Jan

31

Super Bowl Rankings (#31-22 Edition) – Part II of IV

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31. Super Bowl XIX: 38 San Francisco 49ers 16 Miami Dolphins MVP Joe Montana - Stanford Stadium Favorite - 49ers by 3 – Interesting:  First SB in which both QB’s threw for over 300 yards and Miami and SF combined for a record at the time (XXII & XXXVIII broke record) of 851 offensive yards.  Ronald Reagan gets inaugurated for second presidential term on the same day of SB and does coin toss via satellite.  2-Star Rating – Along with rushing for the most yards as a QB in SB history (59 yards), Joe Montana piled up four touchdowns (1 rush) to go along with 331 passing yards, going 24 for 35.  While both teams came in with a SB record 33 victories (17-49ers, 16-Dolphins) compared to just 3 losses on the season, the game was a mismatch from the 2nd quarter on, as the 49ers outscored Miami 31-6 following the 1st quarter.  Miami jumped out to their only lead of the day, with an early Marino short TD pass to TE Dan Johnson, then quickly Montana and the lethal 49er offense responded with three TD’s unanswered, with versatile and multi-threat weapon RB Roger Craig reaching the end zone on 2 of the 3.  The 49ers defense was just as good as they held the Dolphins to just 25 rushing yards on only nine carries total (SB record low).  They sacked Marino four times and picked him off twice.  Sidenotes:  Roger Craig scored three TD’s (2 receiving) and the 49ers tallied up 537 yards on offense.  Montana had his own reasoning for the win. “As far as my own game, well, I’d have to admit it was pretty close to the best I’ve ever played. I didn’t throw anything I didn’t have confidence in. We got in sort of a groove. Once you get going like that you gain confidence, and it carries over to the defense, and then back to the offense. It’s a snowball kind of thing.”  This was ABC’s first Super Bowl and this was Frank Gifford only time as Play-by-Play guy for the SB.  Clips of this game can be seen in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Teri Hatcher was a 49er cheerleader at the time. 

30. Super Bowl I: 35 Green Bay Packers 10 Kansas City Chiefs MVP Bart Starr - L.A. Memorial Coliseum Favorite - Packers by 14 – Impressive: Both CBS & NBC broadcasted the game live and CBS got the better ratings with Ray Scott leading the show.  This was the first and only Super Bowl not to sell out with an attendance of just under 62,000.  The postgame trophy presentation ceremony was handled by CBS’ Pat Summerall and NBC’s George Ratterman. Summerall and Ratterman were forced to share a single microphone.  In the week prior to the game, Chiefs CB Fred “The Hammer” Williamson got massive attention by bragging how he would use his “hammer”(forearm blows to the head) to pummel the Packers’ receivers, stating “Two hammers to (Boyd) Dowler, one to (Carroll) Dale should be enough.”  2-Star Rating - Both teams came into the game extremely nervous, while Packers coach Vince Lombardi was shaking in nervousness, his team was not.  On the other hand, Chiefs players came literally out of the locker room throwing up, along with wetting their pants, as they were scared to death (Chiefs LB EJ Holub)!  It showed in their game and proved to be a testament on how poorly KC played and how well GB performed, as the Packers took care of business, as MVP Bart Starr connected with back-up WR Max McGee for two spectacular scores.  During the regular season, McGee had only caught a total of 4 passes for 98 yards and 1 touchdown, but he ended up recording 7 receptions for 138 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Super Bowl. McGee later said after the game that he spent the previous night out on the town, was in no condition to play the game, and was counting on not playing that day.  The biggest play and turning point came during the first drive early in the 2nd half when Chiefs QB Len Dawson was picked off by S Willie Wood for 50 yards, thus giving GB the momentum along with the game at that moment on, by capitalizing on the turnover with a TD on the play after by RB Elijah Pitts (5 yards).  KC had just one play in the 2nd half past midfield.  Sidenotes: There is no known complete videotape of either the CBS or the NBC telecast of the game, as both networks eventually taped over their copies.  Paul Hornung was asked to come into the game (4th Qtr.) by Lombardi but he decline because he did not want to aggravate a pinched nerve in his neck.    

29. Super Bowl VII: 14 Miami Dolphins 7 Washington Redskins MVP Jake Scott - L.A. Memorial Coliseum Favorite - Washington by 1 - Interesting: The lowest SB point total ever.  Miami had to go on the road to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in order to get to the big game.  Coach George Allen of Washington pushed the players so hard in practice that they joked about leaving him back home.  2-Star Rating – From Billy Kilmer’s pass that was interfered with by the goal posts to kicker Garo Yepremian’s blunder that allowed the Redskins to put points up on the scoreboard, this SB was a typical snooze fest and a defensive struggle with the MVP going to a defensive back.  It was fitting that the last play of the game was a sack by Miami’s DE Bill Stanfill, fitting for the “No-Name Defense” and for ineffective ‘Skins QB Billy Kilmer (3 INT’s).  Sidenotes: While Scott got the MVP, DT Manny Fernandez dominated the battle in the trenches by picking up an unheard of 17 tackles from his lineman position!  The award for Most Valuable Player was selected by Dick Schaap.  As coach Shula was being carried off the field after the end of the game, a kid who shook his hand stripped off his watch. Shula got down, chased after the kid, and retrieved his watch.  The “Over The Hill Gang” gave up over 100 yards to Larry Csonka, a TD to Jim Kiick, and 34 more rushing yards to Mercury Morris, while getting only 72 yards on the ground from star RB Larry Brown.

