Read more: Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers pack an Irish punch

10. Dallas Cowboys vs. Denver Broncos    Super Bowl XII

January 15th 1978
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Dallas 27 – Denver 10
MVP: Harvey Martin, Defensive end, Dallas Cowboys & Randy White, Defensive tackle, Dallas Cowboys

In this matchup the heavily favored Dallas Cowboys triumphed over AFC champions Denver Broncos. It was the first Super Bowl to be played inside a dome and a defensive battle as the vaunted Cowboys defense only let up eight completions for 61 yards. Also, a Super Bowl first, two MVPs were named in the Cowboys’ Harvey Martin and Randy White.

Most importantly, I was born on this day. And yes, my dad was not in the delivery room but elsewhere watching the game.

9. Chicago Bears  vs. New England Patriots    Super Bowl XX

January 26th 1986
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Chicago 46 – New England 10
MVP: Richard Dent, DE, Chicago Bears

This game was the first Super Bowl won by the “Monsters of the Midway”. The Bears scored a record 46 points. This stellar offense was led by QB Jim McMahon and RB Walter Payton. The defense featuring DE Richard Dent and William “The Refrigerator” Perry held the Patriots to 7 rushing yards, a record-low, and notched a record-high 7 sacks. Dent recorded 1.5 quarterback sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and a blocked pass. 

But this Bears team’s legacy lies in their recording of the best song ever by a professional sports outfit. Yes, the “Super Bowl Shuffle”. The video to the song stands the test of time featuring the team dancing and lip synching…er..rapping in a cheesy 80s video.

8. Kansas City Chiefs  vs. Green Bay Packers    Super Bowl I

January 15th 1967
Memorial Stadium,  Los Angeles, CA
Green Bay 35 – Kansas City 10
MVP: Bart Starr, Quarterback, Green Bay Packers

This game was the first ever NFL championship game, or Super Bowl. The NFL and AFL joined to form one league with two conferences whose winners played each other in the National Football championship game. Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers easily defeated the upstart Kansas City Chiefs coached by Lamar Hunt. Quarterback Bart Starr completed 16 of 23 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns in his Super Bowl MVP campaign.

The legacy of these legendary coaches lives on. Each year the winner of the AFC receives the Lamar Hunt Trophy and the Vince Lombardi trophy is handed to the Super Bowl winner.

7. San Francisco 49ers vs. Cincinnati Bengals   Super Bowl XVI

January 24, 1982
Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, MI
San Francisco 26 – Cincinnati 21
MVP: Joe Montana, QB, San Francisco 49ers

This Super Bowl marked Mr. Montana’s first Super Bowl win and MVP. He completed 14 of 22 passes for 157 yards and one touchdown. Montana also rushed for another TD. The 49ers controlled the game in the first half leading by a Super Bowl-record 20-0. Kicker Ray Wersching kicked four field goals tying a Super Bowl record to help the 49ers hold on to a 26-21 lead. 

The Bengals outgained the 49ers by 90 yards and notched more touchdowns but still lost the game becoming the first team in Super Bowl history to do so. This game is memorable also for being the first in a cold weather city.

6. Miami Dolphins vs. Washington Redskins   Super Bowl VII

January 14th, 1973
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
Miami 14 – Washington 7
MVP: Jake Scott, Safety, Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins D controlled the game only allowing the Redskins to cross the midfield once in the first half and four times overall. It’s the lowest scoring Super Bowl to date. Super Bowl MVP Jake Scott had two interceptions for 63 return yards and became only the second defensive player in Super Bowl history to be awarded the Super Bowl MVP. Miami quarterback Bob Griese threw for two touchdowns to ensure the Dolphins of a perfect 17-0 season. This mark remains intact to this day. 

5. New England Patriots vs. St. Louis Rams   Super Bowl XXXVI

February 3rd, 2002
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, LA
New England 20 – St. Louis 17
MVP: Tom Brady, Quarterback, New England Patriots

New England made their first Super Bowl appearance since 1997 and were heavy underdogs against “The Greatest Show on Turf” St. Louis Rams who reached the Super Bowl twice in three years and were favored by 14 points. In spite of the 427 yards of total offense garnered by quarterback Kurt Warner and the Rams the game came down to a 48-yard Adam Vinatieri field goal. This marked the first time in Super Bowl history that a game was won on a final play.

