During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.
Just hours before the big game, the 44th Super Bowl, we come to number 1 in my countdown of Super Bowls I have seen in my lifetime. It has been a great trip down memory lane to review all these Super Bowls. I have spent even more time reading and reminiscing and watching video than I have typing out the memories on here. If you follow sports with the zealous nature that I do, every sports memory is associated with a point in your life. It is great to take perspective on it. The best Super Bowl I have seen with all factors concerned was Super Bowl 32 in San Diego. John Elway, Brett Favre and two great teams battled to the end to decide tie championship.
Denver Broncos 31, Green Bay Packers 24
Semi-Lame Nickname: "This one's for John"
Scores:
Historical Significance- 5: This was the last Super Bowl for Brett Favre, who now holds almost all of the NFL passing records. The Packers had won the Super Bowl the year before and were aiming to place themselves among NFL all-time teams. John Elway was playing in his 4th Super Bowl, and had not only lost the previous 3, his team was blown out. Whoever won this game would forever impact the way the NFL viewed them and the legacies of multiple players and coaches involved.
Game Enjoyment By the Fans- 5: The scoring and play was consistent throughout the game. The intensity never waned. The game came to a crescendo in the final quarter and relied on players making plays to win the game.
High Profile Element-5: Elway had the pieces him around him to finally get over the hump. A big part of that was coach Mike Shanahan implementing a rushing attack featuring Terrell Davis. With Davis not only gaining yards, but putting up big numbers, Elway had less pressure on him to get the ball to his star receivers Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey and tight end Shannon Sharpe. Denver's zone blocking scheme was also a reason for the ground success, although the cleanliness of some of their blocks can be a topic of debate. Gary Zimmerman and Tom Nalen led the line that was famous for its silence with the media. The Broncos also made key additions on defense, mainly Neil Smith at DT. Bill Romanowski and John Mobely were key at linebacker. Steve Atwater, had been with the Broncos for a long time, including their last Super Bowl lost, was a viscous hitter in the backfield.
The Packers were led by Mike Holmgren, who had brought the West Coast offense to Green Bay, and Brett Favre. Favre won the MVP for the third time, a record only eclipsed by Manning this year. Dorsey Levens and William Henderson also produced over 1,500 yards on the ground and also had 94 receptions. Antonio Freeman and Robert Brooks were Favre's main targets and party man Mark Chmura was also heavily involved at tight end. Reggie White and Santana Dotson again anchored the line. The defensive backfield was great for the Packers: Eugene Robinson(no word on pre-game activities), LeRoy Butler, and a rookie named Darren Sharper.
Venue/Atmosphere- 4.5: Once again San Diego provided the backdrop for the game. There is a reason the game keeps going back there. Jewel sang the national anthem. I will not say anything disparaging about Jewel, it's just not going to happen. The halftime show featured Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, and The Four Tops.
Personal Enjoyment- 5: I, like many, was pulling for Elway to get over the hump. It was hard not to root for a person to succeed after he had fallen short on the biggest stage multiple times.
Cleet's Rating Index: 24.5
Where I Was: I was too young to be at any big Super Bowl parties, I was only 17. But I sat and watched the game intently and sometimes that is better. Super Bowl parties are great, but there are so many distractions and people who want to throw opinions out there it can get chaotic. To me this game is more about the game than the circus that surrounds it, but obviously a lot of people look at it differently. That said, I am going to a party for the game tonight.
What Happened in the World: Three days after the game Ford bought out Volvo for $6.45 billion. Had no idea this happened, Ford finally had a good quarter recently, no if they can get the Lions to win it would be amazing.
Record of Note: Denver scored 4, one-yard touchdowns in the game.
Game MVP: Terrell Davis ran for 157 and scored 3 TDs. He was able to overcome migraine headaches to have one of the best performances ever by a running back in a Super Bowl.
LVP: Oddsmakers. They placed the Packers at 11.5 point favorites.
Most Memorable Play: The John Elway scramble for 8 yards on a 3rd and 5 in the 4th quarter was the defining play of the decade.
NFL Fallout: The Packers had Favre at the helm for ten more seasons but never were able to make the Super Bowl again during his time there. The Rodgers era has begun and it has been one of promise so far. The Broncos won again the next year and completed the healing for all the Broncos teams and fans that had suffered through 4 defeats. 
Sunday, February 7
Super Bowl Countdown #1: Super Bowl XXXII
Super Bowl Countdown #2: Super Bowl XXIII
During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.
The only Super Bowl in which the 49ers were pushed to the brink, it turned out to be a classic that is often mentioned 21 years later. In a rematch from 7 years earlier, the was a defensive battle until the final minutes. Joe Montana sealed his legacy with the final drive with his game-winning pass and his spotting of John Candy in the final drive. Super Bowl #2 on the list after the break.
San Francisco 20, Cincinnati Bengals 16
Semi-lame Nickname: "The Drive"
Scores:
Historical Significance- 5: The 49ers beat the Bengals in Super Bowl 16. The game is most remembered for the goal line stand made by the 49ers in the 26-21 victory. Bill Walsh coached in his final game, winning his 3rd Super Bowl. The Bengals were winding down a successful decade in the NFL, but were unable to make the final step.
Game Enjoyment By the Fans- 5: As mentioned earlier, this Super Bowl is often ranked by fans and media was the tops of all-time. There was a feeling that even though Cincinnati had a superior regular season, the Niners would prevail. It was put in doubt in the 4th quarter, but Montana delivered.
High Profile Element-4: Roger Craig often does not get a lot of recognition as one of the key members to the 49ers run. Montana, Rice and then the others. In this year when the 49ers only won ten regular season games, Craig was the glue that held them together. Craig had 2,038 yards from scrimmage that year.
The Bengals had bounced back from a 4-11 record in the strike year in 1987. Boomer Esiason and coach Sam Wyche bickered openly during that year. The two put aside their differences and Boomer was named MVP during the 1988 season. The other big personality on the team was Ickey Woods, who developed his delightful Ickey shuffle during the year.
Venue/Atmosphere- 4: There was definitely a lot of buzz about this Super Bowl. Billy Joel sang the national anthem and the half-time was something called "Be Bop Bamboozled". Did I mention John Candy was there?
Personal Enjoyment- 5: Back in the days when Montana was king and I couldn't even point out San Francisco on a map, I loved watching this game. It is a sports contest that definitely sticks in my mind all these years later.
