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The twenty first century of professional soccer began with a bang. On the ultimate play of the primary Tremendous Bowl within the new millennium, Titans quarterback Steve McNair, along with his staff trailing by a landing, accomplished a slant go to Kevin Dyson. As Dyson caught the go, it appeared for an instantaneous that followers have been about to witness the primary additional time within the 34-year historical past of the Tremendous Bowl.
The Rams-Titans Tremendous Bowl XXXIV conflict is a part of our record of the highest 10 NFL video games which have been performed throughout the twenty first century. This record might change shortly, nevertheless, as there are a number of promising video games on the 2021 schedule. A type of video games is the Buccaneers‘ Week 4 matchup in New England, as Tom Brady will face Invoice Belichick and his former staff for the primary time.
Honorable point out: Favre vs. Brees
Jan. 24, 2010: Saints 31, Vikings 28, OT (NFC Championship Sport)
The Saints‘ epic additional time win over the Vikings did not make the minimize, however that does not take away from its place as one of many best video games performed during the last 20-plus years. In a basic duel between quarterbacks Brett Favre and Drew Brees, it was an interception by Favre late in regulation that opened the door for the Saints’ 31-28 victory. New Orleans then went on to defeat Peyton Manning and the Colts in Tremendous Bowl XLIV.
10. Hollywood shootout
Nov. 19, 2018: Rams 54, Chiefs 51 (“Monday Evening Soccer”)
Patrick Mahomes‘ breakout season included being a part of the highest-scoring sport in “Monday Evening Soccer” historical past. In Week 11 of the 2018 season, Mahomes threw for 478 and 6 touchdowns (whereas additionally tossing three interceptions) in main the Chiefs to 51 factors. Sadly for Mahomes, then-Rams quarterback Jared Goff led the Rams to 54 factors whereas throwing for 413 yards and 4 touchdowns with zero interceptions.
Forward 40-30 initially of the fourth quarter, the Rams withstood three Kansas Metropolis touchdowns that included Mahomes’ 73-yard landing go to Tyreek Hill. Los Angeles countered with two landing passes from Goff to tight finish Gerald Everett, with their second connection giving the Rams the lead for good with 1:49 left. Together with their mixed 105 factors, the Rams and Chiefs additionally mixed to tally 56 first downs and 1,001 complete yards. The Rams went on that season to advance to Tremendous Bowl LIII, whereas Mahomes captured league MVP honors.
9. The ‘Tuck Rule’ sport
Jan. 19, 2002: Patriots 16, Raiders 13, OT (AFC Divisional playoff)
This basic sport is not solely remembered for the controversial name that aided the Patriots’ first Tremendous Bowl run. Along with his staff trailing 13-10 with 1:50 left, Brady appeared to fumble after getting blindsided by Charles Woodson, his former school teammate at Michigan. However upon additional evaluate, the official dominated that Brady’s arm had prolonged far sufficient to warrant a passing movement, thus the preliminary name on the sphere was overturned. Given new life, Brady moved he Patriots into field-goal vary, the place Adam Vinatieri pressured additional time on a 45-yarder.
In a sport that was performed in blizzard-like circumstances, the Patriots patiently drove from their very own 34 to the Raiders 5-yard line on the primary possession of additional time. From there, Vinatieri made his fourth discipline aim of the sport — this one a 23-yarder — to win the final sport ever performed at Foxboro Stadium, 16-13. It was the ultimate sport on the Raiders sideline for Jon Gruden till his return in 2018.
8. GOAT beats (child) GOAT
Jan. 20, 2019: Patriots 37, Chiefs 31 (AFC Championship Sport)
Whereas it took some time to get going, the first-ever showdown between Mahomes and Brady lived as much as the hype. After being held to only one rating by three quarters of the 2018 AFC Championship Sport, Mahomes led Kansas Metropolis on 4 fourth-quarter scoring drives. The Chiefs appeared to stitch up a 28-24 win after Charvarius Ward picked off Brady with 1:01 left. However after an offsides penalty worn out the choose, Brady hit Rob Gronkowski for 25 yards to arrange Rex Burkhead’s go-ahead rating with 39 seconds left.
Regardless of Mahomes’ late magic to power additional time, everybody appeared to know what was coming. The Patriots gained the toss, and Brady methodically dissected Kansas Metropolis’s protection earlier than hitting Gronkowski for 15 yards on a vital third-and-10. Burkhead then completed off the Chiefs with a game-wining, 2-yard TD that put the Patriots of their third consecutive Tremendous Bowl. The Patriots would go on to win their sixth and closing Tremendous Bowl of the Brady-Belichick period. Mahomes and the Chiefs would get their very own ring one yr later in Tremendous Bowl LIV.
