Image via Complex Original
With Super Bowl XLVIII nearly upon us, we’ll be bombarded all week with highlights of past Super Bowls and the many prolific plays that have made them a part of NFL lore. All-time greats like Bart Starr to Joe Montana have secured their status in the pantheon of legendary players with their Super Bowl exploits, and it’s a virtual certainty that we’ll be adding more names to the list after Sunday.
But let’s not sleep on those who are remembered for other reasons. Whether you forget to hold the ball like Leon Lett or lose your helmet like Thurman Thomas, there are plenty of times where even the best make complete fools of themselves on this grand stage. Even if you aren’t a football player, the Super Bowl can expose you to the world in a most unpleasant way. Yes, that was a Janet Jackson joke.
While the majority of people put on completely average performances during the big game, we’re not here to talk about them, nor are we interested in those who manage to stand out. Those things don’t interest us in the slightest. Instead, we’d like to celebrate and rejoice in the 50 Biggest Fails in Super Bowl History.
50. Don't Mess With Jack Lambert's Kicker
Date: 1/18/1976
Super Bowl: X
Final score: Steelers 21, Cowboys 17
No one respects kickers, but don't tell that to Jack Lambert. Early in the third quarter of Super Bowl X, Steelers kicker Roy Gerela missed a crucial field goal, and Dallas safety Cliff Harris patted him on the head and "thanked" him for helping Dallas. Being the craziest man in the league, Lambert freaked out and slammed Harris to the ground. Note: don't mess with Jack Lambert's teammates, not the kicker, not the punter, not even the water boy.
49. John Riggins Trucks Don McNeal
Date: 1/30/1983
Super Bowl: XVII
Final score: Redskins 27, Dolphins 17
Trailing by four points late in the fourth quarter, the Redskins had the ball on the Dolphins 43-yard line but were staring at a 4th and 1. Luckily for them, Miami Dolphins cornerback Don McNeal was not much of a tackler. The Skins handed the ball off John Riggins, who went off tackle and met McNeal just past the first down marker. Riggins ran McNeal over like a squirrel on the freeway and scampered to paydirt for what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown.
48. How Can You Miss James Harrison...Twice?
Date: 2/1/2009
Super Bowl: XLIII
Final score: Steelers 27, Cardinals 23
Double fail for Kurt Warner. He had his Cardinals on the Steelers' two-yard line with 18 seconds left in the first half. They were certainly going to get points, either via a touchdown to take a three-point lead or a field goal to tie the game. He first botched this seemingly ideal situation by throwing a pass directly into the arms of Pittsburgh's James Harrison. Warner then completely whiffed on the tackle, setting the stage for Harrison's 100-yard stampede for a touchdown.
47. Dumb Question, Julie Brown
Date: 1/30/1994
Super Bowl: XXVIII
Final Score: Cowboys 30, Bills 13
Nahhh...Downtown Julie Brown didn't ask Emmitt Smith what he would be wearing to the Super Bowl, did she? We all know the Media is stupid and full of people who have no real reason to be there, but this is a bit much. At least most journalists there keep the questions at least somewhat football-related, and that was certainly true back in the early 1990s. Not a good look for MTV here if they wanted to be taken even a little bit seriously.
46. Whitney Houston Mails It In
Date: 1/27/1991
Super Bowl: XXV
Final Score: Giants 20, Bills 19
Well before Beyonce caught heat for lip-synching on President Obama's inauguration day, there was Whitney Houston. The late singer became the most talked about performer in the world for her stirring rendition of the national anthem, which came just as the United States had entered the Gulf War. The only problem was, Whitney wasn’t actually singing live. Her musical director admitted that they had pre-recorded the entire thing. For shame!
45. Giants Special Teams Give Trent Dilfer a Hand
Date: 1/28/2001
Super Bowl: XXXV
Final score: Ravens 34, Giants 7
Let's say you're playing a team that features Trent Dilfer at quarterback. It's the third quarter and you've just scored your first points of the game on a 97-yard kickoff return, and in the process have cut your opponent's lead to 17-7. The momentum is on your side. What's the one thing you don't want to do? Give up a kickoff return touchdown of your own. But that's precisely what the Giants did in Super Bowl XXXV, and now Trent Dilfer has a Super Bowl ring while Dan Marino still doesn't.
