Top 20 Most Unforgettable Super Bowl Games of All Time

Baltimore Colts 16, Dallas Cowboys 13


This was the first modern era Super Bowl, following the merger of the AFL and NFL. And what better way to celebrate than with one of the worst games of all time? Often nicknamed the Blunder Bowl, the game was total chaos from start to finish. Referee mistakes, awful gameplay, countless penalties, not to mention a record eleven turnovers, this game was basically a live blooper reel. In fact, here are some fun stats for you. The Colts’ seven turnovers remain the most ever by a winning team, and this is the only Super Bowl in which the MVP was on the losing side. If that doesn’t speak to the awful level of play, we don’t know what does. Good game? No. Unforgettable? Absolutely.

Green Bay Packers 31, Pittsburgh Steelers 25


This game from 2011 featured two storied teams with nine Super Bowl wins between them - the Packers with three and the legendary Steelers with six. The Packers dominated the first half of the game, pulling out to a commanding 21-3 lead. But the Steelers fought valiantly, taking it all the way to 28-25 in the fourth quarter. It would have been a legendary comeback, but the Packers successfully fought them off and emerged victorious 31-25 thanks to a Mason Crosby field goal. And with the win, Aaron Rodgers stepped out of the shadow of Brett Favre, throwing for 304 yards and three touchdowns. It was a great game, and it firmly cemented Rodgers’s place in Packers lore.

San Francisco 49ers 49, San Diego Chargers 26


If there’s one player that defines the San Francisco 49ers, it’s Joe Montana. He had won four Super Bowls with the team, and now it was Steve Young’s turn to prove his quality. There was a lot riding on the game, with Young hoping to emerge from Montana’s shadow and the 49ers hoping to become the first team to win five Super Bowls. It was an offensive masterclass, with both teams combining to score 75 points, the most in Super Bowl history. The 49ers ultimately won 49-26, cementing their legacy as one of the NFL’s greatest teams. As for Steve Young? He threw for 325 yards, set a Super Bowl record with six touchdown passes, and was named MVP. The success story was real.

Pittsburgh Steelers 21, Dallas Cowboys 17


This game showcased two powerhouse teams with Hall of Fame players. The Steelers came equipped with the legendary “Steel Curtain” defensive unit, and the Cowboys were widely known for their innovative offense, led by quarterback Roger Staubach. Unsurprisingly, the game was an exciting back-and-forth affair; both teams traded leads, and the game ended with a dramatic final drive and end zone interception by Glen Edwards. And who can forget Lynn Swann’s spectacular performance, including the breathtaking 53-yard reception that is considered one of the most iconic catches in football history. It was enough to earn him MVP, becoming the first wide receiver to accomplish the feat.

San Francisco 49ers 26, Cincinnati Bengals 21


The 1982 Super Bowl felt like an event. It was played in Detroit, making this the first Super Bowl to be hosted in a cold northern city. And what a welcome it received, with Detroit receiving a huge snowstorm and causing logistical issues for the players, the stadium, and its surrounding traffic. And with 85 million viewers, it became one of the most-watched events in television history. Of course, the game itself was excellent as well. The Bengals mounted an exciting, if ultimately unsuccessful, comeback, and the 49ers proved their offensive and defensive excellence, with four turnovers and an MVP performance from Joe Montana. It marked the beginning of the team’s dynasty, and they would dominate much of the 1980s.

Pittsburgh Steelers 31, Los Angeles Rams 19


There was an intense drama coming into Super Bowl XIV, with the Los Angeles Rams being huge underdogs. They had just a 9-7 record in the regular season and were facing the legendary Steelers, who were three-time Super Bowl champions. And they put up a valiant fight, going up 13-10 at halftime and even leading by the fourth quarter. But the Steelers ultimately proved why they were the best and emerged with a 31-19 win after scoring fourteen unanswered points. The 103,000 in attendance also brought an electric atmosphere, and the 73-yard touchdown pass to John Stallworth remains one of the most iconic plays in Super Bowl history. There was a lot to love about this one.