28. Super Bowl XVIII: 38 Los Angeles Raiders 9 Washington Redskins MVP Marcus Allen – Tampa Stadium – Favorite – Washington by 2.5 – Interesting: Big faces at the big game were a big thing in this Super Bowl.  Coin Toss: NFL pioneer and legend/Chicago Bear great Bronco Nagurski.  National Anthem: Barry Manilow.  Marcus Allen became just the third Heisman winner to be named Super Bowl Most Valuable Player.  2-Star Rating - Joe Gibbs’ troops were favored to win because of their dynamite offense, their number one rated defense against the run, and they lost only two games all year – both by a single point.  Washington beat LA earlier in the year 37-35, scoring 17 points in the final six minutes, so they had their advantages heading into the game.  With that being said, none of that really helped the ‘Skins out and factored into the game, as LA scored more non-offensive touchdowns (2) than Washington could score on offense (1).  Washington led the league in scoring, yet only scored nine points, and their #1 rated defense against the run was overmatched by former USC legend Marcus Allen for 191 yards and 2 TD’s (9.6 ypc), including a 74-yard ”around the world and back” TD scamper.  The game was all Raiders from the beginning went Derrick Jensen rushed into to block and pick up the Redskins punt in the end zone less than five minutes into the contest.  LA’s defense was all over the field and dominated from start to finish, making Washington just the second team ever to lose a SB as defending champs (Dallas in XIII).  Sidenotes:  Raiders LB Jack Squirek intercepted a Theismann pass intended for speedy Joe Washington on a “Rocket Screen” for a score to give the Raiders a 21-3 lead heading into halftime.  The best to ever use his “voice” in the National Football League, NFL Films great John Facenda, did his last work in SB XVIII before passing away less than eight months after the game.          

27. Super Bowl XX: 46 Chicago Bears 10 New England Patriots MVP Richard Dent - Louisiana Superdome Favorite Bears by 10 - Interesting:  Bart Starr does the famous Super Bowl Coin Toss.  The Patriots were held to negative yardage (-19) in the first half, and just 123 total yards in the entire game, the second lowest total in Super Bowl history.  The Bears set Super Bowl records for sacks (7) and fewest rushing yards allowed (7).  2-Star Rating - From the opening possession and early minutes into the game, NE took the second quickest lead in Super Bowl history after linebacker Larry McGrew recovered a fumble from Walter Payton at the Chicago 19-yard line on the second play of the game, answering the mistake with a FG.  “I looked up at the message board,” said Chicago All-Pro linebacker Mike Singletary, “and it said that 15 of the 19 teams that scored first won the game. I thought, yeah, but none of those 15 had ever played the Bears.”  After those three points were scored, the Bears went on to rack up 44 points unanswered!  From starting QB Tony Eason’s 0-6 for 0 yards passing, William Perry’s plunge into the end zone, Chicago had fun at the expense of NE and pounded them into submission, throuoghly dominating the game not only defense but on offense also.  Sidenotes: Bears are still the only team (and will be forever) in NFL history to shut own their playoff opponents.  Jim McMahon ran in for a SB QB record two scores.  The Super Bowl Shufflin’ Crew scored a record 21 points in the third quarter and is still a record for the most points scored in that period.

26. Super Bowl IV: 23 Kansas City Chiefs 7 Minnesota Vikings MVP Len Dawson – Tulane Stadium – Favorite Minnesota by 12.5 - Impressive: Many sports writers and fans fully believed that the Vikings would easily take care of the Chiefs.  The night before the game, Ed Sabol of NFL Films met with Stram and convinced Stram to wear a hidden microphone during the game so his comments could be recorded for the Classic NFL Films Super Bowl IV film. They agreed the microphone would be kept secret. This would be the first time that a head coach had worn a microphone during a Super Bowl.  The SB IV halftime show was pure brilliance and was way beyond its years with a planned hot-air balloon race that eventually crashed into the stands in the end zone.  2-Star Rating - Jan Stenerud’s SB record 48-yard FG started things off for KC, as Minnesota did not even expect the attempt from that long of a distance.  Minnesota was slowed throughout the entire contest because of two fumbles, three interceptions, six costly penalties, and a lack of a rushing attack, being unable to run with a combined 24 rush yards from Dave Osborn and Joe Kapp.  KC did not need much offense because of a stifling defense, as RB Mike Garrett and WR Otis Taylor got into the end zone, to along with three Stenerud FG’s.  Sidenotes: CBS did the game with a cast trio of Jack Buck, Frank Gifford, and Pat Summerall.  The victory by the AFL evened the Super Bowl series with the NFL at two games apiece.

