1971: Dallas 24 Miami 3
Dallas linebacker Chuck Howley became the first defensive player to be named game MVP, and the Cowboys rebounded from a tough loss in this game the previous year. The game still marked the return of Don Shula to prominence after being run out of Baltimore for the upset loss in 1968.
1973: Miami 24 Minnesota 7
This one was nowhere near as close as even the decisive final score makes it sound. It was 24-0 late in the game before the Vikings got on the board. And can you imagine a Super Bowl being played in Rice Stadium? This one was.
1976: Oakland 32 Minnesota 14
Bud Grant continued to have his problems in the big game, while John Madden finally got his first ring. And after their five turnovers against the Saints on Sunday, it's still Minnesota's last trip to the Super Bowl.
1977: Dallas 27 Denver 10
The Broncos made their first Super Bowl, but the Dallas defense was too much. D-Lineman Randy White & Harvey Martin were game MVPs. On a personal note, it's the first Super Bowl I remember watching start to finish.
1980: Oakland 27 Philadelphia 10
Raider quarterback Jim Plunkett completed his rise from the NFL scrap heap. It was the Eagles' first appearance in the Super Bowl, with current Monday Night Football analyst Ron Jaworski at quarterback.
1984: San Francisco 38 Miami 16
It was the showdown of quarterbacks, Joe Montana vs. Dan Marino. But the second-year Marino was under pressure and ineffective from the start. To everyone's surprise, he never made it back to the biggest stage.
1985: Chicago 46 New England 10
The Bears lived up to their midseason rap video, "The Super Bowl Shuffle." With flamboyant quarterback Jim McMahon, classy running back Walter Payton and mouthy defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, the Bears just overwhelmed everyone all year long and finished the job in New Orleans.
1986: NY Giants 39 Denver 20
John Elway and the Broncos were playing well early and led 10-9 at halftime. But Phil Simms, Lawrence Taylor and Bill Parcells' Giants dominated the second half. It was one of five straight Super Bowl routs, with the above three games bracketed by 'Skins games in 1983 & 1987.
1989: San Francisco 55 Denver 10
The score tells it all on this one. It was the second straight crown for the 49ers, their fourth in the 1980s and the first under rookie head coach George Seifert.
1992: Dallas 52 Buffalo 17
Dallas spotted the Bills a 7-0 lead after a blocked punt and then took the game over. Although this one's more remembered for Cowboy lineman Leon Lett prematurely celebrating a fumble return for a touchdown and being stripped of the ball by husting Bill receiver Don Beebe.
1994: San Francisco 49 San Diego 26
Steve Young hit Jerry Rice on a post pattern on the first possession and it was all Niners all the way, as Young showed he could lead a team to the ultimate win.
2000: Baltimore 34 NY Giants 7
In the sixth year that Baltimore had football back, the most dominating defense since the 1985 Bears or 1986 Giants, led the Ravens to a title. After a 5-4 start to the season, they didn't lose the rest of the way.
2002: Tampa Bay 48 Oakland 21
The Buccaneers were another team with an aggressive defense and they intercepted Rich Gannon five times.
During the 1980s and part of the 1990s it seemed as though every game was a blowout. But not since '02 have we had an honest-to-goodness rout in the season's final game. The Middle Class games will be up next.
Comments