Ghost Rider
Footballguy
There have been 40 Super Bowl's. Of Super Bowls's XXI - XL, which has been the most exciting. Try to pick the best actual game, not the best for you from a personal standpoint.
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Most exciting Super Bowl of the last 20 years (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Ghost Rider
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thesurfshop19
Footballguy
I have Rams-Titans at #1 with Broncos-Packers a very close #2.
Broncos-Packers is higher than Patriots-Rams because it was nearly as big of an upset and it broke the NFC 13-game winning streak. I also felt that it was a better played game as both teams scored in each quarter and it never felt out of control.
EDIT: Also wanted to mention that the ESPN.com fan poll on this had some of the most ridiculous results ever. No Super Bowl before Broncos-Packers was in the top 5, and somehow Patriots-Eagles ranked ahead of Broncos-Packers! I can see reasonable people ranking the other Patriots wins as better Super Bowls, but the Eagles win simply doesn't belong in the same context of the others.
Broncos-Packers is higher than Patriots-Rams because it was nearly as big of an upset and it broke the NFC 13-game winning streak. I also felt that it was a better played game as both teams scored in each quarter and it never felt out of control.
EDIT: Also wanted to mention that the ESPN.com fan poll on this had some of the most ridiculous results ever. No Super Bowl before Broncos-Packers was in the top 5, and somehow Patriots-Eagles ranked ahead of Broncos-Packers! I can see reasonable people ranking the other Patriots wins as better Super Bowls, but the Eagles win simply doesn't belong in the same context of the others.
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BoulderBob
Footballguy
Giants - Bills
I hate both teams, but this was a good game. The only SuperBowl I have found entertaining in the past 6 seasons was the Rams/Titans
I hate both teams, but this was a good game. The only SuperBowl I have found entertaining in the past 6 seasons was the Rams/Titans
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Cannon Fodder
Footballguy
It's gotta be Giant's - Bills. That game was awesome all the way up to the kick. And then throw in the missed FG and it should go down as one of the most exciting, entertaining SB's of all time.
thesurfshop19
Footballguy
I think this game has become a little elevated in our minds over time. I watched it again last year ... simply wasn't as exciting as I had remembered it. Doesn't compare, IMO, to Rams-Titans, Broncos-Packers, or Patriots-Rams. Still, all that said, I can't argue with a 1-pt spead.
dickey moe
Fingerpicker
Surprised Super Bowl XXIII has received only one vote.
Ghost Rider
Footballguy
Wow, very little love for SB32. Has everyone forgotten how great that game was? Do people really like ho-hum games with great endings (like SB's 34 and 36) over great overall games?
Challenge Everything
Footballguy
Superbowl XXXII sucked.
valhallan
Footballguy
I'm baffled that XXXVIII isn't running away with this. That game featured 7 lead changes, 3 touchdowns and field goal in the last 3 minutes of the first half, and 37 points in the fourth quarter 
I bet this vote would be different if the teams involved in that game had been more popular franchises like Dallas and Pittsburgh instead of Carolina and New England. A shame really. Without a doubt the most exciting Super Bowl of the last 20 years.
I bet this vote would be different if the teams involved in that game had been more popular franchises like Dallas and Pittsburgh instead of Carolina and New England. A shame really. Without a doubt the most exciting Super Bowl of the last 20 years.
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Buckychudd
Footballguy
I'm baffled that XXXVIII isn't running away with this. That game featured 7 lead changes, 3 touchdowns and field goal in the last 3 minutes of the first half, and 37 points in the fourth quarter
I bet this vote would be different if the teams involved in that game had been more popular franchises like Dallas and Pittsburgh instead of Carolina and New England. A shame really. Without a doubt the most exciting Super Bowl of the last 20 years.
I'm a Carolina fan so I might be biased, but I've never been on an emotional rollercoaster like during that game.
Ghost Rider
Footballguy
Packers fan?