25. Super Bowl XXVIII: 30 Dallas Cowboys 13 Buffalo Bills MVPEmmitt Smith - Georgia Dome, Atlanta Favorite - Dallas by 10 - Impressive:  The terrific 1-2 punch of NBC’s Dick Enberg and Bob Trumpy did the live call in SB XXVIII.  The Coin Toss nominee went to SB III MVP Mr. Guarantee himself, Joe Namath.  Dallas scored 24 unanswered points in the second half.  This was the last time in which both #1 seeded playoff teams from each conference met in the Super Bowl.   2-Star Rating – From the looks of it at halftime I had some hope and indication that Buffalo would finally get the Super Bowl Title they deserved, earned, and were due.  The city went through so much and they were just 30 minutes away from having their beloved Bills crowned champions, with the rings and winners coming back home to celebrate.  Buffalo’s lead and control over the game turned out to be as realistic as coach Marv Levy’s approval rating after three previous SB losses, as the Cowboys outplayed the Bills in the second half. Forty-five seconds into the third quarter, Leon Lett forced a Thurman Thomas fumble, which S James Washington returned 46 yards for a touchdown to tie the game.  From that point it seemed like Buffalo crumbled like a cookie and let the game slip away moment by moment.  MVP Emmitt Smith took the ball 30 times for 132 and 2 TD’s.  The turnovers and the big edge in favor of Dallas’ rushing attack over Buffalo’s were the difference makers.  Sidenotes & Quotes: “This (Super Bowl loss) is the worst, we should have won. Then they come up with 24 unanswered points. That last fumble was once in a million. These things always happen to the Bills. It rips the heart out of you.” -Buffalo receiver Andre Reed“We were high in the first half, and then — boom! — the turnover. It took a big chunk out of our confidence. We had to change the momentum. When you have big-game players, you can do it, but they did it, and we couldn’t get it back.” -Buffalo Center Kent Hull“Dallas didn’t wear us down in the second half, I fumbled. I cost us the game.” -Buffalo running back Thurman Thomas“In the immediate future we’ll be thought of as losers, But one day down the road, when I’m no longer playing, they’ll say, ‘Wow, they won four straight AFC championships. They must have been good.’” -Kent Hull  Steve Christie’s 54-yard FG is a SB record and QB Jim Kelly is the only passer to throw for over 50 times in two SB’s.

24. Super Bowl XXIX: 49 San Francisco 49ers 26 San Diego Chargers MVP Steve Young - Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami - Favorite - 49ers by 18.5 – Interesting: Kathie Lee Gifford does the National Anthem and her husband Frank Gifford does color commentary for ABC.  NFL legends take part in the Coin Toss: Gale Sayers, ”Mean” Joe Greene, Otto Graham, and Ray Nitschke.  2-Star Rating - Steve Young “got the monkey off his back” with a SB record six TD passes, leading SF to a one-sided, lopsided victory over their in-state San Diego Chargers.  Young and Jerry Rice hooked up for a 44-yard TD pass on the third play of the game and they didn’t look back.  As they became just the second team in SB history to take the opening kickoff and drive for a touchdown on offense since Miami in SB VIII.  SD’s Natrone Means ran in a TD and Andre Coleman returned a kick 98 yards to pay dirt.  The only thing SD accomplished that was noteworthy would be they were the first team to ever score off a two-point conversion.  Jerry Rice and Ricky Watters each got into the end zone three times.  Sidenotes: Ken Norton Jr. became the first player in to win three straight Super Bowls.  QB Gale Gilbert lost his fifth straight SB in a row.  49ers OC Mike Shanahan (Denver Broncos) and DC Ray Rhodes (Philly Eagles) found head coaching positions the following season.

23. Super Bowl XII: 27 Dallas Cowboys 10 Denver Broncos MVP Harvey Martin/Randy White - Louisiana Superdome (1st SB inside a dome) Favorite - Dallas by 5.5 – Impressive:  The Cowboys defensive unit rolled most of the game, forcing 8 turnovers and allowing only 8 pass completions by the Broncos for just 61 yards.  Super Bowl XII sparked a chance for Craig Morton to not only defeat his former team, but also to seek revenge for his Super Bowl V loss and the loss of his starting job Roger Staubach.  RB Tony Dorsett became the first player to win an NCAA championship one year and a SB title the following year.  Dallas was the only NFC team to win the Super Bowl in the 1970s.  3-Star Rating - The familiarity between these two teams might have hurt Denver (seeing all the turnovers), as this SB marked the first time teams had played against each other in the regular season (14-6 Dallas).  Dallas surprisingly started off a bit shaky with three near cough-ups (miscues) in their first two opening possessions.  They started off with a double-reverse, maybe too early for “trickeration”, though later in the game they pulled off a fancy TD off of a RB option pass.  Denver’s second drive of the game resulted in a Morton pick that ended up in the hands of the Cowboys, as five plays later Dallas scored on a Dorsett TD run.  By halftime, the Broncos had committed 7 turnovers, with 4 picks and 3 fumbles by Morton.  Norris Weese came in and got the only Broncos TD, only to later turn the ball over once again.  Dallas’ “Doomsday Defense” was more frightening than the ”Orange Crush” Defense of Denver in SB XII and that’s all that mattered in the sloppiest, yet one of the most action-packed Super Bowls – if you like mistakes.  Sidenotes: Morton was just 4 of 15 for just a dismal 39 yards!  Robert Newhouse became the only RB to throw for a TD pass.  This was the first SB to played at nite.  Former Bear great Red Grange became the first non-referee to do the Coin Toss at the Super Bowl.  This was the last year of the infamous 14-game schedule.