7. Peyton’s revenge
Jan. 21, 2007: Colts 38, Patriots 34 (AFC Championship Sport)
For all his greatness, Peyton Manning was dangerously near coming into “best quarterback to by no means win a Tremendous Bowl” territory as he entered his eighth season in Indianapolis. And after shedding the 2 earlier playoff video games to the Patriots, Manning discovered himself down 21-3 to New England within the ’06 AFC Championship Sport following Asante Samuel’s pick-six. The Colts did not panic, nevertheless, as Manning led Indy on three consecutive scoring drives that included his landing go to former Patriots defensive deal with Dan Klecko.
Trailing 34-31 with simply over three minutes left, Manning led the Colts on an 80-yard drive that was capped off by rookie Joseph Addai’s 3-yard rating. And whereas Manning accomplished a number of massive passes on the drive, his greatest was a 32-yard completion to seldom-used tight finish Bryan Fletcher, who pleaded with Manning to look his means a number of instances earlier than their massive connection.
With Manning (actually) praying on the Colts sideline, the Indianapolis protection answered his prayers when Marlin Jackson picked off Brady with 24 seconds left securing the 38-34 win. The Colts did one thing no different AFC staff had been in a position to do to that time: beat a Brady-led staff in a championship sport. Indianapolis adopted up its epic win by defeating the Bears in Tremendous Bowl XLI.
6. Beast Mode?
Feb. 1, 2015: Patriots 28, Seahawks 24 (Tremendous Bowl XLIX)
There are blended emotions concerning the Patriots‘ 28-24 win over the Seahawks in Tremendous Bowl XLIX. Some argue {that a} really nice sport does not finish on a bonehead play-call that prices a staff a championship. Others do not subscribe to that logic, together with CBS Sports activities Senior Author and Decide Six podcast host Will Brinson, who has this sport atop his record of Tremendous Bow classics.
Seattle, the defending champion, had the Patriots on the ropes coming into the fourth quarter. However Brady, as he has executed numerous instances over his profession, led his staff from the jaws of defeat to the joys of victory. Down by 10 factors, a pair of Brady landing passes gave the Patriots a four-point lead with 2:02 left. Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson responded with a jaw-dropping, 33-yard completion to Jermaine Kearse that noticed Kearse deflect the ball within the air earlier than he pulled it in simply yards away from the top zone. However to the shock of everybody, Pete Carroll known as for a go on second-and-goal from the Patriots’ 1. As an alternative of handing the ball to Marshawn Lynch, who rushed for 102 yards and a rating on 24 carries, Wilson’s go try for Ricardo Lockette was picked off by Malcolm Butler, sealing the Patriots’ fourth Tremendous Bowl win throughout the Brady-Belichick period.
5. Silence of the Rams
Feb. 3, 2002: Patriots 20, Rams 17 (Tremendous Bowl XXXVI)
Regardless of boasting the NFL‘s “Biggest Present on Turf,” the Rams’ impending dynasty by no means materialized. Dick Vermeil’s abrupt retirement was one cause why, however the primary cause why the Rams did not grow to be a dynasty was due to an up-and-coming dynasty that resided in Foxborough.
Whereas nobody knew it on the time, Tremendous Bowl XXXVI was the beginning of the longest sustained run of excellence by an NFL franchise. A 14-point underdog, the Patriots took a surprising 14-3 lead into halftime following a pick-six by Ty Regulation and Brady’s first-ever Tremendous Bowl landing. The lead swelled to 17-3 earlier than Kurt Warner and the Rams offense lastly broke by, scoring two late touchdowns to tie the rating with 1:30 left.
As an alternative of enjoying for additional time, the Patriots went for the win. After three quick completions, Brady’s 23-yard completion to Troy Brown on a crossing route bought the Patriots deep inside Rams territory. One other quick completion set the stage for Vinatieri, who drilled his 48-yard field-goal try as time expired for a 20-17 victory.
4. One yard quick
Jan. 30, 2000: Rams 23, Titans 16 (Tremendous Bowl XXXIV)
We alluded to this basic sport in our intro, and it is available in at No. 4 on our record. All through the ’99 season, the 2 dominant narratives have been the Rams’ meteoric rise with former area league quarterback Warner and (to a considerably lesser diploma) the Titans’ fast stand up the AFC meals chain behind McNair, working again Eddie George and rookie go rusher Jevon “The Freak” Kearse.
It appeared becoming that these two groups would face one another in Tremendous Bowl XXXIV. However as is commonly the case with championship video games, it took some time for this sport to get going. The Rams led 9-0 at halftime, and prolonged their result in 16-0 on a Warner landing go to rookie Torry Holt. With the sport threatening to get out of hand, the Titans turned to McNair and George, who spearheaded Tennessee’s comeback. After two George landing runs, kicker Al Del Greco’s 43-yard discipline aim tied the rating with 2:12 left.
