Best Super Bowl Games and Music Performances in Super Bowl History

Super Bowl Sunday is one of the greatest days of the year. It really should be declared a National Holiday on the Monday after Super Bowl Sunday. Maybe Barack Obama or John McCain will agree. The great American national championship game used to always be the main attraction of the day. However, in the last twenty years, the Super Bowl pregame entertainment, half time shows, national anthems, fireworks, and Super Bowl commercials have been just as entertaining as the play-by-play commentators. Here are my lists of favorite Super Bowl music entertainment and best Super Bowls in Super Bowl history. If you would like to view MP3 video highlights of the games or see MP3 videos of the best Super Bowl music performances, visit these two sites:
Top 10 NFL Super Bowls
Top 20 Super Bowl Music Performances

Here are my favorite Super Bowl Music Performances:

Super Bowl 38 Half Time Show - Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake (OOPS-wardrobe malfuntion)
Super Bowl 1993 Half Time Performance - Michael Jackson is on fire for this Super Bowl show
Super Bowl XLI in 2007 Pregame Show - REO Speedwagon performs Keep on Loving You
Super Bowl 2008 Pregame Performance - Paula Abdul has some great new hits that she sings - wow she hasn't lost it.
Super Bowl XXI Half Time Show - Disney Fireworks show is awesome
Super Bowl 29 in 1995 Half Time Show - Patti LaBelle and Indiana Jones rock the stadium on this one!
Super Bowl 40 Half Time Show - Rolling Stones bring down the dome
Super Bowl 2005 Half Time Show - Paul McCartney is still the greatest
Super Bowl 35 - NSYNC, Aerosmith, Britney Spears, and More put on a wild and wooly show
Super Bowl 2002 Tribute to 9/11 - nobody could do it better than U2
National Anthem - Natalie Cole
National Anthem - Cher
National Anthem - Whitney Houston
National Anthem - Faith Hill
National Anthem - Billy Joel
Super Bowl III Half Time Show - Tom Petty once and again at Super Bowl XLII
National Anthem - Carrie Underwood
National Anthem - The Dixie Chicks
Super Bowl XLII National Anthem - Jordin Sparks

Here are the best Super Bowl Games in Super Bowl History

Best Super Bowl Game 1
New York Giants vs New England
SB XLII (February 3, 2008)
Giants - 17-13

Giants were given little to no chance to derail the Patriots from their record-setting undefeated season. The Giant's defense hammered Brady all day but when Brady found Moss for the 4th quarter go-ahead score, it seemed the football Gods had finally set things right. However, Payton Manning led the Giants on a dramatic, improbable scoring drive. His scoring pass to Plaxico Burress with 35 seconds left ended the Patriots dream season.

Best Super Bowl Game 2
New York Jets vs Baltimore
SB III (January 12, 1969)
Jets - 16-7

Though it was not a thrilling game, Jets flamboyant quarterback, Joe Namath, single handedly put the Super Bowl on the map. His brazen guarantee that the upstart AFL Jets would beat the mighty Colts was laughable at the time. The game was the first step towards respectability for the AFL and a merger between the two leagues.

Best Super Bowl Game 3
St. Louis vs Tennessee
SB XXXIV (January 30, 2000)
ST. Louis - 23-16

MVP Kurt Warner threw for a record 414 yards, but the Titans were the first team to come back from a 16 point deficit only to fall one yard shy of the endzone as time expired. McNair scrambled to avoid a sack and found Kevin Dyson to get to the 10 with six seconds left. With no timeouts, Dyson caught a quick pass only to be pulled down at the one to save the game for the Rams.

Best Super Bowl Game 4
New York Giants vs Buffalo
SB XXV (January 27, 1991)
Giants - 20-19

The Giants ball-control offense dominated time of possession with a record 40 minutes, 33 seconds. However, the Bills kept it close with three lead changes in the second half. After Matt Bahr's field goal gave the Giants the lead, 20-19, the Bills got one more chance. With seconds left, Scott Norwood's 47 yard attempt sailed wide right for their first of four straight Super Bowl losses.

Best Super Bowl Game 5
New England vs St. Louis
SB XXXVI (February 3, 2002)
New England - 20-17

The Patriots won their first Super Bowl despite being outgained 427-267 in total yards by Kurt Warner and the Rams. The Rams three turnovers proved to be the difference, resulting in 17 points. After trailing 14-3 at halftime, the Rams stumbled back to tie the game 17-17 with 1:30 left. With no timeouts, Brady passed the Pats to the Rams 30, spiking the ball with 7 seconds remaining. Adam Vinatieri nailed the 48-yard kick, marking the first time a Super Bowl had been won on the final play.

Best Super Bowl Game 6
New England vs Carolina
SB XXXVIII (Februaury 1, 2004)
NE - 32-29

In a wild game, the Patriots won their second Super Bowl in three years once again on the final play. Starting slowly, the first score didn't come until 26 minutes, 55 seconds into the game, a SB record. The stalemate ended with a bang with three TD's and a field goal in the last three minutes of the first half, giving New England a 14-10 lead at the break. After a scoreless third quarter, the Patriots finally scored to take a 21-10 lead. Carolina scored twice and failed on two 2-point conversions to go ahead 22-21. After trading TD's, the Panthers tied the game with a minute left. Brady then drove the Pats downfield, setting up Vinitieri for another last second winning field goal.

Best Super Bowl Game 7
Pittsburgh vs Dallas
SB X (January 18, 1976)
Pittsburgh - 21-17

In the first of three Super Bowl meetings between the teams, the Steelers won their second championship in a row. Lynn Swann set a Super Bowl record with 161 yards. The Steelers defense rose to the occasion after the Steelers fumble on fourth down gave the Cowboys one more chance with 1:22 left in the game. Staubach was picked off at the end to preserve the Steeler's victory.

Best Super Bowl Game 8
Denver vs Green Bay
SB XXXII (January 26, 1998)
Denver - 31-24

The Broncos captured their first Super Bowl and broke the NFC's 13-game win streak behind Terrell Davis' 157 yards and record three TD's. After two turnovers by Favre, the Broncos led at the half 17-14. The Packers came to tie the game twice in the second half, but Davis gave Denver the lead 31-24 with 1:45 left. Favre took the Pack to the Bronco 35 with just over a minute left, but John Mobley batted away the fourth down pass to seal the deal for Denver.

Best Super Bowl Game 9
San Francisco VS Cincinnati
SB XXIII (January 22, 1989)
San Francisco - 20-16

Joe Montana threw for a Super Bowl record 357 yards and Jerry Rice caught 11 for a record 215 yards for the 49er's third championship. Despite dominating in total yards, 453 to 229, the Bengals led 16-13 with just over 3 minutes left in the game. Montana took the Niners 92 yards in 11 plays and hit John Taylor with 34 seconds remaining to pull out the win.

Best Super Bowl Game 10
Chicago vs New England
SB XX (January 27, 1986)
Chicago - 46-10

This one earns a spot because of the total domination of the Bears defense and the number of records set. Among them, the 46 points scored by Chicago, the record low seven rushing yards by the Patriots and the largest margin of victory (36). The quickest lead in Super Bowl history with Franklin's FG 1:19 into the game jump started the Bears to a 23-3 halftime lead, holding the Pats to minus 19 yards. McMahon became the first QB to rush for 2 touchdowns and Mike Ditka, the second man (Tom Flores) to win a Super Bowl as a player and a coach.