Ranking the Super Bowls Since 2000

[_me]

I liked this idea for ideas for the next topic in Percussion's Defensive Rankings so much I stole it from myself. Didn't feel like waiting until next offseason. Think we should be able to bang it out by opening day if people want.

Starting with the 2000 Super Bowl (1999 NFL Season), rank the Super Bowls from this century from 1 to 20. Only 19 have been played, so place this years game as the "average". Every game above was a good game; every game below was a bad game. Feels like we have had a run of good one lately. Am curious if the data backs it up.

The List of Games to be ranked for convenience (spoiler'd for size)
SB 34: Rams over Titans
SB 35: Ravens over Giants
SB 36: Pats over Rams
SB 37: Bucs over Raiders
SB 38: Pats over Panthers

SB 39: Pats over Eagles
SB 40: Steelers over Seahawks
SB 41: Colts over Bears
SB 42: Giants over Pats
SB 43: Steelers over Cards

SB 44: Saints over Colts
SB 45: Packers over Steelers
SB 46: Giants over Pats
SB 47: Ravens over 49ers
SB 48: Seahawks over Broncos

SB 49: Pats over Seahawks
SB 50: Broncos over Panters
SB 51: Pats over Falcons
SB 52: Eagles over Pats
SB 53: "Average"

I figure I will start posting the results in about two weeks if people submit them. Same as Percussion's thread except send "_me" the results via PM and I will tabulate and post the totals.

@Bandit (https://forums.rajah.com/member.php?u=8454), @Fro (https://forums.rajah.com/member.php?u=203), @PurePlayer (https://forums.rajah.com/member.php?u=32424), @kdestiny (https://forums.rajah.com/member.php?u=30840), @Torn (https://forums.rajah.com/member.php?u=22316), @Kneeneighbor (https://forums.rajah.com/member.php?u=12810), @hithit (https://forums.rajah.com/member.php?u=16297), @Greed (https://forums.rajah.com/member.php?u=9072), @TimeSplitter (https://forums.rajah.com/member.php?u=14788), @BigAle (https://forums.rajah.com/member.php?u=87011), @Morrison (https://forums.rajah.com/member.php?u=6279), @chrisrandolph1985 (https://forums.rajah.com/member.php?u=69705), @Mr. Boombastic (https://forums.rajah.com/member.php?u=728), @Chris Scott (https://forums.rajah.com/member.php?u=17973), @Rancid_Planet (https://forums.rajah.com/member.php?u=32741), @Pablo Diablo (https://forums.rajah.com/member.php?u=210), @Judas Iscariot (https://forums.rajah.com/member.php?u=16276), @Matthew (https://forums.rajah.com/member.php?u=8059), Percussion, @Honey_Badger (https://forums.rajah.com/member.php?u=58327), @virmicious (https://forums.rajah.com/member.php?u=21134), @GOLDBERG'S BEST FRIEND (https://forums.rajah.com/member.php?u=12966), @New FN Show Stopper (https://forums.rajah.com/member.php?u=15360), @Alex (https://forums.rajah.com/member.php?u=19660)

[Fro]

In

[Pablo Diablo]

The question is what order Fro will put all of the Patriots super bowl wins at the top of the list and whether the Giants end up at the bottom for him ;)

[Chris Scott]

Missed the defensive one so I’ll have a go at this one.

[BigAl]

Remembering how good some these games were will be tough considering I was blacked out for at least a few of them.

[Percussion]

This is gonna be such a Pats wankfest.

[Bandit]

Campaigning for Packers beating the Steelers in 2011. Packers were first NFC team to ever make the superbowl as a 6-seed, let alone win, and they did so against the Steelers in their prime. It was the cap to the postseason that forced Rodgers to be included among Brady/Manning/Brees as the best in the league. Also featured a lot of big splash plays and key turnovers too.

[hithit]

Campaigning for Packers beating the Steelers in 2011. Packers were first NFC team to ever make the superbowl as a 6-seed, let alone win, and they did so against the Steelers in their prime. It was the cap to the postseason that forced Rodgers to be included among Brady/Manning/Brees as the best in the league. Also featured a lot of big splash plays and key turnovers too.

Not gonna lie, this is my number 1

[hithit]

Really gonna be hard for me to do a list, I was pretty much drunk from 99-2009.

[soxfanatic]

The games have been much better for the most part over the last 20 years than the prior 20 year period. Most of the games in the 80s and 90s were blowouts and not so great.

[_me]

Campaigning for Packers beating the Steelers in 2011. Packers were first NFC team to ever make the superbowl as a 6-seed, let alone win, and they did so against the Steelers in their prime. It was the cap to the postseason that forced Rodgers to be included among Brady/Manning/Brees as the best in the league. Also featured a lot of big splash plays and key turnovers too.
As I am making my list, I can't really remember this one at all. I need to go rewatch the highlights.

