Super Bowl 50 features the two-top seeds in the NFL this season and a matchup of the league's best offense against the league's best defense. Plenty of fans will be pulling for one team or the other on Sunday, but most will just want to see a competitive game. Over its storied history, the Super Bowl has provided fans with nail biters that come down to the last minute, to blowouts by halftime. While fans get ready for Super Bowl 50, HNGN has taken a look back at not just the greatest games, but the most outstanding plays that have occurred throughout five decades of this big game.
10. Adam Vinatieri Kicks Off Patriots Dynasty
It's hard to start the list of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history with a field goal, but there has been no better kick in Super Bowl history than Adam Vinatieri's game-winner in Super Bowl XXXVI. The kick led the Patriots to the first Lombardi Trophy in the history of their franchise and would start a dynasty that would result in three Super Bowls in the 2000s.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Lynn Swann made one of the greatest catches in Super Bowl history when he leapt in the air and tipped the ball to himself only to catch it while lying on his back. Swann was named MVP of Super Bowl X, and recorded four receptions for 161 yards and touchdown in a win over the Dallas Cowboys.
Broncos quarterback John Elway failed to win the Super Bowl the first three times he reached the big game, but Super Bowl XXXII was different, as the Broncos quarterback would lay his body on the line to help lead his team to victory. With the score tied at 17, Elway dove through the air for the first down on a third-and-6, and was spun like a helicopter after being hit by two Packers defenders. The Broncos would score two plays later and win the game 31-24.
7. Mike Jones Stops Kevin Dyson Just Short
St. Louis Rams linebacker Mike Jones' tackle is arguably the greatest defensive play in Super Bowl history. With five seconds remaining in the game the Titans were in a first-and-goal situation and needed a score to tie the game. Jones' open-field tackle of Titans receiver Kevin Dyson gave the Rams the Super Bowl XXXIV victory and would make Jones the Rams hero.
6. Marcus Allen's Incredible Run
The Raiders would blow out the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XVIII, but Allen's incredible run clearly deserves to make the list. The future Hall of Fame running back rushed for 191 yards in the game, but arguably no run looked more incredible than Allen's reverse that went for 74 yards. The play is consistently replayed as one of the greatest Super Bowl moments, and was one of the great highlights in Allen's career.
5. John Riggins' Fourth-and-1
Redskins running back John Riggins was one of the toughest running backs to every play the game, and his fourth-and-1 touchdown run is one of greatest plays in the history the Super Bowl. Riggins, nicknamed "The Diesel," would rush for a 43-yard touchdown and bulldoze Dolphins defensive back Don McNeal to take the lead in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XVII.
4. Joe Montana to John Taylor
The San Francisco 49ers were down 16-13 against the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII when quarterback Joe Montana led the Niners offense on a 92-yard drive that ended with a game-winning 10-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver John Taylor. The 49ers would score with 34 seconds remaining in the game only adding to "Joe Cool's" legacy of getting it done in the clutch.
3. Santonio Holmes Toe-Tap Touchdown
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw a perfect pass to wide receiver Santonio Holmes, who made a textbook catch and tapped both his toes in bounds to score the game-winner. The score came with under a minute left in regulation, and would help earn Holmes the Super Bowl MVP with 131 receiving yards.
2. Malcolm Butler's Game-Winning Interception
Although it was only a year ago it's hard to deny that New England Patriots defensive back Malcolm Butler's game-winning interception is the greatest defensive play in the history of the Super Bowl, even above Jones' tackle. The Seattle Seahawks were driving down the field, and on a second-and-goal from the 1-yard line Seahawks with momentum turning, quarterback Russell Wilson threw a quick slant pass that was picked off by the rookie defensive back. Butler came full speed towards the ball and used both his strength and speed to steal a New England Patriots Super Bowl victory.
1. David Tyree's Helmet Catch
The New York Giants were heavy underdogs in Super Bowl XLII, as the undefeated Patriots were chasing NFL history as the first team complete a 19-0 season. The Giants would pull off the upset, and one miracle play sparked the Giants offense and led them to the shocking victory. Giants quarterback Eli Manning started the historic play by escaping from New England's pass rush after being grabbed by three separate Patriots defenders and launched at 32-yard pass that would be caught on top of wide receiver David Tyree's helmet. The entire play, from escaping the pass rush to the catch itself, is arguably the greatest and most improbably play in the history of the NFL, and is HNGN's greatest play in Super Bowl history.
