Super Bowl History 2000 - 2008

Super Bowl XLIII

Super Bowl XLIII, the 43rd annual Super Bowl game, pitted the AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the NFC champion Arizona Cardinals.

The Steelers (15–4) defeated the Cardinals (12–7) by a score of 27-23, earning their sixth Super Bowl win, a new NFL record. It broke three-way, five-win tie among the Steelers, San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys.

The game was played on February 1, 2009, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

From a betting perspective, Pittsburgh was a 7-point favorite. While the Steelers won "straight up" the Cardinals covered the point spread, losing by just four points.

Arizona entered the game looking for their first NFL championship since 1947, the longest championship drought in the league. Pittsburgh outgained Arizona 158 to 102 yards in the first half of Super Bowl XLIII, jumping to a 17–7 lead at halftime. However, Arizona scored 16 unanswered points in the 4th quarter, to take the lead with 2:37 remaining in the game. But then the Steelers marched 78-yards to score with 35 seconds left. Receiver Santonio Holmes, who caught the winning TD pass, was named Super Bowl MVP.

The game was watched by approximately 98.7 million Americans, making it the most-watched Super Bowl in history.

SUPERBOWL XLII

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to receiver Plaxico Burress with 35 seconds left in the fourth quarter to lead the Giants to one of the greatest upsets in Super Bowl history, a 17-14 win over the previously unbeaten New England Patriots. New York (14-6) came into Super Bowl XLII as 12-point underdogs, but won the Vince Lombardi Trophy as NFL champions for the first time since the 1990 season.

New York’s win prevented the Patriots from going 19-0 (regular season plus playoffs) and preserved the 1972 Miami Dolphins’ record of being the only team in NFL history to finish unbeaten and untied on the way to winning the Super Bowl. After New York went ahead 17-14 late in the game, New England quarterback Tom Brady, a two-time Super Bowl MVP and the league's reigning regular season MVP, wasn't able to move the Pats in the final seconds. Manning finished the game completing 19-of-34 passes for 255 yards and was picked off once. He was named Super Bowl XLII MVP.

Brady connected on 29-of-48 passes for 266 yards, while Wes Welker tied a Super Bowl record with 11 receptions, totaling 103 yards. The championship title was the third in Giants’ history, having won previously in 1986 and 1990.

SUPERBOWL XLI

On Feb. 4, 2007, QB Peyton Manning led the Indianapolis Colts to a 29-17 win over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI at Miami's Dolphin Stadium. Manning, who hit 25 of 38 passes for 247 yards with one touchdown and one interception, was named Super Bowl MVP in the rain-soaked NFL championship. Colts' coach Tony Dungy became the first African-American head coach to win a Super Bowl, beating good friend and protégé Lovie Smith in a game that featured the first two black coaches in Super Bowl history. The game began decidedly in favor of the Bears, as the opening kickoff was run back 92 yards for a touchdown by Bears' rookie Devin Hester. The first half was marred by six turnovers, three for each team. The Colts led 16-14 at halftime, and picked up a field goal in the third quarter. With 11:44 remaining in the fourth quarter, Bears' quarterback Rex Grossman's wobbly pass was picked off and returned 56 yards for a touchdown by the Colts' Kelvin Hayden, sealing the win.

SUPER BOWL XL

On February 5th, 2006 Mike Holmgren’s Seattle Seahawks went down 21-10 to Bill Cowher and his Pittsburgh Steelers at Detroit’s Ford Field. Super Bowl XL was not without controversy when Seattle’s Darrell Jackson scored an apparent touchdown from 16 yards out in the first quarter, only to be called for offensive pass interference. Seattle had to settle for a field goal. “Usually you see a no call in a situation like that” commented Seahawk’s Coach Mike Holmgren. MVP, Hines Ward, caught 5 passes for 123 yards, and scored one touchdown. Ward set up Pittsburgh’s first touchdown when he caught a 37-yard third-down pass, which gave them a 7-3 lead with 1:55 to play in the first half. Then, Ward made a 43-yard touchdown that essentially finished off Seattle, with 8:56 left in the game. Another big play included Deshea Townsend's sack that killed Seattle's chances in the fourth quarter. Pittsburgh tied San Francisco and Dallas with its five Super Bowl titles.

