Miami magic: The Super Bowl’s special history on South Beach as Super Bowl LIV returns to Miami
-BW.jpg "File-This Jan. 18, 1976, file photo shows Pittsburgh Steeler Dwight White (78), chasing down Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach in the second quarter of Super Bowl X in Miami. Members of a special panel of 26 selected all of them for the position as part of the NFL’s celebration of its 100th season. All won league titles except Marino. All are in the Hall of Fame except Brady and Manning, who are not yet eligible. On Friday night, quarterback was the final position revealed for the All-Time Team. (AP Photo/File)")
For the 11th time in history, Miami will host the NFL’s biggest game of the year.
From the AFL-NFL World Championship to its current name the Super Bowl, the city of Miami has seen its share of classic and defining moments in the NFL’s 100-year history. Here is a look back at Miami’s glorious Super Bowl past.
Super Bowl II (1968)
(The Orange Bowl)
Green Bay Packers 33
Oakland Raiders 14
Super Bowl MVP: Bart Starr (Green Bay Packers QB)
It was his final game as head coach of the Green Bay Packers, so Vince Lombardi’s Packers won the only way they know how vs. the Oakland Raiders.
In dominating fashion. After two early field goals, a 62-yard touchdown pass from Starr to Boyd Dowler helped break the game open and the Raiders never recovered. The enduring image of the game is the Sports Illustrated cover that saw Lombardi get carried off the field for the last time.
Super Bowl III (1969)
(The Orange Bowl)
New York Jets 16
Baltimore Colts 7
Super Bowl MVP: Joe Namath (New York Jets QB)
Namath called his shot in front of the entire football world and followed through with perhaps the greatest upset in NFL History. Coming into the game, Namath guaranteed that the Jets were going to beat the Colts despite being double-digit underdogs. On a day where the Jets weren’t at their best, it was still good enough to upset the Colts.
Super Bowl V (1971)
(The Orange Bowl)
Baltimore Colts 16
Dallas Cowboys 13
Super Bowl MVP: Chuck Howley (Dallas Cowboys LB)
In the first Super Bowl post-merger, the fifth edition of the big game produced a few firsts. One, it gave us the first close and dramatic game despite being littered with turnovers. Second of all, we were treated to the first-ever MVP from the losing team. Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley intercepted two passes but it still was not enough to hand Dallas head coach Tom Landry his first Super Bowl win.
Super Bowl X (1976)
(The Orange Bowl)
Pittsburgh Steelers 21
Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl MVP: Lynn Swann (Pittsburgh Steelers WR)
Super Bowl X can easily be summed up as Lynn Swann’s career highlight reel. Amazing catches and iconic images help sum up the first of two classics between the two iconic franchises.
Super Bowl XIII (1979)
(The Orange Bowl)
Pittsburgh Steelers 35
Dallas Cowboys 31
Super Bowl MVP: Terry Bradshaw (Pittsburgh Steelers QB)
In what would turn out to be the final Super Bowl showdown, the Cowboys and Steelers put on what I’d call an underrated classic. The two most dominant teams of the 1970s helped end the decade slugging it out that came down to a heartbreaking play, and Terry Bradshaw getting the best of Roger Staubach one more time.
Super Bowl XXIII (1989)
(Joe Robbie Stadium)
San Francisco 49ers 20
Cincinnati Bengals 16
Joe Robbie Stadium was the site of one of the greatest drives in Super Bowl history. Down late to the Cincinnati Bengals, the always cool Joe Montana calmly marched the 49ers down the field 92 yards for a game-winning score. His hookup with Niners WR John Taylor put a capper on not only the 49ers as the team of the 1980s, but this was also the the final game for future Pro Football Hall of Famer Bill Walsh as an NFL head coach.
Super Bowl XXIX (1995)
(Joe Robbie Stadium)
San Francisco 49ers 49
San Diego Chargers 26
Super Bowl MVP: Steve Young (San Francisco 49ers QB)
He had been Joe Montana’s backup for a few seasons and struggled to overcome the Dallas Cowboys once he became the starter in San Fran. However, Steve Young would silence all doubts and “get the monkey off his back”. San Francisco dominated the Chargers and as of this reading, it is their last Super Bowl victory. Will that change come the first Sunday in February?
Super Bowl XXXIII (1999)
(Pro Player Stadium)
Denver Broncos 34
Atlanta Falcons 19
Super Bowl MVP: John Elway (Denver Broncos QB)
For years, John Elway had the label of being the best QB to never win a Super Bowl. A season before, he had won his first with a win over the Packers. In Super Bowl XXXIII, he ended his career on top as the Broncos took down the upstart Atlanta Falcons down in South Beach.
Super Bowl XLI (2007)
(Dolphin Stadium)
Indianapolis Colts 29
Chicago Bears 17
Super Bowl MVP: Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts QB)
It took Peyton Manning almost half a decade to slay the beast that is the New England Patriots and despite defeating Tom Brady in the AFC Championship Game, he still had one more hill to climb. In a game that saw everything from game-opening kickoff returns to iconic halftime shows in the rain, it was Peyton and the Colts who stood tall in the end. Now here’s Prince singing “Purple Rain”, in the rain.
Super Bowl XLIV (2010)
(Sun Life Stadium)
New Orleans Saints 31
Indianapolis Colts 17
Super Bowl MVP: Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints QB)
The last Super Bowl to hit Miami was a classic. Two dynamic offenses with two Canton-bound quarterbacks, it was everything you want as an NFL fan. The boldest move of the game did not come from Peyton Manning or Drew Brees, but it came at the beginning of the 2nd half. Saints head coach Sean Payton tricked basically everybody around the football world by going for an onside kick to give New Orleans a quick advantage. That play, along with Tracy Porter’s game-sealing 74-yard interception return remain iconic plays in not only Saints history, but Super Bowl history as well.