44. Andre Rison Tosses His Super Bowl Ring
Date: 1/25/1998
Super Bowl: XXXI
Final score: Packers 35, Patriots 21
There are probably NFL players who cherish their Super Bowl rings more than their wedding rings. When Andre Rison, who scored the Packers first touchdown in SB XXXI, was asked about his ring, he responded, "I don't even know where it is. How Desmond Howard was treated, how I was treated, no. To hell with that ring. [Former Packers coach] Mike Holmgren lied. That team has never been the same." So...Rison doesn't know where his Super Bowl ring is and he doesn't care because the coach lied? Say what you will about the wisdom in that statement, but we certainly admire his ability to hold a grudge.
43. Just Sit Down, Man!
Date: 1/21/1979
Super Bowl: XIII
Final score: Steelers 35, Cowboys 31
Randy White's thumb was broken, so he was wearing a cast. His brain must have been broken too. The Steelers unintentional squib kick headed straight for White, but instead of falling on the ball, he tried to advance it. "We had it planned that if a kick was squibbed we would lateral the ball back to one of the deep backs," White said, "but it took me so long just to pick up the ball I had to go with it. When I started running, I fumbled the football. That's all there was to it. I just fumbled the damn football. I've handled a couple of kickoffs this year, but I dropped this one." The Steelers recovered and scored what would be the game-winning touchdown on the next play. Damn bro!
42. Commercials at the Super Bowl? Never That!
Date: 2/4/2007
Super Bowl: XLI
Final score: Colts 29, Bears 17
The NFL is a business with partnerships and sponsors. If a player doesn't stick to those deals, they are going to pay. If it's during the season you're looking at $10,000, during the Pro Bowl, $50,000, and during the Super Bowl, $100,000. Brian Urlacher learned this the hard way. In 2006 the NFL's official athletic drink sponsor was Gatorade, but Urlacher was rocking a Vitamin Water hat with a bottle of Vitamin Water chilling right in front of him at Super Bowl Media Day. The NFL lowered the boom on the Bears' star and gave him the $100,000 fine.
Now does the fail go to Urlacher for "losing" some small fraction of what Vitamin Water paid him to be a spokesperson, or the NFL for its ridiculous No Fun League policies?
41. Mercy!
Date: 1/22/1984
Super Bowl: XVIII
Final score: Raiders 38, Redskins 9
Already down 19 points late in the 4th quarter, the Redskins decided defense and dignity were optional. Raiders running back Marcus Allen made 11 Redskins look like they were ready for the showers as he "Ran With the Night" for 74 yards, sealing his team's blowout win.
40. Really, We'd Prefer to Watch the Game
Date: 1/15/1967
Super Bowl: I
Final score: Packers 35, Chiefs 10
Both NBC and CBS were covering Super Bowl I, and both managed to have an epic fail. CBS did not return in time from a halftime commercial break for the start of the second half, and NBC missed the first kickoff and return. They can't even say they were caking up on ad dough, since the cost of a Super Bowl commercial back then was just $40,000 (it's $4 million this year). How the hell does that happen?
39. Big Ben Tebows During the Pick 6
Date: 2/6/2011
Super Bowl: XLV (2011)
Final score: Packers 31, Steelers 25
You can certainly blame the offensive line for the pressure that forced Ben Roethlisberger into a crappy throw. But blame Big Ben for being QB-shook during the run back. As Nick Collins crossed the goal line (after running through many of Ben's offensive teammates), you can see Roethlisberger getting his "Tebowing" on in the middle of the end zone. Yo Big Ben?!?! This game is kind of a big deal. Go make a play!
38. Revenge of the Voodoo
Date: 2/7/2010
Super Bowl: XLIV
Final Score: Saints 31, Colts 17
Some weird New Orleans voodoo was going on in this Super Bowl. The Saints had never been to the big game. Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning grew up in New Orleans, where his dad Archie was the quarterback for 10 seasons. Archie never had a winning season as a Saint and only got to .500 once. In one play, an epic fail pick-six to Tracy Porter from Manning sealed the game for the Saints. Tracy Porter went to college at Indiana University. Gris-gris!
