How "great" was Super Bowl XLIII?

[The Unseen]

Yahoo's front title says one of the greatest games ever played. I disagree. It was great, but was it otherwordly epic, like "The Greatest Game Ever Played," or Giants/Bills SB? I can't say. Then again, I haven't really thought it through.

Comments? Suggestions? Refutations?

[Smooth Criminal]

I thought it was an amazing game. Definately some awesome plays. I can't remember a 4th quarter quite like that one.

I think it definately tops last years, which everyone said was amazing. The way Arizona crawled back to take the lead and then the amazing drive put together by Ben make it an amazing game.

Could be that I'm a Steelers fan and its the most excited I have ever been for a game. But I'm trying to look at it objectivly, and it really has all the pieces for a great game.

[Crickett]

Great game? Yes, it was a great game. The greatest game? No.

[bhaarat316]

No way last years superbowl was the greatest. Forget the 19-0 thing, or giants being underdogs. But just the amazing come back and the great lucky plays that happened.

This one was good but not like last years



Can a superbowl be the greatest if its not a close score and its something like 35-7?

[Jakey]

I cant tell you what it was like for an unbiased fan, but as a Steelers fan it was one of (if not) the most exciting games i have ever seen. It lulled down a lil bit in the 3rd with all the penalties and what not, but the 4th quater was just unreal! For me personally, it was on par with last year...but they were both very different games.

[yodapoop]

Super Bowl 34, though I am biased, is and always will be the best super bowl to me. WARNING....DO NOT SCROLL DOWN IF U ARE A TITAN FAN

http://espn.go.com/media/nfl/2000/0130/photo/a_jones.jpg

http://assets.espn.go.com/media/sportsnation/2005/0906/photo/XXXIV_dyson.jpg

[Smooth Criminal]

Super Bowl 34, though I am biased, is and always will be the best super bowl to me. WARNING....DO NOT SCROLL DOWN IF U ARE A TITAN FAN

http://espn.go.com/media/nfl/2000/0130/photo/a_jones.jpg

http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/2012587.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF1934A2752006EF5F0ED795F58D1275AA980 5A5397277B4DC33E

http://assets.espn.go.com/media/sportsnation/2005/0906/photo/XXXIV_dyson.jpg

Thats the one that I would go with for best ever. How can a game beat that close? I don't know what I would have done if I was watching that as a Titans fan.

[no love]

Great game, but it was way sloppy with all of those dumb penalties.

[Paul]

Great game? Yes, it was a great game. The greatest game? No.

That's about it. It was definitely an entertaining game, but "greatest" is going overboard.

[Geo]

Agreed. I actually had family remark during the game how dull it was at times. Until the ...

Great finish though, or great fourth quarter if you want to say.

But I wouldn't say it was a great game overall. I certainly disagree with the Commish that it was better than SB XLII, Pats/Giants. Even though that was low scoring, it was never (as) dull at any point.

[hugegmenfan]

as a giants fan u guys an call me biased, but it was not as great as last year. this was a fabulous game but on the espn poll ppl had this ranked ahead and as one of the greatest superbowls ever. i actually do not agree at all. the steelers were supposed to win- and they did. last year it was the 18-0 patriots against the 6th seeded, lucky to get in Giants, and the Giants against like a 12 pt spread beat the unbeatable pats. This was a GREAT game- do not get me wrong- i was on my seat, screaming and into it as if it was a Giant's game, but it did not match the greatness of other SBs namely the Titans/Rams, Giants/Bills, Broncos/Packers, etc

[Go_Eli]

We're all on the SB high. In a year, how will this SB be remembered? As one of the greatest of all time? I doubt it.

[BroadwayJoe10]

If we were rating the game solely on the 4th quarter, than I would say it would definitely be up there. However, the first three quarters were fairly boring; enough so that I heard a handful of big football fans actually comment on how boring of a game it was.

That having been said, if you combined the overall excitement of the finish with the other three quarters than it was one of the better ones of the last few years, but not as good as last year.

[Giantsfan1080]

Very good game but not the greatest. All the Super Bowls that will be played under the salary cap system will all be close because teams aren't as dominant as they used to be. Last year's game was much better taking everything into account.

[CashmoneyDrew]

Thats the one that I would go with for best ever. How can a game beat that close? I don't know what I would have done if I was watching that as a Titans fan.

I literally cried. Granted I was like 11. Still.

