It is said that defense wins championships and NFL fans can point to the Super Bowl to see why that statement often rings true.
In the biggest game in the world, the best defenses would rise up to shut down their opposing offense and make big plays to help their team win.
With that in mind, I have complied a list of what I think are the 20 best defensive performances in Super Bowl history.
To come up with this list, I tried to balance out stats such as yards allowed, turnovers forced, and quarterback sacks, plus the type of offense that defense was going up against, to rank the best performances of all time.
So with that explained, here now are the 20 best defensive performances in Super Bowl history.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers-X
While Roger Staubach was able to drive the Cowboys offense down the field, he could not escape the clutches of the "Steel Curtain" as he was sacked a Super Bowl record seven times, four of which came courtesy of Steelers defensive end L.C. Greenwood.
The Steelers also intercepted Staubach three times as Pittsburgh would come away with the 21-17 win and their second straight Super Bowl title.
19. Los Angeles Raiders-XVIII
Going up against an offense that had scored 541 points during the regular season, the Raiders' defense held the Redskins to just nine points, while holding running back John Riggins who had rushed for 166 yards in the previous Super Bowl, to just 64 yards on 26 carries.
The Raiders also forced three turnovers, one of which was Jack Squirek's memorable pick-six before the end of the 1st half, and sacked quarterback Joe Theismann six times in a decisive 38-9 Raiders win. 18. Washington Redskins-XVII
While John Riggins got most of the glory with his 38-carry, 166-yard performance and memorable touchdown run in the 4th quarter, none of that would have been possible if not for the Redskins' defense.
Washington allowed only 176 yards of total offense, 76 of which come on one play when quarterback David Woodley hit Jimmy Cefalo for a 76-yard touchdown pass in the 1st quarter, and allowed only nine 1st downs, tying a Super Bowl for the fewest 1st downs allowed in a Super Bowl.
After giving up 17 points in the 1st half, the Redskins' defense clamped down on the Dolphins, allowing only 34 yards, two 1st downs, and zero points to pave way for Riggins' heroics as the Redskins won the game 27-17 for the first of three Super Bowl titles in a decade. 17. Baltimore Colts-V
While Super Bowl V is best remembered as the "Blunder Bowl" for the sloppy play and Jim O' Brien's game-winning field goal in the final seconds, the performance by the Baltimore Colts is what allowed for O'Brien's heroics at the end and provide the Colts with a Super Bowl title.
The Colts' defense allowed just 215 yards of offense and 10 1st downs plus forced four turnovers, but it was when the turnovers occur that make their performance.
Early in the 2nd half, the Cowboys had a 1st & goal at the Colts' two-yard-line only to have running back Duane Thomas fumble the football after a hit by linebacker Mike Curtis, which was recovered by Colts defensive back Jim Duncan.
Then in the 4th quarter, Colts free safety Rick Volk picked off a Craig Morton pass and returned it 30 yards to the Cowboys' three-yard-line which set up Tom Nowatzke's game-tying touchdown run.
Finally, Curtis made an interception with about a minute to go, which set up O'Brien's 32-yard field goal with five seconds left, to give the Colts their first Super Bowl title. 16. Dallas Cowboys-XXVII
The Cowboys set a Super Bowl record by forcing nine turnovers(four interceptions and five fumbles), returning two of those turnovers for touchdowns while the offense three of the other turnovers into touchdowns as Dallas routed the Buffalo Bills 52-17.
But perhaps the most impressive part of the Cowboys' performance on defense came early in the 2nd quarter when the Bills had a 2nd & goal at the Dallas one-yard-line trailing only 14-7.
Dallas stopped the Bills for no gain on two straight runs, including an impressive solo tackle by linebacker Ken Norton Jr. on 3rd & goal, forcing the Bills to go for it on 4th down where quarterback Jim Kelly was picked off in the end zone by Cowboys strong safety Thomas Everett. 15. San Francisco 49ers-XIX
Taking on quarterback Dan Marino, who had set the record for most passing yards and most touchdowns in a season, the 49ers used a 4-1-6 alignment to slow down the Dolphins' passing attack.
It worked as during a stretch in the 2nd quarter, the 49ers forced three straight 3 & outs, allowing for San Francisco to score 21 points.
Then in the second half, the 49ers shut out the Dolphins as the defense finished with four quarterback sacks and two interceptions of Marino in San Francisco's 38-16 win. 14. Denver Broncos-L
With their offense only picking up 197 yards of total offense in the game, it was up to the Broncos' defense to lead Denver to a Super Bowl title as they faced the Carolina Panthers in the 50th Super Bowl.
While they did allow 315 yards of offense and 21 1st downs, the Denver defense tied a Super Bowl record by sacking quarterback Cam Newton seven times and forced four turnovers in the game, two of which lead to both of the Broncos' touchdowns in the game as they went on to win 24-10. 13. New England Patriots-XXXVI
In in the ultimate case of "bend but don't break", the Patriots did give up 427 yards of offense and 26 1st downs to the "Greatest Show on Turf", but were able to force three turnovers, including a pick-six by cornerback Ty Law, that lead New England to build a 17-3 lead over the Rams.
The Rams would come back to tie the game, setting the stage for Tom Brady to drive the New England offense down the field and set up Adam Vinatieri's game-winning 48-yard field goal as time expired for the 20-17 victory and the Patriots' first Super Bowl title, but not of that would have been possible if not for the Patriots defense.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-LV
For nearly three seasons, no team had been able to stop Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the high-powered Kansas City offense.
Enter the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who were pressured Mahomes all night, holding the Chiefs offense to 350 yards and three field goals, while sacking Mahomes three times and picking him off twice as the Bucs become the third team in Super Bowl history not to give up a touchdown in a 31-9 win. 11. San Francisco 49ers-XXIV
While this Super Bowl is best remembered for the 49ers' record-setting 55 points and Joe Montana's five touchdown passes, the 49ers' performance on defense should not be overlooked.
San Francisco held the Broncos to just 167 yards of total offense as well as only 12 1st downs as they harassed Broncos quarterback John Elway all day, sacking him six times, one shy of the Super Bowl record.
The 49ers' defense also forced four turnovers which San Francisco converted into 28 points as they destroyed the Broncos 55-10 in the biggest rout in Super Bowl history. 10. Dallas Cowboys-XII
It was certainly Doomsday for the Denver Broncos offense as the Cowboys' famed "Doomsday Defense" dominated Super Bowl XII.
In the 1st half alone, the Cowboys allowed only 62 yards of offense and forced seven turnovers while shutting the Broncos out.