Cleet's Rating Index: 24
Where I Was: This is an interesting story. My friend from across the street, who was 8 years old like I was, stayed with our family for the big game. Why was he staying with us you ask? Because his parents were going to the game. Why were they going to the game? Because my friends Dad played football at USC and was teammates with Anthony Munoz, the Bengals Hall of Fame left tackle. So my friend was going for the Bengals and I was being a jerk by rubbing it in his face that the Niners had just come back to win the game at the end. This was despite the fact I had no affiliation to USC and he referred to Munoz as "Uncle Anthony". Kids can be so cruel.
What Happened in the World: Two days before the game George H.W. Bush was sworn in as the President. Bush for some, miniature American flags for others.
Record of Note: This was the first time a running back had over 100 yards receiving. The aforementioned Craig accomplished this.
Game MVP: Jerry Rice caught a (now-tied) record 11 balls for a record 215 yards and a touchdown.
LVP: Bengals running back Stanley Wilson decided to due some blow the night before the game, not a wise choice. He was suspended for the game.
Most Memorable Play: John Taylor, always looked at as the "other" receiver during the Niners Super Bowl run aside from Rice. He made the big catch in this game though. A play that is burned in my memory and will probably fade out my brain when I go senile somewhere between the names of family members and my social security number.
NFL Fallout: The Bengals began their transformation into the Bungles after the devastating loss. They won one playoff game between this game and present day. The Niners repeated the next year by crushing the Broncos and added another one in 1994 before becoming the perennial also rans they are now.
Super Bowl Countdown #3: Super Bowl XXXVIII
During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.
Sometimes the greatest contest come from great forces that are unknown. The Carolina Panthers are one of the least known entities in the NFL. People know they exist, but most of their knowledge comes from a stray highlight or what someone in the media blurbed about them. The Panthers have only been in existence for 15 years, but in that time they have reached the NFC Championship Game 3 times and the Super Bowl once. The Patriots entered the game winners of 14 straight and were now seen as the rising power in the NFL. Thus they were favored by a touchdown. Yet, on the biggest stage and for a brief moment in time the country knew the kind of heart, passion and drive the Panthers had. They fell short, but along with New England gave football one of it's most frantic, best Super Bowls ever. The Heater in Houston is at #3.
New England Patriots 32, Carolina Panthers 29
Semi-Lame Nickname: "Raise the Retractable Roof"
Scores:
Historical Significance- 4.5: While the Patriots were going for 2 in three years, the Panthers were 1-15 just two years ago. Their paths had crossed that year, in Charlotte. I got tickets from a friend and went to Bank of America Stadium(Then Ericsson Stadium). The Patriots were a surprise team with Brady as their QB. The Panthers put forth one of the worst performances I had ever seen. Chris Weinke could not throw the ball to save his life. Carolina won 38-6 and it led to the firing of George Seifert and the hiring of John Fox. Just two years later the Panthers were in the Super Bowl.
Game Enjoyment By the Fans- 5: The game was expected to be a defensive battle throughout. Early in the game neither team could score(first points came 26:55 into the game) and that included a missed and blocked field goal from Pats kicker Adam Vinatieri. The Patriots forced a fumble from Jake Delhomme and turned it into the first points of the game. That strike to Branch seemed to ignite the offensive weapons for both sides. The Panthers awoke all of a sudden and marched down the field for a TD to Steve Smith. The Patriots bounced it right back with a TD 89 seconds later. A botched squib kick and a big run by Stephen Davis set up a 51 yard field goal from John Kasay. 24 points in the final 3 minutes and 5 seconds in the half.
The third quarter reverted back to the defensive battle with each team going scoreless. The teams exploded in the 4th for 37 points in a back and forth battle that came down to the wire.
High Profile Element-4.5: The Patriots had suffered some Super hangover in 2002 as they went 9-7 and lost on a tiebreaker for the playoffs. The two key additions to the Patriots that season were safety Rodney Harrison and big nose tackle Ted Washington. With the development of Brady and Belichick building the defense to where he wanted it, the Patriots ran the table the last 12 games of the regular season. Their final regular season game was a 31-0 win over the Bills, who had beaten them 31-0 in week 1.
The Panthers earned the nickname the "Cardiac Cats" in 2003. Jake Delhomme was not the turnover machine he was now when this season began. He was backing up Rodney Peete when the Panthers went down 17-0. Delhomme got subbed in and lead the Panthers to a 24-23 win. The Panthers went 11-5 and beat the Cowboys in the wild card round. They then defeated the Rams 29-23 in double overtime on a 69-yard touchdown. Carolina next went on the road to Philly and beat the Eagles 14-3. The Panthers gameplan was the same as it is today under Fox, run the football to set up play action and play hard-nosed defense. The Panthers also had Rod Smart as a special teamer, you may remember him as "He Hate Me" from the glorious XFL.
Venue/Atmosphere- 4.5: Reliant Stadium was the first retractable roof stadium to host the game. Beyonce sang the national anthem, yes sir. The halftime show became what people remember; Janet Jackson had her nipple exposed by Justin Timberlake. I assure you greater tragedies in life have happened. It erupted a huge controversy which led to the country wasting huge amounts of time and money on saying it was bad. You here that America, NIPPLES ARE BAD!
Personal Enjoyment- 5: This was my favorite Super Bowl. The Panthers are my 1-A team. I was a Pats fan before the Panthers existed, but I lived in Charlotte when Carolina came about. I root for them in every situation, except one: when they play the Patriots.
Cleet's Rating Index: 24
Where I Was: Some people graduate college and move straight to the desk job. I was fortunate enough to take a coaching job in Miami that allowed me to be on the water everyday and enjoy a little time to be a semi-bum. I went to a friend's house to watch the game on his big screen. It was great food, great drinks and a great game.
What Happened in the World: Two days after the game the CIA admitted there was no imminent threat from weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
Record of Note: The 37 points in the 4th quarter were the most ever in any quarter in Super Bowl history.
Game MVP: Tom Brady set the record for completions with 32. He also had 354 yards passing with 3 TDs and 1 pick.
LVP: Anyone that says the kickoff out of bounds by John Kasay cost the Panthers the game. It certainly did not help to give the Patriots good field position, but the Patriots also got hit with an offensive pass interference penalty on the drive that set them back. The Patriots still had to drive the field and Vinatieri still had to make the kick.
Most Memorable Play: A moment that always sticks out for me was after Delhomme threw the record 85-yard TD pass to Muhammad. On his way back to the bench Rodney Harrison bumped into Jake. Delhomme went fiery Cajun on Harrison spouting some talk, I always love seeing that.
