SUPER BOWLS THAT NEVER WERE | somehownotsingle's Blog

Being born in 1980, I have had the privilege of watching some pretty good Super Bowls in my day. I've also gotten to see the worst blows out in SB history, but that was okay with me because I really enjoy watching good offenses do their thing.

Still I can't help wonder about those Super Bowls that never were. I can think of at least four times when the team from the NFC that I really wanted to get in didn't make it, and I think it made for a less exciting SB. See what you think:

SB XXV: GIANTS VERSUS BILLS

COULD HAVE BEEN: 49ERS VERSUS BILLS

This SB not happening upset me for many reasons. First of all I was a young 49ers fan (the first game I ever saw when I was like four was the Jets and the 49ers so they automatically became my two favorite teams). The 49ers and the Giants had met earlier in the season when both were undefeated, and the 49ers had trounced them. But then the Giants got their revenge in the NFC championship game. It was heartbreaking, not only as a fan of the 49ers, but as a fan of the game. This was one of the best chances for football to see a Three-Peat, which has never happened. I don't think the Bills would have played the 49ers as closely.

SB XXXIII: FALCONS VERSUS BRONCOS

COULD HAVE BEEN: VIKINGS VERSUS BRONCOS

This SB not happening upset me because we didn't get to see arguably the best offense of the 1990s perform on the big stage. Somehow the Atlanta Falcons managed to trip up the Vikings in the NFC Championship game. And let's be honest, while I was happy for the feel-good, undedog Falcons, man, they were not fun to watch. At all. Now I'm not a Vikings fan by any means, and if this SB had happened, I would have been cheering for the Broncos the whole way. Still, after watching this SB, I can't help but feel that we were robbed of the opportunity to watch an instant classic. 90s Vikings versus 90s Broncos? Man, that would have been awesome. And in a way, I think it would have been a better ending to Elway's career. BTW, I'm also mad at Elway for retiring after the year because they had a definite chance to Three-Peat. In case you can't tell, I really want to see a Three-Peat by somebody . . .

SB XXXV: GIANTS VERSUS RAVENS

COULD HAVE BEEN: VIKINGS VERSUS BRONCOS

Okay, I swear I'm not a Vikings fan! :-) I just think that Vikings versus Ravens would have been a great, great game. Though not as impressive as some earlier 90s teams, this Viking Offense was lights out. I have no way of explaining what happened in the NFC Championship game -- either why the Vikings scored no points, or how the Giants managed to have double digits. As a fan of the game, I really really wanted to see one of the perennial great offenses of the time go up against one of the perennial great defenses of the time (and still are.)

SB XLI: BEARS VERSUS COLTS

COULD HAVE BEEN: SAINTS VERSUS COLTS

Now I didn't really want this one for the feel good story aspect, but because it I really enjoy offensive shoot outs. Man, this one would have been fun to watch, I think. The Bears defense was great last year, but I think most objective fans went into the game knowing that their offensive was going to cost them the game, more specifically Mr. Grossman. (Now if the SB was held around week four somehow, then ooooooh!) I think the Colts still would have won (and I'm glad Manning finally got a ring), but it would have been a more entertaining game to be sure.

That's not to say that ever year besides these my favorite teams have made the SB. It's just that in the case of these four games, I can't help but feel that we missed out on either great history or really great games. Man, I still drool over that Vikings/Broncos possibility.

These are just SBs that I remember from my own football watching lifespan. Any other great games out there that we missed out on? Let me know, Fannation.

On a random side note, it would have been fun to see the Browns get to a Super Bowl. Unfortunately, every time since the merger that they reached the AFC championship game . . . they faced the Broncos. Every time, it was sad. I kind of wish the Browns had made it at least once, especially considering how the Bronocos stunk it up in their early SB appearances. Maybe this is their year! Ehehehe . . . sigh