Top Five Upsets in Super Bowl History
1. Jets over Colts in Super Bowl III
You have seen the photos — Broadway Joe in Miami, lounging by the pool. Joe Cool, uttering the preposterous without a blink: The Jets will beat the Colts, Namath guaranteed it. And then the game, in which the new guard (Namath and the AFL) showed the old guard (Johnny U. and the NFL) that it ain’t bragging if you can do it. And then the aftermath, Joe One, exiting the stage, right index finger raised high in the universal symbol of number one.
2. NY Giants over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII
The Patriots (18-0) had entered the game 12.5-point favorites and went to Glendale, Arizona, undefeated. With a final score of 17–14, the Giants defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, in the 3rd biggest upset in Super Bowl history. (Baltimore was favored by 17 over New York in Super Bowl III, and St. Louis was favored by 14 over New England in Super Bowl XXXVI; New England was favored by only 12.5 over New York) The Patriots were in their 4th Super Bowl since 2001. Co owner John Mara described it as “the greatest victory in the history of this franchise, without question.
3. Denver beats Green Bay in a thriller in Super Bowl XXXII
The Packers, with Madden’s man crush Brett Favre at the controls, seem a lock for a second straight Super Bowl title. The Broncos have a terrible Super Bowl history, having lost four of the big games by a combined score of 136-50, and they arrive in San Diego 13-point underdogs. But John Elway, who QB’ed Denver to three of their Super Bowl defeats, drives the Broncos to a game-winning TD with 1:45 left on the clock, and finally gets to hug the Lombardi silverware. Terrell Davis, who, despite suffering from a sometimes debilitating migraine, carries 30 times for 157 yards and three TDs.
Elway provides one of our most dramatic Super Bowl moments, too, late in the third quarter: Denver faces a third-and-6 at the Green Bay 12. Elway runs from the pocket and leaps for the first-down marker, where he’s met by two Packers defenders and sent spinning — past the first-down
marker.
4. San Francisco 49ers vs. Cincinnati Bengals – Super Bowl XXIII – The comeback kid, Joe Montana exhibited coolness under pressure to lead his team to a victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in the final seconds.
Losing by a score of 16-13, San Francisco fielded the ball on their own 8-yard line with just over three minutes left on the clock. After going 92 yards, Montana found John Taylor in the end zone with 34 seconds left to play. Jerry Rice, the 49ers legendary receiver, was named MVP with a record 215 receiving yards and a touchdown. This game marked the beginning of a San Francisco climb to greatness, and a Cincinnati downfall to being well…the Bungles.
5. Buffalo Bills vs. New York Giants Super Bowl XXV – For the years prior to this Super Bowl, the NFC had completely dominated championship games; there hadn’t been a close Super Bowl in what seemed like forever. But, enter the Buffalo Bills, a team that would lose, but only by one point, making this the closest Super Bowl in history.
This game took place in the middle of the Gulf War and was marked by patriotism, a backup Giants quarterback, and a last minute field goal that was just a bit outside; the latter being the most memorable in the minds of Bills fan. As time expired, kicker Scott Norwood became the loneliest guy in the world as he watched his field goal attempt sail wide right. The Giants nearly named him MVP as they claimed a 20-19 victory.