[steelernation77]

Maybe not greatest, but some things of note from this game:

Longest play in Super Bowl history
Largest deficit overcome in Super Bowl history
That last drive by the Steelers and Santonio's catch
Most Super Bowls won by a team
Youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl

[vidae]

That was an AMAZING catch Holmes made, one of the best I've ever seen. Great 4th quarter but tbh the first half was kind of boring.

[Denver Bronco56]

I honestly thought it was BORING tell the last 8 minutes....

[Mr. Stiller]

That was an AMAZING catch Holmes made, one of the best I've ever seen. Great 4th quarter but tbh the first half was kind of boring.

I think whats underplayed is the Pass.

Ben put it where only Holmes could get it while being in Triple Coverage.

[jayceheathman]

I'm mad because that 4th quarter scoring frenzy made me lose my under bet at 46.5 points.

[LonghornsLegend]

Obviously if your team played in that Super Bowl, and it was a good game, your going to think it was one of the best, probably impossible to not think that way because your more excited about a Super Bowl featuring your favorite team.


Personally this game was kinda slow and boring until the 4th quarter, it had a great ending, but I think some people just get caught up in the "now" and what's the freshest in people's minds...Awesome game though, on that Fitzgerald 64 yd TD it looked like he ran at least a 4.2, either timed speed is overrated or he's gotten a helluva lot faster since being drafted.

[giantsfan]

Personally this game was kinda slow and boring until the 4th quarter, it had a great ending, but I think some people just get caught up in the "now" and what's the freshest in people's minds...Awesome game though, on that Fitzgerald 64 yd TD it looked like he ran at least a 4.2, either timed speed is overrated or he's gotten a helluva lot faster since being drafted.

Well Fitzy was running full speed while Troy P and Clark were both standing still...

[Kurve]

I still think last years was better ...mainly do to the Underdog giants had no chance of beating the unbeatable patriots. This superbowl does rank up there with rams and titan SB in recent memory.

[LonghornsLegend]

Well Fitzy was running full speed while Troy P and Clark were both standing still...

They weren't standing still when he caught the slant after 4 yards, at that point they had a good pursuit angle on him until it looked like he shot out of a cannon.

[MetSox17]

I fell asleep from half time till Fitzgerald scored and everyone in my house started yelling.

[thetedginnshow]

I think this was definitely better than last year's, but not one of the greatest ever.

[tjsunstein]

Rams/Titans
Giants/Patriots
Cardinals/Steelers
Broncos/Packers

The great super bowls I remember. Though the Packers lost it was still an incredible game. How you arrange them is debatable, though its based on opinion and not factual evidence, but no one is wrong.

[Rayray52]

This year and last year were very similair in that they started slowly and had great second halves and a 4th quarters. The Harrison play really capped off the first half nicely and was a sign that the action was going to pick up, last year the first half was really disjointed and slow i would say overall this year edges the pats/giants game slightly.

[MetSox17]

Everyone easily forgets all the Tom Brady/Adam Vinatieri heroics.

All three of the Patriots Superbowl wins were better than this game. Their loss last year as well.

[Paranoidmoonduck]

Greatly great.

[Brent]

All three of the Patriots Superbowl wins were better than this game. Their loss last year as well.
Quoted for truth.

[tjsunstein]

You're right but they didn't have the overplayed story line like the 18-0 Pats so thats the one everyone remembers.

[Paranoidmoonduck]

Actually I think this game was way better than last year's. Last year's just had an amazing storyline.

[MetSox17]

Actually I think this game was way better than last year's. Last year's just had an amazing storyline.

Meh, to each his own.

I thought the Giants man-handling of the most prolific offense in NFL history was a better watch. The Cardinals defense just made me wanna gauge my eyes out at times today.

[mqtirishfan]

The only real enjoyment I got out of the first 3 quarters was laughing at Gandy/Hayes.

[indyfan1985]

This game really meant nothing to me. I didnt really care about either team, however I would have liked to see the underdog team win. But give me a break on the greatness of Big Ben talk. Just cause he has won 2 SBs does not make him greater than Peyton Manning. Ben has had a MUCH better defense which we all know really wins the games in most cases.

[JonasBlane]

Great, great game... I don't see how you can not call it one of the best ever... It was the best Super Bowl ever in my eyes, but those eyes aren't very objective in this situation. It wasn't the best game up until the 4th, but then there was a spectacular finish.. but there have been better finishes, just not by much.

