One week from Sunday would be the 59th installment of the Tremendous Bowl. “The Huge Recreation” has produced its fair proportion of performs all through its historical past. I’m sufficiently old to be alive for 47 of them – don’t decide – and I’ve paid consideration to 42 of them. However what I’ve witnessed has been nothing wanting spectacular. Everybody has their listing of favourite performs and I’m completely satisfied to share my prime 5 best Tremendous Bowl performs of all time.
(By the best way, I couldn’t embed them from YouTube as a result of NFL gonna NFL. So, you’ll have to go looking and watch them for your self.)
5. “I-Proper, 70 Chip” – Tremendous Bowl XVII
Fifth on my listing of the best Tremendous Bowl performs based on me is “I-Proper, 70 Chip.”
In Tremendous Bowl XVII, the Washington Redskins confronted the Miami Dolphins. This Tremendous Bowl was held in Pasadena after the strike-shortened 1982 season. Down 17-13 with 10:28 remaining, the Redskins confronted fourth and 1 on the Dolphins 43-yard line. Quite than punt, head coach Joe Gibbs determined to go for it. Quarterback Joe Theismann handed the ball off to veteran working again John Riggins, who received the primary down. However Riggins wasn’t finished; he broke the sort out of Dolphins cornerback Don McNeal after which saved working till he hit the top zone. The Redskins would go up by three and rating a landing on the subsequent drive and win, 27-17. Riggins earned MVP honors, ending the sport with 38 carries for a then-record 166 yards. It could be damaged within the subsequent Tremendous Bowl by Marcus Allen of the Los Angeles Raiders in opposition to… the Redskins.
The place was I? I used to be 5 years outdated sitting on my sofa in my household’s residence in New Jersey after I watched this play. I bear in mind the Tremendous Bowl being referred to as the “’Skins” versus the “Smurfs” (as a result of The Smurfs have been widespread on the time and the Dolphins wore blue). It’s considered one of my first soccer reminiscences and it’s caught in my thoughts since.
4. “The Deal with” (or “One Yard Quick”) – Tremendous Bowl XXXIV
Fourth on my listing of the best Tremendous Bowl performs based on me is “The Deal with.”
In Tremendous Bowl XXXIV, the St. Louis Rams confronted the Tennessee Titans. Each groups completed the 1999 season 13-3, however the huge story of the season – and the sport – was Kurt Warner. Warner emerged from obscurity to win league MVP honors. The Rams sprinted to a 16-0 lead earlier than Steve McNair, Eddie George, and the Titans caught up. They got here all the best way again to tie the rating at 16 after an Al Del Greco discipline objective with 2:16 remaining. On the time, it was the most important lead surrendered ever in a Tremendous Bowl. On the next Rams drive, Warner hit Isaac Bruce with a 73-yard passing rating in ONE PLAY to take the lead, 23-16. The Titans took over with 1:48 remaining at their very own 12-yard line. McNair lead the Titans down the sector to the Rams’ 10-yard line.
With six seconds remaining, McNair handed to large receiver Kevin Dyson and it appeared as if Dyson would cross the objective line. However Rams linebacker Mike Jones – who was assigned tight finish Frank Wycheck in protection – wrapped up Dyson. Dyson stretched out the ball along with his proper arm for the objective line… and was one yard brief. The Rams gained their first Tremendous Bowl in probably the most thrilling endings in recreation historical past.
The place was I? I used to be a 22-year outdated writing pupil watching the sport at my brother’s townhouse. He, his spouse, and different members of the family watched the sport on the most important TV I’ve ever seen on the time. It was a largely uneventful recreation… till the ultimate two minutes. Anticipate the surprising within the Tremendous Bowl!
3. “Third and 13” – Tremendous Bowl XXV
Third on my listing of the best Tremendous Bowl performs based on me is “Third and 13.”
In Tremendous Bowl XXV, the New York Giants confronted the Buffalo Payments. This recreation featured two heavyweights: the Payments, touting their Okay-Gun offense, and the Giants, a no-nonsense crew constructed on protection and ball management. The Giants have been down 12-10 at the start of the second half. With 8:57 remaining, they confronted third and 13 from the Payments’ 32. Quarterback Jeff Hostetler discovered large receiver Mark Ingram on the 25-yard line. Ingram broke FIVE tackles for a 14-yard acquire. The Giants maintained possession for over FOUR AND A HALF MORE MINUTES. Recreation MVP Otis Anderson rushed in a 1-yard landing because the Giants took a 17-12 lead. The drive lasted 16 performs and 9:59, which remains to be a Tremendous Bowl file for longest time of possession drive.
