Super Bowl XLV: The 20 Most Memorable Plays In Super Bowl History

The Super Bowl has had its share of good and bad moments, but it also has produced some truly memorable moments.

The desire to win the biggest game of them all brings out the best in most players, and the results on the field can take your breath away.

Here's a collection of some of the Super Bowl's most memorable moments, many of them game-changers.

We'll see if this year's Super Bowl adds any plays to this list.

Honorable Mention: Max McGee

Max McGee's contributions to Super Bowl lore are only commonly known by Packers fans and the true, hardcore NFL fans.

The network broadcast copy of Super Bowl I was accidentally erased, so no one ever sees replays of the game.

But in Super Bowl I, McGee didn't expect to get any playing time and, as a result, had partied hard the night before and admitted to teammate Boyd Dowler he was battling a hangover.

Dowler was injured in the second drive of the game and McGee ended up catching the first touchdown in Super Bowl history. He ended up having his best game of the season, catching seven passes for 138 yards and scoring two touchdowns.

Honorable Mention: Wide Right

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TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 27: Kicker Scott Norwood #11 and quarterback Frank Reich #14 of the Buffalo Bills walk n the field during Super Bowl XXV against the New York Giants at Tampa Stadium on January 27, 1991 in Tampa, Florida. The Giants won 20-19. (Pho

Scott Norwood missed a 47-yard field goal. This is memorable only because it was the last play of the game and missing it meant the Giants won Super Bowl XXV.

So while it is memorable for when it happened, missing a 47-yard field goal actually isn't that unusual. This play is top 10 in most other Super Bowl play lists, but since any kind of last-second play by its very nature becomes memorable, a kicker missing a 47-yard field goal really isn't that big of a deal.

Besides, this game had a much more memorable (and crucial) play that shows up later in this list.

20. The Fridge Scores

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26 Jan 1986: Defensive tacke William Perry #72 of the Chicago Bears dives in for a touchdown during Super Bowl XX against the New England Patriots at the Superdome in New Orleans, Lousiana. The Bears won the game, 46-10.

The game already was over, but the sight of a 300-pound fat man barreling through the Patriots' line for a touchdown in the fourth quarter still is one for the ages.

19. Willie Wood Picks Off Len Dawson

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 3: Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Hank Stram (L) poses with his bust and his presenter and fellow Hall of Famer Len Dawson during the 2003 NFL Hall of Fame Induction ceremony on August 3, 2003 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by David Max

In Super Bowl I, Willie Wood picked off a Len Dawson pass in the third quarter, returning it to the Chiefs' five-yard line. The Packers would then score to go up 21-10 and the Chiefs never scored again.

18. John Elway Goes On a Helicopter Ride

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25 Jan 1998: John Elway #7 of the Denver Brocos in action against the Green Bay Packers during Super Bowl XXXII at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Denver Broncos defeated the Green Bay Packers 31-24.

This memorable play from Super Bowl XXXII featured an aging Elway gutting it out for a first down and being spun through the air like a helicopter.

The Broncos scored on that drive and would win the game.

17. Garo Yepremian

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PHOENIX - FEBRUARY 01: Former Miami Dolphin Garo Yepremian speaks during a press conference anouncing Reebok's new television campaign -dubbed 'Perfectville'- featuring members of the only undeated team in NFL history- the 1972 Miami Dolphins on February

Garo Yepremian had his field goal attempt blocked by Bill Brundige and rather than fall on the ball, Yepremian tried to attempt a forward pass, which didn't work out so well.

The ball slipped from his hands and he ended up batting it right into Mike Bass' hands, who returned it for a touchdown.

The Dolphins still won the game, 14-7.

16. Otis Taylor 46-Yard Catch And Run

Responding to a Vikings' score, the Chiefs began their own march, which lasted six plays. Len Dawson threw a pass to Otis Taylor, who caught the ball on the Minnesota 41-yard line, broke two tackles and scored the game-clinching touchdown.