NFL Fallout: The Patriots would continue their run the next season, while the Panthers faltered. The Panthers did make it back to the NFC Championship game in 2005 but lost to Seattle. Delhomme led them to playoffs again last year but this season battled an injury and giving the other team the ball all the time. Matt Moore took over and lead the team to late season success. It appears Moore has ended the Delhomme era in Carolina.
90 not pictured
Super Bowl Countdown #4: Super Bowl XLIII
During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.
Seems like only last Super Bowl this great game took place. Wait, what? This could easily be number 1 on a Super Bowl list and probably will be on some peoples. The game had its fair share of memorable plays, came down to one last drive and a catch for the ages. A Tantalizing Tampa Treat helps us wind down our countdown.
Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Arizona Cardinals 23
Semi-Lame Nickname: "The Recession Bowl"
Scores:
Historical Significance- 5: The Cardinals were the latest and perhaps greatest example of teams with a horrid stretch in the NFL making a monumental turnaround. The Steelers secured their 6th Super Bowl title put them alone at the top of the list and made them...I refuse to use the phrase so I will say it made them a Burgh with 6 rings.
Game Enjoyment By the Fans- 5: There was a feeling that the Cardinals had little chance against the Steelers. They had been a 9-7 team during the regular season and their run was impressive, but seen as a fluke that would end when the Steelers exerted their will. Most of the people watching the game were pleasantly surprised.
High Profile Element-5: The Steelers had been taken over by Mike Tomlin and the team was still a powerful defensive force. Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau had the defense leading the league in points and yards. Defensive player of the year James Harrison had 16 sacks and safety Troy Polamalu had 7 interceptions. Big Ben had grown from shaky passer in 2005 when they last won the Super Bowl to a prolific passer that could elude rushers and create plays.
Ken Whisenhunt had been the offensive coordinator of the Steeler when they won their last Super Bowl. He was passed over for the Steeler job and took over a franchise that had not had a championship since the Truman administration. Kurt Warner had once again rose from the ashes to lead the passing game. Larry Fitzgerald had a superhuman playoff run that bested Jerry Rice. The Cardinals defense had taken a lot of flack but in the playoffs but pass rusher Darnell Dockett and defensive backs Adrian Wilson , Donminiuque Rodgers-Cromartie(all 3 of him) and Antrel Rolle sparked them to wins against Atlanta, at Carolina and held on against the Eagles.
Venue/Atmosphere- 4: A lot of elements to the game was toned down because of the economy going into the crapper last year. Sometimes though, less is more. Jennifer Hudson sang the national anthem. Bruce Springsteen and the E street band did the halftime show where Bruce thought it necessary to tea bag America.
Personal Enjoyment- 4.5: The game was the highest rated Super Bowl in terms of viewership to date. The game provided a chance for the Cardinals to pull off the biggest come from behind victory in Super Bowl hisotry(13 points). A great game that came up just short on the Cardinals end thanks to the feet of Santonio Holmes.
Cleet's Rating Index: 23.5
Where I Was: I was over at our friend XM's house to watch the game. We were all going against the Steelers. When Fitzgerald took the catch and ran 64 yards for the TD to give the Cardinals a 23-20 lead with 2:37 left, XM and Catfish were going crazy. However, I reminded them that there was a lot of time left that was met with a prompt STFU. Unfortunately it turned out to be true.
What Happened in the World: On January 15th US Air Flight 1549 had to make an emergency landing in the Hudson. Before the game Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and his crew were honored on the field. I dare you to watch Sully receiving thanks from family members of those that were on that flight and not get misty eyed.
Record of Note: The teams combined for the lowest rush attempts and yards (38 and 91) in Super Bowl history, the game hath changed.
Game MVP: Holmes had 9 catches for 131 yards, including 71 on the final drive.
LVP: All the bankers, investors and CEOs that got us into this economic mess, seriously screw you guys.
Most Memorable Play: Right before the half, James Harrison rumbled 100 yards for a TD after he intercepted Warner. Until someone eclipses this, it will be known as the greatest defensive play in Super Bowl history.
NFL Fallout: Kurt Warner came back this year and got the Cardinals to the playoffs but they fell short. He has since retired and so begins the Matt Leinart era in Arizona. The Steelers came back strong in the first week, but after Polamalu went down with a knee injury, the defense lost a lot of edge and the team was unable to make the playoffs. Pittsburgh still has a lot of their pieces in place to make another run next year.
Super Bowl Countdown #5: XXXVI
During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.
In a miraculous, improbable, and all together insane season, the Patriots pulled off an upset that only the Jets in '69 and the Giants in '08 against the Pats themselves would equal. As 14 point underdogs, not many were giving a team with a team full of no-names with a first-year QB a chance against the league's MVP at quarterback and the "Greatest Show on Turf". That's why they playing and that's when it was the time for a New Era Born in New Orleans.
New England Patriots 20, St. Louis Rams 17
Semi-Lame Nickname: "Patriot's Day"
Scores:
Historical Significance- 4: There had not been an underdog of New England's stature to pull the upset in the modern era. The Rams were striving to become known as one of the elite teams in league history. The offense is considered by many as among the best of all time, and they had improved on defense, which had cost them an early playoff exit the year before.
Game Enjoyment By the Fans- 5: Months after the attacks of 9/11, sports became an outlet for the country to enjoy common bonds of life. The World Series of November had been spectacular, so too was the Super Bowl.
High Profile Element-4: The Rams offense was well known by this point. Warner, Faulk, Bruce, Holt. The defense was led on the line by Leonard Little(get off the road) and Grant Wistrom. London Fletcher led the way on at linebacker and Aeneas Williams, Dexter McClendon, and Dre Bly were a formidable secondary.
The Patriots season and history was forever changed on September 23, 2001. Jets linebacker Mo Lewis sheered a blood vessel in Drew Bledsoe's chest, leading the Pats to turn to their backup Tom Brady, a 6th round draft pick in 2000. Brady lost that game to New York, but he lead them to a divisional title. In the playoffs, the Patriots tucked their way passed the Raiders in the Snow Bowl(by the rules, pick up a rulebook Al Davis!) and then beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh. In that AFC Championship game, Brady went down with an ankle injury and Drew Bledsoe came in and led the Patriots to victory. While Brady got to play in the Super Bowl, Bledsoe will always have that piece of the championship.