22. Super Bowl XXI: 39 New York Giants 20 Denver Broncos MVPPhil Simms - Rose Bowl, Pasadena – Favorite Giants by 9.5 - Interesting: 1st ever “Gatorade Bath” takes place when OL Brad Benson and Bart Oates “cool off” coach Bill Parcells – “I think it was very appropriate to cool the guy down,” Oates explained, “as hot as he was in the game.”  MVP Phil Simms was the first athlete to appear in a “I’m Going to Disney World” television ad.  The postshow was supposed to present the song “One Shining Moment” but with the postgame interviews taking so long, CBS never aired it. They officially changed the lyrics from “The ball is kicked” to “The ball is tipped”, and now it’s featured at the end of their NCAA Hoops Championship Coverage.  Pregame and National Anthem: Beach Boys head the pregame while Neil Diamond perform the National Anthem.  NY gives up only three points in Playoffs while John Elway leads Denver to close OT victory in the thrilling “Drive“.  3-Star Rating - Early on the “Big Blue Wrecking Crew” gives up ten points to Elway’s gang, but during the key, crucial turning point of SB XXI, the defense seizes the moment by sizing up the offense, clamping down and coming up with one of the biggest (49ers vs. Bengals in SB XVI) goal line stands in SB history, thus changing the momentum in their favor heading into halftime.  In total, the Broncos ran 3 plays from the 1-yard line and backpedaled 5 yards. Denver tried to get points out of the drive with a 23-yard field goal attempt, but Karlis’ kick was no good (made a then SB record 48-yarder earlier in the 1st), making it the shortest missed field goal in Super Bowl history.  With Denver only up 10-9 at half, the Giants came out like gangbusters, storming towards 24 unanswered points, outlandishly outscoring Denver 30 to 10 in the 2nd half!  Phil Simms completes 88% of his passes for a Super Bowl record that still stands (never will be broken) and engineering five straight scoring drives to start the 2nd half.  New York used some “trick & gadget” plays to jumpstart their offense via a successful fake punt conversion and a flea flicker to get Denver’s defense off-track and to get the rampage rolling.  Sdienotes: Elway’s 47-yard TD pass to WR Vance Johnson is the 100th TD in Super Bowl history.  The bare-footed kicking Karlis missed yet another FG just before half from only 34 yards out. ”Both times I didn’t get my hips all the way through the kicks. I was steering the ball, and I know better than that. I felt the team unravel after that. I really hurt them.”  Elway finished with more passing yards than Simms with 304 to 268. 

Jan

31

Patriots will Defy the Popular Opinion

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Moss

I can’t shake the feeling that we are going to witness a good-old nature ass kicking this Sunday. I understand the prevailing consensus is that this will be a well-played game and that the Giants have a much better shot of winning the game than Vegas bookies want you or I to believe.

But the Patriots have been a team of destiny all season and the most fitting way for them to cap their perfect, record-setting season is for them to finish the way they started: blowing out teams with an all-time great aerial assault.

Many analysts would have you believe that the Pats will emphasize the running game and check-down passing game. I won’t contend that they have become more of a running team in the last five or six games and that Brady has relied on short to intermediate passes to move the chains. But that isn’t how they have become what is now an infamous team. You can bet they want to show the public one final time what has made the 2007 New England Patriots such an irresistible team to watch.

The Pats have been conscious of their place in history. Towards the end of the regular season, the players wore the giddiness of their undefeated record on their faces. This team has had a flair for the dramatic moment, an understanding of the historical impact of their accomplishments.

How else do you explain the Brady-Moss record-setting touchdown in their last regular season game?

Fourth quarter, Pats down 28-23, on the road, hostile crowd, nationally televised game, perfect record on the line, Brady and Moss each one touchdown away from breaking individual single-season touchdown records. And Moss runs a fly pattern as Brady unloads a deep throw. Moss sees the fluttering ball is underthrown and tries to come back and shoestring catch it. Incomplete. No problem, Brady thinks, we’ll try it again. Moss runs another fly, Brady throws a spiral perfectly in stride with Moss and there you have it.

Pats are again leading, a lead they would not relinquish, the hostile crowd is deflated, the nationally televised audience is in awe, and Brady and Moss own the single-season passing and receiving touchdown records.

The Pats not only want to be a great team, but one of the all-time greatest. Perhaps they’re confident enough, or arrogant or naive enough depending on the generation in which you grew up watching the NFL, to think they are the greatest.

But this team was defeating opponents by over 25 points per game in the first two months of the season. Now that they have had a number of close calls (Philly, Baltimore, the Giants, Jacksonville, and San Diego) in the final months of this season, I think New England will come out of this game with full barrels blazing, just to remind NFL fans, players, coaches, executives, and owners who the Alpha Dogs were in this 2007 season. In Super Bowl XLII, the Patriots will come full-circle in their on-going quest to prove any and all doubters wrong. They will show us what made their season one for the ages.

Patriots 52 Giants 24

Jan

31

Exclusive Gridiron Tailgating Special: Super Bowl I-XLI Rankings Show

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Become a Super Bowl Expert with the Expert.  Host Russ Loede takes you inside with an individual look at each big game from Super Sunday.  From Super Bowl I all the way to Super Bowl XLI, your Knowledgeable Super Bowl Fanatic Russ will share his thoughts on the game that decides the best team in the NFL.