The Cowboys defense would finish the game with only allowing 156 yards, 11 1st downs, four quarterback sacks, and forcing eight turnovers as Dallas would win the game 27-10 for their second Super Bowl title. 9. Miami Dolphins-VII
The Dolphins "No-Name Defense" made a name of itself in Super Bowl VII as they almost came away with the first shutout in Super Bowl history if not for kicker Garo Yepremian's blooper late in the 4th quarter which lead to the Redskins' only touchdown.
The Dolphins permitted 228 yards of total offense and 16 1st downs, while intercepting Washington quarterback Billy Kilmer three times, twice by game MVP Jake Scott, and sacked him twice including on the final play of the game as the Dolphins completed their undefeated season with a 14-7 win. 8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers-XXXVII
Going up against his former team, Jon Gruden's Tampa Bay Buccaneers destroyed the Oakland Raiders 48-21, primarily because of their defense.
The "Tampa-2" defense held the Raiders' #1-ranked offense to 269 total yards and just 11 1st downs while harassing quarterback Rich Gannon, sacking him five times and picking him off five times, returning three of those for touchdowns, setting the Super Bowl record for most defensive touchdowns in a Super Bowl. 7. New England Patriots-LIII
Seventeen years to the day of their first Super Bowl win over the Rams, the Patriots put on another impressive defensive performance as they hold the Los Angeles Rams to just three points and allow only 260 yards of total offense, 14 1st downs, and sack Rams quarterback Jared Goff four times in the lowest scoring Super Bowl of all time, 13-3. 6. Dallas Cowboys-VI
Six years before their dominant performance in Super Bowl XII(see number 9), the Cowboys "Doomsday Defense" had another impressive performance to help lead "America's Team" to winning the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
In Super Bowl VI, the Cowboys held the Miami Dolphins to just 185 yards of offense and 10 1st downs(5 of those would not come until the 4th quarter)plus forced three turnovers, two of which were converted into touchdowns as the Cowboys become the first team not to allow a touchdown of any sort in a Super Bowl as they defeated the Dolphins 24-3. 5. New York Giants-XLII
Super Bowl XLII is best remembered for David Tyree's famous "Helmet Catch" on the Giants' game-winning touchdown drive as New York ended the Patriots' chances of a 19-0 season with their historic upset.
But that would not have been possible if not for the performance by the Giants' defense, which allowed only 274 yards of offense, well below the Patriots' average of 411.3 per game during the regular season, and harassed quarterback Tom Brady all day, sacking him five times with a ferocious pass rush that allowed 14 points to a team that had scored 586 during the regular season as the Giants came away with the 17-14 win. 4. Seattle Seahawks-XLVIII
The Seahawks' "Legion of Boom" defense made the Broncos' record-breaking offense, which had scored 606 points during the regular season, look terrible in their meeting in Super Bowl XLVIII.
Seattle held the Broncos' offense to just 306 yards of offense, well below their average of 457.3 yards per game during the regular season, and held them to just eight points, as they forced four turnovers, converting three of those turnovers into touchdowns including a 69-yard pick-six by linebacker Malcolm Smith as the Seahawks destroyed the Broncos 43-8. 3. Baltimore Ravens-XXXV
The 2000 Baltimore Ravens defense etched their name in NFL history as one of the greatest defenses of all time with their performance in Super Bowl XXXV.
The Ravens held the New York Giants to just 152 yards of total offense and 11 1st downs, while sacking quarterback Kerry Collins four times and picking him off four times, one of which was returned for a touchdown by Duane Starks, as the only touchdown the Ravens gave up come on a 97-yard kickoff return by Ron Dixon as Baltimore easily dispatched of the Giants 34-7.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers-IX
The "Steel Curtain" defense put on a dominant defense to launch the Pittsburgh Steelers' dynasty in the 1970s.
The Steelers allowed only 119 yards of total offense, a record which still stands to this day, and only nine 1st downs, which is also a Super Bowl record.
The Vikings' offense only drove into Steelers territory twice throughout the whole game and both times those drives ended in interceptions plus earned the first safety in Super Bowl history when defensive end Dwight White touched Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton in the end zone when he was on the ground after recovering a Minnesota fumble.
The only points the Vikings scored in the game came on a blocked punt returned for a touchdown as the Steelers went on to win 16-6 for the first of their four Super Bowl titles in the 1970s. 1. Chicago Bears-XX
The '85 Bears cemented their legacy as maybe the greatest defense of all time with the most dominant performance by a defense in Super Bowl history.
After giving up a field goal only because running back Walter Payton had fumbled the ball which the Patriots recovered at the Bears' 19-yard-line, the Bears defense took over the game as they held New England -19 yards of offense and one 1st down for the rest of the first half, while forcing two fumbles which the Bears converted into 10 points.
The domination would continue in the 3rd quarter as the Bears held the Patriots to 39 yards on their first three drives of the second half, but forced two more turnovers which Chicago converted into touchdowns to build a 44-3 lead.
When it was all said and done, the Bears allowed only 123 yards of offense(second fewest in Super Bowl history), seven rushing yards(fewest in Super Bowl history), 12 1st downs, sacked New England quarterbacks Tony Eason and Steve Grogan seven times(tying a Super Bowl record), forced six turnovers, and allowed only 10 points as Chicago routed the Patriots 46-10.
Colts quarterback Jim Harbaugh lead Indianpolis to a stunning upset of the Kansas City Chiefs in their 1995 AFC Divsional Playoff game.
Most football fans under the age of 25 know Jim Harbaugh as the very animated coach who helped lead the San Francisco 49ers to three straight NFC Championship games, including a trip to Super Bowl XLVII, before his current job as the head coach of the University of Michigan.
But most football fans over the age of 25 remember Harbaugh as the quarterback of the Chicago Bears, who after seven tumultuous years left to sign with the Indianapolis Colts, where he was part of one of the great Cinderella stories in NFL history.
Harbaugh was in his second season in Indianapolis when led the Colts to four comeback victories earning him the nickname “Captain Comeback” as Indianapolis under head coach Ted Marchibroda clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 1987.
The Colts traveled to San Diego to face off with the defending AFC Champion Chargers in the Wild Card Game where they lost running back Marshall Faulk early in the game to a knee injury.
No matter as Zack Crockett came in and ran for 147 yards and two touchdowns on just 13 carries while Harbaugh accounted for three touchdowns, two through the air and one on the ground, as the Colts earned their first postseason victory in 24 years as they defeated the Chargers 35-20 to earn a trip to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Playoffs.
