Greatest Super Bowl ever?

By Jeff Zaginailoff Sports Central Columnist

Two statements:

1. Super Bowl XXXVIII certainly was an exciting and enjoyable game.

2. Some sports fans (and much of the media) have short memories.

It seems as though every time there's a good World Series or a close Super Bowl, people are quick to say "best ever." Well, by definition that means better than a N.Y. that came before, and just because somebody doesn't remember, (or didn't watch) what came before, doesn't make what came before a N.Y. less great.

This last Super Bowl was a great game. Superbly entertaining. Down to the wire. Ties and lead changes? Four in the fourth quarter. But there were also 20 penalties. It was great, but wasn't perfect. It was better than almost all of the previous Super Bowls.

The conclusion here is that if you thought the schizophrenic quality of this year's game added to its magnificence, it should be ranked second overall. If you thought the Jekyll & Hyde thing was just plain bizarre, it should be third. See what you think.

Remember, as we analyze these things, we must approach them as objective and neutral football fans, (which we are not). Try not to let rooting interests taint your judgment. (I tried. I'm not sure I succeeded.)

Throughout, I will be referring to both the SB number, and the calendar year in which the regular season was played, not the official date of the SB. So we just watched the 2004 SB, but I will refer to it as the 2003 SB.

Now, as for "greatest" SB ... how to measure? Well, a close final score, for one thing. How about a late score to decide the game? Spectacular plays? Clean, efficient play (as opposed to 11 turnovers or 20 penalties)?

Well, your trusty researcher has grouped all XXXVIII SBs into six groups, and listed them below, with commentary.

The groups are:

1. Thriller -- there are eight. (Surprised?)

2. GGNT: Good Game, Not a Thriller -- there are four.

3. NACASI: Not As Close As Score Indicates -- three.

4. Okay: An okay came -- watching was not a waste of time, but there are better games every Sunday of regular season.

5. Rout: A non-competitive game, outcome seldom if ever in doubt, final margin 2-4 TDs. Not surprisingly, there have been 14 of these.

6. TBO: Total blowout. Embarrassingly lopsided. Forty or more points allowed. There have been five.

Note that the margin of victory is used here as a guideline, not a rigid parameter. Sadly, this means that exactly half of all SBs have been a rout or worse. But people used to think that they always are. Thankfully, almost a third of the games (32%) have been GGNTs or thrillers, and this trend is on the rise. Okay, here's the meat:

Total Blowouts

XXIX, 1989, San Francisco 55, Denver 10 -- The worst ever. Score by quarters: 13-3, 27-3, 41-10, 55-10.

XX, 1985, Chicago 46, New England 10 -- Pats' highlight? Led 3-0...

XXVII, 1992, Dallas 52, Buffalo 17, 14-10 late in first-half, but...

XXII, 1987, Washington 42, Denver 10 -- Broncos scored on first play, and actually led 10-0. Redskins scored 35 in second. Oddly, this is the largest deficit ever overcome by winner. The 2001 Rams overcame 17-3 deficit, but did not win their game.

XXIX, 1994, San Francisco 49, San Diego 26 -- 42-18 after three.

Routs

XXXVII, 2002, Tampa Bay 48, Oakland 21 -- The only reason this isn't in the Total Blowout category is that the Raiders (19 yards rushing) got within 13 in the fourth quarter. 20-3 at the half, 34-9 after three, Bucs win going away.

XVIII, 1983, Oakland 38, Washington 9 -- Arguably a TBO. Redskins were 14-2, with only two one-point losses on MNF. Apparently sent JVs to the big game.

XXXV, 2000, Baltimore 34, N.Y. Giants 7 -- Borderline TBO. Ravens never trailed. Lead by quarters: 7, 10, 17, 27.

VI, 1971, Dallas 24, Miami 3 -- Cowboys never trailed. Dallas had 2:1 edge in total yards, 2:1 edge in time of possession, 3:1 edge in turnover/takeaway.

I, 1966, Green Bay 35, Kansas City 10 -- Only 14-10 at half; all Packers in second half.

II, 1967, Green Bay 33, Oakland 14 -- 33-7 in fourth. That's why it's called the Lombardi trophy.

XXI, 1986, N.Y. Giants 39, Denver 20 -- Denver led at half. Giants roll up 30 in second half. Denver scores garbage time TD (which pissed me off, because I predicted a 26-point win for N.Y.G).