[Menardo75]

I thought it was a great game for sure. It wouldn't be too far fetched to say it was one of the best ever.

[Gay Ork Wang]

i agree. i thought it was a great game, but way too boring the first 3/4th. i almost fell asleep in the 3rd

[Gay Ork Wang]

Yahoo's front title says one of the greatest games ever played. I disagree. It was great, but was it otherwordly epic, like "The Greatest Game Ever Played," or Giants/Bills SB? I can't say. Then again, I haven't really thought it through.

Comments? Suggestions? Refutations?
the Greatest Game ever played had nothing special besides the last drive

[TitanHope]

WARNING....DO NOT SCROLL DOWN IF U ARE A TITAN FAN

Now what could possibly be so terrible that...

http://espn.go.com/media/nfl/2000/0130/photo/a_jones.jpg

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

[tony77]

1. Giants/Pats
2. Rams/Titans
3. Giants/Bills
4. 49ers/Bengals
5. Pats/Rams

The game we saw last night had so many dumb penalties and had no flow at all. The only guys who played like studs for a whole game were Kurt Warner, despite the INT that went back for 100 yards, and Santonio Holmes (who was incredibly dangerous on those short passes early and then on the last drive).

All of the unsportsmanlike and personal foul calls were ridiculous. I know the game is very emotional, but you have to get your heads together. Running over the holder??? I have never seen that before, and of all guys to do it, it was Adrian Wilson.

Harrison had that return for the TD which was amazing, but then he does that nonsense to Francisco, which results in Safety, then touchdown.

Wildly entertaining? Aboslutely...that's how I like my Super Bowls. One of the best ever? No.

[broth223]

Yeah Yodachu got it 100% correct the Titans Rams was the greatest super bowl ever I was spellbound for 20 minutes after watching that play. Simply saying ... "wow .... I mean ... wow"

[rockio42]

My favorite three have to be 1) Rams/Titans 2) Giants/Patriots 3) Steelers/Cardinals

any even though I may be biased the Rams/Titans is ahead by a wide margin...I still remember where I was and who i was sitting by during the tackle...I remeber throwing my elbow when they tackle happened and breaking my best friend's nose...

[703SKINS202]

Good Superbowl, last 3 minutes were probably the best I've ever seen. A Superbowl that I thought was awesome that isn't getting props was CAR/NE 29-32.

[Go_Eagles77]

I would say it's one of the best games ever if it was actually good all the way through. The 4th quarter was one of the best quarters ever though.

[JRTPlaya21]

I still gotta go with Rams-Titans, even though we had a blackout and I had to listen to it on the radio.

[cdub11]

My favorites are:

1. Giants/Pats
2. Steelers/Cards
3. Rams/Titans
4. 49ers/Bengals

[keylime_5]

the first three quarters were average. Third quarter was kinda boring. the 4th quarter, especially the ending, was fantastic and one of the best in super bowl history. Overall I'd say the game ranks in the middle or maybe slightly above the middle of the pack in terms of super bowls.

[Sniper]

the first three quarters were average. Third quarter was kinda boring. the 4th quarter, especially the ending, was fantastic and one of the best in super bowl history. Overall I'd say the game ranks in the middle or maybe slightly above the middle of the pack in terms of super bowls.

Kind of like the Boise State-Oklahoma game. People made it seem as if that game were better than the Texas-USC Rose Bowl.

[ShutDwn]

How could it be the greatest when it wasn't very good until the last 12 minutes? It was very average till then.

It might be top five, but I wouldn't put it in the top three.

[bored of education]

One of the top 5 I have seen. Giant/Pats, Pats/ Panthers, Titans/Rams and this one. Bills/Giants was up there as well.

[Gay Ork Wang]

Kind of like the Boise State-Oklahoma game. People made it seem as if that game were better than the Texas-USC Rose Bowl.
idk the boise state ending was kinda more special than this

[drowe]

History is gonna remember this game because of what happened in the 4th quarter and forget the fact that the 3rd quarter was some of the worst football from any Superbowl ever. But, do ya think any of the amazing Superbowls were 60 minutes of awesomeness?

I've watched every minute of each of the last 20 Superbowls, starting with XXIII when Montana led the 49ers on the game winning drive over the Bengals. Even the best games have boring stretches.

The thing about this Superbowl...