It also featured a very boring first half (neither team scoring until late in the 2nd quarter had more to do with bad offense than great defense), so while SB38 did have the best 4th quarter ever in Super Bowl history, the rest of the game left a little bit to be desired.I'm baffled that XXXVIII isn't running away with this. That game featured 7 lead changes, 3 touchdowns and field goal in the last 3 minutes of the first half, and 37 points in the fourth quarter
thesurfshop19
Footballguy
I liked that Super Bowl a lot, don't get me wrong. In fact if I were a fan of either team I'd probably have it #1.But as an impartial observer, I just felt the pacing of that game was really off. It had drama, sure, so this is really nitpicking to the n'th degree -- but you have to do that when you're talking about the greatest Super Bowls ever, since there were so many good ones recently.I'm baffled that XXXVIII isn't running away with this. That game featured 7 lead changes, 3 touchdowns and field goal in the last 3 minutes of the first half, and 37 points in the fourth quarter
I bet this vote would be different if the teams involved in that game had been more popular franchises like Dallas and Pittsburgh instead of Carolina and New England. A shame really. Without a doubt the most exciting Super Bowl of the last 20 years.
Rams-Titans was my favorite from both a football standpoint (contrasting styles, new teams in the big show, great play on both sides) and a pacing standpoint. Some say the first half was boring, but I found it very interesting that the Rams were up and down the field but every time the Titans needed a play they made it. And then in the 2nd half, the Rams go up 16-0 and knock out the Titans' defensive leader, only to see them come back slowly but steadily to tie it. And of course the frantic final 2 minutes.
Broncos-Packers is my 2nd favorite (well, #1 from a Broncos fan perspective) because it's probably the best paced close Super Bowl we've ever seen. Both teams scored and had big plays in each quarter -- something I believe that's only happened in 1 other Super Bowl (49ers 49, Chargers 26). There was never a lull in the action, and while the finish wasn't quite as dramatic as some of the others that came down to the last 5 seconds, it wasn't decided until 30-something seconds were left.
Obviously,
and all that.
BlueOnion
Footballguy
XXXIV, Rams-Titans without a doubt.
XXIII - 49ers 20, Bengals 16. Although excited, the 49ers defense crushed the Bengals high-powered offense and held them without a touchdown all game.
XXV - Giants 20, Bills 19 - missed field goal,
XXXVIII - Patriots 32, Panthers 29 - 4th quarter really lacked defense.
XXXVI - Patriots 20, Rams 17 - This game really had no negatives but probably doesn't stand out in my eyes because this is the only Super Bowl I listened to on the radio instead of watching it live.
XXX - Cowboys 27, Steelers 17 - I actually enjoyed most of this game as the blue-collar Steeleres really put a scare into the coaching-challenged pro bowl-roster Cowboys.
XXIII - 49ers 20, Bengals 16. Although excited, the 49ers defense crushed the Bengals high-powered offense and held them without a touchdown all game.
XXV - Giants 20, Bills 19 - missed field goal,
XXXVIII - Patriots 32, Panthers 29 - 4th quarter really lacked defense.
XXXVI - Patriots 20, Rams 17 - This game really had no negatives but probably doesn't stand out in my eyes because this is the only Super Bowl I listened to on the radio instead of watching it live.
XXX - Cowboys 27, Steelers 17 - I actually enjoyed most of this game as the blue-collar Steeleres really put a scare into the coaching-challenged pro bowl-roster Cowboys.
It might be just me, but any game that leaves me winded, white knuckled, or otherwise drained like Pats/Caro is #1 in my book.Rams/Titans ranks up there as well.Packers fan?It also featured a very boring first half (neither team scoring until late in the 2nd quarter had more to do with bad offense than great defense), so while SB38 did have the best 4th quarter ever in Super Bowl history, the rest of the game left a little bit to be desired.I'm baffled that XXXVIII isn't running away with this. That game featured 7 lead changes, 3 touchdowns and field goal in the last 3 minutes of the first half, and 37 points in the fourth quarter
jurb26
Footballguy
I agree and will extend that point to say that I felt the 4th quarter was just as much a product of sloppy play in other areas as it was great play on O for the teams. I just feel that the other 3 I picked offered better overall game play quality for 4 quarters and peppered it along with big plays on both sides of the ball.
