10 years of Super Bowl history

With the Super Bowl on everyone’s mind, why not take the treacherous trek down the historical… With the Super Bowl on everyone’s mind, why not take the treacherous trek down the historical path of the Big Game?

Starting with Super Bowl XXX, The Pitt News aims to bring back memories of great games and washouts alike.

Super Bowl XXX – Dallas 27, Pittsburgh 17

The year was 1996. The Steelers fought their way to their first Super Bowl bid in 16 years. Unfortunately for them, they met the Cowboys dynasty of the early ’90s. Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin headlined the cast of rowdy superstars.

Down 20-17 with four minutes to play, the Steelers began a drive that could win the game.

On just the second play of the drive, however, the ageless wonder Neil O’Donnell made a costly mistake when he tossed his second of three interceptions to Super Bowl MVP Larry Brown, clinching the Cowboys’ victory.

Super Bowl XXXI – Green Bay 35, New England 21

It was 1997 and a star shined brightly in the sky that is NFL greatness. His name? Brett Favre. Occupation? Full-time quarterback, part-time gunslinger.

The Patriots’ offense, led by Drew “The Statue” Bledsoe, scored quickly to start the second half, cutting Green Bay’s lead to just six. But then, a legend was born.

Desmond Howard became the first special teams player to win Super Bowl MVP, clinching the win and the award with his 99-yard kickoff return to break the backs of the New England Patriots.

Super Bowl XXXII – Denver vs. Green Bay

One man’s quest for a coveted Super Bowl ring against one team’s journey for NFL dominance.

The Broncos met the Packers in San Diego, playing one of the more dramatic Super Bowls in history.

John Elway sought to end his career-long ring drought. The person who got him his ring ran his way into households across the nation.

Terrell Davis collected 157 yards and MVP honors; his 1-yard run with three minutes left proved to be the game winner.

Favre’s pass to legendary tight end Mark Chmura was batted away by Denver linebacker John Mobley, securing John Elway and the Broncos the Super Bowl ring they so coveted.

Super Bowl XXXIII – Denver 34, Atlanta 19

After deciding to return for another season, John Elway torched the Falcons’ secondary for 336 yards, a touchdown and the MVP award.

Atlanta, led by Hall of Fame-caliber Chris Chandler, fought back from a 25-point deficit but couldn’t muster enough to really ever challenge the Broncos.

Perhaps one of the most historic highlights in Super Bowl history came in the fourth quarter, when Elway dashed to his right and dove into the end zone to score the touchdown that put the game well in hand.

Super Bowl XXXIV – St. Louis 23, Tennessee 16

Dick Vermeil’s Rams took a 16-point lead over the Titans then strapped themselves in for the roller coaster ride that was the 34th Super Bowl.

The Titans, led by Steve McNair and their inside-the-tackle rushing attack, scored 16 unanswered points to tie the game in the fourth quarter.

Game MVP Kurt Warner found Isaac Bruce downfield with just under two minutes to play for a 73-yard touchdown, giving the Rams a seven-point lead.

With just 1:54 on the clock and the whole field in front of him, Steve McNair led his offense down the field with tremendous precision.

He completed a 16-yard pass to receiver Kevin Dyson, who was tackled at the Rams’ 10-yard line with six seconds left in the game. The Titans used a timeout.

Without any timeouts, the Titans rushed to the line and ran a play. McNair found an open Kevin Dyson, but Dyson was wrapped up and brought down just shy of the goal line.

Super Bowl XXXV – Baltimore 34, New York Giants 7

One of the greatest defenses in NFL history exhibited pure dominance in the Big Game as the Ravens dismantled an unpredictable Giants offense.

Led by game MVP Ray Lewis, the NFL’s scariest defender, the Ravens picked off Penn State grad Kerry Collins four times.

The Giants were held to just seven points off a kick return and never put up much of a fight.

Super Bowl XXXVI – New England 20, St. Louis 17

The “Greatest Show on Turf” against a budding star and his unassuming coach. Few figured this game to be so close, let alone an upset win.

The game featured a fourth-quarter comeback and a thrilling finish to create one of the most exciting games in Super Bowl history.

Tom Brady and Bill Belichick combined to bring the Patriots their first of three Super Bowls in four seasons.

Brady won MVP after leading a shocking two-minute drill to win the game for his club.

The hero of the game? Adam Vinatieri, whose 48-yard field goal split the uprights to clinch the game for the Patriots.

Super Bowl XXXVII -Tampa Bay 48, Oakland 21

This game pitted Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden against his old Raiders club in San Diego. Rich Gannon challenged Brad Johnson in the battle of the boring pocket passers.

Tampa Bay’s defense scored 21 points and picked off Rich Gannon five times en route to their franchise’s first Super Bowl win.

Dexter Jackson collected game MVP honors for his two interceptions.

Super Bowl XXXVIII – New England 32, Carolina 29

Jake Delhomme and the Carolina Panthers met the New England Patriots in Houston for a sloppy 60 minutes of football.

A colossal kicking mistake by Panthers’ kicker John Kasay gave the Patriots the ball at their own 40-yard line with under two minutes left.

After a clutch third-down conversion on a pass by Brady to Deion Branch, Vinatieri nailed his second Super Bowl-winning field goal to clinch a Pats victory.

For the second time in as many trips, Brady won Super Bowl MVP with 354 passing yards and three touchdown passes.

Super Bowl XXXIX – New England 24, Philadelphia 21

Jacksonville was the host, 2005 was the year. The teams, New England and Philadelphia, had dominated their respective conferences for several years.

An uneventful first half left fans with a dreary 7-7 tie. But the Patriots gained control of the game in the second half, and won on a Vinatieri field goal midway through the second half.

New England forced four turnovers and shut off the Eagles’ rushing game with their complex defensive schemes created by Bill Belichick.

Branch captured MVP with 11 receptions and 133 yards, including several key third-down conversions in the fourth quarter.