-The big name players are the ones that came through: Big Ben, Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, James Harrison. History is gonna be very kind to those group of players because of what happened last night. Right now, we look at Ben Roethisberger as a good young QB. But, now he's won 2 Superbowls and led a game winning drive VERY similar to Joe Montana's. This COULD be the defining moment in a Hall of Fame career.

-Some amazing plays happened. I am a big fan of the Rams-Titans Superbowl too. When that game happened, I was convinced that there would never be a Superbowl as good as that one. But, the deciding play was a routine catch and a routine tackle that just happened to fall just short of the goal line. The circumstances made that play extrordinary. In this game, we had Santonio Holmes making an amazing, toe dragging TD catch to win the game, capping a drive of Ben Roethlisberger avoiding sacks and finding recievers at a super human level. We also had a possible 14 point swing at the end of the first half on a VERY impressive pick 6. Watching the Defensive Player of the Year break 100 yards worth of tackles would've been the highlight of most Superbowls.

-And, really...16 points in the 4th quarter to take the lead..and that comeback is just a footnote now.

Amazing game.

[BuddyCHRIST]

It was great, not the greatest but I think better than last years. This one had its moments before the 4th quarter just not a whole lot. Unlike last year which was a snooze fest outside of about 2 drives. The main problem with this one is the first 3 quarters felt like they flew by, long drives by both teams limited to number of possessions.

[MetSox17]

Seriously, how are people forgetting the Patriots games? The Rams/Patriots games was amazing, the Rams/Titans game was amazing, as was the Pats/Giants, Pats/Panthers, Pats/Eagles, all better than this one.

[bored of education]

Seriously, how are people forgetting the Patriots games? The Rams/Patriots games was amazing, the Rams/Titans game was amazing, as was the Pats/Giants, Pats/Panthers, Pats/Eagles, all better than this one.

I wouldn't say all were better than this one. They are all in the same realm of greatness though. The Pats SUper Bowls in which they won were never as exciting and big play packed as this latest Super Bowl. Pats won at a more methodical fashion.

Pats Panthers as previously noted I think was the best of the Pats wins.

[drowe]

the Pats/Panthers Superbowl gets overlooked all the time now...which is really too bad because it's right up there with the best of 'em.

[Xiomera]

This is one of the 3-4 best Super Bowls I've watched.

The first half was kinda a dud, but the 4th quarter made up for it big time.

[sweetness34]

The last quarter was great, and so was Harrison's TD but not even close to one of the greatest games IMHO. The ending was superb no doubt about it but as a whole I thought it was a slow game.

Every year people try and hype up a Super Bowl as to being "one of the best" when they know that it really wasn't. They need to try and get people to talk more about it. Games like the Giants/Pats, Rams/Titans, Rams/Pats, etc were great games to watch...This one was alright but not on par with those ones.

[sweetness34]

I think it was moreso a great "ending" than a great "game." Because as a whole it was mediocre, especially the first 3 quarters. Cards were horrid in the first half, neither was good in the 3rd, and in the 4th a big comeback and a final drive, with a fumble at the end of the game.

Plus there really wasn't the excitement from last year either and I think that's why I don't consider it one of the better SB's. Last year's just had that "feel" to it that it was a great game, this one relied on its ending.

[tjsunstein]

At one point I wanted to turn it off because of the penalties.
(No, I'm not bashing the refs, but the players instead.)

[TimD]

And I must say Big Ben might be the most hated QB by his own fans to win a superbowl. I mean every Steelers fan I've talked to, which is a lot considering where I am, hates him with a passion. even after that drive

[steelernation77]

And I must say Big Ben might be the most hated QB by his own fans to win a superbowl. I mean every Steelers fan I've talked to, which is a lot considering where I am, hates him with a passion. even after that drive

What Steeler fans are you talking to? Most I know love him. There's a reason his jersey is always near the top in NFL sales.

[steelernation77]

At one point I wanted to turn it off because of the penalties.
(No, I'm not bashing the refs, but the players instead.)

Gandy was overmatched. Every one of those holds was because Harrison was too much for him. Harrison might not have had many sacks, but those holding calls are due to him being such a force.

[FlyingElvis]

Great ending to a decent game, but not the greatest SB ever. Rams/Titans, Pats/Panthers, Giants/Pats were all better, imo. I would give this one top ten honors for such a great finish.

But without the exciting 100 yard DTD it really would have been 3 quarters of completely forgettable football. So the DTD & final scores in the 4th vault it up a bit.