37. Sweetness N' Sour
Date: 1/26/1986
Super Bowl: XX
Final score: Bears 46, Patriots 10
In 1984, Walter Payton broke Jim Brown's all-time rushing record. A year later, "Sweetness" would find himself at the Super Bowl witnessing a crime as the '85 Bears stole every ounce of pride from the Patriots. What Payton didn't expect to witness was a lack of respect from his head coach, Mike Ditka. The Bears put up 46 points and Payton didn't score one touchdown. At one point, Ditka let William "The Refrigerator" Perry barrel in for a TD. How do you not let the greatest running back of his era not score a touchdown in the biggest game of his life?
36. Eugene Robinson's "Mental" Lapse
Date: 1/31/99
Super Bowl: XXXIII (1999)
Final score: Broncos 34, Falcons 19
How do you celebrate winning the Bart Starr Award given by the Christian organization, Athletes in Action? You get arrested by an undercover female cop for offering her $40 bucks for some "favors" the same day you received the award, which also happens to be the night before the Super Bowl. You then cap it off by letting John Elway throw a bomb over your head for a touchdown and let Terrell Davis run you over. Athletes in Action, indeed!
35. Sure, We'll Spot You a Touchdown!
Date: 1/25/1998
Super Bowl: XXXII
Final score: Broncos 31, Packers 24
With under three minutes to play and the Broncos already inside the Packers' five yard line, Green Bay head coach Mike Holmgren told his defense to let the Broncos score, so the Pack could get the ball back with time on the clock. Problem was that it was 2nd down, not 1st as Holmgren had thought, and there might have been time to hold the Broncos to a field goal. You're coaching in the Super Bowl, and don't know the down and distance when the markers are right beside you? Fail.
34. 49ers Goal Rush
Date: 1/24/1982
Super Bowl: XVI
Final score: 49ers 26, Bengals 21
The 49ers led the Bengals 20-7 late in third quarter, but Cincinnati had a first and goal from the San Francisco three. With his team's back against the wall, Dan Bunz led the 49er defense on the goal line stand of their lives. Bunz (that's his real name, we swear!) made a great tackle on a swing pass to Charles Alexander on third down, and combined with Jack "Hacksaw" Reynolds and some rookie named Ronnie Lott to stuff Pete Johnson on fourth down. If you can't score from your opponent's three-yard line you don't deserve to win any game, much less the Super Bowl.
33. Who Do You Think You Are, Tim Tebow?
Date: 1/16/1972
Super Bowl: VI
Final score: Cowboys 24, Dolphins 3
Bob Lilly > Bob Griese, at least on this day. Lilly damn near chased Griese out of the stadium in the course of recording a 29-yard sack, which remains a Super Bowl record. While Dallas and their "Doomsday Defense" easily won the game, Lilly's hit must have awoken something in Miami. Just one year after their Super Bowl defeat, the Dolphins became the only team in NFL history to finish the season undefeated.
32. Stanley Wilson and That White Girl
Date: 1/22/1989
Super Bowl: XXIII
Final Score: 49ers 20, Bengals 16
What do you do before the Super Bowl? Uh, go to meetings and study your playbook? Well, that's what Stanley Wilson was supposed to be doing. He told his teammates that he needed to go get his playbook, and then 20 minutes later his coach finds him in the bathroom messing with that "white girl." It was his third time abusing cocaine and got him a lifetime suspension from the NFL. Was she that good?
31. Stealing Shula's Watch
Date: 1/14/1973
Super Bowl: VII
Final score: Dolphins 14, Redskins 7
As you look at this image, Don Shula appears as happy as can be. And why wouldn't he? He just completed the only undefeated season in NFL history! In reality, though, he's quite pissed. As he's trying to enjoy the moment of his players hoisting him on their shoulders, someone got hold of Don's wrist and jacked his watch. Don't worry, Don is an OG, though. He got off of his players' shoulders, got his watch back and hopped back up to resume his victory lap. Whoever tried to steal that watch took a major L.