Venue/Atmosphere- 5: Since 9/11 many different feeling,thoughts, and reflections have been made. The country was still as united as it has or had been for those few months. It made for quite a scene in the pre-game ceremonies. Mariah Carey sang the anthem and U2 performed at halftime. This was also the last game that Pat Summerall and John Madden announced together.
Personal Enjoyment- 5: The Patriots came out with a gameplan that was not forged in any secret video tape. The Patriots had played and lost to the Rams during the regular season which provided a firsthand for Bill Belichick. With his gameplan for Super Bowl 25 in the Hall of Fame, Belichick would again have to develop a tactic to slow down the league's most prolific offense. While many tried to stop the Rams with pressure on Kurt Warner, Belichick provided many DBs, sometimes up to 7, on the field to stop the Rams. He keyed in on hitting their speedy players hard and often. The plan worked until the 4th quarter when the Rams caught fire, but by then they only need one drive to win the game and Brady gave it to them.
Cleet's Rating Index: 23
Where I Was: I went to an apartment belonging to a few of my teammates to watch the game. Everyone treated it as a party, but for me and my fellow Patriot fan roommate, it was serious business. We parked ourselves in front of the TV and did not move until the game was over.
What Happened in the World: Sixteen days after the game NASA's Odyssey probe began mapping the surface of Mars. It eventually found 7 Wal-Marts.
Record of Note: Adam Vinatieri's FG to win the game was the first time the game was won by a score on the final play.
Game MVP: Tom Brady had game manager numbers as MVP(145 pass yards, 1 TD, no picks, and a game winning drive), but it got the job done in what was essentially his rookie year at QB.
LVP: Rams' turnover margin. Warner threw two picks and the Rams lost a fumble. The Patriots converted those picks into 17 points.
Most Memorable Play: This occurred before the game. Before this game, teams introduced their offensive or defensive starters as the game started. When the league asked Belichick which side of the ball he wanted announced, he said he wanted the whole team announced as one. At first the league refused, but eventually relented when Belichick would not budge. The Rams were the visitors and were announced their offense first. Then Pat Summerall, who was doing the public address announcing, stated, "And now ladies and gentlemen, choosing to be announced as a team the American Football Conference Champions, the New England Patriots." You can see the video here, with the Pats intro at 4:45.
NFL Fallout: The two franchises drifted in opposite directions; the Rams replaced Warner and the pieces dropped off while the Patriots began their rise to the top of the NFL throughout the decade.
Super Bowl Countdown #6: Super Bowl XXV
During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.
With all the aspects of the game of American football that have evolved over the past couple decades, there remains one truth for all teams: your entire season can rest on one kick. This Super Bowl in Tampa was regarded by many as the best chance for the Buffalo Bills to capture a championship. They were favored by 7 points but standing in their way was Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick. The Giants concocted a gameplan that limited the effectiveness of the Bills superior offense and were able to survive a last second kick to to take the Tampa Timestopper.
New York Giants 20, Buffalo Bills 19
Semi-lame Nickname: "The Patriotic Bowl"
Scores:
Historical Significance- 4: This was the last title ride of Parcells in New York. The Giants were the epitome of power football, with a strong running game and punishing defense. The Bills K-Gun offense was a force on the offensive side of the football. Ted Marchibroda introduced the offense with the no-huddle concentration this year and it became very effective.
Game Enjoyment By the Fans- 5: When you include the patriotic association with the game, the underdog story of the Giants, and the exciting conclusion of the game, many consider this game to be one of the top Super Bowls we have seen.
High Profile Element-4: The Giants lost Phil Simms in a 17-13 loss to the Bills during the regular season. Jeff Hostetler came in and thrived however with his ability to scramble make few mistakes. Any discussion of the Giants defense starts with Lawrence Taylor, perhaps one of the greatest ever to play defense in NFL history. The defense was first in points allowed.
The Bills had 9 pro-bowlers on their roster, including Bruce Smith who recorded 19 sacks. The offense included the usual cast of characters with Kelly, Thomas, Reed, and lest we forget tight end Keith McKellar for whom the K-gun is named.
Venue/Atmosphere- 5: There was a lot security(for that time) in Tampa and a lot of flag-waiving due to the conflict that had erupted in the middle-east. The national anthem as sung by Whitney Houston is among the most heralded of all versions of the song. It reached number 20 in the Billboard charts.
Damn, that woman can blow, when she isn't snorting it.
The Halftime show was again taken over by Disney, damn you ABC! New Kids On the Block performed, and don't lie, in 1991 you thought they were damn cool.
Personal Enjoyment- 4.5: The game was a great contest of wills, and despite the Giants executing a great gameplan the Bills had a final drive to win the game. Did they get close enough? In hindsight you could say no but the Bills did the best they could to get in position.
Cleet's Rating Index: 22.5
Where I Was: Quick note on Desert Storm. As a family we started a pen pal program with a soldier stationed over in Iraq. I don't know if we gave him any aid but I hope it helped just one iota.
What Happened in the World: Ten days after the game a Michigan court barred Dr. Jack Kevorkian from performing any more assisted suicides. Bad news for Bills fans after the game.
Record of Note: The Giants time of possession for the game was 40:33.
Game MVP: Otis Anderson captured the MVP with 102 yards and a TD on the ground.
LVP/Most Memorable Play: I'll let Alec Baldwin narrate this:
NFL Fallout: The Bills would get 3 more shots at the big game, but as captured in this countdown already, they were denied each time. The game was the last one for Parcells as Giants head coach and ended a successful era for the franchise. By 1993, Simms and Taylor retired and the Giants would not achieve playoff success again until 2000.
Saturday, February 6
Super Bowl Countdown #7: Super Bowl XXXIV
During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.
Enter the game of inches cliche here. Super Bowl 34 came down to 36 of them. Many hold this Super Bowl at the top of their lists, but despite the crazy ending I do not think it warrants the tag. It is my #7 though and a terrific game out of what many thought were "non-sexy" franchises. Kurt Warner, who has recently announced his retirement, made an improbable rise to stardom for leading his team to the title. Georgia is on my 1-yard line next.
St. Louis Rams 23, Tennessee Titans 16
Semi-Lame Nickname: "The Tackle"
Scores:
Historical Significance- 4: The Rams had turned around what had previously been a habit of losing into a 13-3 season. They went 4-12 the previous season but with Dick Vermeil at the helm and a trade for Marshall Faulk with Indy, the team turned around. The Titans arrived as the new incarnation of the Houston Oilers that were recently the Tennessee Oilers when they played in Memphis.
Game Enjoyment By the Fans- 5: The game is looked back on as an all-time great yet most people can only recall the final play.
