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Super Bowl power rankings: Which winner is the greatest?

By Cody Williams

St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner looks to make pass in a 23-16 win over the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV on January 30, 2000 at Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Allen Kee/Getty Images)
St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner looks to make pass in a 23-16 win over the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV on January 30, 2000 at Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Allen Kee/Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO – JANUARY 26: Defensive tackle Warren Sapp #99 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during Super Bowl XXXVII against the Oakland Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium on January 26, 2003 in San Diego, California. The Buccaneers defeated the Raiders 48-21. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO – JANUARY 26: Defensive tackle Warren Sapp #99 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during Super Bowl XXXVII against the Oakland Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium on January 26, 2003 in San Diego, California. The Buccaneers defeated the Raiders 48-21. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

34. 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (SB XXXVII)

Brad Johnson is a Super Bowl winning quarterback, which might make you think that the 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers belong far lower in these rankings than No. 33. However, the heart of that Bucs team was far from Johnson or anyone else on the offense. Instead, they boasted one of the better defenses in the history of the league and rode it to the pinnacle of the NFL.

The defense of the 2002 Buccaneers had a bevy of top-tier talent that featured the likes of Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, Simeon Rice, John Lynch, and many others. That defense performed as you’d expect as they allowed only 12.2 points per game, the best mark in the league. While Johnson, Keyshawn Johnson, and the offense were only the No. 18-ranked offense in the league for the year, their defense was so dominant that it almost didn’t matter.

That defense carried into the postseason as they outscored their opponents 106-37 in their three playoff games, including their 48-21 domination of the Raiders in the big game. Not having a high quality offense obviously hurts the Bucs in these rankings, but they get more than enough respect because of the quality of their defense.

Next: No. 33

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