15. James Harrison Returns Interception 100 Yards For Touchdown

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TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 01: James Harrison #92 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs back an interception for 100 yards to score a touchdown in the second quarter against Tim Hightower #34 of the Arizona Cardinals during Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Ra

James Harrison intercepted Kurt Warner in the end zone and returned it for a touchdown. This play also was memorable for the amount of illegal blocks the Steelers made on the play that weren't called.

The play shifted momentum to Pittsburgh right before halftime and the Steelers would ride that momentum to a victory.

14. Giants Convert 3rd-and-13 In Super Bowl XXV

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TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 27: Offensive tackle Jumbo Elliott #76 of the New York Giants celebrates following the game against the Buffalo Bills during Super Bowl XXV at Tampa Stadium on January 27, 1991 in Tampa, Florida. The Giants defeated the Bills 20-19.

Trying to keep the ball out of Jim Kelly's hands, the Giants tried to kill the clock in Super Bowl XXV.

During a particularly long drive in the third quarter, facing 3rd-and-13, the Giants threw to Mark Ingram five yards short of the first down. He broke several tackles in his fight for the first down, which he acheived and the Giants would go on to win.

13. Desmond Howard's 99-Yard Kick Return

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26 Jan 1997: Wide receiver Desmond Howard of the Green Bay Packers moves the ball during Super Bowl XXXI against the New England Patriots at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Packers won the game, 35-21. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsp

With the Packers up 27-21 on the New England Patriots late in the third quarter, the Patriots kicked off to Desmond Howard, who scooped the ball up on the one-yard line.

Howard weaved his way through traffic for 99 yards and scored a touchdown, effectively sealing the victory for the Packers.

12. Adam Vinatieri Boots It 48 Yards For The Win

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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-

While Norwood's miss only got an honorable mention, Adam Vinatieri gets a ranking for his 48-yard kick to win the game.

It's the length of the kick that really makes it memorable, with the context of the rest of the game considered. Any field goal longer than 45 yards really is a total crapshoot, no matter the conditions, and even inside a dome.

So with the pressure of a Super Bowl victory on his shoulders, Vinatieri pulled through and beat "The Greatest Show On Turf."

That's memorable.

11. Johnny Unitas' Tipped Pass Goes 74 Yards For The Touchdown

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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 24: A close up of Hall of Fame Quarterback Johnny Unitas, formerly of the Baltimore Colts, as he smiles and looks on during the game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens on September 24, 2000 at PSINet Stadium in

Johnny Unitas threw a pass to Eddie Hinton in the first quarter. The pass was high and slightly behind Hinton, though, and it bounced off of his hands, tipped by Cowboys cornerback Mel Renfro, and then fell into tight end John Mackay's arms, who took the ball and ran 75 yards for the touchdown.

10. Neil O'Donnell Throws To Dallas...Again

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28 Jan 1996: Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher confers with quarterback Neil O'Donnell 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 /All

The Steelers went into Super Bowl XXX trying to re-create past glory by beating the Dallas Cowboys again.

Instead, quarterback Neil O'Donnel threw three interceptions in the game, his second one being the costliest.

O'Donnell was picked off by Larry Brown in the third quarter, returning it 44 yards to the Steelers 18-yard line. The Cowboys scored two plays later, making the score 20-7.

Brown would intercept O'Donnell again in the second half, resulting in another touchdown for the Cowboys and bringing the score to its eventual final, 27-17.

O'Donnell never took another snap in a Steelers uniform, signing with the Jets in the offseason.

9. Tracy Porter Picks Off Peyton Manning

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Tracy Porter #22 of the New Orleans Saints returns a interception for 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 S

While a lot of the blame for the Colts' collapse in the second half can be put on poor coaching decisions by Jim Caldwell, the pick-six by Tracy Porter was all Peyton Manning.

Late in the fourth quarter, with the Colts needing to score, Manning misread the defense and Porter picked the ball off, running it back 74 yards for the game-sealing touchdown.