[Mr. Boombastic]

Super Bowl XXXV should be last, that was easily the worst Super Bowl of the last 20 years. Sure, SB XXXVII and XLVIII were also blowouts, but there was at least intrigue in those games because of the Gruden factor in 37 and 48 had Mannings historically great offense vs the great Seahawks defense.

35 had two of the worst SB QBs ever in Dilfer and Collins and that Giants team was nowhere near a SB caliber team.

[_me]

Super Bowl XXXV should be last, that was easily the worst Super Bowl of the last 20 years. Sure, SB XXXVII and XLVIII were also blowouts, but there was at least intrigue in those games because of the Gruden factor in 37 and 48 had Mannings historically great offense vs the great Seahawks defense.

35 had two of the worst SB QBs ever in Dilfer and Collins and that Giants team was nowhere near a SB caliber team.
35 and 41 (Colts/Bears in the monsoon) are the worst two for me by far.

[Mr. Boombastic]

Yeah 41 was bad too. I'm actually glad you limited this to the last 20 years, so it's games we have all watched, so we aren't debating where Super Bowl III or X fall into the rankings when probably none of us has seen more than a few highlights at best of those games.

[Stabwound]

I don't want to PM. You shall all be subjected to my list.

SB 46: Giants over Pats
SB 34: Rams over Titans
SB 42: Giants over Pats
SB 52: Eagles over Pats
SB 45: Packers over Steelers
SB 49: Pats over Seahawks
SB 44: Saints over Colts
SB 50: Broncos over Panthers
SB 53: "Average"
SB 35: Ravens over Giants
SB 37: Bucs over Raiders
SB 41: Colts over Bears
SB 43: Steelers over Cards
SB 40: Steelers over Seahawks

The following Super Bowls sucked so much, I'd rather watch my mother be gang-raped by a herd of buffalo:

SB 47: Ravens over 49ers
SB 36: Pats over Rams
SB 38: Pats over Panthers
SB 39: Pats over Eagles
SB 48: Seahawks over Broncos
SB 51: Pats over Falcons

[Percussion]

PM'ing helps for the sake of the reveal.

[_me]

Yeah 41 was bad too. I'm actually glad you limited this to the last 20 years, so it's games we have all watched, so we aren't debating where Super Bowl III or X fall into the rankings when probably none of us has seen more than a few highlights at best of those games.
That was the idea. As much fun as Percussion's list was, I was basically guessing and using reputations for anyone before about 1990. I saw a lot of Reggie White (was a big Randall Cunningham fan then; RIP Jerome Brown) but I never even saw LT in his prime.

[Fro]

The 2000 cut off is a good idea.

[Kdestiny]

Sent.

Looking forward to this, but I am more looking forward to looking back to older games. I want to get some research going.

[Bandit]

Sent mine in.

[Percussion]

Midway through putting mine together. Hope we get a little time on this one.

And pleasantly surprised at how good 44 looks in recall.

[Fro]

sent

[Fro]

When you do the reveal you should say who ranked each one highest and who ranked each one lowest

[Pablo Diablo]

Sent

Some of those first set of Patriots wins have somewhat blended in my mind. But definitely my list had a lot of recent ones near the top. Possible recency bias. But I feel confident with this list as I can remember watching every one of these super bowls.

[Fro]

Pats-Panthers was very classic, the best of the first set IMO

[_me]

The Pro-Pats/Anti-Pats feelings of some of the voters is very apparent. Will make the results interesting. I have 5 ballots in so far.


When you do the reveal you should say who ranked each one highest and who ranked each one lowest
I will definitely do who voted highest and total points like Percussion did. I have no problem saying what spot was the lowest vote but I'd rather not reveal who voted for it unless they want to name themselves.


Midway through putting mine together. Hope we get a little time on this one.

And pleasantly surprised at how good 44 looks in recall.
I will hold on on final totals as long as people want to submit. Just let me know you are working and I can hold off. I figure I will do the bottom 10 in a couple of bunches and then the top 10 one at a time so there is plenty of time until opening day (which is when I want to be done).

[Mr. Boombastic]

Pats-Panthers was very classic, the best of the first set IMO

Nah, that game was a snoozefest until the 4th quarter. Same goes for Rams-Titans in SB 34, I suspect people will overrate both of those games because they had great finishes.

I think the Pats-Rams was the best of the early bunch.

[Fro]

Nah, that game was a snoozefest until the 4th quarter. Same goes for Rams-Titans in SB 34, I suspect people will overrate both of those games because they had great finishes.

I think the Pats-Rams was the best of the early bunch.

it's not an unfair assessment but I wouldn't say it was boring until the 4th. the first half was boring until there were 24 points scored in the final 4 minutes of the 2nd quarter which was pretty nuts. but yea, it was a lot of defense and then that outburst of scoring and then a classic 4th quarter.

[Percussion]

Sent. And now pretty eagerly looking forward to the results.

[Fro]

I have no clue what the order will be. I will save my thoughts on what should be #1 for the reveal.

[BigAl]

Looking forward to seeing the results but won’t be able to participate in this one.