Jan

31

Super Bowl Gabbin with McFarlane Figure Employee Ben Vance

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Larry Fitzgerald figure from McFarlane

At the NFL Experience at the site of the Super Bowl, site editor Matt Loede caught up with Ben Vance, who works for McFarlane, who puts out the best sports figures in the country.  Ben is McFarlane’s message board moderator for the company’s web site, and in this interview he breaks down the ins and outs of his job with the company, what goes into deciding what players get made, and what figures may get made in the near future. It’s an interesting interview that you won’t want to miss!  Click below to hear Matt’s interview with Ben Vance.

Jan

31

Super Bowl Rankings (#41-32 Edition) Part I of IV

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41. Super Bowl XXVII: 52 Dallas Cowboys 17 Buffalo Bills – MVP Troy Aikman - Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA Favorite - Dallas by 7 – Coin Toss: O.J. Simpson – Halftime Show: Michael Jackson – Announcing Crew: NBC’s Dick Enberg & Bob Trumpy - Interesting Stat: Buffalo Bills SB Record of 9 Turnovers (4 INT, 5 Fumbles Lost).  1-Star Rating - Buffalo took an early 7-0 lead on a Thurman Thomas TD run, taking advantage of a Steve Tasker blocked punt.  After capitalizing off a Dallas mistake to set up a TD for their only lead of the game, the Bills then went downhill in a hurry.  MVP Troy Aikman and the aggressive attack of Dallas’ defensive unit lead the way en route to an impressive rout.  The turning point came early in the 2nd quarter when safety Thomas Everett picked off a Jim Kelly pass on 4th down in the end zone, finishing a key goal line stand.  Aikman finished 22 of 30 for 273 yards and four scores, with two of them going to All-Pro WR Michael Irvin.  Sidenote: The game was scheduled to be played at the newly built Tempe Stadium in Phoenix, AZ, but was not because of a controversy in which Arizona did not observe Martin Luther King Jr Day as an official holiday.

40. Super Bowl XXVI:  37 Washington Redskins 24 Buffalo Bills – MVP Mark Rypien - Metrodome Minnesota - Favorite -  Washington by 7 – Coin Toss: Chuck Noll – Announcing Crew: CBS – Pat Summerall & John Madden – Impressive: Joe Gibbs wins his 3rd Super Bowl with his 3rd different Starting QB and Washington ties for largest shutout lead at 24-0, also both teams go scoreless in the 1st quarter.  1-Star Rating – From Thurman Thomas misplacing his helmet (missed 2 plays) to Jim Kelly’s 4 picks (had to throw a record 58 passes), the Bills played like they did not belong in the SB.  Art Monk and Gary Clark teamed up and both went for over 100 yards receiving and Washington held Buffalo to just 43 rushing yards.  For the ‘Skins Rypien threw for 2 scores and RB Gerald Riggs entered into the end zone twice also.  Couple them together along with a stifling Washington defense, the Bills lost their second SB in a row.  Sidenote:  Metrodome was the smallest stadium ever to host a Super Bowl.

39. Super Bowl VIII: 24 Miami Dolphins 7 Minnesota Vikings - MVP Larry Csonka – Rice Stadium Houston, TX – Favorite - Miami by 7 – Interesting:  Bart Starr joins CBS as color commentator and Csonka becomes first RB to win MVP honors, carrying the pigskin an astounding total of 33 times.  1-Star Rating – Another SB in which the winning team went ahead 24-0, this time Miami was up by this margin in the 4th quarter.  Miami began the contest taking the opening kickoff and driving for a TD on their first possession.  Csonka ran for 145 yards and 2 TD’s and the ”No-Name Defense” swarmed to halt any chances of a successful Viking offensive attack.  Bob Griese threw a record low 7 passes (completed 6), an amount that is unheard of nowadays and a record that will stand forever!  Sidenotes:  Bud Grant complained about the poor locker room conditions and practice field facilities before the game.  Joe Namath said, ”If Miami gets the kickoff and scores on the opening drive, the game is over.”   

38. Super Bowl XXXV: 34 Baltimore Ravens 7 New York Giants – MVP Ray Lewis - Raymond James Stadium Tampa – Favorite - Baltimore by 3 - SB MVP’s and Coaches of the past SB’s at Tampa Stadium participate in the Coin Toss (Marcus Allen & Tom Flores – SB XVIII and Ottis Anderson & Bill Parcells – SB XXV).  Impressive: Baltimore allows 152 yards of offense and no offensive TD’s and all 16 of Giants possessions end with a punt or INT, except the last one when time ran out.  1-Star Rating – Ray Lewis becomes the 2nd LB ever to win the MVP award and the Ravens became just the 2nd team (L.A. Raiders in SB XVIII) to score a TD in all 3 facets of the game.  New York put up high numbers in some categories, only to have them associated with Collins’ 4 picks and punter Brad Maynard’s record-setting 11 boots (punts).  Ray Lewis’ pregame dance as they introduced the starting line-ups was the most exciting thing to watch that nite in an otherwise boring and defensive-minded game (I literally fell a sleep).  Sidenotes: Jermaine Lewis followed up Ron Dixon’s kickoff return for a TD with one of his own.  The teams combined for the lowest amount of total yardage in SB history with 396.