30. Don't.Kick.To.Hester.
Date: 2/4/2007
Super Bowl: XLI
Final score: Colts 29, Bears 17
The Indianapolis Colts said "We ain't scared of Devin Hester!" Mind you, Devin Hester was only a rookie, but had already set a league record with six special teams touchdowns in a season. How did that work out for the Colts on the first play of the game? Hester took it back 92 yards for the score.
29. Squirek!
Date: 1/22/1984
Super Bowl: XVIII
Final score: Raiders 38, Redskins 9
Trailing 14-3 and being stuck deep in your own territory with only 12 seconds to go before halftime is probably not the time to try and force a short pass. What's the best case scenario there? A three-yard gain? Joe Theisman obviously didn't care, as he threw a lazy screen pass that got taken back for an easy touchdown by Raiders linebacker Jack Squirek. The result was a 21-3 deficit instead of 14-3, and the Raiders would never look back en route to a blowout win.
28. Mark Washington Holds Lynn Swann to "Only" 4 Catches
Date: 1/18/1976
Super Bowl: X
Final score: Steelers 21, Cowboys 17
Mark Washington: you sir, were a paid professional cornerback. Are we reading this correctly, you let Lynn Swann catch four passes for 161 yards and the game winning touchdown as well as another reception that is the dopest catch in NFL history? Swann's performance, courtesy of you, led to him being named Super Bowl MVP. Do you have any problem with being on this list? We didn't think so.
27. Barret Robbins' Bender
Date: 1/26/2003
Super Bowl: XXXVII
Final score: Buccaneers 48, Raiders 21
The Ballad of Barret Robbins is one of the most strange tales in Super Bowl history. After leading the 2002 Raiders to the Super Bowl and making his first Pro Bowl, the center decided before the game to scoot on down to Tijuana, Mexico. Apparently he had forgotten to take his medication, which left him disoriented and confused enough that he thought his Raiders team had already won the game. They definitely didn't, getting blown out by the Buccaneers 48-21. Sadly for Robbins, he only played in nine more NFL games and has run into a lot of problems since.
26. It's Spelled W-I-N
Date: 1/21/1979
Super Bowl: XIII
Final score: Steelers 35, Cowboys 31
During Super Bowl week, Hollywood Henderson famously said Terry Bradshaw was so stupid he couldn't spell "cat" if you gave him the "c" and the "t". Bradshaw went on to throw for 318 yards, four touchdowns and win the MVP. Who cares if he can spell, he can win.
25. Asante Samuel Drops 19-0
Date: 2/3/2008
Super Bowl: XLII
Final score: Giants 17, Patriots 14
The Man with the "Get Paid" tattoo wasn't money when it mattered most. Everyone remembers "The Helmet Catch" but no one remembers the game-sealing interception that went through Samuel's hands earlier on the same drive. Can you imagine how insufferable Brady and Belichick would be if Asante had hung on to this throw?
24. Warner's on the Wrong Foot
Date: 1/26/2002
Super Bowl: XXXVI
Final score: Patriots 20, Rams 17
Remember when Tom Brady was an underdog? Super Bowl XXVI was supposed to be a mere formality for the St. Louis Rams, who were to be on their way to becoming the NFL's next great dynasty. Unfortunately, the game didn't quite unfold how they had planned. One of the more important rules of being an NFL QB is to never throw off your back foot; just stand tall in the pocket and let it rip. Midway through the 2nd quarter, though, Warner forgot this crucial rule, throwing the pick-six to Ty Law that jumpstarted the Pats toward their first title. The rest is Uggs (and football) history.
23. Hank Baskett Doesn't Do a Face Mask Catch
Date: 2/7/2010
Super Bowl: XLIV
Final score: Saints 31, Colts 17
This may come as a shock, but hand-eye coordination is pretty much a requirement of an NFL wide receiver. Hank Baskett played smart (not always a requirement for wide receivers) on the Saints' surprise second half onside kick, but his hands let him down. He was the first to see the ball, he made his way towards it, and it somehow bounced off his face mask. If this were a defensive player or an offensive lineman it would be acceptable, but not from somebody who's paid to catch a football.
