5 Best Super Bowls

Super Bowl XLII, or 42 is on the way to a small or large screen near you. February 3^rd, 2008 in Arizona will be the location for this year's showdown, and there are a few teams fighting their way there. Will the Patriots finish a perfect season? Will Tony Romo and the Cowboys redeem last year's embarrassing exit from the playoffs? The stage is set, the players to be determined, and the course of the greatest game on earth will leave lasting impressions on fans worldwide. But what about our history of the game? What were the greatest of the Super Bowl games? I would like to present my top 5 favorite Super Bowls.

5. Super Bowl XX (20)

This showdown, which took place in New Orleans, Louisiana at the Louisiana Superdome on January 26, 1986 pitted the Chicago Bears against the New England Patriots. This face-off was highlighted by all of the pomp and circumstance that the monsters of the midway caused in the recording studio instead of on the field. The Super Bowl Shuffle, A song and dance video that showcased the "talents" of the Bears became popular and made them seem less of a threat and more of a pop group.

But once the game started, the Bears and their tenacious defense set the pace. Leading the way was Super Bowl MVP Richard Dent at defensive end. The offense set the tone of the game, rushing and passing up and down the field. QB Jim McMahon was entertaining, flamboyant and had the skills to back the swagger.

But what made this the most memorable? In this Super Bowl we got to see the large, bulking defensive lineman William "Refrigerator" Perry line up as a halfback and run in a score-what makes a more unforgettable moment then that?

4. Super Bowl XXIV (24)

This Super Bowl also took place in New Orleans, Louisiana at the Louisiana Superdome on January 28, 1990 and had the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers playing the Denver Broncos. This game found the Broncos overmatched and outplayed.

The tandem team of Joe Montana and Jerry Rice lit up the Broncos secondary all night. Montana had five touchdown passes, three of which were to Rice. The offense clicked on all cylinders.

What makes this game one of the best Super Bowls? The team scored a Super Bowl record 55 points to the Broncos 10, and still hold the record for most points scored in any Super Bowl. The total domination by the 49ers is unmatched in any game since.

3. Super Bowl XXV (25)

Super Bowl 25 took place January 27, 1991 at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. This game gave the New York Giants their second Super Bowl win in five years against the Buffalo Bills.

Jeff Hostetler led the Giants to a dominating clock control method on offense, keeping the ball out of the explosive hands of Thurman Thomas and Jim Kelly. The slow, methodic play calling kept the advantage on the Giants side and made the game a little tough to watch at first.

But there is a reason this game falls in at number three. The reason takes place in the closing seconds of the game, as Jim Kelly led a drive down the field, with the score New York 20, Buffalo 19. With only seconds remaining, Scott Norwood, the Buffalo Bills kicker lined up for a 47 yard kick. Aiming for the right upright, he expected the wind and curve to veer left directly through the uprights. Except it didn't. It went wide right, and the Bills lost the first of the next four Super Bowls in a row. That set the stage for four years of bridesmaid but not the bride feelings in the city of Buffalo.

2. Super Bowl XL (40)

Super Bowl 40-the "extra large" edition lived up to its name in Detroit, Michigan at Ford Field. The game took place February 6, 2006 and lined up the Pittsburgh Steelers versus the Seattle Seahawks. The game scored Pittsburgh 21, Seattle 10.

The Steelers, the unlikely team from the AFC emerged into the title bout after battling conference powerhouses including the Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts. They became the third team in NFL history to win its fifth Super Bowl, the Steelers got "one for the thumb" with the victory lead by the offensive powerhouses of Willie Parker and Hines Ward.

The most explosive play in this game happened right away-it saw Willie Parker, heir apparent to "The Bus" bust a 75 yard touchdown run from scrimmage. The Steelers, led at QB by the youngest to ever win a Super Bowl in Ben Roethlisberger continued to pour on the domination, but mostly on the defensive side of the ball.

Speaking of "The Bus", it was the story of Jerome Bettis that made this game one of the Best Super Bowls ever. Bettis, who was the heart and soul of this team, helped them by leading the ground attack all season for his last year playing. He was ready to retire, and what better place then his hometown of Detroit to roll into and park "The Bus" one last time.

1. Super Bowl XXXI (31)

Super Bowl 31 took place in once again in New Orleans, Louisiana at the Louisiana Superdome January 26, 1997. The NFC champion Green Bay Packers squared off against the New England Patriots, with a final score of Green Bay 35, New England 21.

The Pack were lead by Brett Favre's rocket of an arm, connecting with two different receivers for 54 and 81 yard passes for touchdowns. Brett also dove in and scored a touchdown himself. The Patriots put up a fight, but multiple interceptions and mistakes were their downfall. The defense from Wisconsin was stifling, lead by Reggie White and his Super Bowl record three sacks.

What sets this game apart from others? The work of Desmond Howard of the Packers. Desmond, named Super Bowl MVP became the first ever special teams player to receive the honor and earned it in return yards. He set the Pack up with amazing field position the whole game, with a total of 244 return yards for the game. But the big one came in the third quarter, and although the Patriots had pushed within one score, Desmond's 99 yard return for a touchdown deflated what was left.

Well, that is my take on the game, and my feelings on the greatest show on the earth-the Super Bowl. Enjoy this year's edition, and maybe next year the game we see this February will make it onto a few "best of" lists.

For more information

NFL, http://www.nfl.com/superbowl The NFL