Super Bowl: Power rankings for 4 previous Big Games in Tampa
The Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will square off in Tampa’s fifth Super Bowl. We’re ranking the previous four to be played in the Florida city.
For only the fifth time in 55 years and the first time since 2008, the city of Tampa, FL will host the Super Bowl. The first instance occurred back in 1983, when the Silver and Black resided in Los Angeles and the Washington Football Team had a different name.
On Feb. 7, the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs will take on the wild card Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first-ever occurrence of a team playing a Super Bowl in its home stadium (see Ian Glendon of Full Press Coverage).
Now given the climate of the world and the ramifications of COVID-19, it’s hard to imagine this would proving to be anything in regards to home field advantage. That and the fact that back in Week 12 at Raymond James Stadium, Andy Reid’s club went to Raymond James Stadium and handed the Bucs and legendary quarterback Tom Brady a 27-24 setback, the last game Bruce Arians’ team lost this season.
That contest saw Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes throw for 462 yards and three touchdowns – all to wide receiver Tyreek Hill. The explosive performer finished with 13 catches for 269 yards, the vast majority of that in the first quarter.
Which brings up a very fascinating coincidence. For the third time in five Super Bowls in Tampa, two teams that met during the regular season will clash in the “Big Game.” The first instance was the aforementioned clash between the Raiders and Washington (XVIII) and seven years later, it was the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants. And each time, the club that prevailed earlier in the year failed to get the job done when it came to taking home a Lombardi Trophy.
It’s a short list but it provides plenty of memories because the four games were highlighted by some of Super Sunday’s most spectacular moments. So from worst to best, here’s a look at the previous four Super Bowls played in Tampa.
4. Baltimore Ravens 34, New York Giants 7 (Super Bowl XXXV)
It was one of the least competitive contests in the series’ 54-year history. It also put a bow on one of the greatest defensive performances for a single season in the 101-year history of the NFL.
Brian Billick’s Baltimore Ravens survived a midseason offensive slump, benched quarterback Tony Banks in favor of Trent Dilfer and eventually embarked on a season-ending seven-game winning streak that put the team in the playoffs with a 12-4 mark, one game behind the 13-3 AFC Central champion Tennessee Titans. Baltimore set a league record by allowing just 165 points in a 16-game season. And as it turned out, the Ravens’ defense was just getting warmed up.
Wins over the Broncos, Titans and Raiders put Billick’s team in Super Bowl XXXV. In facing the NFC champion New York Giants, Baltimore limited Jim Fassel’s club to a mere 152 total yards, picked off Giants’ quarterback Kerry Collins four times (1 returned for a touchdown by Duane Starks), sacked him four times and kept New York’s offensive unit out of the end zone.
All told, the 2000 Baltimore Ravens surrendered a mere 188 points in 20 games, including playoffs. And the defense gave up one offensive touchdown in four postseason outings.