Friday Five: Top 5 Super Bowl Moments

Earlier this week, the Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl 52 when they shocked the world and upset the heavily favored New England Patriots. As I watched the game, I thought to myself there are some pretty great moments in this game; and really, there are great moments in every game. But I feel like the past few Super Bowls have given us some crazy memorable moments; from Tracy Porter returning a Peyton Manning interception for a touchdown, to Mario Manningham dragging two feet in bounds against the Patriots, to Brady's unbelievable comeback against the Falcons, to Malcolm Butler intercepting Russell Wilson at the 1 yard line. And who could forget David Tyree's helmet catch? All in all, there have been some great moments; and while I love football, I love making lists even more. So this week, I decided the Friday Five would be my top 5 Super Bowl moments!

I'm going to start off with a couple of honorable mentions. Now, I made sure to include only moments that I saw live on TV and that stuck with me; these are not the most memorable all time moments of the Super Bowl, just the most memorable to me. On to the countdown!

Honorable Mention 1: Mario Manningham's toe dragging catch

Super Bowl 46: Giants 21, Patriots 17

MVP: Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants

Let's set the scene shall we? It's February 5th. 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The 13-3 New England Patriots led by All-Pro QB Tom Brady, All-Pro Wide Receiver Wes Welker, and the two best Tight Ends in the NFL: Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, are heavily favored against the 9-7 New York Giants led by youngsters Eli Manning and Victor Cruz. This would be a rematch of Super Bowl 42, a game in which Manning would shock the undefeated Patriots and win 17-14.With 3 minutes and 46 seconds left in the game, the Giants had the ball on their own 12 yard line, needing a field goal to win. On the first play, Manning would drop back, elude a defender and fire a pass intended for Mario Manningham. The pass was a little high, but Manningham was able to out-jump the defenders and grab the ball, while dragging his feet to keep both feet in bounds. Patriots coach Bill Belichick immediately challenged the call of completed catch, and lost, costing him a timeout. The Giants would drive down the field and score a touchdown with 57 seconds left in the game, however, they would miss the 2 point conversion resulting in a 21-17 lead for the Giants. This meant that a Patriots touchdown and the extra point would win the game for New England. Brady and Company managed to get down to their own 49 yard line, but the Hail Mary pass fell incomplete on the game's final play resulting in a Giants win. Manning was named Super Bowl MVP, but it was Manningham who would have the iconic moment. 

Honorable Mention 2: Tom Brady's Fumble

Super Bowl 52: Eagles 41, Patriots 33

MVP: Nick Foles, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

In another epic upset involving the Patriots, Nick Foles (the Eagles' backup quarterback) led the Eagles to their long awaited championship. However, it was the Eagles aggressive defense that was the difference maker in the end. While Tom Brady set Super Bowl record at age 40, in the end, his heroics just weren't there. Down 38-33 with just above 2 minutes left in the game, Brady and the Patriots' offense took the field in what everyone thought would be the drive that would decide the Super Bowl. However, on the 2nd play of the game, Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham burst through a hole and forced a Brady fumble that was recovered by rookie defensive end Derek Barnett (alumni of THE University of Tennessee, I might add.) The Eagles would go on to kick a field goal, and then defend a Hail Mary attempt as the clock expired.

Now, on to the top 5:

Number 5: Peyton Manning's fumble on the first play from scrimmage of Super Bowl 48

Super Bowl 48: Seahawks 43, Broncos 8

MVP: Malcolm Smith, LB, Seattle Seahawks

I have no shame in saying that the only reason this is on my list is because the Seahawks are my favorite team in the NFL. After years and years of being close, being awful, then being close again, in 2014 we finally broke through. And I remember it like it was yesterday. Everyone was saying that the Broncos had the best offense in the league, and possibly in NFL history. Peyton Manning had thrown for 55 touchdowns that season, he had Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Eric Decker, etc etc. Seattle didn't have a shot. Needless to say, that wasn't the case. On the opening play from scrimmage, the noise from the faithful Seahawks fans that traveled to New Jersey was too much for Broncos center Manny Ramirez as he snapped the ball before quarterback Peyton Manning was ready. The ball sailed into the end zone where running back Knoshown Moreno fell on it and was downed for a safety. I erupted in laughter and screaming as I knew that if we got off to a start like that, there was no way we were losing this game. My Seahawks went on to utterly dominate the game offensively, defensively, and on special teams, becoming the first team to score via a safety, interception return for a touchdown, and kickoff return for a touchdown. Essentially, if there was a way to score, Seattle scored that way. Easily one of the best nights of my life. Go freakin' Hawks.