[_me]

I wasn't plan on "finalizing" the totals for another week or so but if people can just let me know if they were working, I can hold it longer. Up to 7 ballots.

Without giving away too many details, it is shaping up as a three SB race for the top spot. And two are in a race for the bottom. There are some very clear tiers starting to form as well. Liking the results, every one has a few outliers here and there but generally, we are in the same ballpark.

[Fro]

Looking forward to seeing the results but won’t be able to participate in this one.

why the heck not

[PurePlayer]

my list was submitted today.

[Mr. Boombastic]

I finally submitted my list today.

I am not even a Pats hater, but jesus, it would be nice if some other team in the AFC represented once in awhile. All the Pats SB in the Brady era have been pretty competitive, great games. I had 7 of the top 10 as Pats Super Bowl appearances.

[_me]

I have received two more ballots this week. If anyone is still working, please just let me know and I will wait longer. Otherwise, I will probably start to release the results starting next week.

[Mr. Boombastic]

Is this still happening? Would love to see the results?

[Fro]

agreed _me

[_me]

Sorry guys. Had some dental work this week so it screwed up my timings. I have all the results done. I have just been looking for some clips to post with the results like Percussion did. I will get cracking on it by this weekend.

[_me]

To get us started…

20th Place:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNRtwijYhlo

Super Bowl XXXV: Baltimore Ravens 34 New York Giants 7

Total Points: 29
High: 10th
Low: 20th (6 times)

[_me]

19th Place:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VrjG5bbfeA

Super Bowl XLVIII: Seattle Seahawks 48 Denver Broncos 8

Total Points: 32
High: 12
Low: 20

[_me]

These were by far the lowest two. Only three votes outside the bottom 5 for both games combined.

[Fro]

Fair. But at least we can always cite Trent Dilfer as proof that you don't need a good QB to win a Super Bowl.

[_me]

Fair. But at least we can always cite Trent Dilfer as proof that you don't need a good QB to win a Super Bowl.
As long as you have the greatest defense of the last 30 years on the other side of the ball

[_me]

Just for a tease, the top spot did come down to the lowest vote between the top two games deciding it. If we went Olympic style and threw out the top and bottom score, a different game would win. I like results that close.

The next "tier" is three games so I will post those tomorrow.

EDIT: Also if anyone still wanted to send a vote, I can make changes still. The results start to get really close about #10 so it would be easy to update for now.

[Pablo Diablo]

How could anyone put the Ravens win as 10th. Madness.

[Mr. Boombastic]

I'm glad we got the bottom two right.

Even though it was a terrible game from the opening botched snap, as a Peyton Manning hater, SB 48 was really enjoyable.

[Fro]

That Seahawks team was so good. Shame they only won 1 title.

[_me]

How could anyone put the Ravens win as 10th. Madness.
LOL. I checked more than once to make sure it wasn't a typo on my spreadsheet.


I'm glad we got the bottom two right.

Even though it was a terrible game from the opening botched snap, as a Peyton Manning hater, SB 48 was really enjoyable.
I was actually the one who ranked the Seahawks the highest for the same reason. I really enjoyed watching Manning tank like that. Petty I know. Plus that Seahawks team was fun before they got annoying. I was slightly surprised it was in the bottom 2. I was just expecting bottom 5.

[_me]

18th Place:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXmAxq36_Rg

Super Bowl XLVI: Indianapolis Colts 29 Chicago Bears 17

Total Points: 45
High: 12
Low: 19 (x2)

[_me]

17th Place:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhf6kZCh1p4

Super Bowl XXXVII: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48 Oakland Raiders 21

Total Points: 46
High: 8
Low: 19 (x2)

[_me]

Forgot to mention there were 9 total ballots. Just one point difference between these two games.

[_me]

16th Place:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MzFhsQ_OD0

Super Bowl XL: Pittsburgh Steelers 21 Seattle Seahawks 10

Total Points: 52
High: 12
Low: 18 (x2)

[Fro]

The TD pass from Randle El to Hines Ward was memorable. The poor officiating was also memorable. Big Ben had a really shitty game when you look at the stats. 9/21, 123 yards, 0 TDs an 2 INTs. Maybe the worst QB performance on the winning end of a Super Bowl this century? But he had a very strong playoff run before this game.

[Fro]

Ganon, meanwhile, must have had the worst QB performance of the century period. 5 picks and 3 pick-6's? Woof.

[Mr. Boombastic]

Yes, SB 37 destroyed the Raiders franchise. They were favorites going into the game with Gannon coming off a regular season MVP year.

After this beat down, Gannon got injured the next year and was basically done. Bill Callahan got canned after the 2003 season and has largely been a joke since, notably for his stint as Nebraska head coach. The raiders did not have even a .500 record for another 8 years and never made the playoffs again until 2016.

