Super Bowl: Power rankings for 4 previous Big Games in Tampa

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 22: Jack Squirek #58 of the Los Angeles Raiders returns an interception for a touchdown against the Washington Redskins during Super Bowl XVIII on January 22, 1984 at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Raiders won the Super Bowl 38 - 9. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

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Super Bowl XXV (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

2. New York Giants 20, Buffalo Bills 19 (Super Bowl XXV)

It was one of the bigger upsets in the 54-game history of the Super Bowl. Both the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants finished the 1990 season with 13-3 records. But Bill Parcells’ club did not finish the year with starting quarterback Phil Simms. He was knocked out for the remainder of the year in a Saturday afternoon loss at the Meadowlands to these same Bills.

Enter Jeff Hostetler, who led Big Blue down the stretch and into the playoffs. While the powerful Bills were rolling the Dolphins and Raiders in the AFC playoffs, the Giants pushed around the Bears and then got five field goals from Matt Bahr in dethroning the Super Bowl champion 49ers at San Francisco, 15-13, in the NFC title game.

It was off to Tampa where Buffalo’s Thurman Thomas rolled up big numbers. But the game’s key statistic was time of possession, as in 40:33 for the Giants. They ran 17 more offensive plays than the Bills. Running back Ottis Anderson was the game’s MVP but you could have made a case for Parcells’ offensive line as well.

Still, Buffalo had a chance in the closing minute but kicker Scott Norwood pushed a 47-yard field goal wide right. Anderson finished with 102 yards and a score on 21 carries. And Marv Levy’s team couldn’t protect a 12-3 second-quarter lead.

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