The Super Bowl – great plays, greater memories
Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., is the host site for Super Bowl LV, airing Sunday on CBS.
Like just about everything in American life the last year, Super Bowl LV will look different.
Indeed, when the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers square off in the NFL title game on Sunday, Feb. 7, on CBS, both teams, announcers Jim Nantz and Tony Romo and viewers at home will likely be seeing a Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., that will be filled to only 20 percent of its approximately 66,000-fan capacity, meaning about 13,000 attendees and a lot of cardboard figures. This per league pandemic protocols, and as usual, that could change by kickoff.
But what is known is there will likely be a play, a drive or a defensive stand that will have everyone talking Monday morning. It could be a seemingly impossible catch on fourth and long, a key interception in the closing seconds or a long field goal as time runs out. But it will be something for which this game will be remembered.
The following are a few from Super Bowls past that stand out.
“The Tackle” (Super Bowl XXXIV: St. Louis Rams vs. Tennessee Titans, 2000): Ahead 23-16 with 10 seconds remaining, Rams linebacker Mike Jones brought down Titans wide receiver Kevin Dyson one-yard shy of the goal line as time ran out, thus preserving the Rams’ heart-stopping victory.
“The Helmet Catch” (Super Bowl XLII: New England Patriots vs. New York Giants, 2008): Giants WR David Tyree hauls down a 32-yard pass from Eli Manning, pinning the ball against his helmet as he fell, a critical closing-seconds play that kept the gamewinning drive alive in New York’s 17-14 upset of the previously undefeated Pats.
“The Stop” (Super Bowl XVI: Cincinnati Bengals vs. San Francisco 49ers, 1982): It was only one yard the Bengals needed to get into the end zone and back into what was a 20-7 game in the third quarter. But the defense didn’t give an inch in four plays, the Niners regained possession and went on to a 26-21 victory.
“Elway’s Helicopter Spin” (Super Bowl XXXII: Denver Broncos vs. Green Bay Packers, 1998): At third and six from the Packers’ 12 in the third quarter of a tie game, Broncos quarterback John Elway’s decision to leap head-first over a trio of Packers defenders resulted in a spinning first down – and ultimately the game-deciding drive in a 31-24 Denver triumph.
“Riggins’ Run” (Super Bowl XVII: Miami Dolphins vs. Washington Redskins, 1983): Down 17-13 and needing a yard to continue a third quarter drive, Washington called on bruising running back John Riggins to go off tackle to get the first down. But he did a little better, bouncing off defenders and rambling 43 yards for the score in a Washington 27-17 win.
“The Ambush”: (Super Bowl XLIV: Indianapolis Colts vs. New Orleans Saints, 2010): After watching his team sleep-walk through two quarters, Saints coach Sean Payton called for a onside kick to start the second half. The gutsy move paid off as New Orleans recovered, drove down the field for a touchdown that gave them the lead and momentum in what would become a Saints 31-17 victory.