Broncos-Packers was epic. If any super bowl in the past 20 years truly pitted two championship teams against each other, it was that one. There really was not a flaw on either side, but someone had to lose.
Not to mention, it broke the NFC streak of winning super bowls.
Not to mention, it broke the NFC streak of winning super bowls.
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Doug Drinen
Moderator
I voted Broncos-Packers. Even though I can no longer specifically remember why I enjoyed it so much, I distinctly remember thinking at the time that it was one of the most exciting games I'd ever seen.Interestingly, it was the only Super Bowl I ever watched by myself instead of with a pack of jabbering non-football fans. That must have had something to do with it.
thesurfshop19
Footballguy
I think BGP definitely has a good point above ... this was a great matchup on paper between 2 complete teams and the game itself was more of a showcase of big plays rather than big mistakes. What was the last Super Bowl between QBs who at the time of the game were well-renowned as 2 of the very best in league history?EDIT to add: I was thinking about this ... the other ones I can think of in the last 20 years are probably Jim Kelly vs. Troy Aikman and Joe Montana vs. John Elway ... all 3 of the Super Bowls between them were pretty bad.
Because the Broncos repeated, it's been lost just how big of an upset that was. The AFC was legitimized again, and they beat the defending champ to win it all.
I, along with many, probably put Rams-Titans at #1 because while it wasn't a work of art in the first half, the entire game was a Bolero-like crescendo, what a payoff. Broncos-Packers had more big plays, which I guess blend together over time (if you don't watch the highlight video every few months like me
).
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thesurfshop19
Footballguy
Agreed. That game has become more legendary over time because of its ending, but I don't feel it was a classic in the way that some of the more recent games were.
grandmaster192
Shining Greatness
Rams Titans
Rams Pats.
Rams Pats.
houndirish
Footballguy
I voted Giants-Bills. There's defintiely some homerism in my pick but I can defend it with the following:
- It had a safety!
- No turnovers
- Both teams executed their game plans. The Giants just outlasted Buffalo.
It wasn't the light up the scoreboard thrillfest some games were but I loved the chessmatch aspect of it. Giants wnated to play ball control to keep Buffalo's offense off the field. They did it to perfection (40 minutes of possession!). However just about every time Buffalo did have the ball they drove down the field. It was a classic X's and O's kind of game. I was thrilled with the result but I sorta feel bad for Norwood. A 47 yarder is never a gimme but people reacted as if the guy choked. Tough legacy.
My other votes are the Broncos over the Packers, the Steelers over the Cowboys (SB 13) and Rams-Titans, in that order.
- It had a safety!
- No turnovers
- Both teams executed their game plans. The Giants just outlasted Buffalo.
It wasn't the light up the scoreboard thrillfest some games were but I loved the chessmatch aspect of it. Giants wnated to play ball control to keep Buffalo's offense off the field. They did it to perfection (40 minutes of possession!). However just about every time Buffalo did have the ball they drove down the field. It was a classic X's and O's kind of game. I was thrilled with the result but I sorta feel bad for Norwood. A 47 yarder is never a gimme but people reacted as if the guy choked. Tough legacy.
My other votes are the Broncos over the Packers, the Steelers over the Cowboys (SB 13) and Rams-Titans, in that order.
thesurfshop19
Footballguy
I agree. IIRC it would have been a career-long kick on grass. No choke there, choke is where outside circumstances force you blow something you'd normally make!
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thesurfshop19
Footballguy
Well, at the time they played 8 games at home + 1 game @ Jets + 1 game @ Colts + 1 game @ Patriots all on turf, right?So that's only 1 division game (@ Dolphins) that's on grass, so I guess it makes sense.
Also, I'm guessing that FG% was a lot lower in the late 1980s, and I think we have to account for kicking in Buffalo somehow as well.
houndirish
Footballguy
Agreed,
I hardly followed the guy's career but Norwood seemed pretty reliable during Buffalo's heyday.
I hardly followed the guy's career but Norwood seemed pretty reliable during Buffalo's heyday.
thesurfshop19
Footballguy
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