Fansided

Ranking the 15 most dramatic finishes in Super Bowl history

By Randy Gurzi

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 03: Detailed view of the Vince Lombardi Trophy during the NFL Experience exhibition before Super Bowl 50 at the Moscone Center on February 3, 2016 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 03: Detailed view of the Vince Lombardi Trophy during the NFL Experience exhibition before Super Bowl 50 at the Moscone Center on February 3, 2016 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI – JANUARY 18: The Pittsburgh Steelers’ Lynn Swann
MIAMI – JANUARY 18: The Pittsburgh Steelers’ Lynn Swann /

10. Super Bowl X

The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the Orange Bowl in Miami looking to defend the championship they had won the season before. They finished the season with a mark of 12-2, thanks in large part to their feared “Steel Curtain” defense.

All that stood in their way was the 10-4 Dallas Cowboys, not a team to be written off. After a season that had earned them a wild card berth, the ‘Boys became the first NFC wild card team to make it to the Super Bowl.

The Cowboys were also a tough defensive team and the battle was a low scoring affair for most of the game, as Dallas led 10-7 at the half. Neither team posted any points in the third quarter, but Pittsburgh finally broke the seal in the final 15 minutes.

A blocked punt got the scoring going, as it led to a safety and moved the score 10-9. Two field goals followed to give Pittsburgh a 15-10 lead. Pittsburgh then made it nearly impossible for Dallas to fight back into the game as quarterback Terry Bradshaw (who completed only nine passes all game) found receiver Lynn Swann deep downfield for a 64-yard touchdown catch.

Bradshaw was hit helmet-to-helmet on the play by defensive lineman Larry Cole and later admitted he never even saw the catch. The Steelers held a 21-10 lead at that point with just over three minutes remaining for Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach and his team.

The Hall of Fame quarterback led a five-play 80 yard drive and found receiver Percy Howard for a 34-yard touchdown to cut it to 21-17. As fate would have it, the Cowboys got the ball back after a defensive stop but there was just 1:22 left on the clock.

After moving the ball to the Pittsburgh 38-yard line with an 11-yard run and 12-yard pass, Staubach had to start throwing to the end zone. His first Hail Mary attempt landed incomplete, and his second wound up in the arms of safety Glen Edwards. The Steelers held on to become the third team in history to win back-to-back Super Bowls.

Swann took the MVP award for his performance, which included four receptions for 164 yards and what proved to be a game-sealing touchdown.

Next: No. 9

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