This is Part 2 of my rankings of every Super Bowl from worst to first, with games 40-21:
40. LIII=Patriots-13 Rams-3
One year after playing in the second highest scoring Super Bowl ever, the Patriots partake in the lowest scoring Super Bowl as New England and Los Angeles combine for 16 points and only one touchdown.
Despite the lack of fireworks, the game is tight throughout as Patriots running back Sony Michel's two-yard touchdown run breaks a 3-3 tie midway through the fourth quarter as the Rams drive to the New England 27-yard-line on their ensuing possession, only for it to end in an interception by Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore that New England converts into a field goal to put the game away.
39. XXII=Redskins-42 Broncos-10
It looked like this game was going to be a blowout as the Broncos jumped out to a 10-0 lead after the 1st quarter.
The game would be a blowout, but it would be the Redskins who would be blowing out the Broncos, thanks to their record 35-point 2nd quarter that saw quarterback Doug Williams, the first African-American quarterback to start a Super Bowl, complete nine of 11 passes for 228 yards and throw four touchdowns, two of those going to Ricky Sanders who caught four passes for 161 yards in the quarter while running back Timmy Smith ran for 122 yards and a touchdown on just five carries as the Redskins racked up 356 yards of offense in the 2nd quarter on only 18 plays.
Smith finished with a record 204 yards as he scored the only touchdown of the second half.
38. I=Packers-35 Chiefs-10
In the first game between a team from the American Football League(Chiefs) and the National Football League(Packers), the Packers held a tedious 14-10 lead at halftime as they were outgained 181-164 on offense, leading NFL director of player relations Buddy Young to be quotes in the press box as saying “Old age and heat are going to get the Packers in the second half” (The game was played in 72 degree Los Angeles).
However, the “old” Packers rose up when on the fourth play of the second half, Green Bay defensive back Willie Wood intercepted a pass from Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson and returning 50 yards to the Kansas City five-yard-line setting up a five-yard touchdown run by Elijah Pitts and beginning a run of 21 unanswered points as the Packers become winners of the very first Super Bowl.
37. 50=Broncos-24 Panthers-10
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Despite gaining only 194 yards of total offense, the Broncos upset the one-loss Carolina Panthers, thanks to their defense which sacked quarterback Cam Newton seven times, tying a Super Bowl record, and forcing four turnovers, the last one a fumble on another Newton sack, that set up C.J. Anderson’s two-yard touchdown run with 3:08 remaining that along with Peyton Manning’s successful pass on the two-point conversion allowed for Manning to end his career with a 2nd Super Bowl title.
36. IX=Steelers-16 Vikings-6
Even though the “Steel Curtain” defense dominated the game as they allowed the fewest yards of total offense in a Super Bowl with 119 yards, permitted only nine 1st downs(another Super Bowl record), and not allowing an offensive touchdown(the Vikings got a touchdown after recovering a blocked punt) the Steelers could not put the Vikings away until 3:31 remaining in the game when quarterback Terry Bradshaw connected with tight end Larry Brown for a four-yard touchdown that would seal the first of four Super Bowl titles in six years for Pittsburgh.
35. VII=Dolphins-14 Redskins-7
The Miami Dolphins completed their undefeated season in the second lowest scoring Super Bowl of all time but included one of the most legendary plays in Super Bowl history when after having his 42-yard field goal attempt blocked, which if successful would have given Miami a 17-0 lead to complete a 17-0 season, Dolphins kicker Garo Yepremian picked up the loose ball and tried to throw a pass, only to have the ball slip out of his hands and have Yepremian bounce the ball into the hands of the Redskins’ Mike Bass, who returned the fumble as it was ruled 49 yards for a touchdown to make it a 14-7 game with 2:07 to go in the game.
The Redskins would get one last chance to send the game into overtime but could not move the ball as the Dolphins completed their perfect season.
34. XXI=Giants-39 Broncos-20
For a while, it looked like the Broncos were going to pull off a major upset as they led 10-7 midway through the second quarter and had a 1st-and-goal.
