The 2020 NFL season has flown by with Super Bowl LV only a few short months away. In the dead of the winter, there is truly nothing better to do than throw on the lucky jersey, make some hot chocolate, and scream your head off at the TV like the players can hear you through the screen. Football not only gets the highest ratings and most money from advertising than any other programming on cable television, but it is also an American tradition. Here is my list of the top 10 most gut-wrenching Super Bowl moments. 

#10 Off To The Right

In Super Bowl XXV, the New York Giants faced off against the Buffalo Bills. This was the first time two teams from the same state played each other in the finals. The Bills had a chance to take the lead and win the game with a field goal in expiring time. The kicker lined up and it missed to the right. 

#9 Jets Win

As a Jets fan, I had to throw in the Jets victory over the heavily favored Colts in 1969 as one of the best Super Bowl moments of all time. Jets quarterback, Joe Namath, threw a flawless game leading the team to a win in a nail-biting defensive battle 16-7.

#8 Brady’s First Title

Super Bowl XXXVI was played between the New England Patriots and St. Louis Rams. The Rams were favored, but the heroics of the young quarterback, Tom Brady, kept the Patriots in the game. A late-game drive put the Patriots in field goal range to win the game. As time ran out, Hall of Fame kicker, Adam Vinatieri, kicked and made a 48-yard field goal. This was the first title of six in Brady’s career with the Patriots.

#7 Second Quarter Maul

In Super Bowl XXII, the Washington Redskins faced off against the Denver Broncos. The Redskins were led by the first black quarterback in NFL history, Doug Williams. The quarterback suffered an injury in the first quarter and the team fell behind 10-0 to the Broncos. Then came one of the most dominant quarters in NFL history: Williams came back in the game and threw four touchdowns. The 35-point quarter led the Redskins to an easy victory and history was made.

#6 The Har-Bowl

The Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers faced off in Super Bowl XLVII. The head coaches of the opposing teams were actually brothers: Jim and John Harbaugh. This added a never before seen intensity to the game. The Ravens came out to an early lead that was closed by the 49ers in the second half. The Ravens managed to hold on and win 34-31.

#5 Atlanta Chokejob 

The Atlanta Falcons, led by Matt Ryan, faced off against the Brady-led New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI. The Falcons pulled out to an enormous 21-3 lead at halftime and many thought the game was already over. The Patriots closed the lead slightly in the third quarter, closing at 28-9. Never count Brady out of a game. The Patriots went on a 19-0 run in the fourth quarter and tied up the game. The Patriots seized the first overtime Super Bowl victory in league history, winning 34-28. Atlanta fans will forever sulk in the missed opportunity.

#4 Goalline Disaster

Super Bowl XLIX was played between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks held a large lead for the majority of the game. Brady’s classic comeback efforts came into fruition once again, as he erased the deficit in the fourth quarter, scoring two touchdowns and going up to a 28-24 lead. Quarterback Russell Wilson and the Seahawks drove down the field into the red-zone. With under thirty seconds left in the game, Wilson threw an interception to Patriots cornerback, Malcolm Butler, sealing the win for the Patriots.

#3. The Helmet Catch 

Brady’s New England Patriots came into Super Bowl XLII undefeated. They had not lost a game all regular season or in the playoffs and locked in place the best season in NFL history if they defeated the New York Giants, led by Eli Manning. The game went down to the wire; 14-10 Patriots with under two minutes left. The Giants had one more drive to pull out a miracle and try and win the game. Manning, about to be sacked, threw up a lob down the middle of the field that was caught by David Tyree, using his helmet. He landed on his back and somehow maintained possession of the ball. This continued the drive and led the Giants to the enormous upset against the striving for perfection Patriots.

#2 The Toe Tap

The Pittsburgh Steelers, led by Ben Roethlisberger, faced off against the Arizona Cardinals, led by Kurt Warner in Super Bowl XLIII. The Cardinals had a tumultuous and explosive fourth quarter, getting a safety and two touchdowns to take their first lead of the game with just over two minutes left. The Steelers drove down the field and managed to work the ball into the red-zone with under a minute remaining. Rothlisberger threw a flag route to the back of the endzone to the well covered wide receiver, Santonio Holmes. Holmes reached out for the ball and tapped his toes in bounds, maintaining possession when falling to the ground. The catch was dangerously close to being out of bounds, and it’s still debated today if it was a legal catch. Regardless, it led the Steelers to victory.

#1 Inches Away From Glory

Super Bowl XXXIV finished with one of the most heart-wrenching moments in football history. The St. Louis Rams, led by Kurt Warner, faced off against the Tennessee Titans led by Steve McNair. The Rams were up 16-0 in the third quarter before a comeback by the Titans evened the score. After another Rams touchdown, the Titans had one more chance to try and even the score and force overtime. With time expiring, Mcnair threw a pass to wideout, Kevin Dyson, who caught the ball and made a pursuit towards the endzone. Rams linebacker, Mike Jones, saw Dyson running and made a tackle, cracking Dyson to the ground. Before Dyson hit the ground, he extended his arm to reach for the endzone and the ball missed the line by under a yard. The tackle saved the game and gave the Rams the Super Bowl victory.

Thus concludes the greatest moments in Super Bowl history.

Go Jets!