Many experts expected the Chiefs to fall off in 1995 after the retirement of Joe Montana at quarterback, but the Chiefs finished the season with a 13-3 record, best in the NFL, thanks to a defense that only allowed 241 points during the season and a ball-control offense with legendary running back Marcus Allen and quarterback Steve Bono, a former backup in San Francisco in his first season as a starting quarterback threw for 3,121 yards and 21 touchdown passes.
The Chiefs were coached by Marty Schottenheimer, who was making his tenth playoff appearance in 11 seasons(four with the Cleveland Browns and now sixth straight with the Chiefs), but had compiled a losing record in the playoffs of 5-9, including three losses in the AFC Championship Game.
However, many experts felt that the ‘95 Chiefs were Schottenheimer’s best chance to get to the Super Bowl, especially since they had the home field advantage throughout the AFC Playoffs as they had gone undefeated during the season at Arrowhead Stadium.
Plus with temperatures nearing zero degrees at kickoff and a -15 wind chill to go along with the fact the Colts played their home games in a dome and that Faulk and defensive tackle Tony Siragusa would not be available, Kansas City was expected to easily dispatch the Colts.
The game started off as a exchange of punts as both teams would punt on their first possessions until the Chiefs put together a five-play, 62-yard drive that ended with Bono throwing a 20-yard touchdown pass to Lake Dawson to put Kansas City ahead 7-0 with 29 seconds to go in the opening quarter.
The Colts responded to the touchdown with a 18-play, 77-yard touchdown drive that saw them convert on five 3rd down situations and one 4th down situation.
The first 3rd down conversion come on a 3rd-and-11 from their own 22 where Harbaugh scrambled for 18 yards, then complete a 13-yard pass to Aaron Bailey on 3rd-and-10 from the Colts’ 40-yard-line.
Indianapolis did not get a 1st down on the next 3rd down situation, as Harbaugh completed a three-yard pass to Sean Dawkins, one yard short of the 1st down at the Kansas City 38-yard-line.
That is when Marchibroda decided to go for it on 4th & 1 and when Lamont Warren ran for four yards, the Colts had another 1st down.
The next 3rd down situation saw Harbaugh complete a nine-yard pass to Dawkins for a 1st down at the 22-yard-line, then would convert another 3rd down thanks to a pass interference penalty on Chiefs defensiveback James Hasty that gave the Colts a 1st-and-goal at the five-yard-line.
Once again, the Colts were faced with another 3rd down and once again they converted as Harbaugh hit Floyd Turner on a square-and-out pattern at the two-yard-line, then saw Turner ran in for the five-yard touchdown to complete the drive that took 8:40 off the clock and tied the game 7-7 with 6:49 to go in the first half.
Floyd Turner celebrates after scoring the game-tying touchdown in the second quarter.
After forcing the Chiefs to punt, the Colts got the ball back but went three-and-out and were forced to punt the ball back to Kansas City.
However, Chiefs punt returner Tamarick Vanover fumbled the punt, which was recovered by Indianapolis’ Ray McElroy to give the Colts the ball back at their own 45-yard-line.
The Colts were drive to the Kansas City 29-yard-line, thanks in large part to a 24-yard pass from Harbaugh to Bailey, but had to settle for a 47-yard field goal attempt by Cary Blanchard, which he missed, giving the Chiefs the ball at their own 37-yard-line and a chance to take the lead 57 seconds before halftime.
Bono got the Chiefs down the Colts’ 17-yard-line but after two incomplete passes and little time left on the clock, were forced to call on Lin Elliott for a 35-yard field goal attempt.
But Elliott’s kick sailed wide right and the score remained tied 7-7 as the first half came to a close.
After both teams went three-and-out on their opening possessions of the second half, the Colts took over at their own 18-yard-line which saw Warren run for 20 yards on the first play from scrimmage and then saw Harbaugh convert another 3rd down as he found Turner for 10 yards that put Indianapolis in Chiefs territory at the Kansas City 46-yard-line.
But four plays later, the Colts would commit their first turnover of the game as Harbaugh was picked off by Chiefs free safety giving Kansas City the ball back at their own 31-yard-line.
However, the Colts would get the ball back two plays later when Ashley Ambrose intercepted a pass intended for Webster Slaughter, to give Indianapolis the ball at the Kansas City 48-yard-line.
After Harbaugh scrambled for three yards on another 3rd down and then hit Dawkins on back-to-back passes totaling 20 yards, Blanchard came on and kicked a 30-yard field goal to give the Colts their first lead of the game at 10-7 with 2:48 left in the third quarter.
The Chiefs responded losing to the lead by giving the ball to Marcus Allen who carried the ball six times for 30 yards as Kansas City drove 46 yards in 10 plays before the drive stalled at the Colts’ 22-yard-line where Schottenheimer called on Elliott again to try and tie the game.
But once again Elliott missed as his 39-yard field goal sailed wide left keeping the Colts in the lead at 10-7 with 10:45 left in regulation.
Chiefs quarterback Steve Bono struggled throughout the game throwing three interceptions on 11-of-25 passing for 122 yards.
The Colts could do nothing on their ensuing possession as they went three-and-out, punting the ball back to Kansas City who took over at their own 37-yard-line.
However, three plays later, Bono would throw his second interception of the game, as Colts linebacker Quentin Coryatt made the pick and returned it 10 yards to the Chiefs’ 40-yard-line.
Three runs by Warren gained nine yards setting up a 4th-and-1 at the 31-yard-line but unlike in the first half, Marchibroda decided not go for the 1st down and go for the field goal.
But Blanchard missed the 49-yarder keeping it at 10-7 and giving the Chiefs good field position as they took over at their own 39-yard-line.
However, Bono would threw his third interception in his last seven pass attempts, this time by cornerback Eugene Daniel, whose 13-yard return gave the Colts the ball at the Chiefs’ 47-yard-line.
Once again, the Chiefs defense and forced a three-and-out leading to a punt that gave the Chiefs the ball at their own 18-yard-line with 4:12 to go in regulation and one timeout left in Kansas City’s pocket.
That is when Schottenheimer decided to pull Bono in favor of Rich Gannon, who had only attempted 11 passes during the season, in hopes of sparking the Kansas City offense and leading the Chiefs to a potential game-winning score.
After Allen ran for 5 yards on the first play of the drive, Gannon completed three straight passes for 17 yards putting Kansas City at their own 40-yard-line with a 2nd-and-5 when Allen got the ball again running for only three yards, setting up a 3rd-and-2.