But the Giants defense held Denver out of the end zone and after Rich Karlis missed a 23-yard field goal, the wheels began to fall off for the Broncos as the Giants would cut the lead to 10-9 on a safety before halftime and then score 30 2nd half points behind the right arm of quarterback Phil Simms, who would complete all 10 of his passes in the 2nd half on his way to a 22-of-25 for 268 yards and three touchdowns, to lead the Giants to their first NFL title in 30 years.
33. IV=Chiefs-23 Vikings-7
When the AFL’s New York Jets upset the NFL’s Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, some football experts thought it was a fluke and that the Vikings were to restore the NFL’s superiority over the AFL as they were nearly two-touchdown favorites over the Chiefs.
However, the Chiefs would prove the Jets’ win wasn’t a fluke as they would go to win the final game played as an AFL team as the AFL-NFL merger would go into effect the following season.
This Super Bowl is more memorable not for the play on the field, but for the fact that Chiefs head coach Hank Stram wearing a microphone during the game and putting phrases like “Just keep matriculating the ball down the field” and “65 Toss Power Trap” into the lexicons of NFL fans.
32. XXVIII=Cowboys-30 Bills-13
In their fourth straight Super Bowl appearance, the Bills went into the halftime break with a 13-6 lead and would get the ball to start the second half.
But on the second play of the half, Dallas defensive tackle Leon Lett atoned for his blunder the fumble that was recovered by defensive back James Washington, who returned it 46 yards for the game-tying touchdown.
From there, the Cowboys took over the game as they would score 17 more points with running back Emmitt Smith leading the way as he carried the ball 20 times for 91 yards and scored two touchdowns in the second half to lead Dallas to its second straight Super Bowl championship and hand Buffalo its fourth straight Super Bowl loss.
31. XLI=Colts-29 Bears-17
For fans of bad-weather football games, this was the game for you as it rained throughout the entire game, helping produce a combined eight turnovers between the two teams.
Still, this Super Bowl had perhaps the greatest start to any Super Bowl ever as Devin Hester returned the game’s opening kickoff for a touchdown to give the Bears a 7-0 lead.
However, the Colts would take control as they would outgain Chicago 430-265 but it would take Kelvin Hayden’s 56-yard interception return for a touchdown in the 4th quarter, to help secure the Colts’ first Super Bowl championship in 36 years.
30. XL=Steelers-21 Seahawks-10
This Super Bowl is most remembered for the controversial officiating which included the a Seattle touchdown being negated by a pass interference call on Seattle wide receiver Darrell Jackson, a one-yard touchdown run by Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger though replays could not determine whether the ball crossed the plank, and a holding call on Seahawks tackle Sean Locklear that nullified a 18-yard pass that would have given Seattle at the Steelers’ one-yard-line with a 1st-and-goal.
But the game did feature two memorable plays in Super Bowl history; Steelers running back Willie Parker’s record-breaking 75-yard touchdown run on the second play of the second half and Pittsburgh wide receiver Antwaan Randle El’s 43-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward midway through the 4th quarter to help pave the way for the Steelers to win their first Super Bowl in 26 years.
The game was punctuated by veteran Steelers running back Jerome Bettis announcing his retirement after finally winning the Lombardi Trophy.
29. XXXIX=Patriots-24 Eagles-21
The Patriots won their third Super Bowl in four years, again by the margin of three points, as MVP Deion Branch led the way for New England with 11 catches for 133 yards while Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens caught nine passes for 122 yards, just seven weeks after breaking his right fibula.
28. XXX=Cowboys-27 Steelers-17
The third time was the charm for the Cowboys as they defeated the Steelers in a Super Bowl after two heartbreaking losses in the 1970s.
But the win did not come without any drama as the Steelers controlled the game in the second half as they outgained the Cowboys 201-61 on offense and used a surprise onside kick to set up Bam Morris’ one-yard touchdown run to bring Pittsburgh to within three points.
But two costly interceptions by Steelers quarterback Neil O’Donnell, both picked off by Cowboys cornerback Larry Brown, was the difference in the game as Brown’s two long returns set up Dallas’ two touchdowns in the second half, giving the Cowboys their third Super Bowl title in four years.
27. XVI=49ers-26 Bengals-21
The 49ers appeared to be in great shape as they jumped out to a 20-0 halftime lead, which was then the largest halftime lead in Super Bowl history.