[_me]

15th Place:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR0qOk_pcyg

Super Bowl 50: Denver Broncos 27 Carolina Panthers 10

Total Points: 61
High: 8
Low: 17 (x2)

[_me]

14th Place:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcP5KVapp2M

Super Bowl XXXIX: New England Patriots 24 Philadelphia Eagles 21

Total Points: 66
High: 8 (x2)
Low: 20

[Fro]

Panthers/Broncos was not a very fun game even though it was a one possession game with 4 minutes left before Cam's infamous business decision not to dive for his fumble. So many turnovers. I suppose if you like strong pass rushes and forced fumbles, this wouldn't have been a bad game to watch. Von Miller became a superstar and rightfully so. Seeing the corpse of Peyton Manning dragged to a Super Bowl win wasn't that fun though, I mean to me this wasn't a true storybook ending to his career. Yes he won the title then retired but he was so bad during this season, probably a bottom 3 starting QB in the league if not the worst (granted he played pretty well vs the Pats in the AFC title game).

Pats/Eagles 1 was a good game. The Pats pulled ahead by 2 scores in the 4th but this was tied after 1, tied at the half and tied after 3 (I think the only time that's ever happened in a SB). You had Troy Brown playing three ways (WR, punt return and defensive back). You had Mike Vrabel catching a TD pass. You had Terrell Owens coming back from a broken leg and playing like a beast when everyone thought he would just be a diversion. This game had a lot going for it although it was not as exciting of a finish compared to the Patriots previous 2 titles, or their next 2.

[Pablo Diablo]

I'm one of those who put Pats/Eagles 1 at 8. I think Fro makes the argument for me. If even I as a Pats hater could put it up there surprised it ended up 14th.

[Fro]

I also had it at 8

It was a good matchup just in the sense that this was the Eagles team that had lost the previous 3 NFC title games. McNabb, Reid, Westbrook, Dawkins and then TO added to the mix. They were the best team of this century not to win a Super Bowl (not talking about a single season team).

[Mr. Boombastic]

I had Pats-Eagles I at number 13. It was a pretty good game, but it was the worst of the Pats Super Bowls in the Brady era.

The biggest thing that brings this game down historically is the lackadaisical, time consuming drive the Eagles made to bring it to a 3 point game, with almost no urgency, and the subsequent McNabb puking in the huddle stories.

I've never watched the game again besides when I saw it live, so I'm sure it's better than I remember, but the narrative of the ending brings it down historically.

[_me]

13th Place would be the "Average". Seems about right.

[_me]

12th Place:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX6vioW7SZc

Super Bowl XXXVIII: New England Patriots 32 Carolina Panthers 29

Total Points: 94
High: 2
Low: 19

EDIT: Sorry guys. Got my columns mixed up. NE/StL is 11th.

[_me]

As you might have noticed, there was a sizable jump between 12th and 14th. There are only about 10 votes lower than 15th left. Nearly everyone separated into the same 14th-20th and 1st-12th groups.

The next three games ended in a virtual tie. Two games tied with one game 1 point ahead. Coming up tomorrow…

[Pablo Diablo]

Definitely Fro who rated that number 2. No question.

[_me]

Definitely Fro who rated that number 2. No question.
:cheers:

[Pablo Diablo]

I rated it 7th. But if the Dolphins had won the first Super Bowl of my lifetime at that Super Bowl I would also have put it at the top.

[_me]

I feel like rating it 19th is more egregious than ranking it 2nd. Not surprisingly it had the highest range of votes. But all the Pats games had large splits.

[Fro]

Definitely Fro who rated that number 2. No question.


:cheers:

Incorrect, Pabs. I had this game 4th and would say it's clearly underrated here. It's the biggest SB upset of the century by point spread (Rams -14, the only bigger upset was Joe Namath in Super Bowl 3). To have that big of an upset end on a game winning field goal as time expired, and to have that no-name QB who led the drive go on to become the GOAT.. it was a definite classic.

[_me]

Incorrect, Pabs. I had this game 4th and would say it's clearly underrated here. It's the biggest SB upset of the century by point spread (Rams -14, the only bigger upset was Joe Namath in Super Bowl 3). To have that big of an upset end on a game winning field goal as time expired, and to have that no-name QB who led the drive go on to become the GOAT.. it was a definite classic.
Thanks for spotting my error. Got my columns mixed up when typing.

Both 36 and 38 had two votes each really dragging their totals down otherwise they might have been higher.

[_me]

So just to be clear to fix my mistake-

12th Place: Super Bowl 38 - NE 32 Carolina 29

10th Place (tied):


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ehXQ1Z7lGU

Super Bowl XXXVI: New England Patriots 20 St. Louis Rams 17

Total Points: 105
High: 2
Low: 18

[Pablo Diablo]

The Patriot hate is strong on this board.

I did have the Pats-Rams over the Pats-Panthers so I agree with this re-ordering.

[Fro]

yea the pats wins will be weighed down by the haters so we can just figure that they should each get a 15 point boost to show their accurate placement.