High Profile Element-4: Most of the focus was on Kurt Warner who was a few years earlier bagging groceries. However, the offense that Vermeil and offensive coordinator Mike Martz implemented became known as the "Greatest Show on Turf". Marshall Faulk gained over 2,000 yards for the second consecutive season. Isaac Bruce was in his prime, complemented by rookie Torry Holt and Az Hakim. Orlando Pace was a recent number 1 pick on the offensive line and the Rams acquired Adam Timmerman from the Packers. Not to be overlooked was the Rams defense that allowed just 242 points while the team scored 526.
The Titans were led by Steve McNair(RIP) and running back Eddie George. A workhorse running back, George had over 1,700 all-purpose yards. Kevin Dyson was their number 1 receiver and Frank Wycheck was the reliable tight end. The defense constructed by Jeff Fisher was the trademark of the team though. Jevon Kearse was truly in freak form with 14.5 sacks in his rookie season and helped the Titans to a 13-3 record. However, the Jaguars bested the Titans in their own division with a record of 14-2 with their only losses to the Titans. Therefore Tennessee entered the playoffs as a wildcard team. In their first round game they pulled off one of the most miraculous plays in NFL history. There are still NO FLAGS ON THE FIELD:
Venue/Atmosphere- 4: The game was the second Super Bowl to be played in the Georgia Dome. Faith Hill sang the anthem,and I know she is still a vision, but 1999-2000 Faith Hill...oh my. The Halftime show was interesting, I'll just list the performers and let you draw your own conclusions: Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton with the show narrated by Edward James Olmos.
Personal Enjoyment- 5: From going to a game where you were just waiting for St. Louis to break it open to a pulse-pounding finish, the game's 4th quarter is among the very best.
Cleet's Rating Index: 22
Where I Was: I was a freshman in college for this one. Ironically, or sadly I watched it by myself in my dorm room. I did make the Grande Meal Run though. When I was in college and I could eat whatever I wanted I used to go down to Taco Bell 2 or 3 times a month and order a Grande Meal, 5 soft and 5 crunchy tacos. Add fire sauce, eat all ten tacos quickly, and then lean back and kiss the sky.
What Happened in the World: This game took place on January 30th, 2000. Remember all the Y2k panic? That was some bullshit.
Record of Note: Kurt Warner threw for 414 passing yards and 45 pass attempts without an interception.
Game MVP: Warner had an incredible game passing and now holds the record for passing yards in the Super Bowl. His 73-yard pass to Isaac Bruce for a TD in the 4th quarter proved to be the game winner, and it was a pass he made in the face of pressure.
LVP: The ABC Network. Not only did you roll out a lame ass Disney-themed halftime show, you kept showing Brenda Warner in the crowd after every play of the 4th quarter. Not one dramatic moment could go by without getting a reaction from Mrs. Warner in the stands, unbearable.
Most Memorable Play I can't go with the tackle here, it is too obvious. McNair's 3rd and 5 scramble with less than 30 seconds, escaping two rushers and getting the ball to Dyson would be one of the most heroic plays if the Titans had been able to convert on the final play. While the tackle is what is identified with this Super Bowl, I always recall that mad scramble from McNair.
NFL Fallout: The Titans would go on to have success under Fisher, who is now the league's longest tenured coach. However, they have not been able to make it back to big game. The Rams continued their prolific offense and made it back to the Super Bowl two years after this game but fell to the Patriots. After that, Warner lost the starting job and Faulk retired. The team was never the same and currently went 1-15 the past season.
Super Bowl Countdown #8: Super Bowl XLII
During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.
It is time to take my medicine. This Super Bowl was the worst I have ever had to endure. While I can say that I live a blessed life when I can say that this February day was one of the worst I have ever seen, it just plain sucked to be a Pats fan for a long time after this game. I understand the incredible joy and release other fans had for this game but it was Super Bowl I would like to forget although I never will. As a disclaimer, this will not be a Simmons type of post where I complain about officiating or blame the loss on extraneous factors. The Giants deserve the win and it belongs to them. The Phoenix Pounding out of Perfection is next.
New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14
Semi-Lame Nickname: "Who Wants It More?"
Scores:
Historical Significance- 5: While the biggest focus was on the Patriots trying to become the first team to go 19-0, the Giants had history oftheir own right. This was the Giants' 4th Super Bowl, all with a different QB and they became the first NFC Wild Card team to win the Super Bowl, winning each playoff game on the road. The Patriots completed the first ever 16-0 regular season. The team was mired in controversy after the Jets complained to the league about the videotaping on the field of a Patriots assistant in week 2. After that the Patriots made their mission to go Cobra Kai on the league, showing no mercy as they won every game en route to the playoffs. The two teams played each other in the final week of the season, with the Pats escaping 38-35 as Brady and Moss broke the record for TDs at their respective positions on the clinching TD.
Game Enjoyment By the Fans- 5: All fans united against the Patriots, it was like nothing the league had ever seen. After the Spygate business and the arrogance of the Pats, fans were fervent in hoping for someone to stop their march to perfection. The story came to dominate the NFL during the season. When the Patriots failed to win the Super Bowl, it was more than the '72 Dolphins rejoicing, it was a legion of fans realizing they never had to deal with Patriot fans using this season to attempt to trump any sports argument from now until eternity.
High Profile Element-4.5: The Patriots had lost the 2006 AFC Championship to the Colts, largely because Tom Brady had receivers make critical errors on key plays. The bug-eyed drops that prevented them from clinching that game so the Patriots dealt a 24th round pick for Randy Moss(LOL Al Davis) and 2nd and 7th round pick for Wes Welker. The addition of Dante Stallworth as a 3rd receiver and Adalius Thomas at linebacker finished the best personnel the Patriots had produced. Early on in the season New England was in the zone; they beat the Chargers at home, Dallas and Indy on the road and blew out weaker opponents. Toward the end of the season the Patriots had to hold on in games against the Eagles, Ravens, and Giants but still prevailed. They ultimately failed but when you take a step back the team was incredible:
The Giants on the other hand began the season in turmoil, losing their first two games. Eli Manning's leadership came into question, but the Giants were able to bounce back and win 10 games. After dispatching Tampa in the Wild Card round, they upset Dallas and Green Bay in overtime. The strength of the team was in their defensive line, with Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora, and Justin Tuck.