Number 4: Julian Edelman's miraculous catch

Super Bowl 51: Patriots 34, Falcons 28

MVP: Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots

You see that ball in the top right corner of the picture? Now what if I told you the guy in the white jersey would catch that ball? You'd think I was crazy, unless you watched this live. Everyone knows this as the game where Brady came back from a 28-3 deficit to beat the Falcons and win his 5th ring. However, Brady had some help. Down 8 points with around 2 minutes to go in the game, Brady heaved a ball up that should've been intercepted. However, Falcons' cornerback Robert Alford tipped the ball up and when it fell, it fell into the fingertips of Patriots' wide receiver Julian Edelman. For a team that had been on the wrong side of so many of these crazy catches, it felt fitting that New England finally got one of their own. Brady would then lead the drive that resulted in a James White touchdown followed by the two point conversion courtesy of a Danny Amendola reception. In the first overtime in Super Bowl history, the Patriots would get the ball first and James White would score a touchdown to end the game. While this game is going to be remembered for Atlanta's collapse, let's not forget the sweet revenge the Patriots got on those crazy Super Bowl catches.

Number 3: David Tyree's amazing helmet catch

Super Bowl 42: Giants 17, Patriots 14

MVP: Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants

There really isn't much more to say here. The picture is worth a thousand words. Manning and his heavily underdog Giants shocked the 18-0 New England Patriots in what many consider one of the biggest upsets in sports history. Down 14-10 with 2 minutes and 39 seconds left, Manning led the game winning drive that included this iconic 32 yard catch by Tyree. The drive concluded with a touchdown reception by Plaxico Burress in what would be the game winning play. In a game that featured 3 current Hall of Famers (Randy Moss, Junior Seau, and Michael Strahan) and a few more future Hall of Famers, it was David Tyree who made the difference. 

Number 2: Tracy Porter's Pick Six of Peyton Manning

Super Bowl 44: Saints 31, Colts 17

MVP: Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints

This game wasn't as close as others on this list; however, it, by far, means the most. 5 years after the devastating Hurricane Katrina that destroyed the city of New Orleans, the hometown Saints went to Miami and brought back a Super Bowl. Many could argue the turning point was when Saints head coach Sean Payton successfully called an onside kick coming out of halftime, resulting in a Saints touchdown. With a 24-17 lead and late in the 4th quarter, Tracy Porter intercepted Peyton Manning and returned the ball 74 yards for a Saints touchdown, effectively ending the game. The lasting image of this game will be of Porter celebrating down the field as he returned the pick for a touchdown.

Number 1: Malcolm Butler's Game Ending Interception

 

Super Bowl 49: Patriots 28, Seahawks 24

MVP: Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots

Unquestionably the dumbest play call in sports history resulted in some epic heartbreak for yours truly. In what was an epic 3 week stretch, Seattle made a miraculous comeback to defeat the Green Bay Packers and make it Arizona for Super Bowl 49, then looked to be doing the same thing in the Super Bowl! Late in the 4th quarter, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson dropped back and heaved up a pass to receiver Jermaine Kearse, the hero of the game against Green Bay, who was covered by rookie cornerback Malcolm Butler. Butler tipped the pass up, and as Kearse fell, the ball fell into his arms giving Seattle the ball at the Patriots 5 yard line with 1 minute left in the game. Seattle gave their human wrecking ball, Marshawn Lynch, the ball on the next play and he was able to get the ball to the one yard line. With 26 seconds left, offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell called a pass instead of handing again to Lynch. Wilson dropped back and threw a pass to receiver Ricardo Lockette, however cornerback Malcolm Butler had seen the play before and jumped in front of Lockette intercepting the ball at the one yard line. The game was over. The chance to repeat was over. My heart was crushed. And the Patriots were, once again, world champions.