How can anyone consider this game better than the Pats v. Panthers? That game had more points (also racked up in the final minutes of each half) and ended on a field goal in the final seconds FTW.


The more important question is this: why did they not take a few minutes to review the final "fumble" to be sure the call was right? Stupid. It sure looked like Kurt held on to the ball and had it going forward. One more play should have been allowed . . .

[Canadian_draft_fan]

A great game but not the greatest. Quite a few "woo-hoo" plays especialyy in the second half. Still I found it more entertaining than the Pats/Giants SB last year.

[captainjack27]

Great game...but greatest I saw was Super Bowl 34. Prolly top 3 though

[Iamcanadian]

The trouble is that for most of Super Bowl history the games were blowouts because teams had a 3 week layoff before playing the game an inevitably it meant a blowout. When they switched to a 2 week layoff, even then there were a lot of blowouts because teams simply weren't used to layoffs and a lot of teams came out flat. When the NFL introduced a week off for most teams during the regular season which meant it was a 2 week layoff between those games, teams slowly got used to how to prepare after such a layoff and most of the games played today are very competitive because of it.
For me it is hard to decide which SB is the greatest. Any game that came down to the 4th quarter including a 2 minute drives that won the game are all in the same category, it's almost impossible to separate one from the other.

[Vox Populi]

Pats vs. Panthers has been my favourite Super Bowl to date. That was a battle. Sauerbrun Panthers MVP :P

[holt_bruce81]

Great game, probably top 5 in SB history. But the Greatest SB ever played was 99 Rams/Titans, 01 Pats/Rams, 07 Giants/Pats.

[GB12]

The first half was just ok, the third quarter was incredibly boring, and the 4th quarter was good.

Best Super Bowl? Absolutely not.

[Gay Ork Wang]

it was going forward, but as far as i could see, he didnt have control anymore when he went forward. i think the tuck rule is only if ur moving forward and u have full control

[yodapoop]

I was watching The Jim Rome Show because That 70s Show didn't appear to be on, and I can't believe what I heard what some dip ****, Tom Friend said. He said it was the third best next to Pats/Giants and Pats/Rams. No, it wasn't, the Rams/Titans, Pats/Panthers were better. This was the 5th best super bowl in the decade.

1. Rams/Titans
2. :( Rams/Pats :(
3. Giants/Pats
4. Panthers/Pats
5. Cardinals/Steelers

But that wasn't the most thing that pissed me off. He said he'd take Ben Roetlisberger over Peyton Manning, are u bleeping kidding me? I mean Ben is good, but he is no Peyton. He also called Arizona the best losers of the super bowl. Once again, last year's almost perfect Pats who didn't commit 100+ pentaly yards. I couldn't believe the super bowl high, but this wasn't even in the top 3 over the past ten years.

[JeffSamardzijaIRISH]

Obviously if your team played in that Super Bowl, and it was a good game, your going to think it was one of the best, probably impossible to not think that way because your more excited about a Super Bowl featuring your favorite team.


Personally this game was kinda slow and boring until the 4th quarter, it had a great ending, but I think some people just get caught up in the "now" and what's the freshest in people's minds...Awesome game though, on that Fitzgerald 64 yd TD it looked like he ran at least a 4.2, either timed speed is overrated or he's gotten a helluva lot faster since being drafted.

well he ran about 56 yards in about 6 seconds.

[sweetness34]

I'd love to see what Ben can do when his defense isn't the best in the league.

[Gay Ork Wang]

So the Superbowl Curse is gonna hit the Cardinals very quick

[steelernation77]

I'd love to see what Ben can do when his defense isn't the best in the league.

Not to sound arrogant, but the Steelers consistently have one of the top defenses in the league, so you probably won't see that.

[Mr.Regular]

How come no one ever talks about SB 38 anymore? That was a hell of a game. Much like last nights. Somewhat dull, followed by a 4th quarter explosion.
Of the most recent games, say past 10 Super Bowls, Id rate them:
1-42
2-34
3- 38
4- 43
5- 36

(note this is a quick list off the top of my head.)

[katnip]

To me it was pretty good... If I was to rate some super bowls I've seen.

Elway/Broncos vs Favre's Packers = 10/10
Titans vs Rams (1999???) = 9/10
Giants vs Pats (2008) = 8.5-9/10 (thought all the way g-men had the game, the weeks before)
cards vs pitt (2009) = 8/10

just one's I've remembered