Venue/Atmosphere- 5: The scene at the Super Bowl was crazy. Both teams had fans that travel well and the element of the undefeated season provided extra excitement. Glendale provided a great backdrop and stadium for the event. Even Joe Buck seemed a little excited for the game. Jordan Sparks performed the national anthem. Tom Petty sang the halftime show. At this point the game was 7-3 so there was much left in doubt. Musical taste is extremely personal in taste but I will say I am a huge Tom Petty fan so I thought the choice was a huge home run.
Personal Enjoyment- 2: It was pretty hard for me not to put a "1" in the column for this game. It goes without saying that I did not enjoy this game, but the historic nature of it allowed me to (sort of) put it in perspective.
Cleet's Rating Index: 21.5
Where I Was: I was in my final semester of grad school when this game took place. I was toughing it out by living at home and working the graveyard shift stocking shelves at the local store to pay my bills. I had to work the night of the Super Bowl and it took near begging to let him allow me to come into work an hour late so I could watch the full game. I made a deal that I would stay later into the morning.
My parents came into the room to watch the 2nd half while I paced the floor after the Giants took a 10-7 lead. When Brady went to Moss with 2:42 left I thought it was in the bag, but it was not to be. On the play when Manning hit Burress for the winning TD my Mom saw the play unfold before the pass even came close to Plaxico. She saw Plaxico had Hobbs beat and screamed out "Oh no!" That was the worst night of work I ever had. Aside from being in a bad mood, the store was in a mess and the trucks had not been unloaded properly so I was there until after 8 am. I had plenty of time to relive the game instantly in my mind.
What Happened in the World: A day after the game Iran launched a rocket into space after it opened its first space center. I'm a believer making your country economically feasible before you try to enter space but maybe that's just me.
Record of Note: The 3 lead changes in the 4th quarter were a Super Bowl record which brought the excitement to an otherwise dull, sloppy, defensive battle.
Game MVP: Eli Manning's two 4th quarter touchdowns earned him the MVP. For all the scrutiny that was piled on ELi throughout the year, he played lights out in the playoffs that year.
Most Memorable Play: No quips, no comments, no complaining of holding or dissertation on lucky catches, this play will be replayed even after I am long gone.
NFL Fallout: After a wedding Catfish and I attended for our friend K-man this past summer we went to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. In the modern wing of the building they had an area set-up with this Super Bowl on replay. I will never escape this game, because it was a great Super Bowl and provides a chance for people to always throw out the 18-1 tag and there is nothing I can do. It is what it is. The Patriots were a great team, the team of the decade, but when it was their time to make history, they failed.
Super Bowl Countdown #9: Super Bowl XXVIII
During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.
The final edition of the quadruplicate of fail for the Bills. Aside from their Super Bowl against the Giants 3 years prior the Bills losses were all by double-digits. In this Super Bowl the Bills came out with purpose and stormed to a lead at halftime, but once again they got in their own way and made critical mistakes. Emmitt Smith was the star of the show, piling up the yards and putting Buffalo away in the second half. The Aftermath of Atlanta after the break.
Dallas Cowboys 30, Buffalo Bills 13
Semi-Lame Nickname: "We're Back America; Deal with It!"
Historical Significance- 4.5: This marked the first and only time in Super Bowl history the game was a rematch of the previous year. The Bills had to deal with a lot of media and fan scrutiny leading up to the game. People were eager to get on the Bill's case about their previous losing efforts. On the other side, the Cowboys were basking in the afterglow of their title the year before but the rumblings between Jerr-uh and Jimmy Johnson had begun to make their way into the public. This would be the final game JJ would coach for the Cowboys.
Game Enjoyment By the Fans- 3.5: The game started off with the feeling that Buffalo might have a chance in this one. However, the Cowboys scored 24 unanswered points and the Bills never held the lead once they gave it up in the 2nd half.
High Profile Element-5: By the time this game took place, everyone knew the cast of players that were involved. Jim Kelly had been successfully running the "K-Gun" offense for years. Kelly joined a lot of prestigious company for starting 4 Super Bowls but he is the only one to start 4 of them consecutively. The defense was still the team's weakness as it ranked 28th in the league in yardage. Despite that it still had players like Bruce Smith, Darryl Talley and Cornelius Bennett.
The Cowboys had the same attack it had been using with the strong running game of Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin as the leading receiver. The offensive line led the way with Erik Williams, Nate Newton and the like. Russell Maryland was the anchor on defense.
You cannot stop Jim Lampley's early 90s hair, you can only hope it does not swallow you whole.
Venue/Atmosphere- 4: This was the first Super Bowl played in Georgia so the the Georgia carpet was rolled out in the pregame ceremonies with Charlie Daniels and Kriss Kross(how timeless!). Natalie Cole sang the anthem. The halftime was certain to dismiss all redneck stereotypes of the south by having country music stars Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, and Wynonna Judd. Despite all this, it should be noted that the Georgia Dome is a great venue in Atlanta where the Peach Bowl and SEC Championship has been held recently.
Personal Enjoyment- 4: The game provided a real rooting interest for me in football when I was a young man of 13. I wanted to see the Bills win one finally. I had, as had everyone, watched them fall short the years prior but as in life, sometimes the deserving and suffering are not given what they have been waiting for.
Cleet's Rating Index: 21
Where I Was: I know I have given props to my Dad earlier in the countdown, but I have to say early on he realized that I had more of an attachment to sports than he ever did. By this time he would roll out the BBQ and wings to celebrate the big game, I always appreciated that.
What Happened in the World: Nine days before the game Lorena Bobbitt was found not guilty for reasons of insanity for chopping off her husbands ding dong. I don't remember all the facts of the case but how do you argue a woman is not insane for chopping off a dude's manhood? Ouch babe.
Record of Note: The biggest record that cannot be ignored, Buffalo was the first team to lose four straight Super Bowls. Even though that is a record someone would never want top repeat, it probably will never be duplicated. As Bill Kent Hull said after the game, "In the immediate future we'll be thought of as losers, But one day down the road, when I'm no longer playing, they'll say, 'Wow, they won four straight AFC championships. They must have been good.'"
Game MVP: Emmitt Smith had 132 yards with 2 TDs on the ground.
LVP: Thurman Thomas. He said it himself after the game, "Dallas didn't wear us down in the second half, I fumbled. I cost us the game." Thomas fumbled in the 3rd quarter :45 seconds in and it was returned by James Washington for a TD. It was Thomas' 2nd fumble of the game which resulted in 10 Dallas points and the Bills would not score again.
Most Memorable Play: The drive after Thomas fumbled return for the Cowboys, Smith carried the ball 7 of 8 plays and capped it off with a 15 yard TD run that put Dallas up 20-13 and they would not look back.
