Super Bowl XLV: Power Ranking The Best Super Bowl Battles Of All Time

The Super Bowl is supposed to be the best game of the year. That's not always true, though. But in this case, we are looking at great examples of the game.

When the Super Bowl is good, it's really great. The hype and the atmosphere come together with the talent on the field and produce an electrifying game.

These are the games that produce Hall of Fame players and turn the guy only fans know into the player everyone knows.

Here are the top 15 Super Bowl battles power ranked for your consumption.

15. Super Bowl VII: Dolphins 14 Redskins 7

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 31: A statue was erected for former Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula, the winningest coach in NFL history, prior to the start of the 2010 Pro Bowl at Sun State Stadium on January 31, 2010 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo

The culmination of a perfect season, the Dolphins won the game despite "Garo's Gaffe."

The Redskins scored their only touchdown off of Garo Yepremain's attempt to throw the football.

Otherwise the game was pretty much a defensive battle with the Dolphins only managing two touchdowns the whole game.

14. Super Bowl XVII: Redskins 27 Dolphins 17

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28 Oct 1984: Running back John Riggins of the Washington Redskins in action against the New York Giants during a game at Giants Stadium at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants defeated the Redskins 34-13.

Coming a year after Joe Montana's performance in Super Bowl XVI (which you'll see later), this game had a lot to live up to.

The Dolphins jumped out to the early lead and went into halftime with a 17-10 lead, but the Redskins would come charging back in the second half, scoring 17 unanswered points, including the famous run by John Riggins.

With a fourth-and-one at the Miami 43, the Redskins called for “70 Chip”, a short yardage run for running back John Riggins. Riggins took the handoff from Joe Theismann and broke through the line, running for a 43-yard touchdown and the lead.

Riggins was named the game’s MVP.

13. Super Bowl XXXII: Broncos 31 Packers 24

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25 Jan 1998: John Elway #7 of the Denver Broncos is carried off after defeating the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXII at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Denver Broncos defeated the Green Bay Packers 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jaco

It was John Elway versus Brett Favre, and after three defeats in the big game, Elway finally got his first Super Bowl victory.

This game was a classic duel between two great quarterbacks: Elway was in the twilight of his career but still great and Favre was just entering his prime.

This game featured the helicopter drive by Elway in the second half. The Broncos were facing a third-and-six at the Packers’ 12-yard-line when Elway scrambled and then dove to get the first down.

That play gave Denver a 24-17 lead.

The Broncos scored again with 1:47 left in the fourth quarter when Packers head coach Mike Holmgren told his defense to let the Broncos score so the Packers could get the ball back with more time on the clock.

The strategy backfired, the Packers were stopped and the Broncos won.

12. Super Bowl III: Jets 16 Colts 7

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 26: Former Jets quarterback is introduced during halftime festivities celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Jets' win over the Colts in Super Bowl III during the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Jets on

This was the game Joe Namath "guaranteed," and the Jets took it to the Baltimore Colts and forced five turnovers, winning the game 16-7.

This game wasn't as close as the score suggested, but the drama of Namath's guarantee, combined with the low score, kept this game interesting to the end.

11. Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots 24 Eagles 21

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New England Patriots Deion Branch #83 runs with the ball during Super Bowl XXXIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida on February 6, 2005. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

The Patriots rode Tom Brady and Deion Branch to their third Super Bowl victory of the decade in this game that included a second half breakdown of the Eagles offense.

Branch had 11 receptions for 133 yards and was named MVP.

Terrell Owens, six weeks out from a broken leg caught nine passes for 122 yards, but it was in a losing effort as Donovan McNabb allegedly got sick in the second half and the Eagles offense couldn't do much against the Patriots defense in the final quarter.

10. Super Bowl XVI: 49ers 26 Bengals 21

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SAN FRANCISCO - AUGUST 10: Former San Francisco 49ers executive Carmen Policy speaks during a public memorial service for former 49ers coach Bill Walsh as Steve Young (L), Joe Montana (C) and Eddie DeBartolo look on August 10, 2007 at Monster Park in San

This game looked like it was over at halftime as the Bengals shot out to a 20-0 lead. But the world didn't realize exactly just how good Joe Montana and Bill Walsh were at that point.