Pats/Panthers was the more entertaining of these two games IMO. more scoring, more back-and-forth, blow for blow. plus it had the most memorable halftime show of the century.

it was dubbed the greatest super bowl of all time (https://web.archive.org/web/20040405000120/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/writers/peter_king/02/02/mmqb/) by peter king at the time.

"Thirty-seven points in the fourth quarter. I mean, here are two of the great defenses in the league, maybe the best two, and they looked like Ali and Frazier in the 12th round, just trying to stay upright and go the distance. Five touchdowns and a field goal in the final 15 minutes."

[Mr. Boombastic]

Incorrect, Pabs. I had this game 4th and would say it's clearly underrated here. It's the biggest SB upset of the century by point spread (Rams -14, the only bigger upset was Joe Namath in Super Bowl 3). To have that big of an upset end on a game winning field goal as time expired, and to have that no-name QB who led the drive go on to become the GOAT.. it was a definite classic.

I was the one that had NE-STL at number 2. I second everything Fro said.

It was a truly awesome upset. People forget now, but the Rams were seemingly destined to be the NFLs next dynasty, but the Pats smacked them down and stole their mojo. Even the fact that it was the Super Bowl just months after 9/11 and the Patriots won was a pretty cool thing all around.

There is definitely some recency bias and Pats hate that brought this one down. No way this shouldn't be top 5.

[_me]

10th Place (tied):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcNp1z93Crc

Super Bowl XLVII: Baltimore Ravens 34 San Francisco 49ers 31

Total Points: 105
High: 2
Low: 15

[_me]

9th Place:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxqvVQg2Y-c

Super Bowl XLIV: New Orleans Saints 31 Indianapolis Colts 17

Total Points: 106
High: 4
Low 14

[Pablo Diablo]

Alright someone convince me that the Saints-Colts wasn't just an average super bowl. I guess when I rated it I didn't consider the whole Katrina aspect of it and only remembered the game itself. The trick play was shocking to say the least. I just don't remember it being very special. Although looking at the highlights it was a relatively close game with a final score inflated by that pick 6.

[Mr. Boombastic]

It was a very competitive game, plus it was one of the best SB QB matchups of all time I think that's why it's highly rated.

Brees vs Manning both in their prime was probably the best or second best QB SB matchup in my lifetime with SB 32 with Favre vs Elway probably being number 2.

Big Ben vs Rodgers and young Brady vs Warner are probably the next best two on this lis, but they weren't in their absolute prime like Brees v Manning were in this game.

[Pablo Diablo]

Now I'm trying to think why I underrated it. I had it just below the "average".

[Percussion]

Two number 1 seeds, and first time in nearly two decades.

Two absolute legend, hof qbs in their primes.

Back and forth game with no more than a score apart from the 2nd quarter until the dagger pick 6 late.

Solid to very good play all around by both teams plus the brass balls decision to kick off the second half.

The Katrina/NO element.

Just a lot of good football stuff to like, imo.

[_me]

8th Place:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q4JP-HR9SY

Super Bowl XLV: Green Bay Packers 31 Pittsburgh Steelers 25

Total Points: 116
High: 1
Low: 15

[Fro]

You should post what year these took place in. I don't recall the year by Roman numeral for some of these.

This was a good matchup but pretty forgettable for me. just didn't really have moments that stood out.

[_me]

7th Place:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GBNUNdfJcU

Super Bowl XXXIV (2000): St. Louis Rams 23 Tennessee Titans 16

Total Points: 123
High: 2
Low: 15

[Pablo Diablo]

The Dyson stretch. You could not script a better ending.

[_me]

6th Place:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OF92mx3O2sE

Super Bowl XLVI (2012): New York Giants 21 New England Patriots 17

Total Points: 125
High: 1 (second 1st place vote so far)
Low: 12

[_me]

5th Place:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iG2I9YsFwY

Super Bowl XLI (2017): New England Patriots 34 Atlanta Falcons 28 (OT)

Total Points: 126
High: 2
Low: 20(!)

[_me]

I decided to post all three together since they ended in a virtual tie. 123; 125; 126 for total points. Impossible to separate really. One ballot could have changed the order of any of the three games.

Four games left. Anyone want to predict the order? 42, 43, 49, 52 are the four left for those not keeping track. 7 out of 9 first place votes for these four games.

[PurePlayer]

I say it goes

4. 42
3. 52
2. 43
1. 49

[Fro]

5th Place:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iG2I9YsFwY

Super Bowl XLI (2017): New England Patriots 34 Atlanta Falcons 28 (OT)

Total Points: 126
High: 2
Low: 20(!)

this is an interesting one in terms of placement on the list. it is in my opinion the greatest single game comeback in the history of American sports and will probably hold that distinction for a long time. It was the first and only overtime in super bowl history. but it's also valid that this was a boring one-sided game until the end of the 3rd quarter, and then it became very one-sided in the other direction. there was no back-and-forth blow for blow. it was the falcons gaining an insurmountable lead and then the Pats chipping away at it over about the final 20 minutes with precision and a little luck. so I had this 3rd on my list. some did call it the greatest of all time when it happened but to me the Pats/Seahawks game was a better match because it was a nail biter throughout.

