Written by Chris Chase at FoxSports.com
1. Butler’s interception (Super Bowl XLIX)
With Seattle one yard away from a Super Bowl-winning touchdown, Russell Wilson opted to throw a quick strike to Ricardo Lockette rather than hand the ball to the game’s best short-yardage back. New England’s Malcolm Butler stepped in front of the pass, made an interception that’s underrated for its difficult and became thThe biggest play in Super Bowl history and, frankly, it’s not even close.
2. Montana-to-Taylor (Super Bowl XXIII)
Capping an 11-play, 98-yard drive that lasted just 2:30, Joe Montana hit a wide open John Taylor in stride to score the go-ahead touchdown with 34 seconds left against the Bengals. And to think, it was all inspired by Uncle Buck.
3. Santonio! (Super Bowl XLIII)
When Ben Roehtlisberger threw into the corner of the end zone for Santonio Holmes, who’d already had 67 yards on Pittsburgh’s would-be, go-ahead touchdown drive, you thought there was no way Holmes had caught it. He had to extend too high to get the ball, leaving his feet vulnerable to slipping out of bounds. It wasn’t until replay when you saw the 5’11” Holmes stretch out to about 6’3″ to get a touchdown in the most entertaining Super Bowl of all.
4. The helmet catch (Super Bowl XLII)
The most famous play in the NFL history? After Eli Manning survived a sack, he heaved across the field to little-used David Tyree, who was smothered by Rodney Harrison and figured to have no chance to catch the desperation third-down heave. Somehow, Tyree pinned the ball to the top of his helmet and came down with the catch. Four plays later, Manning would hit Plaxico Buress for what would be the game-winning score.
5. 70 Chip (Super Bowl XVII)
Here comes the Diesel. On fourth-and-1, Joe Gibbs called the play everybody knew he would. 70 chip. John Riggins took the handoff, was met by Miami’s Don McNeal who went at Riggo and was thrown off like a kid at a bouncy house, en route to the go-ahead, game-winning score.
6. James Harrison’s 100-yard dash (Super Bowl XLIII)
The biggset momentum shift in Super Bowl history? Arizona had first-and-goal from the Steelers one-yard line late in the second quarter, looking for a touchdown that would give them a 14-10 halftime lead. Instead, Kurt Warner threw a pick that was somehow returned for 100 yards by James Harrison, who staggered to the other end zone like an Ironman competitor on his last legs. What would have been, at worst, a 10-10 tie, at best a 14-10 lead instead turned into a disastrous 17-7 deficit. According to Pro Football Reference, Arizona’s win probability went from 52.8% to 8.3%in those 100 yards.
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