22. The Revenge of Chucky
Date: 1/26/2003
Super Bowl: XXXVII (2003)
Final score: Buccaneers 48, Raiders 21
And the "winner" for most interceptions thrown in a single Super Bowl goes to...Rich Gannon, with five! Even better, three of which were pick sixes. It wasn't really fair though, Gannon was facing Jon Gruden, the coach who designed the offense Gannon was running, and just so happened to be leading an all-time great defense with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. We're guessing that Gannon, Al Davis, and the rest of Raider nation probably regretted letting Gruden go. The lesson, as always: Jon Gruden > Bill Callahan.
21. Three on One Isn't Fair (For the Three)
Date: 2/1/2009
Super Bowl: XLIII
Final score: Steelers 27, Cardinals 23
The Cardinals were on the brink of winning their first Super Bowl ever. Larry Fitzgerald had just busted a 64-yard catch-and-run TD from Kurt Warner, giving his team a 23-20 lead with 2:37 to go. However, Arizona's defense made the mistake of deciding not to cover the Steelers No. 1 receiver, Santonio Holmes on the game's biggest play. Scratch that; we suppose three people technically had him covered, just not well enough.
20. Ron Jaworski's Bad Day
Date: 1/25/1981
Super Bowl: XV
Final score: Raiders 27, Eagles 10
Here's some really deep football analysis: never, ever, pick the biggest game of your life to have the worst game of your life. Ron Jaworski finished Super Bowl XV with a 47 percent completion percentage and three picks. It makes some sense, we guess, that Jaws never made another Pro Bowl and now makes his living picking apart other quarterbacks.
19. Gisele Bundchen's Tantrum
Date: 2/5/2012
Super Bowl: XLVI
Final score: Giants 21, Patriots 17
Wes Welker and Aaron Hernandez dropped key passes in the 4th quarter of Super Bowl XLVI with the Pats down by four, and the Patriots would go on to lose their second Super Bowl in four years to the Giants. After the game, some understandably ecstatic (and likely inebriated) Giants fans decided to heckle Tom Brady's supermodel wife, Gisele Bundchen. Gisele was annoyed enough to throw her hubby's teammates under the bus; the only problem was that everyone caught it on tape. The Internet remains undefeated.
18. 218 lbs > 595 lbs
Date: 2/3/2008
Super Bowl: XLII
Final Score: Giants 17, Patriots 14
You mean to tell us that Jarvis Green (285 lbs) and Richard Seymour (310 lbs) both had their hands on Eli Manning (218 lbs) for the sack on 3rd and 5 with 1:15 left on the clock and an undefeated season on the line and they couldn't tackle him? Really?
17. The O'Donnell-Brown Family Reunion
Date: 1/28/1996
Super Bowl: XXX
Final score: Cowboys 27, Steelers 17
Something just doesn't feel right about this one. Neil O'Donnell throws two inexplicable interceptions to Larry Brown. One of those was a pick-six, and the other sealed the game. Larry Brown signs a free agent contract with the Raiders and never duplicates anything close to his Super Bowl performance ever again. Sure, Brown and O'Donnell don't look alike, but has anyone ever actually checked the DNA to make sure they're not related?
16. Rodney Harrison Is No Match for a Helmet
Date: 2/3/2008
Super Bowl: XLII
Final score: Giants 17, Patriots 14
There's always a fall guy. Never mind that Patriots defensive linemen Richard Seymour and Jarvis Green both had Eli Manning in their grasp for the sack. Bottom line, Eli got away and heaved a terrible pass with four Patriots in the area to seldom-used wide receiver David Tyree. He had future Hall of Famer Rodney Harrison draped all over him. Tyree somehow managed to cradle the ball against his helmet, despite Harrison futilely clawing at it the entire time. Sucks to be Rodney Harrison.
15. Roethlisberger's Close Enough Touchdown
Date: 2/5/2006
Super Bowl: XL
Final Score: Steelers 21, Seahawks 10
The Refs should never make an impact on any game, but screwing up a Super Bowl is really, really bad. Unfortunately for Seattle Seahawks fans, that's just what the zebras did in SB XL. Several controversial calls were made that day by the refs, but this one was the backbreaker. Ben Roethlisberger clearly didn't get into the end zone on this goal line dive, but even after a replay review, referee Bill Leavy still said Big Ben got in. Wait, the refs apologized? Oh, well that makes it all better, right?