I think Pats/Seahawks will be #1.

[PurePlayer]

If the Falcons literally ran the ball every down when they were up 16 they win the game. It was the pass up 28-12 that lead to a fumble from Matt Ryan and it was the pass that lead to a sack and holding call that kicked them out of FG range. Why would they not try and run it down to the 30 and have their hall of fame kicker nail an easy FG inside a dome? Thank goodness I am not a Falcons fan. I would never get over that loss.

[Fro]

If the Falcons literally ran the ball every down when they were up 16 they win the game.

There is an alternate reality where they did that, still lost, and everyone blames them for being too conservative when they have the best passing offense in the NFL and the MVP on the field. The Eagles of course are praised for not playing it conservatively in this year's SB because they won. That's how you have to play the Pats if you want to beat them- never let off the gas - said many people this year in praise of Doug. Hindsight is undefeated.

Don't get me wrong these were different scenarios and when they were in FG position after the incredible Julio catch, they completely biffed it with the ensuing sack and holding call that pushed them out of FG range. I agree they should have run it there. But to say they literally should have run it every down in the final 8 minutes of the game may be equally foolish. Of course if they did that they wouldn't have been in FG range at all because the Julio catch wouldn't have happened. They would have punted and the Pats would have still been able to tie it, with less time but better field position.

[PurePlayer]

Obviously I am not suggesting for a team to run it on every play for 2 quarters. I was being sarcastic. My point is, the play calling was awful. When you need a FG to basically win the game with a great kicker, you do not pass the ball in those situations. At least you don't call a pass play that isn't quick when you know a desperate team is going to be blitzing there. And had they run the ball on the play where Ryan fumbled, it doesn't lead to the touchdown to bring it down to 8 points.

You can call it hindsight but it's not really hindsight when everyone was questioning why they weren't running the ball when they already were in FG range.

[Fro]

Obviously I am not suggesting for a team to run it on every play for 2 quarters. I was being sarcastic. My point is, the play calling was awful. When you need a FG to basically win the game with a great kicker, you do not pass the ball in those situations. At least you don't call a pass play that isn't quick when you know a desperate team is going to be blitzing there. And had they run the ball on the play where Ryan fumbled, it doesn't lead to the touchdown to bring it down to 8 points.

You can call it hindsight but it's not really hindsight when everyone was questioning why they weren't running the ball when they already were in FG range.

Using the word literally then saying you were being sarcastic is a crime against vocabulary.

There were questionable play calls for sure. On 3rd and 1, up by 16 with 9 minutes to play which resulted in the strip sack, it's easy to say they should have run it given the outcome of the play. On the other hand we're talking about a historically good passing offense (also Coleman had already gone out of the game with an injury at this point) who can pretty much secure a SB win if they complete a pass which they do at a 70% clip. I don't hate them going for a pass there but yea when I watch that play and see Ryan cocking back to throw it way down field before Hightower nailed him, yes I agree quick/short pass would have been a better move.

I will completely agree the 2nd and 3rd down plays after the Julio catch had bad playcalling (and worse execution). I would have run it 3 times and kicked it. But I will say again that if they run it 3 straight times there, go for the 41 yard FG and miss (which happens 1 out of 10 times) with 3+ minutes left in the game, and went on to lose, critics would say they were being too conservative by not going for the jugular and settling for a FG when their historically good passing game was having their way with the Pats during this game. That is a hypothetical and maybe you will say "no, people would have still agreed it was the right decision, and only the kicker would have been blamed for the choke" but I think the playcalling would come into question there as well.

[PurePlayer]

Yeah I should have used my words better.

Depends on who the kicker is. Atlanta had Matt Bryant who was 9/9 between 40-49 yards that year. You would think they would have learned, hey maybe we should run the ball since the last time we went for a pass we got strip sacked.

[Fro]

You would think they would have learned, hey maybe we should run the ball since the last time we went for a pass we got strip sacked.

Again though you're using hyperbole not reality. The last time they went for a pass they had Julio Jones haul in what would have been a legendary, all-time catch if it sealed the game as it should have. Their pass attempt before that was a play action pass to Freeman that gained them 39 yards. And then after both those, on the third down when they got called back for the holding penalty, they completed a pass that would have gotten them back into easy FG position. So it's not as if the passing game was dysfunctional in this game, or even in the 4th quarter. Ryan had nearly a perfect passer rating- they were throwing the ball with relative ease.

[Mr. Boombastic]

I'm probably one of the only people who put SB 46 over 42. I just thought it was the better game overall. If you take away the helmet catch, there were not many memorable big plays and overall the game SB 42 was kinda a snoozer field position battle.

I'm glad SB 51 wasn't ranked too high, like Fro said because it was more like two lopsided halves rather than one great game. I specifically remember just watching the game with just a few buddies and one of them actually suggesting that we turn off the game to play video games(thankfully we didn't), that's how bad it was at one point.