XI, 1976, Oakland 32, Minnesota 14 -- 32-7 with 0:25 left.

XIX, 1984, San Francisco 38, Miami 16 -- QB showdown -- two Italian guys from the same neighborhood in Pittsburgh -- fails to materialize.

VIII, 1973, Miami 24, Minnesota 7 -- Extremely dull game. Miami attempts seven passes.

XXXIII, 1998, Denver 34, Atlanta 19 -- 31-6 in the fourth quarter.

XXVI, 1991, Washington 37, Buffalo 24 -- 37-10 after three.

XV, 1980, Oakland 27, Philadelphia 10 -- 24-3 after three.

XII, 1977, Dallas 27, Denver 10 -- Broncos never in it.

Phew! What a pile of junk that was!

Okay Games

XXVIII, 1993, Dallas 30, Buffalo 13 -- Good game for three quarters (20-13).

XIV, 1979, Pittsburgh 31, L.A. Rams 19 -- Rams led after three.

IV, 1969, Kansas City 23, Minnesota 7 -- An important development for parity, not a thrilling game.

III, 1968, N.Y. Jets 16, Baltimore 7 -- Huge development for parity, not an especially thrilling game.

Not as Close as Score Indicates

VII, 1972, Miami 14, Washington 7 -- Extremely dull game. Redskins' last possession was typical. Down by seven, here's what they did: Incomplete, incomplete, incomplete, sack.

XVI, 1981, San Francisco 26, Cincinnati 21 -- 20-0 at halftime. Bengals scored with 0:16 left, creating the final score.

IX, 1974, Pittsburgh 16, Minnesota 6 -- 9-6 in fourth, after the Vikings score on blocked punt, but they did nothing else, before or after: 17 yards rushing, three interceptions.

Good Game, Not a Thriller

XXXI, 1996, Green Bay 35, New England 21 -- 27-21 in third (for 17 seconds).

XXX, 1995, Dallas 27, Pittsburgh 17 -- 20-17 in fourth, but interceptions killed Steelers.

XVII, 1982, Washington 27, Miami 17 -- 20-17 inside 2:00.

X, 1975, Pittsburgh 21, Dallas 17 -- MVP Lynn Swann made famous by two spectacular plays. Dallas scored late to make it close.

Thrillers

XIII, 1978, Pittsburgh 35, Dallas 31 -- Cowboys comeback to get close. Late TD, onside kick recovery, another TD, onside kick failed.

XXXII, 1997, Denver 31, Green Bay 24 -- Six ties and lead changes, last at 1:45.

XXXIV, 1999, St. Louis Rams 23, Tennessee 16 -- Comeback, late scores by both teams, one yard from OT.

XXV, 1990, N.Y. Giants 20, Buffalo 19 -- 47 yards, wide right.

V, 1970, Baltimore 16, Dallas 13 -- This close (biggest lead was seven), hard-fought game was decided by a FG with 0:05 left. But it also had 11 turnovers and 14 penalties.

XXXVIII, 2003, New England 32, Carolina 29 -- A schizophrenic game, a wild fourth quarter, a classic ending.

XXIII, 1988, San Francisco 20, Cincinnati 16 -- Seven ties and lead changes, last at 0:34. Superb 49ers' TD drive answers late Bengals FG.

XXXVI, 2001, New England 20, St Louis Rams 17 -- Walk-off 48-yarder.

It is very hard to sort and prioritize the last six, especially the last five. I ranked 1990 ahead of 1999 because missing a win by a foot beats missing a tie by a yard. 1970 beats 1990 because a winning made FG beats a losing missed FG. 1988 beats 1970 because both teams scored late, and it was an artful game, decided extremely late. That's also why I have 1988 ahead of 2003 (tidier execution), although that's one I might invert.

Then there's 2001. Maybe 1988 should be No. 1. Maybe 2003. Maybe one of the others. But wouldn't a neutral fan be more thrilled by a game-winning final play? A 48-yard FG at the gun? A surprising lead by the underdog, a stirring comeback by the favorite. A tie with a minute and a half left. One last drive with no times out. A walk-off homerun... what do you think?

After the 2001 game, ESPN said the best were 1999 (3), 1990 (2), and 2001 (1). Try to use logic, not emotion. If you live in Alaska or Hawaii, and love football, which was the greatest Super Bowl ever played? All I know for sure is it has to come from among those last six, and XXXVI is very tough to beat.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.