The greatest Super Bowl games of all time

Super Bowl LVII is nearly here, with the game being played at the 63,400-seat State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Sunday, February 12, 2023. The venue is home to the Arizona Cardinals and will be hosting its third Super Bowl, following on from Super Bowl XLII in 2008, and Super Bowl XLIX in 2015.

With around 100 million people in the US tuning in, many via an NFL game pass, with Rihanna providing the half-time entertainment, Super Bowl 57 is guaranteed to entertain, especially with the latest Super Bowl betting odds suggesting the game is too close to call.

It may be a fumbled pass, a last-second field goal, or a controversial call, but every Super Bowl has its memorable moments. So, with 56 other games to choose from, we decided to take a nostalgic look at the history books to pick out the greatest Super Bowl games of all time.

1969: Super Bowl III, New York Jets 16 - 7 Baltimore Colts

This game is one of the most famous Super Bowls of all time, pitting the underdog Jets against the red-hot favorite Colts. The Jets QB, Broadway Joe, made a victory guarantee three days before the game and he subsequently made good on his promise by leading the team to a shock win that helped set in motion the AFL/NFL merger.

Despite being called Super Bowl III, this game was technically the first ever Super Bowl as earlier title games were called the “AFL-NFL World Championship Game.”

2018: Super Bowl LII, Philadelphia Eagles 41 - 33 New England Patriots

This game is perhaps best known for a reverse pass to quarterback Nick Foles, who caught it for a touchdown on fourth down. The play is now known as ‘the Philly Special’ and is one of the most famous plays in Super Bowl history.

Foles was the Eagles backup quarterback after Carson Wentz was ruled out, and he led his team to a thrilling win over legendary QB Tom Brady, whose strip-sacking in the fourth quarter sealed the game. Incredibly, both teams combined for more than 1,000 yards of offense, a Super Bowl record, but it was the Philly’s who took home their first-ever Lombardi Trophy.

1991: Super Bowl XXV, New York Giants 20-19 Buffalo Bills

The words “wide right” are forever destined to break Bills fans' hearts. Buffalo was 20–19 down with four seconds left when kicker Scott Norwood had a 47-yard field goal attempt, but his kick went wide right, handing the Giants victory and the Bills a loss they will never forget. Buffalo went on to appear, and lose, in the next three Super Bowls, but they never came as close to claiming their first-ever Vince Lombardi trophy as that fateful night in Tampa.

2000: Super Bowl XXXIV, L.A. Rams 23 – 16 Tennessee Titans

The Rams offense was regarded as one of the best of all time and their dominance saw them chalk up a 16–0 lead over the Titans in the third quarter. But with just over two minutes left to play, the Titans leveled the scores. The Rams re-took the lead but in a thrilling finish, Tennessee had a chance to send the game into overtime. With just six seconds left on the clock, they looked like they’d done it, but the Rams snuffed out the danger to claim their first-ever Vince Lombardi trophy.

1979: Super Bowl XIII, Pittsburgh Steelers 35 – 31 Dallas Cowboys

Pittsburgh had beaten the Cowboys in Super Bowl X, and the winner of Super Bowl XIII would make history by becoming the first-ever three-time Super Bowl champion. The Steelers and Cowboys were also one of the greatest sporting rivalries at the time. Pittsburgh led 35-17 in the fourth quarter, but the Cowboys reduced the lead to 35-31, making for an exciting finale, but the Steelers held firm.

2008: Super Bowl XLII, New York Giants 17 - 14 New England Patriots

History was on the line at the University of Phoenix Stadium as the Patriots took the field with an 18-0 record, and the chance to go down in history as the first undefeated team since the 1972 Miami Dolphins to win a championship.

The game really came alive in the fourth quarter as the Patriots took a 14–10 lead and were just over two minutes away from the ultimate undefeated season. But the Giants had other ideas. On third-and-five, QB Eli Manning somehow broke free from some intense pressure and threw a deep ball toward Tyree, for what many regards as the greatest ever play in Super Bowl history. Unbelievably, Tyree caught the ball one-handed, pinning it against his helmet and getting the first down. The rest is history.

2017: Super Bowl LI, New England Patriots 34 - 28 Atlanta Falcons (OT)

How could this game not be number one on our list? It features an incredible comeback from the Patriots, led by Tom Brady, as he inspired his team to a 25-point unanswered scoring streak, sending the Super Bowl into extra time for the first time ever.

At 28–3 down in the third quarter, the Patriots looked beaten, but Brady was not to be denied. This victory saw Brady and coach Bill Belichick claim their fifth Super Bowl ring, a new NFL record.

Will this Super Bowl 57 earn a place on the list? We’ll soon find out.