NFL Fallout: The Bills have never been the same since this loss. Kelly and the entire cast from their Super Bowl run would soon fade away and it has led to the Bills not making a playoff appearance this current entire decade. They have not put their faith in....Chan Gailey. All Bills fans have now are the memories of the Super Bowl runs that never came to fruition. For the Cowboys they never had Johnson coaching for them again but Jerr-uh was able to sign some key free agents and have Switzer guide them to another title a couple years later.
Super Bowl Countdown #10: Super Bowl XXX
During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.
As the countdown for the big game tomorrow reaches its conclusion, our Super Bowl Countdown is now into the top 10. This game stands out for me, two historic franchises renewing an old rivalry with plenty of colorful personalities on both sides. The Cowboys were the dominant team of the decade of this time. It was a great game but ultimately the Steelers made too many mistakes. The Old Duel in the Desert comes in at 10.
Dallas Cowboys 27, Pittsburgh Steelers 17
Semi-Lame Nickname: "Take Me Higher"
Scores:
Historical Significance- 4.5: The teams were meeting for the third time in the big game which is currently the most rematches. The Cowboys and Steelers were vying for their 5th title each which would join the 49ers for the most after San Fran won the previous year. It would be 3 titles in 4 years for the Cowboys. This is a great intro to the game read by the masterful Dick Enberg, when he still had all his scruples.
Game Enjoyment By the Fans- 4.5: While the Cowboys put it away late it was hotly contested. The Steelers' formidable defense put up a valiant effort against the huge O-line and offensive playmakers Dallas possessed. It featured great big plays though, like Deion Sanders making a long catch down the field. Quick side note, this was the height of Sanders' arrogance. If you remember he won the title with San Francisco the year before and then bolted for Dallas. When he was interviewed after the game with the trophy he quipped, "They didn't let me hold this last year." Taking a shot at your former team after you just one the championship, sometimes the most talented men can be the most insecure. There was also a great onside kick by Cowher in the 4th quarter that helped the team pull within 3.
High Profile Element-4: The Cowboys had much of the same cast that had brought them their prior success. NFL Free Agency had just become a reality in the league and the way personnel decisions were being made was about to change. Deion Sanders was an indication of the fluid nature of player moves to come. He was on his 3rd team in 3 years. The rest of the Cowboys backfield was just as impressive with Darren Woodson, Larry Brown(remember the name?), and Brock Marion. Charles Haley was along for his 5th Super Bowl title. The offense included the usual cast of characters, but again the huge line was the catalyst in that it gave Aikman time to dissect the defense and huge holes for Emmitt Smith to run through(or "runulate his game stratatics" as Emmitt would call it). They were led Pro Bowlers Larry Allen, Mark Tuinei, Nate Newton, and Ray Donaldson.
The Steelers embodied their coach. Bill Cowher had taken over in 1992 and despite early success Pittsburgh could not get to the big game in his first few playoff attempts. The Steelers survived the AFC Championship after a Hail Mary attempt by Jim Harbaugh almost was completed in the endzone. However, after this game the reputation of falling short in the playoffs would follow Cowher until he was able to lead the Steelers to the win in Super Bowl XL. Neil O'Donnell(I wonder how those in Pittsburgh feel about old Neil nowadays) led the offense, that was headlined by bruiser Bam Morris and quicker back Eric Pegram. Wide receiver Yancey Thigpen(great football name) was a pro-bowler on the outside. The defense was where this team made their bones though. Linebackers Kevin Greene and Greg Lloyd(a true beast) were the havoc-makers on defense. Carnell Lake and Rod Woodson led the defensive backfield.
Venue/Atmosphere- 3.5: Arizona had been denied the Super Bowl a few years earlier because of their inability to recognize MLK day. This was the last Super Bowl to be played on a college campus and in a stadium that had bleacher seats. Oh bleacher seats, what a marvel of stadium technology. The pregame show consisted of a tribute to Native Americans and the Old West. Interesting that they provided a juxtaposition of the old culture of this country next to the present culture that wiped it out. Vanessa Williams sang the national anthem and Diana Ross performed the halftime show. Divas everywhere.
Personal Enjoyment- 4: By this point, I had grown tired of the Cowboys. There are a lot of Cowboys fans everywhere, but in Charlotte there are a ton. Perhaps just as many of them as Panther fans. This year was the first in existence for the Panthers so Cowboy fans felt it was their duty to point out this was how it is done in the National Football League(/Jaws). Therefore I was hoping the Steelers would pull it out.
Cleet's Rating Index: 20.5
Where I Was: I was in my first year of high school at this point. High School is an important stage for a young person's development; it is time to get a little more mature and start figuring out who you are. Just like your personal development is beginning so too is your sports acumen. You begin to see things in the game aside from the obvious and deciding what you really like and dislike about sports.
What Happened in the World: Two days before the game, Hillary Clinton testified before a grand jury for her involvement with the Whitewater scandal. Those Clintons had quite a ride didn't they?
Record of Note: This was the first Super Bowl to present the trophy to the owner of the team and coach on the field. I remember this one because as Barry Switzer held the trophy and passed it to Jerr-ah, he yelled out like Corky, "WE DID! WE DID! WE DID!" I always thought that was amusing.
Game MVP: Larry Brown became the first cornerback to win the MVP award. This was based on his two interceptions of Neil O'Donnell, which as you see below consisted of him standing there and the ball hitting him right in his hands. Brown went on to sign a big free-agent contract with the Raiders and have little production.
LVP: Neil O'Donnell came into the game with the fewest interceptions per pass attempt in league history. Whoops. The 3 interceptions O'Donnell threw sealed his fate in Super Bowl lore and led to his release by the Steelers in the off-season. Neil signed with the Jets but never became effective again.
Most Memorable Play: The surprise onside kick still sticks out in my mind if we want to remain positive and ignore that last pick by O'Donnell. NFL films has a great exchange of Cowher and his coaches planning the onside kick after the late field goal.
NFL Fallout: The Steelers would continue to have success under Cowher but did not reach the Super Bowl again for ten years. The Cowboys began a slow slide into mediocrity after this win. The members of the team were eventually lost to free-agency or old age. The Cowboys would not win another playoff game after 1996 until their victory over the Eagles in this year's playoffs.
Friday, February 5
Super Bowl Countdown #11: Super Bowl XXIX
During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.
