The greatest plays & game-winning scores in Super Bowl history
The clock shows 26 seconds remaining. The New England Patriots, undefeated through an entire season and 18 consecutive wins, lead by four points but face third-and-five from their own 44-yard line. The New York Giants’ season, their championship hopes, and their chance to deny perfection all hang on this single snap. Quarterback Eli Manning takes the snap, drops back, and suddenly the pocket collapses as Patriots defenders close in from multiple angles. What happens next will be replayed millions of times and debated for generations, a moment frozen in time that transforms from athletic competition into sporting immortality.
In the context of the Super Bowl, the term “goal” transcends its literal meaning as a scoring objective to encompass those defining, game-altering moments that change the trajectory of football history. These goals include miraculous catches that defy physics and probability, crucial turnovers that swing momentum irreversibly, defensive stands that stop offenses mere inches from glory, and game-winning scores delivered under suffocating pressure with championships hanging in the balance. The Super Bowl, as professional football’s ultimate stage, has produced plays that transcend mere scoring to become permanent chapters in NFL lore, defining dynasties, ending perfect seasons, and creating legends whose names will be remembered long after the final whistle. These moments represent football at its most dramatic and consequential, where a single play can validate years of preparation or destroy months of dominance in mere seconds.
This article explores the most significant plays and scores in Super Bowl history through several categories that capture different dimensions of championship drama. We examine offensive miracles where receivers made catches that seemed impossible, defensive game-changers where players made stops that altered history, and special teams moments where kickers and returners proved that every phase of football matters when the Lombardi Trophy is at stake. Each play featured here didn’t just impact one game but resonated through the sport, changing how we remember players, teams, and entire eras of professional football.
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The Helmet Catch (Super Bowl XLII: Giants vs. Patriots)
“Seventeen years ago today, Giants wideout David Tyree made one of the greatest catches in NFL history,” writes Fox Sports in an article published on February 3, 2025. The New England Patriots entered Super Bowl XLII with an 18-0 record, attempting to become the first team since the 1972 Miami Dolphins to complete a perfect season. Standing between them and immortality were the New York Giants, a wild-card team that had barely made the playoffs. With the Patriots leading 14-10 and just 1:15 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Giants faced third-and-five from their own 44-yard line. What happened next would become the most iconic play in Super Bowl history and one of the greatest upsets in all of sports.
Eli Manning took the snap and dropped back to pass, immediately facing pressure from the Patriots’ defense. Multiple defenders grabbed at Manning’s jersey as he tried to escape the pocket, with the play appearing finished as Patriots rushers seemed to have him wrapped up. Somehow, Manning broke free from the grasp of defenders and heaved the ball downfield toward receiver David Tyree. With Patriots safety Rodney Harrison draped all over him, Tyree leaped into the air, caught the ball, and pinned it against his helmet with one hand while falling backward to the ground. The improbable 32-yard completion kept the drive alive. It set up Manning’s game-winning touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress four plays later, securing one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history and denying the Patriots their perfect season. The play instantly became known as “The Helmet Catch” and remains the defining image of Super Bowl XLII, cementing Eli Manning’s reputation as a clutch performer and ending one of the most dominant regular seasons in NFL history.
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Santonio Holmes’ toe-tap touchdown (Super Bowl XLIII: Steelers vs. Cardinals)
Super Bowl XLIII between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals featured a thrilling back-and-forth fourth quarter, with the Cardinals taking a 23-20 lead on a Larry Fitzgerald touchdown with 2:37 remaining. The Steelers faced a potential game-winning drive needing to travel 78 yards with championship pressure mounting. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger methodically moved the team downfield, setting up a first-and-goal from the six-yard line with 49 seconds remaining.
On second-and-goal from the six, Roethlisberger took the snap from the shotgun and immediately looked to his right toward the back corner of the end zone. He lofted a perfectly placed pass to receiver Santonio Holmes, who had beaten his defender to the corner. Holmes extended his arms fully, caught the ball at its highest point with fingertip control, and dragged both feet inbounds in the tiny space of the end zone corner before falling out of bounds. The degree of difficulty was extraordinary: Holmes had to maintain possession while fully extending his body, ensure both feet touched the ground within a space measuring just a few feet, and do all of this with a defender draped on him and the championship on the line. The referee’s signal that the catch was good secured the Steelers’ sixth Super Bowl title with 35 seconds remaining, earning Holmes the Super Bowl MVP award for his 9-catch, 131-yard performance capped by one of the most technically perfect catches in championship history.
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The Julian Edelman catch (Super Bowl LI: Patriots vs. Falcons)
Super Bowl LI will forever be remembered for the Patriots’ unprecedented comeback from a 28-3 third-quarter deficit. Still, the single play that made the comeback possible seemed to defy not just physics but probability itself. With 2:28 remaining in regulation and the Patriots trailing 28-20, quarterback Tom Brady faced third-and-one from the Falcons’ 36-yard line. A conversion would keep the drive alive; a stop would likely seal Atlanta’s first championship.