That is when Gannon found Dawson for 16 yards to give the Chiefs a 1st down at the Indianapolis 41-yard-line which was followed by a five-yard scramble by Gannon and a loss of three yards on a pass to Slaughter, leading Kansas City to burn their final timeout as they prepared to face 3rd-and-8 at the Colts’ 39-yard-line.
Gannon would come up large again as he ran for 14 yards on a 1st down at the 25-yard-line.
Gannon would spike the ball on 1st down, then threw an incomplete pass intended for tight end Derrick Walker setting up a 3rd-and-10 where Gannon dropped back and threw a pass toward the middle of the end zone that gazed off the hands off Dawson that would have been the go-ahead touchdown.
Instead, Schottenheimer had to call on Elliott to try and tie the game, despite having two missed field goals already.
However the third time would not be the charm as Elliott’s 42-yarder sailed wide left with 42 seconds left, allowing for Harbaugh to take a knee and the Colts to come away with the 10-7 upset.
Chiefs kicker Lin Elliott was 0-for-3 on field goal attempts, including one from 42 yards that would have tied the game with 42 seconds left in regulation.
The following week, the Colts traveled to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers for the AFC Championship where they came within an eyelash of making it to the Super Bowl as Aaron Bailey could not hang on to Harbaugh’s Hail Mary pass on the last play of the game, giving the Steelers a 20-16 win.
Harbaugh and the Colts would make the playoffs the following year again as a Wild Card, this time led by head coach Lindy Infante, but fell in the Wild Card round 42-14 to the Steelers, which was followed by a disastrous 3-13 season which eventually paved the way for the Colts to pick Peyton Manning as the #1 pick of the 1998 NFL Draft, leading to the release of Harbaugh, who played three more years in the league before retiring after the 2000 season and then going into coaching.
As for Schottenheimer, he would spend three more years with the Chiefs, making the playoffs one more time in 1997 with a 13-3 record, but once again losing in the Divisional Round, this time to the Denver Broncos 14-10.
Schottenheimer would take two years off from coaching before returning to the sidelines with the Washington Redskins where he coached for one season before going to San Diego where he coached the Chargers for five years and lead them to two playoff appearances, but going 0-2 in the playoffs including a 24-21 loss to the New England Patriots in the 2006 Divisional Playoffs after San Diego had gone 14-2 during the regular season.
That loss ultimately cost Schottenheimer his job and he has not been back in the NFL since as his postseason record stands at 5-13.
It's January, which means it's time for the NFL Playoffs as 12 times will vie to claim the Vince Lombardi Trophy with a win in the Super Bowl.
On numerous occasions, there has been a team that surprises the football world by making an unlikely run by putting together a series of unlikely victories with some them of making it to the Super Bowl and winning it.
With that in mind, I have complied a list of what I think are the 25 greatest Cinderella runs in NFL playoff history.
For this list, I tried to balance how far a team went in the playoffs and how surprising it was that this team was making this run.
What I'm saying is there will be teams who did not make it to the Super Bowl that will be higher than teams who did.
With that out of the way, here now are the 25 greatest Cinderella runs in NFL Playoff History. 25. 1992 Buffalo Bills
When the Bills fell behind 35-3 in their AFC Wild Card Game against the Houston Oilers, it appeared that the Bills were not going to make it to a third straight Super Bowl, especially with starting quarterback Jim Kelly, running back Thurman Thomas, and linebacker Cornelius Bennett out with injuries.
But behind backup quarterback Frank Reich, the Bills pulled off the greatest comeback in NFL history as they scored 35 straight points, then won in overtime on Steve Christie's 32-yard field goal to give Buffalo a 41-38 win and a trip to Pittsburgh for the Divisional Playoffs.
Reich remained at quarterback for the Bills' game against the Steelers while Thomas and Bennett returned as Buffalo knocked off the #1 seed 24-3 to earn a trip to the AFC Championship Game where they would face the Miami Dolphins.
Kelly returned to start that game and with the help of Christie's five field goals the Bills won 29-10 for their third straight AFC championship and third straight trip to the Super Bowl, which ended with an embarrassing 52-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Frank Reich led the Bills to two playoff victories in their 1992 playoff run.
24. 1999 Tennessee Titans
When Steve Christie hit a 41-yard field goal with 16 seconds left to give the Buffalo Bills a 16-15 lead over the Tennessee Titans in their Wild Card game, it looked like the Titans' season where they went 13-3 was going to end.
That was until Tennessee completed "The Music City Miracle" a 75-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Kevin Dyson after catching a lateral from tight end Frank Wycheck to give the Titans a 22-16 win and a trip to the Divisional Playoffs, where they would meet Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.
The Titans would knock off the Colts 19-16 earning a trip to the AFC Championship Game where they faced the 14-2 Jacksonville Jaguars, whose only two losses had come courtesy of the Titans.
Tennessee would defeat Jacksonville for the third time that season with a 33-14 win to earn the Titans their first trip to the Super Bowl where they faced the St. Louis Rams.
The Titans would come up one yard short of sending the game into overtime as Dyson was tackled by Rams linebacker Mike Jones as time expired as Tennessee would lose 23-16.
Eddie George ran for 449 yards and scored four touchdowns in helping the Titans reach the Super Bowl.
23. 2000 Baltimore Ravens
Even though they entered the playoffs as the #4 seed in the AFC, the Ravens had a championship-caliber defense, which made them a threat to get to the Super Bowl.
The Ravens' defense wasn't just good, it was dominant, allowing only one offensive touchdown during their whole postseason run, as they defeated the Denver Broncos 21-3 in the Wild Card Round, then knocked off the Tennessee Titans 24-10 in the Divisional Round, beat the Oakland Raiders 16-3 in the AFC Championship Game, and finally defeated the New York Giants 34-7 in Super Bowl XXXV for the team's first Super Bowl title.
But it would not be the last time the Ravens would win a Super Bowl as a Wild Card...
Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis lead a defense that allowed an average of approximately 160 yards per game, complied 14 quarterback sacks, and forced 12 turnovers during their run to a Super Bowl title in 2000.
22. 1978-79 Houston Oilers
In back-to-back years, the Houston Oilers entered the playoffs as a Wild Card and made all the way to the AFC Championship Game, only to be defeated by the Pittsburgh Steelers both times.
In 1978, the 10-6 Oilers went to Miami and knocked off the Dolphins 17-9 behind quarterback Dan Pastorini's 306 yard performance, then traveled to Foxboro where they defeated the New England Patriots 31-14 as Pastorini threw three touchdown passes.
