ultimate Ending? It has to have many things. Obviously, the game needs to be close with drama oozing through your television, crowds in the stadium and all around the world at the edge of their seats. Will Super Bowl XLIX become an all-time classic battle between the two conferences #1 seeds...or find us spending more time watching the commercials? We will have to wait and see, but for now here are my choices for the top 5!
5. Deja Vu
On February 1st, 2004, the New England Patriots took on the Carolina Panthers in Houston, Texas. It became on of the most entertaining Super Bowls in history, but it was the 4th quarter that made it so special. Better known as the "Wardrobe Malfunction", Super Bowl XXXVIII (38) gave us fanatics the football equivalent of "Deja Vu". The Panthers tied the contest at 29 with only 1:08 remaining. Tom Brady and the his Patriots found themselves in familiar territory (tied at 17 later in the 4th quarter 2 years earlier vs the Rams in Super Bowl 36). Brady lead the Patriots down field setting up kicker Adam Vinatieri, who made the 41-yard field goal with only 4 seconds remaining...Patriots won 32 - 29.
4. The Tackle
On January 30th, 2000, the St. Louis Rams advanced to Super Bowl XXXIV (34) against the Tennessee Titans in Atlanta, Georgia. This game was largely uneventful in the first half as the Rams lead 9-0. However, in the second half the Titans, led by quarterback Steve McNair, erased a 16 point deficit with only 2:02 remaining in the game. Kurt Warner and the Rams struck quickly with a 73 yard touchdown to take a 23-16 lead. It lead to one of the most compelling finishes in Super Bowl history; with only 6 seconds remaining, on the Rams 10 yard line, McNair completed a pass to wide-out, Kevin Dyson who was tackled just short of the goal-line by Mike Jones securing the championship in a play now simply known as "The Tackle"...Rams won 23 - 16.
3. David slays Goliath...again!
On February 5th, 2012, the New York Giants stunned the New England Patriots again in Super Bowl XLVI (46) in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Giants had ruined the Patriots perfect season just 4 years previous, miraculously stealing a victory in the final minute from the heavily favored Patriots, this was supposed to be Tom Brady and the Patriots revenge. The Giants remained close throughout the contest adding 2 field goals cutting the Patriots lead to 17-15 entering the 4th quarter. Late in the game, the Patriots were forced to punt to Eli Manning setting up the eerily familiar scenario from the 2008 Super Bowl between the same two teams. Every Patriot fan on the planet feared the worst...and then Ahmad Bradshaw fell into the end zone with 57 seconds left. Why chose this game over the previous contest? Who would have ever believed that the same teams would play to identical endings only 4 years apart...amazing finish! Giants won 21 - 17.
2. Amazing Grab!
On February 1st, 2009, the Pittsburgh Steelers found themselves in an epic battle against the surprising Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII (43) in Tampa, Florida. Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers were looking to win their 6th Lombardi Trophy in the franchises history. This game saw a few outrageous moments including a 100 yard interception return for a touchdown by James Harrison at the end of the first half, and a brief interruption on local Pheonix televions stations showing a pornographic movie during the go ahead touchdown scored by Larry Johnson. No Joke! The Cardinals lead by 3 with 2:37 remaining in the game. The Steelers forced their way down the field to the Cardinals 6 yard line when Santonio Holmes made a spectacular grab in the corner of the end zone and managed to get both feet down with 35 seconds remaining...Steelers won 27 - 23.
1. Joe Cool
On January 22, 1989, the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in the Ultimate Ending in Super Bowl history. It was Super Bowl XXIII (23) in Miami, Florida and Joe Montana took the field with the 49ers offense down by 3, on their own 8 yard line with only 3:10 remaining. It has become legendary...the way Montana calmly entered the huddle and marched down the field. After hitting Jerry Rice on what appeared to be a touchdown, if not for a saving tackle, the Bengals thought they needed to key on Rice, but with 39 seconds left, "Joe Cool" found John Taylor for the score...49ers won 20 - 16.
What makes this even more special and the Ultimate Ending in my eyes was just how uncompetitive the Super Bowls had been for many years before and many after. It was a lone beacon of hope for the football fanatic that someday the Super Bowl would be more than just beer, commercials, horrible halftime delays and cheerleaders.
Which is your Ultimate Ending in Super Bowl History?
ReplyDelete