Los Angeles Rams 23, Cincinnati Bengals 20


The 2022 Super Bowl was a different beast. It had the bizarre distinction of being the first Super Bowl without a top three seed, as both the Rams and the Bengals were the fourth seeds in their respective conferences. Regardless, both teams put on a spectacular show worthy of the big game. It was tightly contested through all four quarters, underwent three lead changes, and ended with a dramatic fourth down conversion and touchdown catch by Cooper Kupp. And then there’s the redemption arc of veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford, who played twelve unmemorable years in Detroit before moving to Los Angeles and winning a Super Bowl. That’s the kind of stuff that sports movies are made of.

Philadelphia Eagles 41, New England Patriots 33


History was made on February 4, 2018. It was yet another Super Bowl with the New England Patriots, their star quarterback, Tom Brady, and their head coach, Bill Belichick. This was Brady’s eighth Super Bowl, and talented though he was, fans were getting kinda sick of the dominance. Enter the Philadelphia Eagles, who had yet to win a Super Bowl and were starting their backup quarterback owing to Carson Wentz’s late season-ending injury. The game was an offensive masterclass, resulting in just one punt, and it contained many iconic moments, like the Eagles’ late fumble conversion and the famous Philly Special. And with a winning score of 41-33, the Eagles emerged as national heroes, having slayed the proverbial dragon.

Denver Broncos 31, Green Bay Packers 24


There are so many fantastic storylines converging in Super Bowl XXXII. There’s the thrilling underdog story, with the wild card Broncos defeating the heavily favored Packers, who were fresh off their win in Super Bowl XXXI. There’s Terrell Davis’s brilliant performance, scoring a Super Bowl record three rushing touchdowns while suffering a debilitating migraine. And then there’s the comeback story of quarterback John Elway, who had lost three previous Super Bowls. He finally earned his big win at 37 years old and performed the iconic Helicopter move in the process, earning himself a place in NFL lore. You can’t script this kind of drama.

New England Patriots 20, St. Louis Rams 17
Believe it or not, the New England Patriots were actually an underdog at one point. The Rams, dubbed The Greatest Show on Turf thanks to their high-flying offense led by Kurt Warner, were favored by 14. Although they were held in check for the majority of the game, the Rams were able to score two fourth-quarter touchdowns to tie the game at 17 with 1:30 left. That’s when Patriots coach Bill Belichick put the ball in the hands of then little-known quarterback Tom Brady. Operating with no timeouts, Brady led the Patriots into field goal range, where Adam Vinatieri nailed a 48-yard kick as time ran out to seal the win.

New England Patriots 32, Carolina Panthers 29
While this game may be best remembered for Janet Jackson’s infamous wardrobe malfunction during the halftime show, the on-field performance wasn’t so shabby either. Although the game started slowly, the two teams combined for 24 points by the end of the first half. The offense continued in the second half as both teams executed big play after big play. The Panthers were able to tie the game at 29 late in the fourth quarter, but left too much time on the clock for Tom Brady. For the second time in three years, Brady led his team down the field, setting up another game-winning field goal for Adam Vinatieri.

San Francisco 49ers 20, Cincinnati Bengals 16
Like several entries on this list, this game started out slowly, with the score just 3-3 at halftime. Both teams traded scores throughout the second half, but the Bengals were able to pull ahead 16-13 thanks to a 40-yard field goal with 3:20 remaining. Things looked bleak for the 49ers when they were forced to start on their own eight-yard line. That’s when Joe Montana took over. Widely considered one of the greatest clutch quarterbacks in history, Montana led the 49ers 92 yards in less than three minutes. He eventually passed to John Taylor from 10 yards out with just 34 seconds left to secure his third Super Bowl ring.

St. Louis Rams 23, Tennessee Titans 16
Led by Kurt Warner, The Greatest Show on Turf seemed destined to win the Super Bowl as they jumped out to a 16-0 lead in the third quarter. However, Steve McNair and the Titans rallied back to score three straight times to tie the game at 16 with just over two minutes remaining. It didn’t take long for Warner to answer, though, connecting with Isaac Bruce for a 73-yard touchdown pass less than 20 seconds later, reclaiming the Rams’ lead. McNair rallied again, driving the Titans down to the Rams’ 10. He then hit Kevin Dyson coming across the middle, who dove for the goal line and extended his arm, only to come up one yard short as time expired.

