The top five Super Bowls in NFL history

It’s the biggest game in sports. The greatest show on turf, the Super Bowl stands out above the rest.

Each Super Bowl is unique, but some games are simply more memorable than others. Whether that comes down to a mind-blowing play, a legendary player, a controversial call or decision, each game has it’s own storyline.

With the 58th edition of the Super Bowl just days away from taking place, let’s look back at the top five games of all time.

5. Super Bowl LII: Philadelphia Eagles 41, New England Patriots 33

One of the most entertaining, high-scoring Super Bowls of all time, the unlikely nature of Philadelphia Eagles backup quarterback Nick Foles outduelling Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, which included throwing for three touchdowns and catching one of his own, makes this one of the greatest games we’ve seen.

It was a near-constant action affair, with nine touchdowns in all, and Brady even throwing for over 500 yards, a Super Bowl record. It seems unfair that this is only at five on our list, given the entertainment value of the game. But no doubt, Super Bowl LLI is undoubtedly one of the best Super Bowls in history.

4. Super Bowl XLIX: New England Patriots 28, Seattle Seahawks 24

Defending champions Seattle Seahawks were the NFL’s immovable object at the time, and for most of Super Bowl XLIX, the ‘Legion of Boom’ held firm against Tom Brady.

Such was the inevitability of the Patriots during this era, Brady helped New England to two fourth-quarter touchdowns to give the team a four-point lead. However, Russell Wilson helped keep the Seahawks alive with a head-scratching 33-yard completion to Jermaine Kearse that initially looked like an incomplete pass.

With just seconds to go, on second and goal at the 1-yard line, and the bulldozing Marshawn Lynch in the backfield, the Seahawks decided to pass and try a quick slant. Pats corner Malcolm Butler jumped the route for a clinching interception and complete a great escape to claim an improbable fourth Super Bowl title at the death of the game.

What could have been in this one will always remains of the minds of Seattle fans forever, but this Super Bowl gave us one of the craziest moments in history.

3. Super Bowl XXV: New York Giants 20, Buffalo Bills 19

The Buffalo Bills lost four straight Super Bowls in the early 1990s, and the play that personified that cursed era for the franchise came in their very first.

An incredibly tight game against the New York Giants boiled down to the last kick of the game, with Bills kicker Scott Norwood stepping up to try and win the Super Bowl for his team. Instead, Norwood’s effort drifted just past the uprights, cementing a one-point victory for the underdog Giants.

It’s still the only Super Bowl to be decided by one point, and the that didn’t see a turnover for either team. An instant classic, but not if you’re from Buffalo.

2. Super Bowl 42: New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14

Given they dominant on this list, the Patriots were the dominant force for much of the first 20 years of the 21st century, but the peak of their powers came in 2008, having posted a perfect regular season in 2007 and being just a Super Bowl win away from completing the best campaign in NFL history.

The Giants were huge underdogs going into this one, having scraped past the Packers in overtime in the NFC Championship two weeks prior. But New York employed an incredible defensive performance to limit Tom Brady and the powerful Patriots offense. Before we witnessed one of the most unbelievable plays and an instant classic Super Bowl moment — the “Helmet Catch” — which punctuated the massive upset, the first of two Super Bowl wins for Eli Manning during his time with the Giants.

1. Super Bowl 51: New England Patriots 34, Atlanta Falcons 28 (OT)

This Super Bowl gave us so much more than just a game. The comeback to end all comebacks, Super Bowl 51 became an instant classic, solidified the Patriots as a team of destiny and crushed the Atlanta Falcons into becoming an internet meme.

Down 28-3 late into the third quarter, Brady led his Patriots to arguably the greatest comeback of all time against a Falcons team that had dominated for so much of the game. With scores from receiver Julian Edelman and running back James White, New England put up 31 straight points to secure the team’s fifth Super Bowl victory in overtime.

Brady and HC Bill Belichick set a new record for a coach-quarterback tandem and undoubtedly, this was their greatest victory.