The '78 run would end with a humiliating 34-5 defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the Oilers came back the next year to finish 11-5 and were considered a threat to Pittsburgh even though they were a Wild Card.
But a rematch with Pittsburgh seemed unlikely even after a 13-7 win against the Denver Broncos in the 1979 Wild Card game as the Oilers lost Pastorini, running back Earl Campbell, and wide receiver Ken Burrough to injuries, leading many to believe the Oilers had no shot at beating the high-powered San Diego Chargers in the Divisional Round.
But thanks to rookie safety Vernon Perry's four interceptions and blocked field goal return for a touchdown, the Oilers shocked the Chargers 17-14 to earn a rematch with the Steelers in the AFC Title Game.
That is where a controversial call ended the Oilers' Super Bowl dreams as Mike Renfro appeared to make a game-tying touchdown catch, only to have the referees rule incomplete, which led to Houston's downfall and a 27-13 loss.
Running back Earl Campbell(34) and head coach Bum Phillips lead the Oilers to two straight AFC title game appearances in 1978 and 1979.
21. 2009-10 New York Jets
Three decades after the Oilers' back-to-back trips to the AFC Championship Game as a Wild Card, the New York Jets accomplished that same feat.
In the 2009 playoffs, the Jets defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 24-14, then knocked off the San Diego Chargers 17-14 in the Divisional Round, but ended up losing to the Indianapolis Colts 30-17 in the AFC Championship Game.
The Jets would get a matter of revenge on Peyton Manning and the Colts the following year as they defeated Indianapolis 17-16 on Nick Folk's 32-yard field goal as time expired, then traveled to Foxboro where they stunned Tom Brady and the 14-2 Patriots 28-21 to earn a second straight trip to the AFC Championship Game, only to be defeated by the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-19.
Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez lead to New York to four playoff victories on the road and threw nine touchdown passes combined in the 2009 and 2010 playoffs.
20. 2019 Tennessee Titans
The Titans rode the legs of running back Derrick Henry to to make it to the AFC Championship Game as the #6 seed with a 9-7 record.
First, Henry lead the Titans to a 20-13 win over the New England Patriots as he ran for 182 yards on 34 carries to hand the Patriots their first playoff loss in Foxboro in nine years.
Then, Henry ran for 195 yards on 30 carries as Tennessee knocked off the #1 seeded Baltimore Ravens 28-12 to advance to the AFC Championship Game for the first time in 17 years.
The Titans would jump out to a 17-7 lead over the Kansas City Chiefs, but quarterback Patrick Mahomes would lead the Chiefs to 28 straight points as the Henry was held to 69 yards on 19 carries as the Titans fell 35-24.
Titans running back Derrick Henry ran for 446 yards in the Titans' surprise run in the 2019 NFL playoffs.
19. 1979 Los Angeles Rams
The Rams won their seventh straight NFC West title in 1979, but did so with a 9-7 record.
That plus the fact they had lost in four of the last five NFC championship games and had backup Vince Ferragamo starting at quarterback gave LA fans little hope they would make the Super Bowl.
But the Rams stunned the Dallas Cowboys 21-19 in the Divisional Playoffs thanks to a 50-yard touchdown pass from Ferragamo to Billy Waddy with two minutes to play, then finally won in the NFC Championship Game by defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-0.
The Rams faced the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XIV where they held a 19-17 lead in the 4th quarter, only to have the Steelers score two touchdowns to pull out a 31-19 victory.
Vince Ferragamo replaced an injured Pat Haden at starting quarterback and lead the Rams to their first ever Super Bowl.
18. 2003 Carolina Panthers
The "Cardiac Cats" who won four overtime games on the road and seven games by a touchdown or less made a surprising run to the Super Bowl during the 2003 playoffs.
After dispatching of the Dallas Cowboys at home 29-10 in their NFC Wild Card Game, the Panthers traveled to St. Louis to take on the Rams in the Divisional Playoffs.
Carolina would win their fifth overtime game of the season as Steve Smith caught a 69-yard touchdown pass on the first play of double overtime to give the Panthers a 29-23 win and a trip to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.
Behind cornerback Ricky Manning Jr.'s three interceptions, the Panthers handed the Eagles their third straight NFC Title game loss, as Carolina won 14-3 to earn their first ever trip to the Super Bowl.
In Super Bowl XXXVIII, the Panthers went toe-to-toe with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots but would fall short 32-29 as Adam Vinatieri kicked the game-winning field goal, a 41-yarder with four seconds left.
Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme(17) and wide receiver Steve Smith connected on three touchdowns during their run to Super Bowl XXXVIII.
17. 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After signing Tom Brady in the offseason, many wonder if the 43-year-old could lead the Bucs to a Super Bowl title.
With the COVID-19 pandemic wiping out the preseason, it took almost the entire regular season for Brady to mesh with the Tampa Bay offense as they finished with a 11-5 record and the #5 seed in the NFC playoffs.
The Bucs would take care of the team formerly known as Redskins with a 31-23 win in the Wild Card Round, then knocked off Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints 30-20 in the Divisional Round, and then defeated Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers 31-23 in the NFC Championship Game to become the fifth team in NFL history to reach the Super Bowl by winning three road games.
Playing in their home stadium, the Bucs routed the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 as to become the first team to ever a Super Bowl in their home stadium.
Tom Brady collected his 7th Super Bowl ring and 5th Super Bowl MVP by leading the Tampa Bay Buccanneers to their second Super Bowl title in team history.
16. 1997 Denver Broncos
The Broncos entered the 1997 playoffs with a 12-4 record, but one game behind the Kansas City Chiefs, forcing them to play in the Wild Card round against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The #4 seeded Broncos easily dispatched of Jacksonville 42-17 before traveling to Kansas City to take on the #1 seeded Chiefs in the Divisional Round where they knocked off the Chiefs 14-10 as cornerback Darrien Gordon knocked down Elvis Grbac's 4th down pass from the Denver 20-yard-line with 20 seconds to go.
The Broncos traveled to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game, which they won 24-21 earning them a trip to Super Bowl XXXII where they would face the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.
Despite being a two-touchdown underdog, the Broncos would upset the Packers 31-24, thanks to running back Terrell Davis' 157 yards and three touchdowns, to give 15-year veteran John Elway his first Super Bowl title.
Terrell Davis ran for 681 yards and scored eight touchdowns in the Broncos' four-game run to the Super Bowl title.