By the end of the game, no one would ever doubt them again. It began with a goal-line stand in the third quarter when the 49ers kept the Bengals out of the end zone despite first down on the three-yard line.

The 49ers forced five turnovers in that game and Joe Montana won his first Super Bowl MVP award.

9. Super Bowl XXXVIII: Patriots 32 Panthers 29

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HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 1: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots with the ball against the Carolina Panthers during Super Bowl XXXVIII at Reliant Stadium on February 1, 2004 in Houston, Texas. The Patriots won 32-29 to claim their second S

This was the famous "Nipplegate" Super Bowl, which completely overshadowed the fact this was one of the best Super Bowls in the history of the event.

The game started out as a defensive struggle before a flurry of scoring sent the teams to the locker room at halftime with a 14-10 Patriots lead.

Then the fourth quarter happened. Both teams combined for 37 points, the most in a fourth quarter in Super Bowl history.

New England went up 21-10 at the beginning of the fourth quarter with the Panthers then scoring two touchdowns. The teams then exchanged quick touchdown drives and the score was tied 29-29 with 1:08 left to play.

Panthers kicker John Kasay then kicked the ball out of bounds and allowed the Patriots to get into field goal range where Adam Vinatieri kicked the game-winning field goal.

8. Super Bowl X: Steelers 21 Cowboys 17

Terry Bradshaw and Lynn Swann had great days, as the Steelers executed one highlight reel play after another in the fourth quarter.

The Steelers went ahead 21-10 with less than four minutes to play, but the Cowboys came right back, scoring a touchdown and narrowing the score to 21-17. They got the ball back again and got to the Steelers 38-yard line. Glen Edwards then would intercept Roger Staubach's Hail Mary Pass as the clock expired and give the Steelers the Super Bowl victory.

7. Super Bowl XIII: Steelers 35 Cowboys 31

The Steelers' third Super Bowl win, it had everything you want out of a Super Bowl and everything you've come to expect out of a Steelers playoff game.

The Steelers had big plays on both sides of the ball, controversial calls that went to the Steelers benefit, a defensive touchdown and a Cowboys comeback that almost happened, but didn't.

The Cowboys had big plays of their own: a defensive play that didn't happen because the refs got in the way and a fumbled kickoff that led to a Steelers touchdown.

Again, this game had everything except Bill Cowher's chin. He wasn't with the team yet.

6. Super Bowl XLIII: Steelers 27 Cardinals 23

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TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 01: Players from the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrate with the Vince Lombardi trophy after their 27-23 win against the Arizona Cardinals during Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by

With the Cardinals poised to take the lead just before halftime, James Harrison intercepted the ball in the end zone and ran it back 100 yards for the score to put the Steelers ahead 17-7 at the half.

The game stayed close throughout the second half, until Ben Roethlisberger led the Steelers on a historic drive. Down 23-20 with 2:37 left in the game, Roethlisberger found Santonio Holmes in the left corner of the end zone. Holmes kept his toes inbounds, fully stretched out and caught the ball.

The Steelers then would force a turnover and sealed the victory.

5. Super Bowl XXV: Giants 20 Bills 19

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TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 27: Cornerback Mark Collins #25, head coach Bill Parcells, cornerback Everson Walls #28 and assistant coach Bill Belichick of the New York Giants stand on the sideline against the Buffalo Bills during Super Bowl XXV at Tampa Stadium o

Two words: wide right. Sorry Bills fans.

The Giants focused on the run to control the ball and keep the Bills no-huddle offense from controlling the pace of the game. The Giants held the ball for more than 40 minutes of the game, a record for the Super Bowl.

The Giants one touchdown drive took 9:29 off the clock and gave the Giants a 17-12 lead in the third quarter.

