Super Bowl: Top 10 Epic Fails in Super Bowl History
Super Bowl history is filled with a number of unforgettable moments.
Moments like Lynn Swann's circus catch against the Cowboys, Steve Young literally having the monkey ripped off his back against San Diego and David Tyree's impossible catch against New England, among others, have made the Super Bowl stand out as the preeminent sporting event in this country.
However, as is the case with any sporting event, where there are great moments, there are also moments that make you cringe, moments that make you laugh out loud, moments that make you cry.
Today, we are going to take a look at some of those moments. You know the ones we are talking about—that moment when you are watching the game and you turn into Homer Simpson saying, "D'oh!"
So what are the biggest bonehead moments in the first 44 Super Bowls?
Here are the top 10 most epic fails in Super Bowl history.
10. Justin Hartwig, Super Bowl XLIII
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The Steelers were leading the Cardinals 20-14 late in the game and had a chance to seal a victory with a couple of first downs. The Steelers began the drive backed up against their own end zone.
On third down, Ben Roethlisberger completed a long pass to Santonio Holmes, but a holding penalty was called on Justin Hartwig. The hold occurred in the end zone, and league rules state that an offensive penalty that occurs in a team's end zone is a safety.
That cut the Steelers' lead to 20-16, and the Cardinals would get the ball back. They scored a quick touchdown on a pass from Kurt Warner to Larry Fitzgerald to take a 23-20 lead.
Roethlisberger would work his magic, and the Steelers scored a touchdown on a beautiful throw-and-catch from Roethlisberger to Holmes to win 27-23.
The only reason that this play isn’t higher on the list is because it didn’t cost the Steelers the game.
9. Garo Yepremian, Super Bowl VII
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The Miami Dolphins' quest for perfection was put in serious jeopardy thanks to one of the most boneheaded plays in NFL history.
With Miami leading Washington 14-0 late in the fourth quarter, they attempted a field goal. The kick was blocked, and Garo Yepremian, the Dolphins kicker, picked the ball up and was going to try to throw a forward pass.
Things didn’t quite work out that way, because as his arm was going up, the ball slipped out of his hands. He panicked and smacked the ball into the air, allowing Redskins CB Mike Bass to snatch it out of the air and return it for a touchdown.
Miami held on to win the game 14-7 and complete its perfect season, but it was not without a little more drama than it would have preferred.
8. Thurman Thomas, Super Bowl XXVIII
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The Buffalo Bills were able to accomplish a feat that will (likely) never be duplicated in the NFL ever again. They won four straight AFC Championships from 1990-93. However, they weren’t able to turn any one of those conference championships into a Super Bowl championship.
In their fourth, and to date final, Super Bowl appearance, the Bills were leading the Cowboys 13-6 at halftime. That would be as good as the game would get for the Bills.
Less than one minute into the third quarter, Bills RB Thurman Thomas fumbled the ball, and Dallas returned it for a touchdown.
The Cowboys would outscore the Bills 24-0 in the second half of the game to win their second consecutive Super Bowl, 30-13.
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7. Eugene Robinson, Super Bowl XXIII
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The Atlanta Falcons' 1998 season was probably the most remarkable season in franchise history. They came from nowhere and won 14 games in the regular season. Then in the playoffs they upset the 15-1 Minnesota Vikings in the Metrodome.
One guy who had a bad couple of days during Super Bowl week was safety Eugene Robinson. The day before the game he was presented with the Bart Starr Award for high moral character. That same night he was arrested for trying to solicit sex from an undercover police officer.
If that weren’t bad enough for Robinson, during the actual game itself he gave up a long touchdown pass to Rod Smith and missed an easy tackle on Terrell Davis.
What should have been the best day of everyone’s career turned into the worst 24 hours in the life of Eugene Robinson.
6. Neil O’Donnell, Super Bowl XXX
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Neil O’Donnell was a pretty good quarterback for the Steelers in the 1990s. He never really made big mistakes that cost his team games. That is, until Super Bowl XXX, when he forgot what team he played for.
Against the Cowboys, O’Donnell had solid numbers overall: 28-of-49 for 239 yards and one touchdown. The problem was he also threw three interceptions, including two right into the arms of Larry Brown.
Brown was probably giving O’Donnell a bunch of hugs shortly afterwards because he used his Super Bowl MVP performance to get Al Davis and the Oakland Raiders to give him a ton of money.
5. John Kasay, Super Bowl XXXVIII
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The Carolina Panthers surprised the NFL world by getting to Super Bowl XXXVIII. But they were playing the powerhouse New England Patriots, and there was no way they were going to beat them.
In the fourth quarter, Panthers QB Jake Delhomme guided the team on a game-tying drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Ricky Proehl. The score was 29-29 with just over one minute to play. This was going to be the first Super Bowl to go to overtime.
On the ensuing kickoff, John Kasay, one of the most reliable kickers in the NFL, kicked the ball out of bounds, giving the Patriots the ball on their 40-yard line.
Tom Brady did what Tom Brady does, and Adam Vinatieri added another moment to his Hall of Fame résumé, nailing the game-winning field goal to give the Patriots a 32-29 victory.
This was also the Super Bowl that featured the infamous “wardrobe malfunction” at halftime with Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake.
4. Baltimore Colts, Super Bowl III
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It’s difficult to criticize an entire team, but if you look at everything that the Colts' loss in Super Bowl III meant to the NFL, it’s hard not to put them on this list.
The Colts were the most dominant team in football in 1968, posting a record of 13-1 and outscoring their opponents 402-144. They were heavily favored over the AFL’s New York Jets.
The Colts lost the game, and the course of the NFL was changed forever. The AFL was given the respect that the NFL had, and the sport grew into the powerhouse that it has since become.
All because the Colts couldn’t defeat the Jets in Super Bowl III.
3. Jackie Smith, Super Bowl XIII
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The Dallas Cowboys franchise has had a lot to be proud of throughout their history. They were the first franchise to win five Super Bowls. They are one of the most popular sports franchises in the country.
However, this is one moment that every Cowboys fan would love to get back. With the team trailing Pittsburgh 21-14 in the third quarter, Roger Staubach dropped back and saw a wide-open Jackie Smith in the end zone.
The pass was in the air, and this game was going to be tied.
Until Smith, who was one of the most prolific pass-catching tight ends in football, dropped the pass. The Cowboys settled for a field goal and wound up losing the game 35-31. Those four points cost them the game.
2. Leon Lett, Super Bowl XXVII
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There’s a reason that linemen don’t get to touch the ball, ever. That reason is Leon Lett.
In Super Bowl XXVII, featuring the Cowboys and Bills, Lett recovered a fumble and began running toward the end zone. At about the 10-yard line, Lett extended his right hand, which he was using to carry the ball, thinking that he had a touchdown.
Unfortunately for him, Bills WR Don Beebe never gave up on the play and knocked the ball out of his hand before he could cross the goal line.
It didn’t make a difference in the game because Dallas was up big at the time, but it’s still one of the most infamous moments in NFL history.
1. Scott Norwood, Super Bowl XXV
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One of the things that I have often wondered is who was more loathed in his hometown after his championship gaffe: Scott Norwood or Bill Buckner?
Today, it’s probably no contest since the Red Sox have won two World Series recently and Buffalo is still in search of its first Super Bowl.
I won’t go into all the horrific details for the sake of all the Buffalo fans. Let’s just say that every time they hear the words “wide right,” a little part of them probably dies.
Super Bowl XXV against the Giants was the last game that Norwood would ever play in the NFL.
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