15. 1987 Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings entered the 1987 playoffs as cold as the Minnesota weather in December as they lost three of their lost four games to finish with a 8-7 record(the 1987 strike cancelled one week of the season)to earn the last Wild Card spot in the NFC.
The Vikings traveled to New Orleans to take on the 12-3 Saints, the team with the league's second best record, and soundly defeated them 44-10 in the NFC Wild Card Game to advance to the Divisional Playoffs, where they would travel to the Bay Area to take on the 13-2 San Francisco 49ers, the team with the league's best record.
Behind wide receiver Anthony Carter's 10 catches for 227 yards, the Vikings would shock the 49ers 36-24 to earn a trip to the NFC Championship Game for the first time in 10 years.
However, the Vikings' Cinderella run would end with a 17-10 loss to the Washington Redskins as quarterback Wade Wilson's 4th down pass intended for running back Darrin Nelson at the Washington six-yard-line with 52 seconds left fell incomplete
Anthony Carter caught 23 passes for 391 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings' 1987 postseason run.
14. 1995 Indianapolis Colts
The Colts made their first trip to the postseason since 1987 a memorable one as they came within an eyelash of making it to the Super Bowl.
The 9-7 Colts first defeated the defending AFC Champion San Diego Chargers 35-20 in their AFC Wild Card game to advance to the next round where they would face the Kansas City Chiefs, the team with the league's best record at 13-3.
Playing in frigid conditions, the Colts pulled off the 10-7 upset as Chiefs kicker Lin Elliott missed three field goals to help Indianapolis earn a trip to the AFC Championship Game where they would face the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Colts lead 16-13 late in the 4th quarter when Steelers running back Bam Morris scored a one-yard touchdown run with 1:34 left in the game to give Pittsburgh a 20-16 lead.
Quarterback Jim Harbaugh would lead the Colts to the Steelers' 29-yard-line where he attempted a Hail Mary pass on the final play of the game.
The ball was almost caught by Aaron Bailey, but would fall incomplete ending the Colts' magical run.
The Colts come oh so close to making it to Super Bowl XXX as Aaron Bailey could not catch Jim Harbaugh's "Hail Mary" pass on the final play of the 1995 AFC Championship Game.
13. 1996 Jacksonville Jaguars
In just their second season and first trip to the postseason, the Jacksonville Jaguars shocked the world by advancing all the way to the AFC Championship Game.
Entering the playoffs as the #5 seed in the AFC, the Jaguars traveled to Buffalo to take on the Bills in the Wild Card Round.
The Jaguars would pull off their first shocker of the playoffs as they knocked off the Bills 30-27 with Mike Hollis' 45-yard field goal in the 4th quarter to earn a trip to Denver where they would face the #1 seed Denver Broncos.
Despite being a two-touchdown underdog and falling behind 12-0, the Jaguars came back and pulled off one of the greatest upsets in NFL history as they defeated the Broncos 30-27.
The Jaguars' magic carpet ride would end a week later in the AFC Championship Game as they fell to the New England Patriots 20-6.
Natrone Means carried the ball 71 times for 363 yards and scored two touchdowns in leading the Jaguars to the 1996 AFC Championship Game.
12. 1990 New York Giants
The Giants entered the playoffs with a 13-3 record and were the #2 seed in the NFC, but most experts felt New York would be one-and-done as starting quarterback Phil Simms was out with a broken foot and replaced by backup Jeff Hostetler.
The Giants would win their Divisional Playoff game against the Chicago Bears 31-3, but lost rookie running back Rodney Hampton to a broken leg, making their task against the two-time defending Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers ever more difficult in the NFC Championship Game.
However, Matt Bahr would kick five field goals including the game-winner, a 42-yarder as time expired to give the underdog Giants a 15-13 and a trip to Super Bowl XXV where they would face the high-powered Buffalo Bills.
Using a ball control offense that had the ball for 40 1/2 minutes, the Giants were able to pull off the 20-19 upset as Scott Norwood's potential 47-yard game-winning field goal in the final seconds sailed wide right.
Jeff Hostetler holds the ball in celebration after leading the Giants to an upset win over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV
11. 1985 New England Patriots
The Patriots made history in the 1985 playoffs as they became the first team to win three playoff games on the road in the same postseason.
First, New England knocked off their division rivals, the New York Jets, 26-14 in the AFC Wild Card Game, earning a trip to Los Angeles where they would face the #1 seeded Raiders.
New England took care of the Raiders, beating them 27-20, earning a berth in the AFC Championship Game where they would face the Miami Dolphins in the Orange Bowl, a place where the Patriots had not won at since 1966.
But the Patriots would run for 255 yards and force six Miami turnovers in a 31-14 win, earning New England the first of its record 10 Super Bowl appearances.
Patriots head coach Raymond Berry is carried off the field after leading New England to their first ever Super Bowl appearance.
10. 2006 Indianapolis Colts
After years of playoff disappointment and the league's worst run defense, that was not a lot of optimism that 2006 would be the year that Peyton Manning, Tony Dungy, and the Colts would finally win the Super Bowl.
But after holding the NFL's second leading rusher, Chiefs running back Larry Johnson to just 32 yards, in a 23-8 win over Kansas City in the Wild Card Round, then defeating the Baltimore Ravens 15-6 on Adam Vinatieri's five field goals in the Divisional Round, the Colts earned the right to play host to their nemesis Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.
After falling behind 21-3 in the second quarter, the Colts came back to win 38-34 to advance to Super Bowl XLI where they defeated the Chicago Bears 29-17 to earn the team their first Super Bowl title in 36 years.
Colts quarterback Peyton Manning finally got to hold the Lombardi Trophy after leading the Colts to a Super Bowl championship in the 2006 NFL Playoffs.
9. 2012 Baltimore Ravens
Just like 12 years earlier, the Baltimore Ravens won the Super Bowl from the #4 seed in the AFC side of the NFL playoffs.
After taking care of the Indianapolis Colts 24-9 in their Wild Card game, the Ravens traveled to Denver to take Peyton Manning and the #1 seeded Denver Broncos.
Down 35-28 with 44 seconds left and facing 3rd & 3 at the Baltimore 30-yard-line, quarterback Joe Flacco fired a deep pass then went over the hands of a jumping Rahim Moore and into the hands of Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones, who caught the ball at the Denver 20-yard-line and then ran in to complete the shocking 70-yard touchdown that went with the extra point sent the game into overtime.
The touchdown would become known as the "Mile High Miracle" as the Ravens would win the game 38-35 after kicker Justin Tucker kicked the game-winning 47-yard field goal in double overtime.
