Photo courtesy of New York Giants
For the first time this postseason, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be playing at home.
Tampa Bay became the first team to host a Super Bowl when it topped the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship on Sunday afternoon. The Buccaneers will host the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7.
Although this is the first time that a team will host a Super Bowl, it will be the fifth time that the biggest event in sports takes place in Tampa. Here’s a look at the previous four ranked from worst to best:
4. Super Bowl XXXV
Baltimore Ravens 34, New York Giants 7
MVP: Ray Lewis, LB, Baltimore
Date: Jan. 28, 2001
Summary: The last Super Bowl played in January, the Baltimore Ravens’ legendary defense lived up the hype. Baltimore held the New York Giants to just 152 yards. New York was held without an offensive touchdown as its only score came on a kickoff return by Ron Dixon. That was immediately answered by a kickoff return for a score by Baltimore’s Jermaine Lewis. The Ravens picked off Giants’ quarterback Kerry Collins four times. Duane Starks returned one of those for a touchdown.
3. Super Bowl XVIII
Los Angeles Raiders 38, Washington Redskins 9
MVP: Marcus Allen, RB, Los Angeles
Date: Jan. 22, 1984
Summary: The Washington Redskins were looking to win consecutive Super Bowls, but the Los Angeles Raiders quelled those hopes early in the second half. Los Angeles scored touchdowns in all three facets of the game. After Derrick Jensen and Jack Squirek scored non-offensive touchdowns for the Raiders, Marcus Allen put the game away with a pair of third-quarter touchdown runs, including an electrifying 74-yard scamper in which Allen reversed his field. Allen rushed for a then Super Bowl record 191 yards as the Raiders won their second Super Bowl in four years.
2. Super Bowl LIII
Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Arizona Cardinals 23
MVP: Santonio Holmes, WR, Pittsburgh
Date: Feb. 1, 2009
Summary: One of the more exciting finishes in Super Bowl history, Super Bowl LIII saw the lead change twice in the final 2:37. Trailing 20-7 after three quarters, the Arizona Cardinals opened the final quarter with 16 straight points. Kurt Warner’s second touchdown pass of the quarter to Larry Fitzgerald — a 64-yarder — gave the Cardinals a 23-20 lead. Ben Roethlisberger proceeded to march the Steelers 78 yards in eight plays for the win. Roethlisberger’s 6-yard touchdown pass to MVP Santonio Holmes with 35 seconds remaining served as the game-winner as Pittsburgh became the first NFL franchise to win six Super Bowls.
1. Super Bowl XXV
New York Giants 20, Buffalo Bills 19
MVP: Ottis Anderson, RB, New York
Date: Jan. 27, 1991
Summary: The last Super Bowl played at Tampa Stadium served as the only 1-point game in Super Bowl history. The New York Giants rallied from a 12-3 deficit to take a 17-12 lead into the fourth quarter, but Buffalo Bills’ running back Thurman Thomas scored on the first play of the final period. New York pulled back in front with a short Matt Bahr field goal, but it was Bills’ kicker Scott Norwood whose kick would long be remembered. With just four seconds remaining, Norwood’s 47-yard attempt sailed right, giving the Giants their second Super Bowl win in five years.
Mike Ferguson is the managing editor for Fifth Quarter. Be sure to follow Mike on Twitter at @MikeWFerguson. Follow all of Mike’s work by liking his Facebook page.