The Super Bowl is one of the most watched sporting events on the planet, attracting just shy of 100 million viewers here in the United States and an estimated 208 million in total across the globe.
The culmination of the NFL season sees two teams fighting it out to win their sports ultimate prize in a game that is jam-packed full of drama, intrigue and tension. It is under these circumstances that we have seen some of the most iconic moments in NFL history unfold.
To get you in the mood for Super Bowl LVII and send you off into a frenzy checking the latest NFL odds, we have compiled some of the craziest and most iconic moments in Super Bowl history. Read on to find out what they are…
Malcolm Butler’s Lombardi Winning Pick Off
It can be easy to lull yourself into thinking that everything legendary quarterback Tom Brady touched turned to gold and forget about the lows earlier in his career that helped to inspire those later highs.
Between 2005 and 2015, Brady and the New England Patriots had experienced a decade of drought and with just 26 seconds on the clock in Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks it looked like a third defeat at the final hurdle in 10 years was on the cards.
Trailing by four points, a catch from Jermaine Kearse had left the Seahawks setting up camp at the goal line with Marshawn Lynch primed and ready to run for the game winning score.
Bizarrely, the Seahawks opted to pass instead, giving Malcolm Butler the chance to pick off Russell Wilson and seal the Patriots first Lombardi Trophy win in a decade.
(Highlights from a hugely dramatic and tumultuous Super Bowl XLIX.)
Sanantonio’s Last-Gasp Score
At half-time in this game, the Pittsburgh Steelers looked to be well on their way to securing what at that point, would have been a record sixth Vince Lombardi Trophy. A James Harrison touchdown had sent the Steelers into the break 17-7 up against a shell shocked looking Arizona Cardinals.
After the break however, the Cardinals came out with the bit between their teeth and edged ahead thanks to a 127-yard and two touchdown display from receiver Larry Fitzgerald. With two minutes on the clock and the game seemingly petering out, Cardinals fans began to believe that 2009 was going to be their year.
Unfortunately for them, Ben Roethlisberger had other ideas. Driving down the field, Big Ben took the game to the Cardinals before delivering the most sublime of passes to Sanantonio Holmes to score with just 35 seconds left on the clock.
(Ben Roethlisberger breaks Cardinals’ hearts.)
The Greatest Comeback in NFL History
In 2017 the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons faced off at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas for what would become one of the most iconic games in NFL history. The Falcons started the game at 100mph, blowing their opponents away and racing into a 28-3 lead midway through the third quarter.
Despite the pressure of winning a first Super Bowl history in the franchise’s history, the Falcons players looked to have more than risen to the occasion. Unfortunately for Atlanta fans, all of that early game determination and grit from their team quickly turned to complacency in the dying embers of the game.
With nothing to lose the Patriots offense came to life and with every point added to their tally, seemed to drain energy and belief from their opponents. After mounting a herculean comeback effort the Patriots finally drew level with 57 seconds on the clock after Danny Amendola got into the end-zone on a two-point screen pass.
In overtime the Falcons race was officially run. The Patriots claimed the ball early and made sure their opponents wouldn’t see it again. James White ran in the game winning touchdown to bookend one of the most incredible comebacks of all-time.
(The comeback to end all comebacks.)
David Tyree’s Helmet Catch
Elite level sports comes down to the smallest of margins and in 2008 we saw the greatest example of that in Super Bowl XLII between the New York Giants and New England Patriots. Going into the game the Giants were the underdogs against a team who were on the verge of becoming the first team since 1972 to go the season undefeated and untied.
With just over a minute remaining on the clock and the Patriots leading, the Giants needed to do something special to get back into the game. Quarterback Eli Manning received the ball and was immediately under pressure from Richard Seymour, Jarvis Green and Adalius Thomas.
With seemingly nothing on in front of him, Manning somehow wriggled free from his pursuers before throwing a 32-yard pass to David Tyree, who remarkably caught the ball by holding it up against his helmet.
That play was instrumental in setting the Giants up for the game winning touchdown and what’s more, it was also the final catch of David Tyree’s NFL career. From start to finish this was one of the craziest moments in Super Bowl history.
(The never repeatable helmet catch.)