The Ravens would then travel to Foxboro to take on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots where Baltimore would avenge their AFC Championship Game loss from the previous year at the hands of the Patriots and defeat New England to advance to Super Bowl XLVII where they would face the San Francisco 49ers.
After building a 28-6 lead, the Ravens held on for dear life as the 49ers came back following a 34-minute delay because of a blackout and pulled out a goal line stand in the final minutes to keep the 49ers from scoring the game-winning touchdown and holding on for the 34-31 win.
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco threw for 1,140 yards, 11 touchdowns, and zero interceptions in the Ravens' run to a Super Bowl championship.
8. 2008 Arizona Cardinals
Entering the playoffs with a 9-7 record and having lost four of their previous six games, NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth called the Cardinals the worst playoff team in history.
But Arizona would prove Collinsworth and the world with a memorable run that almost resulted in a Super Bowl title.
First, they held on to defeat the Atlanta Falcons 30-24 in their NFC Wild Card Game, the first home playoff game since 1947 for the Cardinals, then traveled to Charlotte to take on the #2 seed Carolina Panthers for the Divisional Round.
Thanks to a phenomenal performance from wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, the Cardinals shocked the Panthers 33-13 to earn a spot in the NFC Championship Game, which they would host thanks to the #6 seed Philadelphia Eagles knocking off the #1 and #3 seeds on their way to the title game.
The underdog Cardinals would defeat the Eagles 32-25 to earn their first ever trip to the Super Bowl where they would face the Pittsburgh Steelers.
After falling behind 20-7, the Cardinals scored 16 straight points with Fitzgerald catching a 64-yard touchdown pass with 2:37 left to give Arizona a 23-20 lead, only to have the Steelers drive down and score the game-winning touchdown, a six-yard touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Santonio Holmes with 35 seconds left to hand the Cardinals a heartbreaking 27-23 loss.
Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner(13) connected with wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald 30 times for 546 yards and eight touchdowns during the Cardinals' memorable run in the 2008 NFL playoffs.
7. 2011 New York Giants
The Giants qualified for the 2011 NFL playoffs on the final game of the season as they defeated the Dallas Cowboys 31-14 to win the NFC East title and the #4 seed in the NFC.
The Giants would hold the Atlanta Falcons out of the end zone as they defeated the Falcons 24-2 in their NFC Wild Card game, then stunned the 15-1 Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round with a 37-20 victory.
The Giants would then travel to San Francisco to face the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game where Lawrence Tynes kicked the game-winning 31-yard field goal in overtime after 49ers punt returner Kyle Williams fumbled the football during a punt return when he was stripped of the ball by Giants linebacker Jacquain Williams and was recovered by Devin Thomas at the San Francisco 24-yard-line.
The Giants would then go to Super Bowl XLVI to face the New England Patriots where the Giants knocked off the Patriots 21-17 to win their second Super Bowl title in five years and become the team with the worst regular season to ever win a Super Bowl.
Eli Manning would threw for 1,219 yards and nine touchdown passes in the Giants' 2011 postseason.
6. 2010 Green Bay Packers
Entering the final week of the regular season, the Packers needed a win over their arch rivals, the Chicago Bears, to qualify for the playoffs.
After a hard-fought 10-3 win, the Packers earned the #6 seed in the NFC and a trip to Philadelphia to face the Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Round.
The Packers would defeat the Eagles 21-16 as defensive back Tramon Williams intercepted a Michael Vick pass in the end zone with 33 seconds to go to preserve the victory.
The following week, the Packers traveled to Georgia to take on the #1 seeded Atlanta Falcons where they roundly defeated the Falcons 48-21 behind a stellar performance by Rodgers, who completed 31 of 36 passes for 366 yards and threw three touchdown passes.
Then, the Packers traveled to Chicago to face the Bears once again, this time in the NFC Championship Game which Green Bay won 21-14 to earn a trip to Super Bowl XLV where they would face the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Behind a MVP performance by Rodgers in which he completed 24 of 39 passes for 304 yards and threw three touchdowns, the Packers would defeat the Steelers 31-25 for the team's fourth Super Bowl title.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had three games where he threw three touchdown passes during Green Bay's four-game run in the 2010 NFL Playoffs.
5. 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers
With four weeks left in the regular season, the Steelers were sitting with a 7-5 record and out of a playoff spot.
But with a four-game winning streak to end the regular season, the Steelers earned the last spot in the AFC as they entered the playoffs as the #6 seed in the AFC.
In their Wild Card Game, the Steelers would come back from a 17-7 deficit to defeat thier division rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals 31-17 to earn a trip to Indianapolis to face Peyton Manning and the #1 seed Colts.
The Steelers appeared to have the game won after a 4th down quarterback sack of Manning gave Pittsburgh the ball with a 21-18 lead and the ball at the Colts' two-yard-line with 1:20 to play.
But on the very next play from scrimmage, running back Jerome Bettis fumbled the football after a jarring hit by Colts linebacker Gary Brackett, which was recovered by defensive back Nick Harper, who returned it 35 yards, only to be tackled by Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger at the Colts' 42-yard-line.
The Colts would drive into field goal range and have kicker Mike Vanderjagt attempt a potential game-tying field goal, but his 46-yard kick was way wide right, allowing for the Steelers to escape with the 21-18 win.
Next up, the Steelers traveled to Denver to take on the 13-3 Broncos in the AFC Championship Game, where Roethlisberger would throw two touchdown passes and run for another in a 34-17 win to send Pittsburgh to Super Bowl XL where they would face the Seattle Seahawks.
Behind Willie Parker's record 75-yard touchdown run and wide receiver Antawan Randle El's 43-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward, the Steelers won the game 21-10 to become the first #6 seed in NFL history to win the Super Bowl.
Steelers running back Jerome Bettis got to hold the Lombardi Trophy in his final NFL game.
4. 2001 New England Patriots
The Patriots' dynasty began with a Cinderella run to their first Super Bowl title.
Even though they were the #2 seed with a 11-5 record, many experts did not believe the Patriots were reach the Super Bowl with their 24-year-old quarterback Tom Brady, who had replaced veteran Drew Bledsoe in the second game of the season due to an injury to Bledsoe.
In the AFC Divisional Round, the Patriots came back from a 13-3 deficit to defeat the Oakland Raiders 16-13 in overtime, which was played in a driving snowstorm.
