Written by Sam DeCoste
As the Rams and Patriots prepare for their matchup in Super Bowl LIII, I wanted to find a way to look back on the previous 52 Super Bowls, and break down the best stories in the game's history. Last year, I ranked the ten best Super Bowls ever. This year, I thought it would be fitting to rank the best five upsets in Super Bowl history. And there was no shortage of options to choose from to rank on this list. So without further delay, enjoy my list of the 5 Greatest Upsets in Super Bowl History!
#5: Super Bowl XXV
Buffalo Bills 19, New York Giants 20
Yes, once upon a time, the Buffalo Bills were good. They went to four straight Super Bowls from 1990-1993, but sadly lost each one. On their first trip to the big game, the Bills were a good bet to walk away with their first Super Bowl win.
In 1990, the Bills offense was a juggernaut. One of the greatest units in NFL history, at that. They scored over 500 points during the regular season, and amassed 95 (!!!) in their two playoff games, including a 51-3 bashing of the Los Angeles Raiders in the AFC Championship. The New York Giants may have been a 13-3 football team, but minus their starting QB, Phil Simms, who went out with a season ending injury, the Giants had long odds to prevail over the best offense of the early 90s.
After a hotly contested four quarters, the Giants led 20-19. But the Super Bowl was in the hands of the Buffalo Bills. Jim Kelly led the offense to the Giants' 29 yard line, in position for a game winning field goal from 47 yards out. Scott Norwood infamously kicked the ball "wide right," losing the Super Bowl for the Bills and allowing the Giants to run out the clock and complete of the greatest upsets in Super Bowl history.
Super Bowl XXV is widely known as one of the greatest coaching jobs ever done in NFL history, led by defensive coordinator, Bill Belichick, shutting down one of the greatest offenses the NFL has ever seen. Sure enough, this isn't Bill Belichick's sole appearance on this list.
Super Bowl XXV is widely known as one of the greatest coaching jobs ever done in NFL history, led by defensive coordinator, Bill Belichick, shutting down one of the greatest offenses the NFL has ever seen. Sure enough, this isn't Bill Belichick's sole appearance on this list.
#4: Super Bowl XXXVI
St. Louis Rams 17, New England Patriots 20
That's right, Super Bowl LIII won't be the first year the Rams and Patriots square off on the biggest stage. In their first meeting, back in the 2001 postseason, the Rams were 14 point favorites over the new kids on the block, the New England Patriots, led by backup quarterback, Tom Brady.
Kurt Warner led the St. Louis offense, which was known as the Greatest Show on Turf, an offensive unit with an abundance of talent and Hall of Famers, including Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce, and Torry Holt. The Rams were 14-2 in the 2001 season, which was the best record in the NFL. The stiff defense of the Patriots led them to an 11-5 finish in the regular season, a division title, and a trip to the Super Bowl. They were led by Tom Brady after Drew Bledsoe went down to injury early in the year.
Remarkably, New England's defense was able to shut down the Rams offense, only allowing 17 points and forcing three turnovers. The game was tied 17-17 with less than two minutes to go. Then, for the first time, Brady was able to do what he made a career off of, leading the Patriots to a game winning drive late in the fourth quarter.
On the last play of the game, Adam Vinatieri nailed a field goal attempt from 48 yards away, to seal the Patriots' first Super Bowl win in franchise history. Since then, New England has won four titles in eighteen years, and they just may add to that total this year, when they take on the red hot Rams once again, and their blistering offense.
#3: Super Bowl LII
New England Patriots 33, Philadelphia Eagles 41
Just last year, the Philadelphia Eagles won their first ever Super Bowl title in Super Bowl LII, over the New England Patriots, who had already established themselves as the greatest dynasty of the 21st century, and arguably league history.
For New England, it was the same old story. Another 13-3 season, another division title, and another trip to the Super Bowl, led by MVP quarterback, Tom Brady. But for Philadelphia, it was a dream season. They also finished 13-3, and were one of the most balanced and complete teams in the league in 2017. Carson Wentz himself played like an MVP, and may have won the award if he didn't suffer from a devastating season-ending ACL tear, which ended his hopes of playing a Super Bowl, and for fans around the country, ended any chances of the Eagles even making it to the Super Bowl.