Thurman Thomas scored for Buffalo, but the Giants came back and Matt Bahr made it 20-19 Giants.

With eight seconds to go in the game, the Bills sent Scott Norwood out to win the game, and the rest we won't dwell on for Bills fans' sake.

4. Super Bowl XXXVI: Patriots 20 Rams 17

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03 Feb 2002: Adam Vinatieri #4 of the New England Patriots breaks into celebration after kicking the game winning field goal against the St.Louis Rams during Superbowl XXXVI at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Patriots defeated the Rams 20-

The New England Patriots, at the time the underdog with no Super Bowl victories to Bill Belichick's credit as a head coach as of yet, faced the Greatest Show on Turf and the heavily-favored St. Louis Rams.

Bill Belichick in top form had his defense hold the Rams to three points in the first half, and got 17 points through three quarters off of turnovers.

The Rams couldn't be stopped forever, though, and tied the game up at 17 points with 1:30 left in the game.

Instead of playing for overtime, Belichick sent his offense out to attack, and the Patriots won on a 48-yard Adam Vinatieri field goal as time expired.

3. Super Bowl XXIII: 49ers 20 Bengals 16

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22 Jan 1989: Quarterback Joe Montana #16 of the San Francisco 49ers is looking to pass during the Super Bowl XXIII game against the Cincinnati Bengals at the Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida. The 49ers won, 20-16. Mandatory Credit: Mike Powell /All

This was an epic game with an epic finish as, behind 16-13 with 3:10 left in the game, Joe Montana drove the 49ers down the field and threw the game-winning pass to John Taylor with 34 seconds left in the game.

The first three quarters didn't feature a lot of action and a score of 6-6 at the end of the third quarter. But the fourth quarter made up for everything as the Bengals returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown, Montana quickly tied the game up before the Bengals got their field goal, but the three points weren't enough.

Jerry Rice finished the game with 11 catches for 215 yards and was named MVP of the game.

2. Super Bowl XXXIV: Rams 23 Titans 16

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ATLANTA - JANUARY 30: Kevin Dyson #87 of the Tennessee Titans reaches for the end zone with the ball as Mike Jones #52 of the St. Louis Rams tackles him on the last play of the game during the Super Bowl XXXIV Game at the Georgia Dome on January 30, 2000

One yard short.

This game wasn't over until the whistle blew on the final play as Kevin Dyson stretched for the end zone and Rams linebacker Mike Jones had the best tackle of his career.

The Rams out-gained the Titans 294-89 in the first half only to come away with a 9-0 halftime lead.

Up 16-0 in the third quarter, the Titans would score 16 unanswered points and tied the game with 2:16 left in regulation.

When the Rams got the ball back, Kurt Warner drove down the field and the Rams came away with a 23-16 lead with 1:54 left to go.

The Titans would drive, but destiny had other things in mind that day.

Rams win! Rams win!!

1. Super Bowl XLII: Giants 17 Patriots 14

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GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 03: David Tyree #85 of the New York Giants catches a 32-yard pass from Eli Manning #10 as Rodney Harrison #37 of the New England Patriots attempts to knock it out in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 at the

The catch that ended a perfect season.

The Patriots were a perfect 18-0 coming into the game and had beat the Giants in Week 17 of the regular season to preserve their perfect regular season record.

But the Giants defense, much like the Jets defense did this past Sunday, hounded Tom Brady, sacking him five times, and held the Patriots to just one touchdown through the first three quarters of the game.

This was the season Brady had thrown 50 touchdown passes.

With 2:42 left to play, the Giants were behind 14-10. With 1:15 left, Manning escaped the rush and threw the ball to David Tyree, who made the now-famous "Helmet Catch" as Rodney Harrison brought him to the ground.

Four plays later, Manning found Plaxico Burress for a 13-yard touchdown that put the Giants back ahead 17-14 with 35 seconds to go.

The Patriots couldn't pull another miracle out of their bag of tricks, and the greatest Super Bowl ever ended with Bill Belichick making an early exit.