I also hope SB 52 is not too high mostly just because of recency bias. I'm not sure if that game will stand the test of time, because of the lack of any defense whatsoever.

My top 3
1. Pitt-Ari
2. NE-STL
3. NE-Sea

[PurePlayer]

Again though you're using hyperbole not reality. The last time they went for a pass they had Julio Jones haul in what would have been a legendary, all-time catch if it sealed the game as it should have. Their pass attempt before that was a play action pass to Freeman that gained them 39 yards. And then after both those, on the third down when they got called back for the holding penalty, they completed a pass that would have gotten them back into easy FG position. So it's not as if the passing game was dysfunctional in this game, or even in the 4th quarter. Ryan had nearly a perfect passer rating- they were throwing the ball with relative ease.

Way to leave out the part that their kicker was perfect from the distance they had the ball at. They blew a 25 point lead in 20 minutes and somehow defending what they did as hindsight when everyone at the time questioned their playcalling

[Fro]

Way to leave out the part that their kicker was perfect from the distance they had the ball at. They blew a 25 point lead in 20 minutes and somehow defending what they did as hindsight when everyone at the time questioned their playcalling

I said kickers miss 1 out of every 10 kicks from 40-49 yards. You said he was 9/9 that season. So that just makes my case even stronger - we basically know he would have missed it. :sherlock:

[_me]

4th Place:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcnIlBZGjDU

Super Bowl LII (2018): Philadelphia Eagles 41 New England Patriots 33

Total Points: 139
High: 1
Low: 9 (one of only two games with every vote in the top 10)

[_me]

FYI about last year's Eagles. Tonight (Wednesday) on NFL Network at 9p is the premier of "America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions" for the 2017 Eagles. I don't know if anyone has checked them out before but they have done one for every Super Bowl winner too.

[Fro]

I've watched a few of those

[PurePlayer]

I bet Fro put this at 9.

[Fro]

I bet Fro put this at 9.

it is impressive how wrong you people are about where I ranked these. this super bowl was a classic. every super bowl the pats have been in this century has been classic.

I had this game ranked higher than the super bowl when the Pats beat the Eagles because I am unbiased like that.

I bet you had it at #1 though.

[PurePlayer]

I actually might have put this at 1 or 2. I might have had Seahawks vs Pats at 1. I forget honestly. I wouldn't be out of line to have this at 1 though whereas putting this at 9 seems really low.

[Fro]

9 is low, I do think it was an excellent game but there were a lot of good super bowls here. In fact I'm impressed with how often this game is good. Seems like we're at a 75% clip. When you compare that to how forgettable many World Series or NBA Finals are, this is just another reason why the NFL is the best.

And I mean you've got guys putting Pats/Panthers at #19 so I don't think #9 is that outlandish. Everyone having this in the top 9 is very respectful.

[_me]

I've watched a few of those
I am a sucker for all those NFL Films show. A Football Life, The Timeline, America's Game.

[_me]

3rd Place:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vKDygyOxH0

Super Bowl XLII (2008): New York Giants 17 New England Patriots 14

Total Points: 145
High: 1
Low: 9 (other game with every vote in top 10)

[Pablo Diablo]

So just catching up a bit. I put Pats-Falcons at #2.

You people are wildin'. Especially whoever put it 20th. There was no super bowl that was more difficult for me to finish watching. The elation I felt in the first half. The slow creeping dread as the Pats started their comeback. The joy when Jones made that ridiculous catch. The game going to OT and knowing what the result was going to be. Sure it wasn't the perfect game. But to me there was only one super bowl better than it. I'm fine with the placements of 42 and 52. I put 52 in at 5. But that might have been me trying to avoid recency bias.

[Fro]

reading through the NFL thread after that game brought me so much joy

[_me]

Just to tease the final reveal, here are the votes for the last four games without the games.

4th Place: 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 8th, and 9th. Total Points: 139

3rd Place: 1st, 3rd, 3rd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 9th. Total Points: 145

2nd Place: 1st, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 17th. Total Points: 149

1st Place: 1st, 1st, 1st, 3rd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 13th. Total Points: 152

I will post the last two later today and will post the complete table of vote (minus the names) after as well.

[Fro]

hm I am just wondering who would put either Pats/Seahawks or Steelers/Cardinals at 17th but it has to be a Pats hater. So I assume Steelers/Cardinals will win.

[_me]

2nd Place:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz8ENFKYXe0

Super Bowl XLIX (2015): New England Patriots 28 Seattle Seahawks 24

Total Points: 149
High: 1
Low: 17

[_me]

Which means, 1st Place:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2gt-PN5-Hg

Super Bowl XLIII (2009): Pittsburgh Steelers 27 Arizona Cardinals 23

Total Points: 152
High: 1
Low: 13

[_me]

Thanks to everyone for voting. Here is the table of the votes.