Everyone wrote off the Eagles. Everyone did. I did. You probably did. And why wouldn't you? There just wasn't a chance that Nick Foles would lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory, something that the franchise has never done. They were even the first ever one seed to be underdogs to a six seed in the first round of the playoffs. But two playoff victories later, the Eagles were in. They were a win away from completing the greatest victory in Eagles history.
But the Eagles were still underdogs. The Pats were favored by five and a half points. Then after four quarters of blistering backyard football, and back and forth scoring between the two teams, the Eagles prevailed, 41-33. The signature play of Super Bowl LIII was undoubtedly the Philly Special, a trick play on fourth and goal where running back Corey Clement took the snap, tossed it to tight end Tre Burton, and tossed it to QB Nick Foles who was wide open in the end zone, to extend a halftime lead for Philly.
The upset victory for Philadelphia put a cap on a beautiful rise to grace for the Eagles, who reached their greatest heights in their history. While this isn't the first time a backup quarterback has led his team to a Super Bowl victory (and it may not be the last, either), it is the most recent. In this era of the NFL, it has never been harder to win without a starting quarterback. And as the ultimate underdog from December to February, the 2017 Eagles' story is as remarkable as any.
#2: Super Bowl XLII
New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14
Never were the 1972 Miami Dolphins more afraid of another team completing a perfect season than in 2007. The New England Patriots were back in the Super Bowl, looking to win it for the fourth time in seven seasons. But a win over the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII would complete their 2007 campaign at a perfect 19-0, which to this day, has never been done. The odds were on New England's side, as they were favored over the Giants by twelve points.
The strength of New England was their prolific passing attack, led by MVP quarterback, Tom Brady. However, the Giants defense was able to neutralize their offense completely. The Patriots led 7-3 going into the fourth quarter, and Brady was sacked five times in the game. He completed 29 of 48 passes for 266 yards and one touchdown.
With two minutes to go, the Pats led 14-10, and a touchdown drive by Eli Manning would cap one of the unlikeliest wins in sports history. He led the Giants to the game winning score in one of the wackiest plays the Super Bowl has ever seen. On 3rd and 5, Eli Manning escaped the New England pass rush, scrambled to his right, and threw a long ball deep down the middle of the field to David Tyree. Tyree caught the ball and held on with his helmet, while the most physical defensive back in the NFL, Rodney Harrison, battled with him for the football. The play kept the drive alive, and set the stage for Manning's touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress to win the game 17-14.
The Patriots wasted their opportunity to complete a perfect season, falling to the Wild Card New York Giants. We may never seen a Super Bowl like this again, where an undefeated team falls to an unlikely underdog. Surely, it's the greatest upset in the game's history, right? Not quite.
#1: Super Bowl III
New York Jets 16, Baltimore Colts 7
What!? The third Super Bowl, played in 1969, ranks higher than the Giants' vanquishing the undefeated Patriots in the modern Super Bowl era? Yes. The Jets' upset victory over the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III is the greatest Super Bowl upset in history, and here's why:
The Baltimore Colts were led by the greatest coach of the pre-Bill Belichick era, Don Shula. Ever hear of him? Before becoming the all time winningest coach in NFL history and accomplishing the sole undefeated season with the 1972 Miami Dolphins, Shula coached the Baltimore Colts. As NFL Champions, they were obligated to play the AFL Champion in what started out in 1967 as an exhibition game between the two best teams from each American football league. The NFL rolled over the AFL in the first two Super Bowls, mainly where Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers annihilated two AFL teams in the first two years.
The Colts were 18 point favorites to beat the New York Jets led by Joe Namath. The odds were against the Jets, especially when you consider recent history for AFL teams against NFL opponents. Despite their slim chances of victory, Joe Namath, or as he's now remembered, Broadway Joe, famously guaranteed that the New York Jets would win the football game. New York lived up to his promise, dominating the line of scrimmage throughout. The Jets led 16-0 in the fourth quarter, before giving up a late touchdown. Joe Namath was named the game's Most Valuable Player.
This game is more remembered for what happened off the field than on it. Joe Namath's famous guarantee, as an underdog, against an opponent which was projected to beat them by a large margin, shocked the football world and sent a message that the AFL was here to play.
The mark of Super Bowl III is immeasurable. It paved the way for the two football leagues to merge and form one unified NFL, and firmly establishing the Super Bowl as one of the biggest games in the sports calendar for years to come.
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