14. The Missing Helmet
Date: 1/26/1992
Super Bowl: XXVI
Final score: Redskins 37, Bills 24
Thurman Thomas' pregame ritual was to always place his helmet on the 34-yard line before the game. Seems harmless enough, right? Well, when Harry Connick Jr. sang the National Anthem before Super Bowl XXVI, someone picked up Thomas's helmet so Connick could do his thing. Only, they didn't tell the Bills' star where his lid had gone. The game started, but alas Thomas did not. He was looking for his helmet, and missed the Bills' first possession. Oh say can you see...Thurman Thomas' helmet?
13. Tom Brady Doesn't Need Help
Date: 2/1/2004
Super Bowl: XXXVIII
Final Score: Patriots 32, Panthers 29
The Panthers had just scored, tying the game late in the fourth quarter. Tom Brady is good, but going 80 yards in 1:08 against a Panthers defense that was ranked 10th in the NFL during the regular season might have been a bit too ambitious. But thanks to John Kasay-who shanked the ensuing kickoff out of bounds-Brady got to start at his own 40, moving his team to the Panthers' 24-yard-line and setting up Adam Vinatieri's game-winning 41-yard field goal.
12. A Nipple and a Dream
Date: 2/1/2004
Super Bowl: XXXVIII
Final score: Patriots 32, Panthers 29
For the majority of viewers, this was a complete lack of judgment and a terrible Super Bowl failure. It But it did introduce the term "wardrobe malfunction" into the popular culture, and according to inventor Jawed Karim is one of the reasons he created YouTube. Who could have known that one nipple would completely alter the course of internet history?
11. Denver's Orange Cream Puff Defense
Date: 1/28/90
Super Bowl: XXIV
Final score: 49ers 55, Broncos 10
The Famed Denver Bronco Orange Crush defense of the 1970s used to basically beat people up. The 1989 Broncos defense-at least during the regular season-did much the same, ranking No. 1 in the NFL in points allowed, No. 3 in pass yards allowed, and No. 6 in rush yards allowed. The team that showed up for Super Bowl XXIV was certainly not that one, as they got torched by Jerry Rice to the tune of seven receptions for 148 yards and 3 touchdowns. In all, they gave up more points (55) than they had in their previous two playoff games combined (44).
10. Loss Potion No. 9
Date: 1/31/93
Super Bowl: XXVII
Final Score: Cowboys 52, Bills 17
Offense sells tickets, defense wins championships, and nine turnovers will get your ass seriously embarrassed in the Super Bowl. The Buffalo Bills threw four picks between two quarterbacks and lost five fumbles. Yeah, nine turnovers. Which is, not surprisingly, a Super Bowl record. Of Buffalo's four consecutive Super Bowl losses, at least the agony of this one wasn't prolonged.
9. How Long Have You Been a Black Quarterback?
Date: 1/31/1988
Super Bowl: XXII
Final score: Redskins 42, Broncos 10
It turns out a reporter didn't actually ask Redskins quarterback Doug Williams this question on Media Day before Super Bowl XXII. The actual question seems to have been, "Doug, it's obvious you've always been a black quarterback. When did it start to matter?" But that's not a whole lot better. Other queries Williams, the first black QB to start a Super Bowl, heard that day? "Doug, would you have been able to handle all of this, especially the black thing, if you had made the Super Bowl a few years back, when you were 25?" "Doug, why haven't you used the being the first black quarterback as a personal forum for yourself?" Although our favorite was asked of Redskins offensive lineman Mark May: "How does it feel to block for the first black quarterback in the Super Bowl?"
8. This Is Why Francis Scott Key Hates Football
Date: 2/6/2011
Super Bowl: XLV
Final score: Packers 31, Steelers 25
What in Super Bowl Hell is this? Only watch if you are an unpatriotic soul or if you want to be extremely disappointed. How do you win four Grammys but you botch the national anthem? We get being nervous, but come on Christina. This is just pathetic.
