Reliving Super Bowl Highs And Lows

What makes a Super Bowl truly unforgettable? At times, it’s the breathtaking plays that live on in highlight reels, other times it’s the edge-of-your-seat drama that creates instant legends. Yet plenty of big games fall flat, fading almost as soon as they end. That contrast is what makes the history of the Super Bowl so fascinating. Read on to revisit the highs and lows—beginning with the most iconic games ever played. 

Super Bowl LIII Trophy Presentation by NFL

1. Super Bowl XLIX (2015)

The most-watched program in American TV history, drawing 114.4 million viewers, saw New England claim its fourth Super Bowl title when an improbable hero emerged. Malcolm Butler, an undrafted rookie from West Alabama, intercepted Russell Wilson with only 26 seconds remaining.

Jeffrey Beall on Wikimedia

2. Super Bowl XLII (2008)

By all logic, a football shouldn’t cling to a helmet as a player falls backward. Yet David Tyree’s miraculous grab did just that. It toppled the Patriots’ perfect season and etched one of the most supernatural plays in Super Bowl history.

Ted Kerwin on Wikimedia

3. Super Bowl LII (2018)

In a high-scoring duel with the Patriots, the Eagles refused to play cautiously. They unveiled the “Philly Special,” a daring trick play that turned quarterback Nick Foles into a receiver. The bold gamble paid off, sealing Philadelphia’s first Super Bowl championship.

Quintin3265 on Wikimedia

4. Super Bowl LI (2017)

History was made with the first Super Bowl to reach overtime, and it delivered the greatest comeback ever. The New England Patriots faced the Atlanta Falcons and erased a 28–3 deficit with a 25-point rally. Led by Tom Brady, they achieved the largest comeback in Super Bowl history.

Jeffrey Beall on Wikimedia

5. Super Bowl IV (1970)

The Kansas City Chiefs silenced doubts about the AFL’s strength by overpowering the Minnesota Vikings. In the final game before the merger, coach Hank Stram’s creative play-calling stood out and secured Kansas City’s first championship.

Super Bowl IV Recap: Vikings vs. Chiefs (#10) | Top 10 Upsets | NFL by NFL

6. Super Bowl XXV (1991)

While Scott Norwood's missed field goal would become his defining legacy and one of football's most memorable moments, it simultaneously carved a different destiny for the Giants, who claimed their second Super Bowl title in the closest of margins, prevailing 20–19 over Buffalo.

Super Bowl XXV | Bills vs. Giants "Wide Right" | NFL Full Game by NFL

7. Super Bowl XX (1986)

Few championship performances have aged quite like the 1985 Bears' cultural and competitive takeover of Super Bowl XX. Mike Ditka's squad transcended sport with their "Super Bowl Shuffle," then backed up the bravado by releasing their legendary defense in a 46–10 dismantling of New England.

1986 Super Bowl XX Bears v Patriots | Living in America | James Brown by Wat Bradford

8. Super Bowl XLVII (2013)

In a Super Bowl that pitted brother against brother, Ravens coach John Harbaugh outlasted his sibling Jim's 49ers in an electrifying 34–31 battle for NFL supremacy. Even a 34-minute blackout couldn't dim Baltimore's path to its second championship in this unforgettable family affair.

Au Kirk on Wikimedia

9. Super Bowl XXXIV (2000)

Forever immortalized as "The Tackle," Super Bowl XXXIV's breathtaking finale saw Rams linebacker Mike Jones halt the Titans just inches from glory as time expired. The dramatic one-yard stop sealed both the championship and a masterful MVP showing from quarterback Kurt Warner.

Sean Daly on Wikimedia

10. Super Bowl III (1969)

When the AFL was dismissed as second-rate, Joe Namath made a bold guarantee: the Jets would beat the Colts. They did, earning their only championship and proving the AFL could compete. Namath’s promise instantly became a football legend.