<colgroup><col width="65" span="12" style="width: 65pt;"></colgroup><tbody>
Average
TOTAL
SB #











4.11
152
43
13
3
6
5
4
1
3
1
1


4.44
149
49
6
5
17
1
1
3
2
3
2


4.89
145
42
3
1
3
9
3
7
5
9
4


5.56
139
52
4
2
7
6
5
9
1
8
8


7.00
126
51
20
8
16
3
2
2
4
5
3


7.11
125
46
1
4
4
11
12
10
7
4
11


7.33
123
34
2
6
5
7
6
15
9
6
10


8.11
116
45
5
15
1
12
11
6
6
11
6


9.22
106
44
7
11
10
13
14
4
12
7
5


9.33
105
36
16
7
18
4
7
12
11
2
7


9.33
105
47
15
10
2
10
10
8
8
12
9


10.56
94
38
17
9
19
2
9
5
10
11
13


12.89
73
53
9
12
14
14
13
11
15
14
14


13.67
66
39
18
14
20
8
8
13
14
13
15


14.22
61
50
8
13
9
16
17
16
16
16
17


15.22
52
40
14
18
12
15
15
17
13
15
18


15.89
46
37
11
16
8
18
18
19
18
19
16


16.00
45
41
12
19
13
17
16
14
17
17
19


17.44
32
48
19
17
15
19
19
18
20
18
12


17.78
29
35
10
20
11
20
20
20
19
20
20

</tbody>

https://s15.postimg.cc/64po2s597/Screen_Shot_2018-09-08_at_1.21.02_PM.png

[Mr. Boombastic]

Good work _me. I love me a good list.

I think the right game won, that was an epic SB. The James Harrison 100 yard pick six to end the half, the huge 65 yard Fitz td to take the lead with like 2 minutes left, the final drive by Roethlisberger and toe tapping game winning catch by Santonio Holmes were amazing.

If there is one thing to take as away from this list, it's that if Brady or Warner are in the SB it will be a great game

[Pablo Diablo]

So if we remove the extremely biased Packers fan from this competition (who rated every Patriots victory in the bottom 5) SB 49 falls into its rightful spot at the top.

I'm also glad to see my Top 5 agrees with the Rajah Top 5.

[PurePlayer]

who the hell voted the Pats vs Hawks at 17th? lol show yourself!

[Fro]

yea it's not like it'll be a HIPA violation if you reveal who voted for what, _me. normally we do reveal these things openly.

anyway thanks for running this.

pats/hawks is the best IMO but these are both two good games. certainly Big Ben vs Kurt Warner is a studly matchup in itself, but what I love about Pats/Hawks is that it was two behemoths of their day going up against one another. The Seahawks being the dynasty that never was. Reigning champs, best defense in the league for 5 straight years or whatever the distinction may be. Pats trying to get over the hump after a decade of dominance but no titles. It was a Pick Em game to begin with - no one knew who would win. It contained the greatest super bowl comeback of all time (until that distinction would be broken 2 years later) but it wasn't as if it were ever out of hand. the Hawks got to the precipice of putting it out of reach but never could. and then of course, after the comeback, that final drive where it looked like they would deliver the heartbreaker into Pats fans hearts, only to end up as a heartbreak of the worst kind in the other direction.

such a swing of emotions in this game. a true roller coaster.

[Bandit]

I don't remember but it might have been me. :D

[soxfanatic]

Could it be hithit that voted it so low? That person also had SB 45 at number 1.

[_me]

who the hell voted the Pats vs Hawks at 17th? lol show yourself!


I don't remember but it might have been me. :D
:yesyes:

[Pablo Diablo]

So...where would we put Super Bowl 53?

[Randolph]

Near the bottom, short of any blowouts.

[Fro]

Near the bottom, short of any blowouts.

agreed. at least this one had some drama to it, it was tied going into the 4th quarter so that to me is better than a blowout. but otherwise this game was not fun to watch unless you love defense and god bless anyone who actually loves watching the defense in a game like this but that aint me

so yea without looking at the list again, it may be #15 out of 19 or something like that.

[Kneeneighbor]

I enjoy defense but specifically watching what the Patriots did to the Rams to force them to struggle. That was all scheme.

The flip side is I think that the Rams did what they did to the Pats just based on pressure and that is not as mentally stimulating to me.

[Percussion]

One of my favorite sb's ever for the sheer result of making so many people cry out of their twats like a bunch of whiny bitches.

[Fro]

One of my favorite sb's ever for the sheer result of making so many people cry out of their twats like a bunch of whiny bitches.

what are you referring to here

[Percussion]

what are you referring to here

The so many people that have cried out of their twats like a bunch of whiny bitches.

[Randolph]

At first I was like
https://media1.tenor.com/images/67fe2f5409959d88003d532e61ea20bc/tenor.gif
Then I did this
https://i.imgur.com/r8MZLrl.gif
And then I was
http://www.animatedimages.org/data/media/1147/animated-donald-duck-image-0301.gif