Brady took the snap and fired a pass intended for receiver Julian Edelman over the middle. The ball was tipped at the line of scrimmage by a Falcons defender, sending it fluttering into the air and off its intended trajectory. As the ball descended, it deflected off the leg of Falcons cornerback Robert Alford while Edelman and multiple defenders converged on the spot. Edelman dove forward as the ball pinballed between bodies, managing to secure it with both hands just inches off the turf while three Falcons defenders swarmed around him. The officials ruled the catch good after review, confirming that the ball never touched the ground despite appearing to graze the turf multiple times during the chaos. The 23-yard completion sustained the drive that culminated in a touchdown, then the Patriots scored again to tie the game and force the first overtime in Super Bowl history. New England won in overtime to complete the most remarkable comeback in championship history, and Edelman’s seemingly impossible catch became the play that kept the miracle alive.
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Malcolm Butler’s goal-line interception (Super Bowl XLIX: Patriots vs. Seahawks)
The NFL reports that “with lightning-quick reflexes, Butler caught the ball at the goal line for an interception and went down with it to clinch the Super Bowl for the Patriots, their fourth title in franchise history.” But what’s the background story to such a powerful narrative?
Super Bowl XLIX between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks came down to one of the most controversial and dramatic sequences in championship history. With the Patriots leading 28-24 and just 26 seconds remaining, the Seahawks had the ball at the New England one-yard line with second-and-goal. Seattle had arguably the league’s best running back in Marshawn Lynch and needed just one yard to win its second consecutive Super Bowl title. The entire football world expected Seattle to hand the ball to Lynch for a power run into the end zone.
Instead, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll called for a quick slant pass, a decision that would be debated and criticized for years. Quarterback Russell Wilson took the snap and threw toward receiver Ricardo Lockette over the middle. Patriots rookie cornerback Malcolm Butler, an undrafted free agent who had practiced against this exact play during the week, recognized the route instantly and jumped in front of Lockette at the goal line. Butler intercepted the pass in the end zone with 20 seconds remaining, instantly ending the game and securing the Patriots’ fourth Super Bowl championship. The play became known as one of the most shocking and controversial calls in sports history, with analysts and fans endlessly debating why Seattle didn’t run the ball with Lynch. For Butler, an unknown player who began the season on the practice squad, the interception transformed him from obscurity to immortality in one play, creating one of the most dramatic finishes in Super Bowl history.
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James Harrison’s 100-yard pick-six (Super Bowl XLIII: Steelers vs. Cardinals)
In the same Super Bowl XLIII that featured Santonio Holmes’ remarkable touchdown catch, another play earlier in the game proved equally consequential. The Arizona Cardinals had driven deep into Pittsburgh territory late in the second quarter, threatening to take the lead just before halftime. With 18 seconds remaining in the half and the Cardinals facing first-and-goal from the one-yard line, Arizona seemed sure to score at least a field goal and possibly a touchdown to shift momentum.
Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner dropped back and threw a quick slant pass intended for receiver Anquan Boldin in the end zone. Steelers linebacker James Harrison, who had dropped back into coverage, read the play perfectly and stepped in front of Boldin to intercept the pass. What happened next became the most extended play in Super Bowl history. Harrison, a 242-pound linebacker not known for his speed, rumbled 100 yards down the field as the clock expired, with teammates blocking Cardinals players and Harrison fighting off tacklers as he lumbered toward the end zone. Arizona receiver Larry Fitzgerald nearly caught Harrison at the goal line, but Harrison lunged across just as the half ended. Instead of Arizona potentially leading or trailing by just three points at halftime, the Steelers led 17-7, a massive 14-point swing created by a single play. Harrison’s improbable pick-six proved crucial in Pittsburgh’s eventual 27-23 victory, demonstrating how a single defensive play at a critical moment can alter a championship’s entire narrative.
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Mike Jones’ one-yard tackle (Super Bowl XXXIV: Rams vs. Titans)
Super Bowl XXXIV between the St. Louis Rams and Tennessee Titans produced one of the most dramatic and literal goal-line stands in championship history. The Rams, led by quarterback Kurt Warner and “The Greatest Show on Turf” offense, held a 23-16 lead with just seconds remaining. The Titans had driven to the Rams’ 10-yard line with six seconds left, needing a touchdown to tie the game and force overtime. On the final play of the game, Tennessee had one chance to cover those final yards and extend its season.
Titans quarterback Steve McNair took the snap and immediately fired a quick slant pass to receiver Kevin Dyson, who caught the ball at approximately the five-yard line. Dyson turned upfield and raced toward the end zone with every player on both teams knowing this was the championship moment. Rams linebacker Mike Jones had read the play perfectly and positioned himself to meet Dyson. As Dyson stretched the ball toward the goal line, Jones wrapped him up and drove him to the ground at the one-yard line as time expired. The image of Dyson reaching desperately for the end zone while Jones held him a single yard short became one of the most iconic photographs in Super Bowl history. The play was the ultimate goal-line stand, literally stopping the game-tying “goal” with inches to spare and securing the Rams’ first and only Super Bowl championship in St. Louis. The tackle demonstrated that sometimes the greatest plays in championship history are not about scoring but about preventing a score when everything is on the line.