A trip back to the good old days, or the unbearable days depending on where you allegiance lies. Jacksonville got its first Super Bowl bid to tepid reviews. The Eagles had finally taken the step of winning the NFC Championship games after 3 tries. The Patriots captured their 3rd title in 4 years while Philly was left with the bro-drama between McNabb and TO. Joy in Jacksonville is next.
New England Patriots 24, Philadelphia Eagles 21
Semi-Lame Nickname: "Building Bridges"
Scores:
Historical Significance- 4: By this time the Patriots image had flipped on its side. A gritty once in a while team in the 80s and 90s, the Patriots were now on the mountain top. Add to the fact that the Red Sox had just won their first World Series in 86 years and the hate pointed toward the northeast corner of the nation. The Patriots were smoking though, they won 21 straight games going back to the previous season until they fell to the Steelers on Halloween.
The Eagles fans went crazy for this game. Remember this was before the Phillies won the World Series so the city was starved for a Championship. There were stories of people taking out extra mortgages on their house just to make the trek down to Florida. I'm sure in hindsight that was a bad move considering what happened to the housing market. McNabb and Reid were in the 5th year of their regime and with the late Jim Johnson heading the defense, they were a dominant force in the NFC.
Game Enjoyment By the Fans- 4: The game was competitive throughout, although the Eagles ran out of gas toward the end, they had the ball with :46 left down 3. It is interesting that many don't consider the Super Bowl an all-timer, mostly because of how the Eagles carried themselves in the 4th quarter and the McNabb/TO aftermath. It was rumored that McNabb was spewing chunks instead of running the no huddle but here is his explanation:
High Profile Element-4: This Patriots team did not go undefeated in the regular season, they went 14-2 but this team was more consistently great throughout than the 18-1 Pats of 2007 and of course they won the title. Brady had fully come into his own. The receivers were not has sparkly as the Moss/Welker combo, but with Deion Branch hurt David Givens, Troy Brown and David Patten stepped up and were led by Brady into success. The biggest addition was Corey Dillon though. For the first time the Patriots had a great rushing attack. Dillon went for a team record 1,635 yards.
The defense was more of a patchwork collection of backups that Belichick turned into a viable defense. Ty Law and Tyrone Poole went down at cornerback during the regular season, luckily the Patriots had drafted Asante Samuel the year before. But with Eugene Wilson and Randall Gay also getting hurt the Patriots turned to Troy Brown to play cornerback, where he had 3 picks. Rodney Harrison was able to make it through the season unscathed and provided a great backstop. The Patriots were stronger at linebacker with Bruschi, Vrabel, McGinest, and Ted Johnson. Up front Richard Seymour and rookie Vince Wilfork presented problems for opposing lines.
The Eagles had a good defense themselves that was built on pressure. Lito Sheppard, Brian Dawkins and Michael Lewis led one of the best defensive backfields in the league. Their line featured Corey Simon, Jevon Kearse, and Derrick Burgess. It is interesting that some of these names don't seem that great in today's NFL, but 5 years ago they were in their prime.
TO arrived at Philadelphia through an interesting process. Originally San Francisco made a trade with Baltimore to get TO but Owens contested that San Fran no longer held his rights. In the end he was allowed to join the Eagles and had a great season but fractured his fibula against the Cowboys in December and was out for the playoffs. Thanks to modern medicine and a hyperbaric chamber Owens was able to play even with the screws in his leg. Mcnabb had an outstanding season with 31 TDs and only 8 INTs(first QB to throw over 30 and under 10) and led the Eagles to Jacksonville without TO in the playoffs. Brian Westbrook was the leader out of the backfield.
Venue/Atmosphere- 3.5: There were a lot of dissenters about how Jacksonville handled its hosting. There were complaints about the traffic, the crowding, lack of nightlife, and use of cruise ships as hotels. The weather was also colder(59 degrees) than some were used to.
Alicia Keys sang 'America the Beautiful' in a tribute to Ray Charles and the combined choirs of the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy sang the anthem. Awesome.
The halftime show was Paul McCartney in a very toned down performance, the reason was that the prior year Janet Jackson had her nipple displayed by Justin Timberlake so the NFL wanted a can't-miss show. Old guy strumming guitar fit the bill, but if you are going to go with an old guy a Beatle is a good choice.
Personal Enjoyment- 4.5: You may be asking why I would not put a 5 for a game in which my own team won the title, I will explain below. The Pats winning was awesome though.
Cleet Ratings Index: 20
Where I Was: Where did my .5 deduction come from? My ex-girlfriend had invited me up to visit her. She was living in Tampa and I was in Miami. She was in her first year of medical school and spent the game studying while I watched the game on low volume while she sat at her desk studying. You ever been in a relationship that was over yet you were still in it? Yeah it sucks and I was stuck while I should have been going crazy(drunkenly) at my team becoming a dynasty, I was wallowing in self-pity and emasculation. MINUS A HALF A POINT OF ENJOYMENT!!
What Happened in the World: Four days after the game North Korea announced it had nuclear weapons as protection against the US. You think those nukes will save you? We have a lot more than you do commies.
Record of Note: Deion Branch recorded the most catches by a receiver in consecutive Super Bowls with 21. Too bad his head swelled to crazy proportions and he held out from the Patriots and refused a new contract to join the Seahawks in 2006. How did that work out for him? Exactly.
Game MVP: Branch won the MVP through tying Jerry Rice with 11 receptions and gaining 133 yards. He was the third player to win the MVP without scoring a TD.
LVP: Freddie Mitchell. Freddie decided to run his mouth before the game, and then went on to catch one ball for eleven yards. He was not done though, after the game was over he claimed the Eagles would have won if onlythey had found a way to get the ball to Mitchell more.
Most Memorable Play: This actually occurred before the game for me. Tedi Bruschi, who would later that year fall ill with a stroke, was filmed before the game playing with his kids on the field.
NFL Fallout: Owens would go on to famously criticize McNabb for his fatigue in the Super Bowl and would not even finish the next year in Philly. He would move onto the Dallas where at first he showed more love for his quarterback than he did with McNabb, but was still shown the door. The Eagles have pressed on with the McNabb/Reid era, and while they have not made it back to the Super Bowl, they have made the playoffs consistently which is not good enough for Philly fans as we all know.
The Patriots won their last title. After the game Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel both left as coordinators to take head coaching jobs, neither which worked out and resulted in their hiring in Kansas City this offseason. The Pats had the great run in 2007 and made the playoffs in other years but never finished the season like they did this year. It was the last time the Patriots were on top at the end.
Invisible hammer of victory!