Super Bowl XXXIX

On February 1st, 2005 Bill Bilichick's New England Patriots solidified their Dynasty with a 24-21 Super Bowl 39 victory over Andy Reid's Philadelphia Eagles at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. All-Pro receiver, Terrell Owens played hurt, but led the Eagles with 122 yards receiving. Super Bowl Thirty-Nine MVP, Deion Branch, led the game with 133 yards. Donovan McNabb threw for three touchdowns, but his three interceptions finished off the Eagles. Tom Brady continued his Super Bowl perfection, throwing for 2 touchdowns; 1 to Mike Vrabel and 1 to David Givens. Rudy Gay had 10 tackles, and Rodney Harrison had 2 picks and a sack to lead the Patriot defense. Corey Dillon and Brian Westbrook led their respective teams in rushing. Other key players for the World Champion Patriots were Ted Bruschi, Willie McGinest, and Rosevelt Colvin.

Super Bowl XXXVIII

Super Bowl 38 was played on February 1st, 2004 in Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. Bill Belichick's Patriots defeated John Fox's Carolina Panthers 32-29. Jake Delhomme threw touchdown passes to Steve Smith, Mushin Muhammad, and Ricky Proehl. Proehl's catch tiedthe game with just under a minute left. In that minute, Super Bowl Thirty-Eight MVP, Tom Brady, led the Patriots to the 23 yard line. Adam Vinatieri kicked a 41 yard field goal to win the game. Stephen Davis and Deshaun Foster combined for 92 yards rushing. DeioBranch, Mike Vrabel, and David Givens all caught touchdowns. Lineman Julius Peppers and Kris Jenkins led Carolina while Richard Seymour and Ted Washington led New England.

Super Bowl XXXVII

On January 26th, 2003 in San Diego, at California's Qualcomm Stadium, John Gruden's Tampa Bay Buccaneers trounced Bill Callahan's Oakland Raiders 48-21, for a Super Bowl 37 victory. Super Bowl Thirty-Seven MVP, Dexter Jackson, led the Buccaneers with two ofTampa's five interceptions, as Buc defenders returned 3 interceptions for touchdowns (2 by Dwight Smith, 1 by Derrick Brooks) while sacking Rich Gannon five times. Jerry Rice and Jerry Porter caught Oakland's only offensive scores. Oakland's Charlie Garner had only 10rushing yards. Michael Pittman had 124 yards, Mike Alstott a rushing touchdown, and Keenan McCardell caught 2 touchdowns for Tampa. Warren Sapp, John Lynch, Ronde Barber, and Simeon Rice helped shut down the Raiders. Rod and Charles Woodson couldn't slow Brad Johnson.

Super Bowl XXXVI

Super Bowl 36 was played on February 2nd, 2002 at the Louisiana Super Dome in New Orleans. Bill Belichick's New England Patriots pulled off a huge upset over Mike Martz' St.Louis Rams to take Super Bowl Thirty-Six. The Rams out-gained the Patriots in yards 427-267, but the Patriots forced three turnovers while committing zero. Antoine Smith out-rushed Marshal Faulk and Tom Brady was flawless. Troy Brown led the Patriots in receiving, while David Patten caught Brady's lone touchdown pass. Az-Zahir Hakim, Torry Holt, and Ricky Proehl led the Rams' receiving unit. Ty Law took a Kurt Warner interception for a touchdown. Jeff Wilkins began the game with a field goal, but as time expired, Adam Vinitieri's 48-yard kick made New England victorious, 20-17.

Super Bowl XXXV

On January 28th, 2001, Brian Billick's Baltimore Ravens walloped Jim Fassel's N.Y. Giants, 34-7, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida to become Super Bowl 35 Champions.Ray Lewis took home the games MVP after leading a Raven defense that included Tony Siragusa, Sam Adams, Peter Boulware, Chris McAlister, and Rod Woodson among others, to a dominating 5 turnover performance in Super Bowl Thirty-Five. Jamal Lewis broke out for 102 yards and Trent Dilfer had a touchdown pass to Brandon Stokley. Duane Starks returned a Kerry Collins interception for a touchdown and Tiki Barber was held without a score. Ron Dixon had the Giants' only score, a 97 yard kick return.

Super Bowl XXXIV

On January 30th, 2000, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Dick Vermeil's St. Louis Rams beat Jeff Fisher's Tennessee Titans, 23-16, in Super Bowl 34. The leader of "The Greatest Show on Turf," Kurt Warner had a record 414 passing yards and 2 touchdowns, taking home Super Bowl Thirty-Four's MVP. Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt snagged a touchdown a piece, while Marshal Faulk caught 5 balls for 90 yards. A record nine players caught passes for the Rams. Eddie George and Steve McNair led the Titans offense. Frank Wycheck and Isaac Byrd caught balls to keep the Titans' final drive alive, but Kevin Dyson was tackled on the one-yard-line by Mike Jones as time expired, sealing the Ram win.