37. Super Bowl II: 33 Green Bay Packers 14 Oakland Raiders – MVP Bart Starr - Miami Orange Bowl – Favorite - GB by 13.5 – Interesting: Jack Kemp of Buffalo, who was still an active player at the time, helped provide commentary for the game alongside Summerall & Ray Scott.  1- Star Rating - A storybook ending for Vince Lombardi and the GB Packers, as Lombardi finishes his head coaching career by saying farewell after the 2nd of back-to-back victories in the first 2 Super Bowls for the Pack in the NFL.  Lombardi gets carried off the field and whenever SB II is brought up you remember it for Lombardi’s last game with the Pack as it was very emotional (Think back to: SB XXIII Post Game Interview with 49ers Coach Bill Walsh retiring)  and what a great way it was to end a tremendous run for GB’s leader on the sidelines.  CB Herb Adderley capped off GB’s scoring with a 60-yard INT return for TD early in the 4th quarter.  Starr went for 202 yards and a score and kicker Don Chandler booted 4 through the uprights.  Sidenotes: At halftime, Packers guard Jerry Kramer said to his teammates (referring to Lombardi), “Let’s play the last 30 minutes for the old man.”  Chandler and SB I legend WR Max McGee also played in their final game.

36. Super Bowl VI: 24 Dallas Cowboys 3 Miami Dolphins – MVP Roger Staubach – Tulane Stadium New Orleans, LA – Favorite - Dallas by 6 - Impressive: Dallas is the only team ever to not allow their ooponent a TD in SB history.  Dolphins safety Jake Scott entered Super Bowl VI with a broken left hand. He broke his right wrist during the game but never came out.  1-Star Rating -  Cornell Green said it best, “The difference between the Dolphins and Cowboys was that the Dolphins were just happy to be in the game and the Cowboys came to win the game.”  Dallas controlled and dominated the game on both sides of the ball, especially on defense, where they held Miami without a 1st down in the 3rd quarter, as they did not advance past their own 42-yard line.  Roger Staubach threw for two short touchdown passes and the key 1-2 punch of Miami’s Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick were held to just 80 yards rushing (40 each).   While on the other hand, the combo of Duane Thomas and Walt Garrison combined for 169 rushing yards for Dallas.  Sidenotes: When asked about the Dolphins’ defensive team prior to Super Bowl VI, Landry said that he could not recall any of the players’ names, but they were a big concern to him. This remark immediately led to the nickname “No-Name Defense”.  Also President Nixon offered coach Don Shula a specific passing play drawn up to star and legendary WR Paul Warfield, while Miami used the play call late in the 1st quarter, it was an unsuccessful one, going down as an imcomplete pass on a crossing pattern – who knew President Nixon was such a big ‘boys fan?!?  This game marked for the first time the Super Bowl used the NFL shield logo painted at the 50-yard line.   

35. Super Bowl XXIV: 55 San Francisco 49ers 10 Denver Broncos - MVP Joe Montana - Louisiana Superdome – Favorite - 49ers by 11.5 – Interesting: George Seifert became just the 2nd  rookie head coach to win a SB title.  Montana became the 3rd player ever to win a SB MVP and the AP MVP (Bart Starr in ‘66 and Bradshaw in ‘78).  1- Star Rating -During the halftime show of the game their was a float dressed up as a riverboat that was so big they had to move one of the goalposts to get it onto the field, it was something to behold and that float could’ve been the 49ers offense in disguise ( in relation to their big play after big play) or at least something to describe their monster performance in SB XXIV!  They were up by an insurmountable 27-3 lead at half and scored two touchdowns in each quarter, racking up a still standing SB record 55 points!  Their 45-point margin of victory handed to Denver is another record that stands and will not broken.  Montana went 22-29 for 297 yards and five TD’s!  John Elway ran in for the Broncos only score and Jerry Rice caught 7 passes for 148 yards and three TD’s!  This game produced the best offensive performance to be witnessed in Super Bowl history and the 49ers flawless execution was no match for Denver’s defense, thus showing us that the 49ers reign as the team of the 80s was not something to overlook nor shrug off, as the dynasty was completed in a one-of-a-kind fashion in SB XXIV.  Sidenotes: Terry Bradshaw was part of the coin toss and the NFL Today pregame.  One of the best of all-time hosted his final Super Bowl for CBS, as legendary great Brent Musberger did his final work for the NFL. 

34. Super Bowl XXII: 42 Washington Redskins 10 Denver Broncos – MVP Doug Williams – Jack Murphy Staduim San Diego, CA – Favorite - Denver by 3 – Halftime Show: Chubby Checker & The Rockettes Impressive: Little-known and used RB Timmy Smith rushed for a SB record 204 yards and Washington tallied a phenomonal record 35 points in the 2nd quarter to go along with 356 yards.  Washington won both of the ”strike-shortened” season Super Bowls, rallying off 42 unaswered points with their highly potent offensive attack led by QB Doug Williams, who became the first African-American signal caller to reach the SB and win it.  1-Star Rating - Elway started off the contest on fire by connecting with rookie speedster WR Ricky Nattiel on a 56-yard TD strike.  After jumping out to this 10-0 lead, Denver fell flat on their face once again under the spotlight.  However, in the limelight Doug Williams made sure it was his game to win as he hooked up with Ricky Sanders for long bombs of 80 & 50 yards.  Williams went deep often after coming back strong from a twisted leg in the 1st quarter, as he threw two more scores to Gary Clark and Clint Didier.  Timmy Smith ran all day wildly past Denver’s pathetic defense and the ‘Skins sacked Elway five times and picked him off for three.  Sidenotes: This was the only SB Elway (’87 Regular Season MVP) did not rush for a TD.  The teams combined for 929 offensive yards and this was the first SB to use instant replay (1st quarter – Washington recovered fumble on kickoff return - play stood).  The pilot of the hit show “Wonder Years” premiered on ABC after the game was over.

