10. Vinatieri II Super Bowl XXXVIII: A game that started out as a colossal bore — no points were scored in the first 27 minutes — ends with a wild, 37-point fourth quarter. After the Panthers tie the game at 29 with 1:08 left, Tom Brady takes over on the 40 after a shanked kickoff and leads the Patriots into field-goal range. Adam Vinatieri, the hero from two years before, had missed a kick and had one blocked earlier in the game, but comes through again in the clutch, nailing a 41-yarder with four seconds left for a 32-29 victory.9. Elway goes airborne Super Bowl XXXII: On third-and-6 from the 12-yard line of a 17-17 game, John Elway drops back to pass but can’t find an open receiver. He scrambles right, running hard and fast toward the first-down marker. He is almost there when he absorbs a shot from Packers’ safety LeRoy Butler and goes helicoptering through the air, where he takes another hard hit from Mike Prior — but lands for a first down. Lesser men would have taken a breather, but Elway jumps up, pumping his fists. “As soon as I saw John do that, I knew the game was ours,” says Denver’s Terrell Davis, who scores the go-ahead TD two plays later in a 31-24 Broncos’ victory. And the breast is history.
8. Super Bowl XXXVIII: Hey, if this list was re-named “most memorable” Super Bowl moments instead of “greatest” this may top the list — for better or worse. Janet Jackson’s halftime show goes, umm, astray when Justin Timberlake helps initiate the infamous wardrobe malfunction. MTV, which produced the show, says its was punk’d by Jackson and Timberlake. The FCC goes nuts. CBS is embarrassed. The two pop stars issue an apology. And somehow, life went on.
7.Gassing up the Diesel Super Bowl XVII: Facing fourth-and-1 at the Miami 43 and trailing 17-13 with 10:10 remaining in the game, Joe Gibbs decides to go for it. Out of the I formation, the give is to John Riggins on a play called ’70 chip.’ Washington had run that play often throughout the season, but it surprises the Dolphins defense, which is caught out of position. A great block by Hog Rick Walker opens the door for Riggins, who breaks a tackle by Don McNeal and goes all the way for the TD. The Redskins take the lead and win 27-17.
6.Swann’s magical game (take III) Super Bowl X: Lynn Swann’s signature grab in his MVP performance comes late in the second quarter with the ball on the Dallas 10-yard line. Swann goes deep, covered like glue by Cowboys’ corner Mark Washington. Terry Bradshaw throws it up; and Swann leaps higher than seems possible, over Washington, and, without taking his eyes off the ball, begins to reel it in. He bobbles it, but holds on for a 53-yard gain, the most spectacular, acrobatic catch in Super Bowl history.
Check back next week as reveal the top five greatest moments in super bowl history.