8. Lynn Swann Practices Juggling

Lynn Swann had a lot of great cathes in Super Bowl X, but this catch stands out because not only was it for 53 yards, but Swann tripped as he leaped to catch it, tipped the ball while in the air and then caught it as he fell.

Swann later had a 64-yard touchdown catch from Terry Bradshaw, notable because Bradshaw received a helmet-to-helmet hit as he threw the ball and was knocked out of the game.

7. John Riggins Runs Forever On Fourth Down

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30 Jan 1983: Running back John Riggins #44 of the Washington Redskins waits on the sidelines during the Super Bowl XVII against the Miami Dolphins at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The Redskins won the game, 27-17. Mandatory Credit: Allsport /A

Down by four points with a little more than 10 minutes left in the game, the Redskins faced a 4th-and-1 situation.

They handed the ball off to John Riggins, who then bulldogged his way through the line and ran for 43 yards and the go-ahead touchdown.

6. Marcus Allen's 74-Yard Run

The Raiders already had a lead, but on the final play of the third quarter, Marcus Allen took the ball and ran left. Seeing nothing but Redskins, Allen made one of the best cutbacks of his career, going back to the right and running 74 yards for the touchdown.

5. New Orleans Saints Recover Onside Kick To Start Second Half

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FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - FEBRUARY 08: Head coach Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints looks toward the Vince Lombardi Trophy during Super Bowl Champion Coach Press Conference at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center on February 8, 2010 in Fort Lauderdale,

In one of the shrewdest calls in the history of the Super Bowl, Sean Payton elected to open the second half of the Super Bowl with an onside kick.

Since the Saints recovered the kick, Payton is a genius. Either way, this play would've been memorable. But for Saints fans, it's now memorable for all the right reasons.

4. Santonio Holmes Catches The Ball On His Tiptoes

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TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 01: Teammates of Santonio Holmes #10 of the Pittsburgh Steelers jump on Holmes after he catches a 6-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter against the Arizona Cardinals during Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James

Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers needed a score late in the game versus the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.

With the clock running down, Roethlisberger found Santonio Holmes in the back corner of the end zone. Holmes, fully stretched out, pulled the ball in and got the tips of both toes down and inbounds for the catch and win.

3. Montana To Taylor

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SAN FRANCISCO - JANUARY 20: Wide receiver John Taylor #82 of the San Francisco 49ers hops into the end zone for a touchdown on a 61-yard pass from Joe Montana during the 1990 NFC Championship game against the New York Giants at Candlestick Park on Januar

Joe Montana led the 49ers down the field with only a few minutes left in the game, trailing the Bengals.

With 39 seconds left in the game, Montana found John Taylor at the goal line, and Taylor got in for the touchdown.

The Bengals did get the ball back, but were shut down and the 49ers won 20-16

2. The Helmet Catch

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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

While the last drive of this game had a ton of important plays, none stand out more than David Tyree clutching the football to his helmet as he is tackled to the ground and holding onto it.

Beacuse of this catch, the Giants drive continued and the Giants eventually would upset the previously unbeaten New England Patriots, ending their bid for a perfect season.

1. One Yard Short

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ATLANTA - JANUARY 30: Kevin Dyson #87 of the Tennessee Titans reaches for the end zone as he is tackled in the last play of the game during the Super Bowl XXXIV Game against the St. Louis Rams at the Georgia Dome on January 30, 2000 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Kevin Dyson was stopped one yard short of the end zone on the final play of the game as Rams linebacker Mike Jones wrapped him up in the biggest tackle of his career. A score would've meant the Titans would've had a chance to tie the game with the extra point and go into overtime, or take a big risk and try and win the game with a two-point conversion.

However, Jones rendered the decision a moot point and the Rams won the game. The Titans now have the dubious honor of being on the losing part of one of the most memorable plays in Super Bowl history.