The 10 Biggest Choke Jobs in Super Bowl History

Players and coaches hate to use the "C" word.

But when it comes to Super Bowls, there have been plenty of moments when players and teams have simply choked. They may finish with eye-popping stats, but one interception or one bad outing can ruin a game—and a season.

There always is a debate that follows when fans bring up chokes: Was it a true choke, or did the other team just make a great play?

It's hard to say Tennessee, for example, choked when it was held just short of the goal line against St. Louis in Super Bowl XXXIV. You could debate, however, whether Kurt Warner's two interceptions contributed to St. Louis' 20-17 upset loss to New England two years later. One of the picks resulted in a touchdown, and another set up an Adam Vinatieri field goal.

So which are the worst choke jobs?

For the sake of this debate, we're going to consider individual games and not multiple Super Bowl appearances, since that could cause confusion about players' performances. With that in mind, here are the 10 worst that stand out from the rest.

10. Indianapolis Colts, Super Bowl XLIV

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Tracy Porter #22 of the New Orleans Saints returns a interception for a touchdown against of the Indianapolis Colts during Super Bowl XLIV on February 7, 2010 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Ezra

Peyton Manning and the Colts finished the regular season 14-2 and were seventh in scoring at 26 points per game. Indianapolis' defense was also eighth in points allowed at just over 19 per game.

The Colts took a 10-0 lead in Super Bowl XLIV, but the New Orleans Saints began to chip away with two Garrett Hartley field goals.

New Orleans took a 13-10 lead on Pierre Thomas' touchdown pass from Drew Brees, but Indianapolis answered with a touchdown. Hartley added a field goal to make the score 17-16.

New Orleans went up for good when Jeremy Shockey scored on a two-yard slant, and Tracy Porter scored on a 74-yard interception return (pictured) to seal the game and give New Orleans a 31-17 victory. The Saints, which had the league's 25th best defense, tied a Super Bowl record for largest comeback.

9. Miami Dolphins, Super Bowl VI

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PHOENIX - FEBRUARY 01: Former Miami Dolphins (L-R) Jim Kiick, Eugene 'Mercury' Morris, Garo Yepremian, and Larry Little answer questions during a press conference anouncing Reebok's new television campaign -dubbed 'Perfectville'- featuring members of the

Miami's defense was third in the NFL in points allowed (12.4), and its offense was fifth in total yards and first in rushing yards.

The same offense that finished with 407 total yards in a 27-24 overtime victory over Kansas City in the divisional round was held to just 185, as Dallas cruised to a 24-3 victory at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans.

Better things were ahead: The following year, Miami went 14-0 and won the Super Bowl.

8. Neil O'Donnell, Super Bowl XXX

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28 Jan 1996: Quarterback Neil O''Donnell of the Pittsburgh Steelers drops back to pass during Super Bowl XXX against the Dallas Cowboys at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. The Cowboys won the game 27 - 17. Mandatory Credit: Mike Powell /Allsport

Entering Super Bowl XXX against Dallas, the Steelers quarterback was the NFL career leader for fewest interceptions per pass attempt.

But he threw three interceptions against Dallas, including one that Larry Brown returned 33 yards to the Pittsburgh 6-yard line that set up the Cowboys' offense perfectly.

Dallas won 27-17. O'Donnell finished 28-of-49 for 239 yards.

7. John Kasay, Super Bowl XXXVIII

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HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 1: John Kasay #4 of the Carolina Panthers reacts after kicking the kick off out of bounds in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XXXVIII at Reliant Stadium on February 1, 2004 in Houston, Texas. The Patriots defeated the Panthers 32-2

The Panthers kicker had drilled a 50-yard field goal as time expired before halftime, trimming New England's lead to 14-10.

Late in the game, though, Carolina had tied the score at 29-29 with 1:08 left. The Panthers were set to kick off, but Kasay's kick went out of bounds, and the Patriots started at their own 40.

Five plays later Tom Brady fired a 17-yard pass to Deion Branch, which set up Adam Vinatieri's game-winning 41-yard field goal.

Both teams combined for 868 total yards and combined for 37 points in the fourth quarter.

6. Dallas Cowboys, Super Bowl V

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1983: Head coach Tom Landry of the Dallas Cowboys watches from the sideline during a game in the 1988 season. Tom Landry coached the Cowboys from 1960 to 1988, leading them to two Super Bowl victories. (Photo by Getty Images)

The Cowboys had a 13-6 halftime lead, but Baltimore came back off interceptions by Rick Volk and Mike Curtis.

Earl Morrall replaced Johnny Unitas late in the first half, but Unitas was part of the game's biggest play when his pass went off Eddie Hinton's fingertips, off Cowboys defensive back Mel Renfro and into the hands of John Mackey, who scored on the 75-yard catch and run play.

Baltimore won 16-13.

5. Philadelphia Eagles, Super Bowl XXXIX

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Eagles # 81 WR Terrell Owens on the field 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)

Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens seemed like just the perfect combination to get Philly over the hump and help them hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

The two fell short, though, as New England defeated the Eagles 24-21.

4. Cincinnati Bengals, Super Bowl XXII

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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

The Bengals took a 16-13 lead over San Francisco on Jim Breech's 40-yard field goal with 3:20 remaining. Cincinnati kicked the ball off and pinned the 49ers back at their own 8-yard line.

But Joe Montana drove San Francisco 92 yards in 11 plays, capped by a 10-yard touchdown pass to John Taylor with 34 seconds on the clock.

Jerry Rice was named MVP after finishing with 11 catches for 215 yards. Montana completed 23 of 36 passes for a Super Bowl-record 357 yards and two touchdowns.

A choke job? Definitely. It also is part of Montana's legacy as perhaps one of the greatest clutch players ever.

3. Baltimore Colts, Super Bowl III

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 09: New York Jets legend Joe Namath acknowledges fans at a ceremony to celebrate Curtis Martin's induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during halftime of the New York Jets season opener against the Buffalo Bills at

The Colts were 15-1 and had the league's second best offense, top defense and a crop of Pro Bowl players like cornerback Bobby Boyd, linebacker Mike Curtis and tight end John Mackey.

Baltimore fell short, though, in a legendary upset as "Broadway" Joe Namath backed up his prediction and led the New York Jets to a 16-7 victory.

2. New England Patriots, Super Bowl XLII

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GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 03: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots walks off the field after losing to the New York Giants 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by D

All they needed was one more win to make history, but Tom Brady and the Patriots fell short, as the New York Giants pulled off a monumental 17-14 upset, handing the Patriots their only loss of the season.

1. Scott Norwood, Super Bowl XXV

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12 Jan 1991: Kicker Scott Norwood #11 of the Buffalo Bills misses a 47-yard field goal wide right at the end of regulation during Super Bowl XXV against the New York Giants at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Giants won the game, 20-19.

Matt Bahr's 21-yard field goal gave the New York Giants a 20-19 lead, but Buffalo had a chance to win the game only to have Norwood's 47-yard field goal sail wide right.

New York won, 20-19.