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Adam Vinatieri’s game-winners (Super Bowl XXXVI & XXXVIII)
Adam Vinatieri earned the reputation as the most clutch kicker in NFL history by delivering game-winning field goals in two Super Bowls, both times with the championship literally riding on his foot as the clock expired. In Super Bowl XXXVI, the Patriots faced the heavily favored St. Louis Rams, who had dominated the regular season with their explosive offense. With the game tied 17-17 and 1:21 remaining, quarterback Tom Brady (in just his first season as a starter) led the Patriots from their own 17-yard line into field goal range. With seven seconds left, Vinatieri lined up for a 48-yard field goal attempt. The kick sailed through the uprights as time expired, giving the Patriots their first Super Bowl championship and beginning the Brady-Belichick dynasty.
Two years later, in Super Bowl XXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers, Vinatieri faced an eerily similar situation. The game had been a back-and-forth offensive showcase, with the teams combining for 37 points in the fourth quarter alone. With the score tied 29-29 and 1:08 remaining, Brady again led the Patriots into field goal range. Vinatieri lined up for a 41-yard attempt with four seconds left. Once again, the kick was good, giving New England a 32-29 victory and their second championship in three years. Vinatieri’s clutch performances in the most pressure-packed moments established him as one of the greatest kickers in NFL history. They demonstrated that field goals, often overlooked as less exciting than touchdowns, can be the most dramatic and decisive plays in championship football.
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The Saints’ onside kick (Super Bowl XLIV: Saints vs. Colts)
Super Bowl XLIV featured the New Orleans Saints seeking their first championship in franchise history against Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts led 10-6 at halftime, and conventional wisdom dictated that the Saints would kick deep to start the second half, as teams almost always do. Instead, Saints coach Sean Payton made one of the boldest calls in Super Bowl history, ordering a surprise onside kick to open the second half.
Kicker Thomas Morstead executed the play perfectly, bouncing the ball along the ground to the right side of the field, where Saints players swarmed. New Orleans recovered the ball at the Colts’ 42-yard line, stunning Indianapolis and the entire football world. The Saints immediately capitalized on the possession, driving for a touchdown that gave them a 13-10 lead they would never relinquish. The onside kick completely shifted the game’s momentum and psychology, putting the Colts on their heels and energizing the Saints. New Orleans went on to win 31-17, capturing their first championship in franchise history. Payton’s gutsy call became one of the most celebrated strategic decisions in Super Bowl history, demonstrating that special teams creativity and execution can be just as impactful as offensive firepower or defensive dominance. The play remains a perfect example of how coaches willing to take calculated risks at crucial moments can change the entire trajectory of a championship game.
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Conclusion
These defining moments showcase the immense pressure and drama that make the Super Bowl the ultimate spectacle of professional football, where entire seasons and legacies can pivot on a single catch, tackle, or kick. From David Tyree pinning a ball to his helmet to Malcolm Butler’s goal-line interception, from James Harrison’s improbable 100-yard return to Adam Vinatieri’s clutch field goals, these plays demonstrate that greatness in the Super Bowl requires not just talent and preparation but the ability to execute perfectly when the stakes reach their absolute peak. Each moment featured here represents thousands of hours of practice, years of dedication, and the convergence of opportunity and skill at precisely the right instant.
The lasting impact of these plays extends far beyond the final scores they produced or prevented. David Tyree’s catch transformed Eli Manning from a criticized quarterback into a two-time Super Bowl champion and eventual Hall of Famer. Malcolm Butler’s interception validated Bill Belichick’s coaching philosophy and extended the Patriots’ dynasty. Adam Vinatieri’s kicks established Tom Brady as a clutch performer even before his legendary status became apparent. These moments changed careers, cemented legacies, inspired countless young players who watched and dreamed of making their own championship plays, and created stories that fathers tell sons about where they were when the impossible became reality. The players who made these plays will forever be connected to those moments, their names spoken with reverence decades later when fans recall the greatest plays in football history.
The Super Bowl is ultimately defined not by the sixty minutes of regulation time, the elaborate halftime shows, or even the winning team’s season-long journey, but by the one or two unforgettable plays that stand the test of time and become permanent parts of American sports culture. These “goals” in the broadest sense (defining moments that achieve the ultimate objective of winning a championship) remind us that football at its highest level is a game of inches and seconds, where preparation meets opportunity and ordinary players become legends through extraordinary performances. As long as the Super Bowl is played, new moments will join this pantheon of greatness. Still, the plays described here will forever represent the standard for excellence under pressure, the benchmark against which all future championship moments will be measured. Which of these iconic plays do you remember most vividly, and where were you when you witnessed these moments of Super Bowl immortality? Check out our other sports articles here at MediaFeed to discover more about the plays, players, and moments that have created the legends we celebrate today.
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This article was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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