33. Super Bowl XI: 32 Oakland Raiders 14 Minnesota Vikings – MVP Fred Biletnikoff – Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA – Favorite - Raiders by 4.5 – Interesting: 1st Super Bowl to feature both Conference’s #1 Seeds and the last SB to finish under daylight.  Halftime show was produced by Disney.  1-Star Rating - From the one of the biggest and most ferocious hits of all-time in SB and NFL history (Jack Tatum “The Assasin” delivered to Sammy White – still caught the ball despite his helmet getting knocked off) to Fred Biletnikoff’s ”determined” face after each reception he made, and to the memorable and unforgettable audio and film footage of NFL Films when HOF legend ”old man” Willie Brown returned an interception 75 yards  to the end zone, putting away the Vikings for good (32-7 at the time) in the 4th quarter.  This game was a blowout but John Madden led his Oakland Raider squad to a victory that was a true, dominating masterpiece in every sense and aspect of the game in SB XI.  Kenny “the Snake” Stabler finished with a TD, throwing for 180 yards, Clarance Davis went for 137 yards on just 16 rushes (8.5 YPC), and Dave Casper was on the receiving end of four Stabler passes through the air for 70 yards and a score.  Bruising FB Pete Banaszak took care of business by steamrolling his way in for two well-earned and hard-fought TD’s on the ground, while MVP Fred Biletnikoff helped anchor the aerial attack with four key catches to set up TD’s, ending up with 79 yards.  All-Pro talents Chuck Foreman, Sammy White, and Fran Tarkenton could not keep up with the Raiders offensive continually lighting up the scoreboard, but they still had good days yardage-wise, with Tarkenton throwing for two scores and White getting his hands on one of ‘em in the end zone for six, as the “spin move master” himself Foreman racked up 106 total yards (44 rush/62 pass), pulling off more moves than a bunch of qualifiers at an afternoon gymnastic competition and completing more spin moves than an out of control baby trying to get dizzy.  Oakland’s HOF OL led by Art Shell and Gene Upshaw helped stop the very talented and explosive duo of Puprle People Eaters Alan Page and Carl Eller, as the Raiders had a field day both running and passing the ball.  Sidenotes: Hard-hitting Raider safety George Atkinson landed a broken nose to the face of Patriots TE Russ Francis in a 24-21 playoff win, and knocked out Lynn Swann twice in the season, including a concussion he landed to the brilliant, spectacular-catching WR Swann in the AFC Championship Title Game.  Tatum & Atkinson were known for dishing out their share of punishment to opposing receivers who dared to across the middle of the field.  This SB was the first to be played at the Rose Bowl and the first time a team used the 3-4 as their base defense (Raiders).

32. Super Bowl XV: 27 Oakland Raiders 10 Philadelphia Eagles MVP Jim Plunkett - Louisiana Superdome – Favorite Eagles by 3 – Impressive: Plunkett would become only the second Heisman Trophy winner (Stanford) to take home the MVP award (Roger Staubach).  Oakland became the first team to win the Super Bowl as a Wild Card.  This was Bryant Gumbel’s first SB coverage for NBC and their were pregame celebrations to honor the end of the Iran hostage crisis with a large yellow bow attached to the outside of the Superdome.  2-Star Rating - RB Kenny King caught an 80-yard TD pass from Plunkett as he raced past defenders, breaking Herman Edwards (coach of KC Chiefs) tackle for a score that “quickly” put the Raiders ahead 14-0 in the 1st quarter.  Before speeding out to a two score advantage, the Raiders benefited from an illegal motion penalty that called back a Ron Jaworski 40-yard TD pass to WR Rodney Parker.  Oakland was in full control and held Philadelphia star RB Wilbert Montgomery to just 44 rush yards (91 receiving) and picked off Jaworski three times, all by the record-setting LB Rod Martin.  Philly managed to throw for 291 yards (more than Oakland) but turnovers were the name of the game like they always are, as bad execution plagued the Eagles like it usually does to teams going up against sound, fundamental, well-balanced units like the Raiders.  Sidenotes: Cliff Branch caught two of Plunkett’s 3 TD passes.  Plunkett was released by the 49ers before the ‘78 season.  Oakland became the first team to overcome a regular-season loss in the Super Bowl. The Eagles defeated the Raiders 10-7 on November 23 at Veterans Stadium. This game showed the first time where both teams used the 3-4 formation as their base defenses in the Super Bowl.  Prior to the season the NFL and Commissioner Pete Rozelle rejected the Raiders and Owner Al Davis’ plan to move the team from Oakland to Los Angeles.                    

