Ranking top 10 greatest plays in Super Bowl history: Defense stands tall in top spots

The Super Bowl is synonymous with many things, including the national anthem, halftime entertainment, commercials and, of course, food. When it comes to the actual game, big plays have played an integral role in the Super Bowl becoming the massive event that it is today. 

There’s been a slew of big plays made in Super Bowls that help change the course of history. Among those plays was Max McGee’s one-handed catch in Super Bowl I, Jim O’Brien’s game-winning field goal in Super Bowl V, Lynn Swann’s levitating leap in Super Bowl X and, in more recent years, Dont’a Hightower’s strip-sack that helped launch the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history. 

As great as each of of those plays were, they didn’t crack my list of the top 10 plays in Super Bowl history. Below are the plays did that, but first, here’s a look at the I criteria used when putting this list together. 

Actual greatness of the play 
Impact on the outcome of the game 
Enduring legacy 

Ingram’s herculean effort has largely been forgotten, but not here. It came in a contest that was decided by one point, so it’s safe to say that the Giants would have lost this game if not for Ingram’s 14-yard gain on a third-and-13 play midway through the third quarter. 

Ingram caught the ball a good 7 yards short of the marker. He broke four tackles before he launched himself over the sticks to give the Giants a massive first down. Ottis Anderson gave Big Blue the lead five plays later. 

Buffalo retook the lead in the fourth quarter, but the Giants responded with what turned out to be the game-winning field goal. New York then exhaled when Buffalo missed its game-winning, 47-yard field goal attempt with just seconds left. 

9. John Stallworth, Super Bowl XIV 

Champions three of the past five years, the Pittsburgh Steelers were in serious jeopardy of being upset by a gritty Rams squad entering the fourth quarter. They trailed 19-17. Lynn…


Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ranking-top-10-greatest-plays-in-super-bowl-history-defense-stands-tall-in-top-spots/

Author : Bryan DeArdo

Publish date : 2024-02-07 15:58:16

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