Super Bowl III: Jets vs. Colts (#1) | Top 10 Upsets | NFL by NFLFor all the shining moments, there were games that missed the mark entirely. Here are 10 of them.

1. Super Bowl II (1968)

The numbers told a stark story in Super Bowl II—a 33–14 thrashing that saw the Packers dismiss the Raiders with clinical efficiency. Yet beyond the lopsided scoreboard lay a deeper triumph, as Green Bay’s dynasty gave coach Vince Lombardi a fitting farewell, sending him off with a final championship victory.

Super Bowl II Highlights by NFL Films Archive

2. Super Bowl XXIV (1990)

More than three decades later, the San Francisco 49ers' 55–10 demolition of the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXIV still stands as the most lopsided championship game ever. The 49ers' relentless offense scored seven touchdowns and overwhelmed Denver's defense to set multiple scoring records.

Super Bowl XXIV: 49ers vs. Broncos | NFL by NFL

3. Super Bowl XXI (1987)

Talk about making history in style—the Giants' record-shattering 30-point second-half explosion turned Super Bowl XXI into their personal highlight reel. It all started with their defense slamming the door on Denver in the red zone, which transformed a tight contest into a 39–20 laugher.

Super Bowl XXI - Broncos vs. Giants HD by 80s Football Cards

4. Super Bowl XXXV (2001)

Despite managing a kickoff return touchdown, the Giants found themselves thoroughly stifled in Super Bowl XXXV, mustering just 152 total yards of offense against Baltimore's punishing defense. Adding insult to injury, the Ravens' defense even scored on an interception return during their 34–7 triumph.

Ravens vs Giants Super Bowl XXXV (HD) by All Highlights

5. Super Bowl XLVIII (2014)

After months of buildup for the first cold-weather outdoor Super Bowl, the game was played in unexpectedly mild conditions—snow arrived the next day. Denver’s title hopes, however, collapsed immediately against the Seattle Seahawks, beginning with a first-play safety and spiraling into a 43–8 nightmare.

MichelinStar on Wikimedia

6. Super Bowl XII (1978)

Craig Morton's shot at revenge against the Cowboys, who had chosen Roger Staubach over him years earlier, transformed into a painful homecoming as he tossed four interceptions to his former team. Dallas's "Doomsday Defense" forced a crushing eight turnovers en route to a 27–10 victory.

Super Bowl XII - Dallas Cowboys vs Denver Broncos January 15th 1978 Highlights by All Winfield Super Bowl Highlights

7. Super Bowl XXXVII (2003)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Oakland Raiders 48–21 with a dominant defensive performance. They scored three touchdowns off five turnovers and tied a Super Bowl record. The loss felt even worse because Tampa’s head coach, Jon Gruden, had coached the Raiders just one season earlier.

Super Bowl XXXVII - Raiders vs Buccaneers (Full Game) (HD) by All Highlights

8. Super Bowl XI (1977)

Oakland’s offense rolled to a Super Bowl yardage record, where Minnesota barely moved the ball before halftime. That contrast told the story of a 32–14 Raiders win, and delivered John Madden the only championship of his celebrated coaching career.

Super Bowl XI | Raiders vs. Vikings | NFL Full Game by NFL

9. Super Bowl LIII (2019)

While Maroon 5, Travis Scott, and Big Boi brought their star power to the halftime stage, the actual game proved remarkably light on fireworks, as both teams struggled to find the end zone until the fourth quarter. The Patriots eventually ground out a 13–3 win, marking the lowest-scoring Super Bowl ever.

MasterMind5991 on Wikimedia

10. Super Bowl XIX (1985)

What promised to be an epic quarterback duel between Joe Montana and Dan Marino instead became a showcase of 49ers dominance, as San Francisco crushed Miami 38-16. Roger Craig stole the spotlight with a Super Bowl first—three touchdowns—while the much-hyped showdown fizzled after halftime.

Super Bowl XIX: Dolphins vs. 49ers | NFL by NFL