MVP Tom Brady threw for 145 yards on 16 out of 27 completions with a touchdown.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Dallas Cowboys   Super Bowl X

January 18th, 1976
Orange Bowl, Miami, FL
Pittsburgh 21 – Dallas 17
MVP: Lynn Swan, Wide receiver, Pittsburgh Steelers

This Super Bowl victory was the second in a row for the Pittsburgh Steelers. This game was a tight one ending on a final Dallas drive led by Quarterback Roger Staubach stopped by a Glen Edwards interception in the end zone.

Lynn Swann set a record with 161 receiving yards and a touchdown. Swann was the first Wide Receiver to win the MVP.

3. St. Louis Rams vs. Tennesse Titans   Super Bowl XXXIV

January 30th, 2000
Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
St. Louis 23 – Tennessee 16
MVP: Kurt Warner, Quarterback, St. Louis Rams

This Super Bowl marked the Rams first appearance in the National Football Championship. They stormed out to a 16-0 lead before the Titans tied the score. Warner then hooked up with receiver Isaac Bruce to give the rams a comfortable 23-16 lead. One of the most memorable Super Bowl plays of all-time then ensued.

With six seconds remaining on the clock Titans QB Steve McNair hit receiver Kevin Dyson on the Rams ten yard line. As Dyson went in for the score to tie the game he was stopped at the one yard line.

Warner finished the game completing 24 out of 45 passes for 414 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Warner’s 414 yards passing and 45 attempts without an interception were both Super Bowl records. Along with Super Bowl MVP honors Warner became the sixth player to also win the NFL Most Valuable Player Award in the same season.

3. New York Giants vs. New England Patriots   Super Bowl XLIII

February 3rd, 2008
University of Phoenix Stadium, Phoenix, AZ
New York 17 – New England 14
MVP: Eli Manning, Quarterback, New York Giants

The Patriots were undefeated for the regular season entering this game. They had just previously beaten the Giants 38-35 at Giants Stadium in their final regular season game. New England were 12 point favorites.

It was a defensive battle as the Pats gave up five sacks and one lost fumble and the Giants were held to five first downs in the second and third quarters. Giants Quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning came through in the clutch and threw two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

Manning's most memorable pass was a fourth quarter third down desperation heave to David Tyree who leapt in the air and caught the pass against his helmet. He managed to hold on to the ball to keep thei Giants' Super Bowl dream alive. That catch was one of the most remarkable plays in Super Bowl history.

2. New York Giants vs. Buffalo Bills   Super Bowl XXV

January 27th, 1991
Tampa Stadium, Tampa, FL
New York 20 – Buffalo 19
MVP: Ottis Anderson, Running back, New York Giants

This game marked the beginning of an impressive streak of four straight Super Bowl appearances for Buffalo. They were heavily favored in this game having scored a total of 95 points in their two previous contests. New York stymied the no-huddle Bills' offense led by quarterback Jim Kelly by holding on to the ball for a Super Bowl-record 40 minutes. The Bills were in a position to win the game with a field goal but kicker Scott Norwood missed a 47-yard try one foot to the right. The game is known as the “Wide Right Game”.

Running back Ottis Anderson gained 102 yards on 21 carries and one touchdown to earn MVP honors.

1. New York Jets vs. Baltimore Colts   Super Bowl III

January 12th, 1969
Orange Bowl,  Miami, FL
New York 16 – Baltimore 7
MVP: Joe Namath, QB, New York Jets

The underdog Jets defeated a heavily favored Baltimore Colts team that lost one game all year.

The New York offense was helmed by the courageous and flamboyant QB Joe Namath, who had a solid game. “Broadway Joe” passed for 206 yards, completing 17 out of 28 passes. Namath, however, did not throw one touchdown the whole game or attempt any passes in the fourth quarter.
The New York defense came up big against this offensive dynamo intercepting three passes by Colts QB Earl Morrall in the first half. This win was the first Super Bowl victory for the newly formed AFL.

More than the play on the field this Super Bowl is best remembered for the bold guarantee that Namath made to the press on Thursday before the game.

Read more: Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers pack an Irish punch