Super Bowl XLIII In Review and Countdown

When the Pittsburgh Steelers won the AFC Championship game on Sunday, January 18th, solidifying a Cardinals-Steelers Super Bowl, I was about as excited as hearing that George W. Bush was re-elected. Honestly, I didn't see much hope in the Super Bowl. It was a simple case of a experienced team with a superior defense going against, well, the Arizona Cardinals. Need I say more?

But as the days went on, I slowly started thinking harder about the game and like Barack Obama, I started to become hopeful. (Alright, no more politics, promise) I think what sold me on the promise of this Super Bowl was the fact that the Cardinals were coming into the game as hot as the weather in Arizona. And that bodes well for any team.

Fast forward to now, a day after Super Bowl XLIII, and what we had Sunday night was one of the best Super Bowls ever. Yes, ever! Since I don't claim a favorite NFL team, all I ask for from a Super Bowl is a close game that I will enjoy. Well, this game was close and was enjoyable. Of course, it was slow at times and the halftime show sucked as usual but this game had it all in the actual game.

Just think about it. It had the longest play in Super Bowl history, a 100-yd INT return by a linebacker from Kent State University (Go MAC!). Two huge goal-line stops by a defense that was considered the worst of the two. A thrilling comeback by the underdog, scoring 16 unanswered points to take the lead with a little more than 2 minutes left. And then, what all of us football fans love, a game-winning drive capped off by an amazing play.

In my mind, two of the top 10 Super Bowl plays were in this game. But was this Super Bowl the best ever? That will be debated from now until Super Bowl XLIV. But I'm willing to throw my opinion into the ring.

I've ranked the top 6 Super Bowls since 1993, the first Super Bowl that I truly remember. So where does Super Bowl XLIII rank? Time to find out.


6. Super Bowl XXXII
Denver 31, Green Bay 24
January 26, 1998
San Diego, CA

The big storyline coming into this game was the QB matchup. Future Hall of Famers Brett Favre and John Elway, going for a Super Bowl title. Favre had just won his first the year before while Elway was still winless in the Big Game.

The NFC came into the game winners of the last 13 Super Bowls and the Pack Attack were the favorites. But it was the Broncos that jumped out to a 17-7 lead, thanks to an Elway TD run. The Pack would tie it at 17 and later, tie it at 24 in the 4th quarter, setting the stage for John Elway to lead his team to victory.

But it was Terrell Davis who stole the show, who rushed for 157 yds and scored his Super Bowl record third rush TD to give Denver a 31-24 lead with 1:45 left. After one last Denver defensive stand, that was all she wrote. The Broncos were Super Bowl Champs. And in the words of owner Pat Bowlin during the trophy presentation, "This one's for John!"

So what are the next 5? You'll find out over the next 5 days. See ya then.