The rating remained tied for 18 seconds. One the primary play of their ensuing possession, the Rams took the lead when Warner, regardless of heavy stress from Kearse, lofted a deep go that was pulled in by Isaac Bruce, who then raced previous the Titans secondary for a 73-yard rating. McNair, who set a still-standing Tremendous Bowl document for dashing yards by a quarterback (64 on simply eight carries), willed the Titans to the Rams’ 10-yard line with 5 seconds left. On the ultimate play of regulation, McNair hit Dyson on a crossing route on the Rams’ 5-yard line. As Dyson was pulling in McNair’s go, Rams linebacker Mike Jones, who began the play shadowing tight finish Frank Wycheck, turned his head again on the final second. Jones shortly lunged at Dyson, who stretched the ball (along with his proper and left arm) to the aim line. Jones, nevertheless, was in a position to get Dyson on the bottom earlier than the ball hit the aim line, securing the Rams’ 23-16 victory and their first and final Tremendous Bowl title.
3. ‘Sixburgh’
Feb. 1, 2009: Steelers 27, Cardinals 23 (Tremendous Bowl XLIII)
Decided to play higher than he had in his first Tremendous Bowl, Ben Roethlisberger did his half in serving to the Steelers construct a 23-7 fourth quarter lead over the Cardinals in Tremendous Bowl XLIII. Massive Ben and the Steelers have been additionally aided by James Harrison’s exceptional 100-yard interception return on the ultimate play of the primary half.
Whereas that they had largely dominated the Cardinals offense for 3 quarters, the Steelers protection fell sufferer to 2 Warner to Larry Fitzgerald landing passes within the sport’s closing stanza. The second connection, a 64-yard strike by the tooth of the Steelers protection, gave Arizona a 23-20 lead with 2:37 left.
Pinned at his personal 10-yard line, Roethlisberger evaded the Cardinals go rush earlier than hitting receiver Santonio Holmes for a key 14-yard acquire. A number of performs later, Holmes’ 40-yard catch-and-run set the stage for one of many best catches in NFL historical past. With 42 seconds left, Holmes skied to the air to drag down Roethlisberger’s go within the again nook of the top zone. Holmes, who gained the sport’s MVP award, additionally managed to maintain each toes in bounds whereas giving the Steelers a 27-23 lead. Linebacker LaMarr Woodley’s pressured fumble of Warner moments later sealed the Steelers’ sixth Tremendous Bowl victory.
2. 28-3
Feb. 5, 2017: Patriots 34, Falcons 28, OT (Tremendous Bowl LI)
No staff had ever come again from a deficit bigger than 10 factors within the Tremendous Bowl’s first 50 editions. In Tremendous Bowl LI, the Patriots — in some way — managed to beat a 25-point deficit en path to their fifth Tremendous Bowl win of the Brady-Belichick period. Within the course of, the Patriots additionally laid declare to the primary additional time victory in Tremendous Bowl historical past.
Whereas two scores had minimize its deficit to 28-12, the comeback really began with Dont’a Hightower’s strip-sack of Matt Ryan with 8:31 left. The Patriots scored to make it a one-possession sport much less then three minutes later. After a Falcons punt and a ridiculous catch by Julian Edelman, the Patriots pressured additional time on James White’s landing and Danny Amendola’s two-point conversion catch.
The Tremendous Bowl’s first additional time interval lasted lower than 5 minutes. With the Falcons protection reeling, Brady put them out of their distress with 4 completions that arrange White’s game-winning rating. Together with serving to his staff full the best comeback in Tremendous Bowl historical past, Brady was awarded his document fourth Tremendous Bowl MVP award following New England’s 34-28 triumph.
1. 18-1
Feb. 3, 2008: Giants 17, Patriots 14 (Tremendous Bowl XLII)
Brady not too long ago mentioned he would gladly give away two of his Tremendous Bowl rings in change for the Patriots’ loss in Tremendous Bowl XLII. Together with the prospect of watching a staff attempt to be part of the ’72 Dolphins because the NFL’s solely undefeated groups, the Patriots went up towards a Giants staff that wanted to win three street playoff video games simply to succeed in the Tremendous Bowl.
A 12-point underdog, the Giants’ formidable go rush allowed them to carry Brady and the Patriots’ explosive offense to only one rating for the sport’s first 57 minutes. However after Brady hit Randy Moss for a 6-yard rating (giving the Patriots a 14-10 lead), Giants quarterback Eli Manning responded when he accomplished probably the most bazaar go in Tremendous Bowl historical past. After almost getting sacked, Manning threw 50-50 go downfield to David Tyree, a little-known receiver who caught the Giants’ first landing of the sport. Guarded intently by veteran security Rodney Harrison, Tyree managed to corral Manning’s go and sticking it to the aspect of his helmet. The inconceivable 32-yard completion arrange Manning’s 13-yard landing go to Plaxico Burress on a fade route within the nook of the top zone.
In a sport that was dominated by protection, it was becoming that the Giants protection put its stamp on the sport by forcing a turnover on the Patriots’ closing possession. With their 17-14 victory, the Giants pulled off the NFL’s best upset because the Jets‘ 16-7 win over the Colts in Tremendous Bowl III. Within the course of, they denied the ’07 Patriots of getting the excellence of being the NFL’s solely 19-0 staff.
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