The groups exchanged the lead all through the second half, however the Payments had one final likelihood to win the sport. They have been down 20-19 with eight seconds remaining. Everyone knows what would occur on the finish: Scott Norwood missed a 47-yard discipline objective (one other notable play: “Large Proper”). The place was I? I used to be 12 years outdated and within the seventh grade. My mother let me and my brothers skip the night church service to look at this recreation. We had a giant occasion with church associates and watched the Giants win.
(Oh, and the sport featured the best rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” ever on the Tremendous Bowl by Whitney Houston. I nonetheless get chills listening to all of it these years later. We miss you, Whitney.)
2. “Montana to Taylor” (or “The Drive”) – Tremendous Bowl XXIII
Second on my listing of best Tremendous Bowl performs based on me is “Montana to Taylor.”
In Tremendous Bowl XXIII, the San Francisco 49ers confronted the Cincinnati Bengals. This was the primary Tremendous Bowl to be performed at Joe Robbie Stadium (now Arduous Rock Stadium). The Niners have been a seven-point favourite getting into this recreation. Nonetheless, the Bengals have been extra formidable than anticipated, taking a 16-13 lead with 3:44 remaining. Following a penalty on the following kick return, the Niners began at their very own eight-yard line with 3:10 remaining. Quarterback Joe Montana would lead the Niners down the sector to the Bengals 10-yard line in 2:36. Would they kick the sector objective with :34 remaining? They’d not.
Large receiver John Taylor made the Professional Bowl through the 1988 season, however as a punt returner. He wasn’t Montana’s second, and even third, favourite goal through the recreation. On the ultimate play of the drive, Montana discovered Taylor on a crossing sample ultimately zone and the Niners took the lead. Taylor had one reception for 10 yards – as it might end up, it was the game-winning landing. This cross is taken into account probably the most memorable in Tremendous Bowl historical past. The place was I? I used to be ten years outdated watching on Beta as a result of we recorded the sport throughout night church service. The facility went out whereas we watched on delay! We missed out on watching this play reside, so we watched the remainder of the sport the subsequent evening after dinner.
1. “The Helmet Catch” – Tremendous Bowl XLII
And eventually, the primary of my listing of the best Tremendous Bowl performs based on me is “The Helmet Catch.”
In Tremendous Bowl XLII, the New York Giants confronted the New England Patriots. The Patriots have been 16-0 within the common season, together with a Week 16 victory over the Giants. Coming into the sport, the Patriots have been trying to turn into the second crew within the Tremendous Bowl Period to complete with an ideal file. The Giants protection to maintain a record-breaking Patriots offense in verify all recreation lengthy, sacking Tom Brady 5 instances. The Patriots took a 14-10 lead late within the fourth quarter after Brady threw a six-yard landing cross to Randy Moss. The Giants took possession with 2:45 remaining and on the eighth play of the drive, they confronted third and 6 from their very own 44.
Quarterback Eli Manning went again to cross and was pressured by the Patriots protection. Initially within the grasp of defensive finish Jarvis Inexperienced and defensive sort out Richard Seymour, Manning escaped. He threw a determined heave downfield in large receiver David Tyree’s path. Tyree went skyward with defensive again Rodney Harrison draped on him. He got here up with the catch, pinned the soccer to his helmet, and maintained possession. The Giants earned a brand new set of downs and Manning discovered Plaxico Burress for the game-winning landing with :39 remaining. The protection took care of the remaining and the Giants defeated the Patriots in one of many largest upsets ever. The place was I? In contrast to earlier reminiscences as a toddler and teenager, I used to be a grown man watching the sport with some nice associates.
Soccer followers have their all-time lists, and this one isn’t any completely different. However why have been these the best performs in Tremendous Bowl historical past based on me? As a result of I bear in mind the place I used to be after I noticed each considered one of them. The place will you be on February 9 when historical past is made once more? Pay attention to the place you’re since you’ll bear in mind it for a lifetime.