Ranking all 47 Super Bowls, Part 1, the bottom seven

If you read blogs, you were probably born during the middle third of the Super Bowl era. I've seen every one. Now I'm ranking every game for fan enjoyment using the following measures that appeal to 21st-Century football fans.

Celebrity quarterbacks

Stars that perform like stars

Passing duels

Fourth quarter winning plays

Bonus points for an interesting back-story

We list the worst to first in a five part series ending this Friday. The first part is easy. The bottom seven games all occurred in the 1970s. Maybe it was fallout from Viet Nam and Watergate.

No. 47: Super Bowl 1970 (IV) ‒ Snooze alarm
Chiefs 23, Vikings 7
‒ Surely the powerful Vikings with that magnificent defensive line would restore order to the universe after the AFL Jets shocking upset of the NFL Colts in SBIII. Nope. Chiefs coach Hank Stram, first coach wired for sound in a Super Bowl, devised the perfect game plan to "matriculate the ball downfield" on Minnesota. This game was rather boring.

No. 46: Super Bowl 1977 (XI) ‒ Snooze Alarm
Raiders 32, Vikings 14
‒ This game was over by halftime. By now, fans expected AFC Super Bowl dominance. Vikings fans were becoming profoundly embarrassed for Bud Grant and Fran Tarkenton.

No. 45: Super Bowl 1972 (VI) ‒ Starback!
Cowboys 24, Dolphins 3
‒ Tom Landry goofed by starting Craig Morton in SBV. He got it right this time and committed to Roger Staubach and it paid off handsomely with Dallas' first league championship. The notion that Super Bowl experience was an advantage was born here. The Dolphins were no virtual shows. Not a good game experience for viewers.

No. 44: Super Bowl 1974 (VIII) ‒ Snooze alarm
Dolphins 24, Vikings 7
‒ The Vikings never had a chance and never knew what hit them in their second Super Bowl appearance. How dominant were the Dolphins? QB Bob Griese only attempted seven passes, completed six of them. I can't believe I sat through that. The outcome seemed right, however.

No. 43: Super Bowl 1973 (VII) ‒ Snooze alarm
Dolphins 14, Redskins 7
‒  This game is famous for two things. The Dolphins completed a perfect 17-0 season with the win. Washington's only score came on a pick six of K Garo Ypremian pass attempt off a busted play. The Dolphins dominated throughout.

No. 42: Super Bowl 1975 (IX) ‒ Snooze alarm
Steelers 16, Vikings 6
‒ By now, the Super Bowl degenerated into low-scoring defensive battles everybody hated. The Steelers were a feel good story with their first title after 42 years of existence.

No. 41: Super Bowl 1971 (V) ‒ Snooze alarm
Colts 16, Cowboys 13
‒ Tom Landry never won a Super Bowl with Roger Staubach on the bench. He started Craig Morton for this one. The Colts started aging Johnny Unitas, Unlike Super Bowl III. This game was dreadful. It's what you get when you match two teams with world-class defenses. How bad was it? The MVP was Chuck Howley, linebacker for the losers. The Colts were the first NFL team lose a Super Bowl. After the NFL-AFL merger, they were the first to win the AFC crown. The Colts extended the AFC's dominance over the NFC with this win. Taste the irony.

Tomorrow: Ranking Nos. 40 to 31.

 

About Anthony Brown

Lifelong Redskins fan and blogger about football and life since 2004. Joined MVN's Hog Heaven blog in 2005 and then moved Redskins Hog Heaven to Bolguin Network. Believes that the course of a season is pre-ordained by management decisions made during the offseason. Can occasionally be found on the This Given Sunday blog and he does guest posts.

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