by W.H.

Alright, so maybe the fourth quarter was awesome and the rest of Super Bowl XLIII was forgettable but still, “wow them in the end and you've got a winner.”  An ending like that hasn't happened very often in Super Bowl history.  Only fourteen of the forty-three Super Bowls have been one score games.  Most are blowouts, nineteen games have been decided by 15 or more points.  There are vocal opponents in the media about the “parity” in the NFL, but only since the onset of free agency and the salary cap has the Super Bowl become a dependable quality football game. Starting twelve years ago with the “Let Them Score” game, Broncos vs Packers in Super Bowl XXXII, more than half of the games have been decided by 7 points or less. 

Coincidentally the quality of the commercials has declined perhaps inversely in proportion to the excitement of the game.  In the 80's and early 90's when the games were awful, and usually over at halftime, Super Bowl commercials became the main draw to the games because what happened on the field was specifically related to the dominance of the team representing the NFC.   But Super Bowl XXXII changed everything.  It returned the AFC to form and established a new trend in the NFL:  exciting Super Bowls. 

Would you rather have this or a 55-10 game?

Just think about the great ending Super Bowls of all time:

Holmes's Grab – Steelers vs Cardinals XLIII

“The Tackle” - Rams vs Titans XXXIV

“The Helmet Catch” - Giants vs Patriots XLII

The Vinatieri Games – Patriots vs Rams & Panthers XXXVI, VIII

“Let Them Score” - Broncos vs Packers XXXII

“Wide Right” - Giants vs Bills XXV

Montana's Drive – 49ers vs Bengals XXIII

Minus the games directly influenced by Joe Montana and Scott Norwood, the rest of those exciting finishes have happened in the last twelve years.  That list doesn't even cover the third 3-point Patriots win, against the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX.  Even the bad Super Bowls in recent memory haven't been too awful, Seahawks vs Steelers had a reverse WR pass for a touchdown, Colts vs Bears had the opening kick returned for TD, Bucs vs Raiders had the second most points in Super Bowl history.  Really only the Ravens vs Giants (should be called "The Punt Game") and possibly Broncos vs Falcons (what I like to call "The Hooker Game") were truly awful. 

Supposedly "parity" eliminates dominant teams but the Broncos, Steelers, and Patriots have won multiple championships in the last twelve seasons.  In fact, there's been the same number of champions in the last twelve Super Bowls as there were in the first twelve.  So why does the illusion of "parity" transcend the rational thoughts of sportswriters and sports-talkers?  Mostly because they need something to fill the dead time in the 24 hour media cycle and they love to complain about what's meant to be entertainment.  It's probably better for the rest of the nation that they just sit back, keep their mouth shut, and enjoy.

Anyway here's the late answers to last week's quiz:

1. Browns, Lions, Jaguars, Texans, Saints.  (Although to be fair the Browns and Lions own championships from the old days)  2. Eagles, Bengals, Bills, Vikings  3. Shula, Levy, Grant, Reeves 

4. 49ers  5. Holmgren, Reeves, Vermeil, Shula, Parcells  6. NY, LA, B-More  7. Bucs, Ravens, Jets

8. Cowboys, 49ers, Steelers, Packers, Giants, Raiders, Redskins, Patriots.  Now of course these teams account for 31 of 43 championships.  9. a  10. d  11. d  12.c  13. b  14. c  15. a  16. a  17. a  18. b  19. b  20. e  21. a  22. c  23. d  24. d  25. d (and now the Steelers qualify)  26. d  27. c  28. c  29. Steelers-Noll, Packers-Lombardi, Dolphins-Shula, Broncos-Shanahan  30. Montana-Consecutive Completions, Young-TD Passes, Warner-Passing Yards, Gannon-Int's, Delhomme-Longest Pass  31. Smith-Rushing Yards, Parker-Longest Run, Davis-TD's  32. 49ers-Bengals, Steelers-Cowboys, Dolphins-Redskins  33. 49ers-TD's, Redskins-Yards, Bills-Consecutive appearances  34. Cowboys-Yards Penalized, Dolphins-Least TD's, Bills-Turnovers, Giants-Punt Attempts

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