However, the Bengals would score a touchdown on the opening possession of the second half and then had a 1st-and-goal at the 49ers’ three-yard-line with a chance to trim the lead.
But the 49ers held the Bengals out of the end zone as they stopped Cincinnati running back Pete Johnson on 4th-and-goal from the one-yard-line.
Twice in the second half, the Bengals would pull to within a touchdown, but could never take the lead as the 49ers won the first of their four Super Bowl titles in the 1980s.
26. XXXI=Packers-35 Patriots-21
This was one of the more entertaining Super Bowls as both teams combined for a record 24 1st quarter points with Packers quarterback Brett Favre throwing a 54-yard touchdown pass to Andre Rison, and Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe throwing two long pass completions to set up both of New England’s touchdowns in the 1st 15 minutes.
The fireworks would continue as Favre connected with Antonio Freeman on a 81-yard touchdown pass in the 2nd quarter and then Desmond Howard, returning a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown after the Patriots had pulled to within a touchdown when Curtis Martin ran in for a 18-yard touchdown.
After Howard’s touchdown return, the Packers sealed the game and their first Super Bowl title as defensive end Reggie White set a Super Bowl record by sacking Bledsoe three times, the most sacks in a Super Bowl.
25. XLV=Packers-31 Steelers-25
The Packers jumped out to a 21-3 lead, only to have the Steelers climb back with two straight touchdowns to bring them within four points at 21-17, when Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews knocked the ball out of the hands of Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall, forcing a fumble that was recovered by the Packers on the first play of the fourth quarter.
This lead to a eight-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers to Greg Jennings to extending the lead to 28-17
The Steelers fought back to cut the lead to three points and got a chance to drive for the game-winning touchdown but could not drive past their own 33-yard-line, allowing for the Packers to win their fourth Super Bowl in franchise history.
24. XVII=Redskins-27 Dolphins-17
If you look at the stat sheet, you would think that the Redskins would have won this game easily as they outgained the Dolphins 400-176 and held Miami to just nine 1st downs.
But a 76-yard touchdown pass from David Woodley to Jimmy Cefalo, a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Fulton Walker, and two second half interceptions of Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann, gave Miami a 17-13 lead with 11 minutes to go in the 4th quarter when Washington running back John Riggins made his legendary 43-yard touchdown run on a 4th &1 to give the Redskins their first lead of the game, which they would never relinquished as they added another touchdown with under two minutes to go to clinch Washington’s first NFL championship in 40 years.
23. LVI=Rams-23 Bengals-20
The Los Angeles Rams got a Hollywood ending as they were able to win the Super Bowl in their home stadium with a magnificent drive in the final minutes of the game.
Trailing 20-16 with 6:13 to go in the 4th quarter, the Rams had the ball at their 21-yard-line when they put together a 15-play, 79-yard drive as quarterback Matthew Stafford completed seven of 11 passes for 57 yards on the drive with four of those completions going to eventual MVP Cooper Kupp including the go-ahead touchdown pass with 1:25 left in regulation.
The Bengals would drive to the Rams' 49-yard-line until LA defensive tackle Aaron Donald made two huge plays as he tackled running back Samaje Perine for no gain on 3rd & 1, then pressured quarterback Joe Burrow into an incomplete pass on 4th down to seal the win for the Rams.
22. V=Colts-16 Cowboys-13
This game become known as the “Blunder Bowl” for its poor quality of play as both teams combined for 11 turnovers(a Super Bowl record) and 14 penalties, but the come was close throughout and wasn’t decided until the final seconds when Colts linebacker Mike “Mad Dog” Curtis intercepted a pass from Cowboys quarterback Craig Morton, to set up Jim O'Brien's game-winning 32-yard field goal with five seconds left to give the Colts the world championship.
21. LIV=Chiefs-31 49ers-20
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes leads Kansas City to third straight postseason victory when trailing by 10 or more points as he completes eight of 12 passes for 118 yards and throws two touchdowns with the second one being a five-yarder to running back Damien Williams to give KC a 24-20 lead with 2:44 left in the game.
Then after forcing the 49ers to turn it over on downs, Williams runs for a 38-yard touchdown to ice the game and give head coach Andy Reid his first Super Bowl title in his 21st season as a NFL head coach.
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