New York Jets 16, Baltimore Colts 7
While, at first, the score might make some fans question how this could be one of the all-time great Super Bowls, this was truly a monumental upset. The Colts, representing the NFL, came in to the game with a 13-1 record and were heavily favored over the AFL’s Jets. New York quarterback Joe Namath boldly guaranteed a victory three days before the game and delivered on his promise, as the Jets controlled the game from the outset. This was the first ever title victory by the AFL and was also the first Championship Game to officially be called the Super Bowl.

New York Giants 20, Buffalo Bills 19
It is truly remarkable that the Buffalo Bills were able to win the AFC four straight seasons. What’s even more remarkable is that they lost all four Super Bowl appearances. Their best chance to win was their first matchup against the New York Giants, who were using a backup quarterback thanks to a season-ending injury to Phil Simms. The game saw five lead changes, with the Giants jumping ahead 20-19 late in the fourth quarter thanks to a 21-yard field goal. The Bills had a chance to win soon after, but Scott Norwood’s last-second field goal attempt went wide right.

New England Patriots 28, Seattle Seahawks 24
The Butler did it! Seattle looked to have this game in control in the third quarter when they jumped out to a 24-14 lead. However, the fourth quarter saw Tom Brady put on a clinic, throwing touchdown passes on two consecutive drives to reclaim the lead for the Patriots with just over two minutes remaining. A miraculous catch by Jermaine Kearse set up the Seahawks near the Patriots goal line. Despite having one of the best running backs in the game in Marshawn Lynch, the Seahawks elected to throw the ball, and Russell Wilson’s pass was intercepted by undrafted rookie free agent Malcolm Butler, clinching the win for New England.

Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Arizona Cardinals 23
If you’re looking for a game full of signature plays, this is the one for you. The Steelers took a 17-7 halftime lead, thanks to a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown by linebacker James Harrison. Kurt Warner linked up with Larry Fitzgerald on a 64-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter, however, to give Arizona a 23-20 lead with just 2:37 remaining in the game, capping off 16 consecutive points by the Cardinals. Unfortunately for Arizona, that was too much time for Ben Roethlisberger, as he led the Steelers down the field to connect with Santonio Holmes in the corner of the end zone for a remarkable touchdown with just 35 seconds left.

Pittsburgh Steelers 35, Dallas Cowboys 31
The Steelers and Cowboys have had their fair share of memorable games over the years, including the aforementioned Super Bowl X. But that was nothing compared to Super Bowl XIII. Trailing by seven in the third quarter, the Cowboys had a chance to tie, but Hall of Fame tight end Jackie Smith dropped an easy touchdown pass. The Cowboys would have to settle for a field goal, but would soon fall behind 35-17. A late rally would come up just short and the Steelers would become the first team in NFL history to win three Super Bowls.

New England Patriots 34, Atlanta Falcons 28

28-3. It’s a name known to all football fans, and one loathed by the devout followers of the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta was seeking their first Super Bowl win, and they were up against those pesky Patriots. Things were looking brilliant for the underdogs, as they were up 28-3 in the third quarter, resulting in the now-infamous nickname. But with a masterful performance from Tom Brady, complete with a mindblowing 466 passing yards, and a complete breakdown from the Falcons, the Patriots were able to tie the game in the climactic final seconds. And following the first overtime in Super Bowl history, the Patriots emerged victorious 34-28. It was a story of collapse and resilience, and it birthed one of the greatest memes in sports history.

New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14
There’s always potential for greatness when these two teams square off. While Super Bowl XLVI was an exciting back and forth affair with the Giants winning 21-17, we go back to XLII for possibly one of the greatest upsets in sports history. The Patriots were attempting to become the first team to go 19-0, with a record-setting offense led by Tom Brady and Randy Moss. The Giants, however, came in with an outstanding defensive game plan. The Patriots were able to grab a late lead, but Eli Manning connected with David Tyree, who made an insane helmet catch to keep the Giants alive. A few plays later, the Giants scored the go-ahead touchdown to knock off the undefeated Patriots.


Which game do you find the most memorable? Let us know in the comments below!