Super Bowl LIX is almost here and it will be the Kansas City Chiefs facing off against the Philadelphia Eagles in a rematch of Super Bowl LVII. Since it is already halfway through the 2020 decade, it is a good idea to look back at the five previous NFL Super Bowls and rank how exciting each one was. From the Chiefs ending the franchise’s 50-year championship drought, to the Rams’ all-in mindset paying off, here are this decade’s rankings of all five Super Bowl matchups.
This Super Bowl was the only lopsided game of the decade. The Kansas City Chiefs were looking for back-to-back wins, while the Buccaneers made their first appearance in the big game since 2002. Tampa Bay became the first team to play in the Super Bowl in its home stadium.
While it was a close game in the first quarter, Tampa Bay earned a commanding 21-6 halftime lead. The Buccaneers defense was able to put pressure on Mahomes allowed by beating the injury-plagued Chiefs offensive line. The Buccaneers were able to extend their lead to 22 points entering the fourth quarter putting the game away for good. Tom Brady would win his final Lombardi Trophy and only as a member of the Buccaneers.
Four years later, Kansas City and San Francisco would do battle once again. In a low-scoring Super Bowl for most of the game, the 49ers took a 10-3 lead at halftime. Kansas City would score 10 unanswered points in the third quarter to take a 13-10 lead entering the game’s final frame. Despite the 49ers taking a late lead with less than two minutes to go, the Chiefs would tie the game and force overtime for the second time in Super Bowl history.
The first overtime ever using the new postseason rules, San Francisco got the ball first settling for a field goal. It would be not enough as Mahomes and the Chiefs would march 75 yards downfield and score the game-winning touchdown to win 25-22. Kansas would win its third championship in five years.
The first of two Super Bowl matchups this decade, the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers was the last NFL game before the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chiefs were America’s fan-favorite after being the first non-Patriots AFC team to make it to the Big Game since 2015. It would also be Kyle Shanahan’s second appearance following the Falcons’ blowing a 28-3 lead in Super Bowl LI.
After a 10-10 tie at halftime, the 49ers pulled ahead by ten entering the fourth quarter following Raheem Mostert’s touchdown run. Kansas City would score 21 unanswered points en route to a 31-20 Super Bowl victory which ended the team’s 50-year championship drought. Patrick Mahomes would win his first-ever Super Bowl MVP.
The only Super Bowl in the 2020s not to feature the Kansas City Chiefs, Super Bowl LVI was a unique and memorable game. Capping off one of the most thrilling postseasons in recent memory, the Cincinnati Bengals advanced to the big game after decades of playoff struggles hoping for its first championship. Meanwhile, the Rams went all-in hoping Matthew Stafford was their answer.
This Super Bowl was the first ever with two four-seeded teams and left most NFL fans happy regardless of whoever they rooted for. The game was very close throughout its entirety with three lead changes. Matthew Stafford’s pass to Cooper Kupp for the touchdown gave the Rams a late lead. A big stop on the final drive of the game gave future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Aaron Donald his first Super Bowl ring.
While many NFL fans are upset that the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles will meet in the Super Bowl once again, it is easy to forget how exciting the last matchup was. In one of the highest-scoring Super Bowls of all time, the Chiefs came away victorious with a game-winning field goal with eight seconds left to win 38-35.
A competitive game throughout, the Eagles were able to pull away and take a 24-14 halftime lead. Never count out Patrick Mahomes as he would lead the Chiefs to back-to-back touchdown drives to take the lead. While the game ended on a controversial holding penalty, it still ended up being the best Super Bowl of the 2020s decade.
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