    

Jan

31

A Recipe For Football Cookies for Super Sunday

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Football cookies

INGREDIENTS
1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® Create ‘n Bake® refrigerated sugar cookies
1 container (1 lb) chocolate creamy ready-to-spread frosting
White decorating gel

DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Freeze dough 30 minutes.
2. Cut dough into 1/4-inch slices. With floured fingers, shape each dough slice to form football. On ungreased cookie sheets, place slices 2 inches apart.
3. Bake 7 to 11 minutes or until set and golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.
4. Spread frosting over cookies. With white decorating gel, draw laces on each football.

[High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Stir or knead 2 tablespoons flour into dough, then divide and shape into 32 fooballs.]

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Jan

30

Photo Gallery of the NFL Experience at the Super Bowl

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The countdown to Super Bowl Sunday continues here in Glendale, and with it starts the NFL Experience, which kicked off tonight around the stadium where the game will be held.  Here are some pics that we took tonight at the event, along with a few pics around the stadium.

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Jan

30

Houston To Bid For 2012 Super Bowl

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Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX
First it was Indianapolis, now you can add Houston to the list of cities looking to host the 2012 Super Bowl. On Wednesday, Houston Texans owner Robert McNair said that support for the idea from local leaders convinced him to go ahead with the proposal; if successful, the game would be played at the home of the Texans, Reliant Stadium.

Houston last hosted the Super Bowl in 2004, when the New England Patriots played the Carolina Panthers – a game won by the Patriots, 32-29. The Super Bowl, after this year, will be hosted by Tampa in 2009, Miami in 2010 and Arlington, TX in 2011.

Jan

30

A Regional Rivalry Continues Sunday in the Desert

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Among the many different story angles in Super Bowl XLII between the Giants and Patriots is the regional rivalry that exists between the teams.

The Boston-New York sports rivalry is as lively and diverse as one can get.

When discussing the regional competition, the elephant in the room is the Red Sox and Yankees, but many other rivalries – Patriots and Jets, Celtics and Knicks, Bruins and Rangers – have brewed for years. I wanted to find out the playoff records between the cities and did a quick research project on NHL.com, MLB.com, NBA.com, and NFL.com. Here are the results:

NHL

In 1928 and 1983, the New York Rangers and New York Islanders, respectively, defeated the Boston Bruins in a playoff round. A Boston and New York franchise have met only twice in Stanley Cup championship history. The cities break even on this one as the Bruins and Rangers have each won a Stanley Cup against each other.

Playoffs: B 0 NY 2
Stanley Cup: B 1 NY

MLB

It is not as lengthy as fans would think, as most of the great battles between the cities have taken place during the regular season. In the 1910s, the Red Sox won a World Series against the Giants and Dodgers. In 1978, the Sox and Yankees met for a playoff tiebreaker, which New Yorkers now warmly and Bostoners bitterly know as the “Bucky “F*****G” Dent Game.” The city of Boston experienced another horrifying moment in Red Sox history eight years later when Buckner let a groundball roll between his legs against the Mets. The Mets would win the World Series one game later. It wasn’t until 1999 that the Sox and Yankees finally met in the postseason (a sign of the apocalypse at the time), with the Yanks victorious in the series. The Sox and Yanks traded series wins in two more legendary ALCS in 2003 and 2004.

Playoffs (excluding the 1978 tiebreaker): B 3 NY 3
World Series: B 2 NY 1
Overall Playoffs: B 4 NY 6
Overall League Championships: B 4 NY 4

NBA

Of the four major sports leagues, the NBA has been the setting for the most Boston and New York playoff series. Ironically, it is the only of the four major sports leagues in which the cities have never met in the league’s championship round.

The New York Knickerbockers dominated in the 1950s, winning all four conference semifinals and one conference final. The Boston Celtics turned the tables on the rivalry in the 1960s, winning a conference semifinal in 1967 and conference final in 1969. The Knicks won two more conference finals in 1972-73, before Boston won their next three playoff matchups, in 1974, 1984, and 1988. The Knicks won again in 1990, before the tri-state area New Jersey Nets beat Boston in 2002 and 2003.

Playoffs: B 5 NY 10
NBA Finals: N/A
Overall Playoffs: B 9 NY 16
Overall League Championships: B 4 NY 4

NFL

There has been only one time in NFL history that teams from Boston and New York have faced off in the playoffs. In 1985, the New England Patriots defeated the New York Jets in the wild card round. Perhaps Sunday will be the time where the Giants even the regional rivalry.

Playoffs: B 1 NY 0
Super Bowl: N/A
Overall Playoffs: B 10 NY 16
Overall League Championships: B 4 NY 4
Overall Playoff Series: B 14 NY 20

So there you have it. In a rivalry that has spanned nearly the entire 20th century and the first decade of the 21st century, New York teams have won 20 of 34 playoff series against Boston teams in the NHL, MLB, NBA, and NFL. The cities have each won four league championship series against each other. Whatever happens this Sunday between the Patriots and Giants will split that tie. Which side are you on?

Jan

30

Photo Gallery of the Glendale Super Bowl 42 Experience – Day One

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Greetings NFL Fans.  We’re here in Glendale for Super Bowl 42, today we got our credentials and got a little showcase of what it’s like downtown Glendale.  Here are some pics that I took this morning with more to follow later tonight.  It’s actually pretty quiet right now, but I expect the hoopla to really pick up in the next 24 hours.  Here are a few pictures from earlier today.

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