7. Ellis Hobbs Shoots Himself in the Foot
Date: 2/3/2008
Super Bowl: XLII
Final score: Giants 17, Patriots 14
How do you make Plaxico Burress look like the fleet-footed Randy Moss? You have Ellis Hobbs cover him. It makes perfect sense if the game-winning catch that ruined the Patriots perfect season was a fade to the 6'5" Burress, who towered over the 5'9" Hobbs. Except it wasn't. Burress ran a slant and go (which is the play he should've run instead of going to that club that same year), blowing past the cornerback who was allegedly supposed to be faster than the man he was covering. Whoops.
6. Leon Lett Gets Beebed
Date: 1/31/1993
Super Bowl: XXVII
Final score: Cowboys 52, Bills 17
Defensive players don't often find themselves with the football and a clear path to the end zone, so we can easily forgive them if they don't always follow standard protocol like securing the ball. But Leon Lett kicked it up another level in Super Bowl XXVII. With the Cowboys up 52-17 late in the fourth quarter, Lett scooped up a fumble and rumbled 63 yards for the score fumble because Don Beebe stripped him just before he crossed the goal line. And to think, this is the most-remembered positive moment in Buffalo Bills Super Bowl history.
5. Earl Morrall's Dilemma
Date: 1/12/1969
Super Bowl: III
Final score: Jets 16, Colts 7
In 1968, Earl Morrall was the NFL MVP as he replaced the injured Johnny Unitas and led the Colts to a 13-1 regular season record. In Super Bowl III, however, he was the New York Jets' MVP. Morrall completely shifted the momentum of the game in the second quarter when he missed a wide open Jimmy Orr and threw a pick to the New York's Jim Hudson, who used that play to help lead his underdog Jets squad to a 16-7 victory. Rumor has it that Edwin M. Anzalone (a.k.a. Fireman Ed) was at the game assaulting Colts fans at the ripe old age of 9.
4. Garo's Gaffe
Date: 1/14/1973
Super Bowl: VII
Final score: Dolphins 14, Redskins 7
Kickers have the best job in practice. They kick and do nothing else. It's not that kickers don't want to do other things to do in practice, it's just that when they touch the ball, shit like this happens. Thanks to Garo's gaffe, a.k.a. the most unintentionally funny play in football history, the '72 Dolphins, who went 17-0, were unable to shut out the Redskins. But maybe it was worth it for the laughs.
3. Lights Out, New Orleans
Date: 2/3/2013
Super Bowl: XLVII
Final score: Ravens 34, 49ers 31
Come on, New Orleans. Pay your bills! The blackout during last year's Super Bowl was one of the strangest events in recent Super Bowl history, and it felt a little too much like the plot of some bad action movie. Theories abound as to the cause: a faulty relay device, a cloak-and-dagger NFL wanting to keep the game close, or perhaps even Roger Goodell himself. While we may never get the entire story, the 34 minute delay had an indisputably huge impact on the game; the Ravens' 28-6 lead immediately vanished, and the league got the thrilling finish they were hoping for.
2. A Bad Time for a Case of the Dropsies
Date: 1/21/1979
Super Bowl: XIII
Final score: Steelers 35, Cowboys 31
The excuses are plentiful for Jackie Smith. He was 38 years old. He was only used as a blocking tight end and in goal line situations all season long. He hadn't caught a pass all season long, either. But in the third quarter, with the 'Boys down 21-14, Dallas QB Roger Staubach hit Smith right between the numbers, and Smith simply dropped it. While the Cowboys have done more than enough winning despite this brutal screw-up, for their fans it still stings.
1. Buffalo's Long Winter
Date: 1/27/1991
Super Bowl: XXV
Final score: Giants 20, Bills 19
It's fair to wonder how the course of football history might be different had Scott Norwood simply made this (admittedly not easy) 47-yard field goal to win Super Bowl XXV. Do they go on to lose the next three big games too? Sadly, we'll never know; all we can tell you is that Norwood may be the closest thing we have to a real-life Ray Finkle. Laces out, Scott.