The Patriots were aided by the "Tuck Rule" which negated Brady's fumble with less than two minutes left as the Patriots trailed 13-10, allowing for New England to drive into field goal range and allow Adam Vinatieri kick a 45-yard field goal to tie the game, then kick the game-winning field goal, a 23-yarder in overtime.
Then, the Patriots traveled to Pittsburgh for the AFC Championship Game where they upset the Steelers 24-17 as Bledsoe came off the bench after Brady sprained his ankle to help the Patriots win their third AFC championship.
Brady would return the following week to start Super Bowl XXXVI as the Patriots were two-touchdown underdogs to the St. Louis Rams.
New England built up a 17-3 lead but the Rams scored two touchdowns in the 4th quarter to tie the game up at 17 with 1:30 left in regulation.
Brady would then drive the Patriots 53 yards to set up Vinatieri's 48-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Patriots a 20-17 win and their first of five Super Bowl titles.
The legend of Tom Brady began as he lead the Patriots to a unlikely Super Bowl title in the 2001 playoffs.
3. 2017 Philadelphia Eagles
Despite having a 13-3 record and having the #1 seed in the NFC, many experts did not give the Eagles much a chance of winning the Super Bowl after starting quarterback Carson Wentz went down with a knee injury in the 13th game of the season and was replaced by Nick Foles.
The Eagles were even underdogs to the sixth-seeded Atlanta Falcons in their NFC Divisional Playoff game.
But behind a 23-of-30 for 246-yard performance by Foles, the Eagles would hold off the Falcons 15-10 as Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan's 4th down pass at the Philadelphia two-yard-line fell incomplete with less than a minute to play.
The following week, the Eagles hosted the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game, where again Philadelphia was the underdog.
However, Foles would complete 26 of 33 passes for 352 yards and throw three touchdown passes in 38-7 rout to send the Eagles to Super Bowl LII where they would once be underdogs as they faced Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
Even though Brady would throw for a Super Bowl record 505 yards and three touchdown passes, Foles would throw for three touchdowns as well on 28-of-43 passing and catch a one-yard touchdown pass on the famous "Philly Special" play to lead the Eagles to a 41-33 victory and their first NFL championship since 1960.
Nick Foles holds the Lombardi Trophy after leading the Eagles to their first ever Super Bowl title.
2. 1980 Oakland Raiders
It seemed the Super Bowl was not in the cards for the Raiders in 1980 especially as they stood with a 5-5 record though 10 weeks of the season and had lost starting quarterback Dan Pastorini for the season to a broken leg.
But behind backup quarterback Jim Plunkett, the Raiders would win their last six games of the season to finish with a 11-5 record and earn a Wild Card berth in the AFC.
The Raiders would defeat former Oakland starting quarterback Ken Stabler and the Houston Oilers 27-7 in the AFC Wild Card Game to earn a trip to Cleveland to face the Browns.
Ahead 14-12 with 49 seconds left, the Raiders were in danger of losing the game as their defense faced a 2nd & 9 situation at the Oakland 13-yard-line.
That is when the Browns called "Red Right 88" a pass play that was intercepted by Raiders defensive back Mike Davis in the end zone to preserve the Oakland victory and send them to the AFC Championship Game where they their AFC West rivals the San Diego Chargers.
The Raiders would dispatch of the Chargers 34-27 to earn a trip to Super Bowl XV where Plunkett would three touchdown passes to give the Raiders a 27-10 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, giving Oakland its second Super Bowl title in five years and making them the first Wild Card team in NFL history to win the Super Bowl.
Jim Plunkett would throw for 839 yards and seven touchdown passes in leading the Raiders to a Super Bowl championship as a Wild Card team.
1. 2007 New York Giants
After an roller coaster season which saw the Giants get off to an 0-2 start and an embarrassing 41-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings where quarterback Eli Manning threw four interceptions(three of them returned for touchdowns), the Giants entered the 2007 playoffs with a 10-6 record and the #5 seed in the NFC.
New York would take care of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a 24-14 win in their Wild Card game to earn a trip to Dallas where they would play the #1 seeded Cowboys.
The Giants would knock off their division rivals 21-17 as defensive back R.W. McQuarters intercepted Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo's 4th down pass in the end zone with nine seconds left to seal the victory.
The Giants then traveled to Lambeau Field to face the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game where the game-time temperature was -1 degree with a wind chill of -23.
After missing two chances to win the game with a field goal in regulation, kicker Lawrence Tynes made a 47-yard field goal following a Corey Webster interception of a Brett Favre pass to give the Giants a 23-20 overtime win and send them to Super Bowl XLII, where they would face the 18-0 New England Patriots.
Down 14-10 with 1:15 to play and facing 3rd & 5 at his own 45-yard-line, Manning escaped a potential sack and fired a pass for David Tyree, who was able to make the catch with the ball pinned to his helmet for a 32-yard gain and a 1st down.
This would led to Manning hitting Plaxico Burress for a 13-yard touchdown pass that would give the Giants a shocking 17-14 win for the team's third Super Bowl title and ending the Patriots' chances of completing an undefeated season.
David Tyree makes the "Helmet Catch", the play that would lead the Giants to pull off one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history and complete the Giants' unlikely run to a world championship.
While this Super Bowl is best remembered for the 49ers' record-setting 55 points and Joe Montana's five touchdown passes, the 49ers' performance on defense should not be overlooked.
It was certainly Doomsday for the Denver Broncos offense as the Cowboys' famed "Doomsday Defense" dominated Super Bowl XII.
The Dolphins "No-Name Defense" made a name of itself in Super Bowl VII as they almost came away with the first shutout in Super Bowl history if not for kicker Garo Yepremian's blooper late in the 4th quarter which lead to the Redskins' only touchdown.
Going up against his former team, Jon Gruden's Tampa Bay Buccaneers destroyed the Oakland Raiders 48-21, primarily because of their defense.
Six years before their dominant performance in Super Bowl XII(see number 9), the Cowboys "Doomsday Defense" had another impressive performance to help lead "America's Team" to winning the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Super Bowl XLII is best remembered for David Tyree's famous "Helmet Catch" on the Giants' game-winning touchdown drive as New York ended the Patriots' chances of a 19-0 season with their historic upset.
The Seahawks' "Legion of Boom" defense made the Broncos' record-breaking offense, which had scored 606 points during the regular season, look terrible in their meeting in Super Bowl XLVIII.
The "Steel Curtain" defense put on a dominant defense to launch the Pittsburgh Steelers' dynasty in the 1970s.
The '85 Bears cemented their legacy as maybe the greatest defense of all time with the most dominant performance by a defense in Super Bowl history.
