Super Bowl Upsets

SI Staff | Feb 3, 2013

Super Bowl Upsets

Jets over Colts

AP, Tony Triolo/SI

The Colts had lost just one game that season, but Joe Namath guaranteed a Jets win the Thursday before the game and backed up his audacity by completing 17 of 28 passes for 208 yards in leading New York to a 16-7 victory.

Giants over Patriots

Al Tielemans/SI

The Patriots were overwhelming favorites after completing the first perfect regular season in 36 years, but Eli Manning led the Giants on a 12-play, 83-yard game-winning touchdown drive to give New York a 17-14 upset.

Patriots over Rams

John Biever/SI, Al Tielemans/SI

The Greatest Show on Turf had netted 6,930 yards in the regular season and the Rams offense was in high gear, outgaining the Patriots 427-267. But three Rams turnovers to none for New England proved costly as Tom Brady led the Patriots on a last-minute drive ending with Adam Vinatieri's game-winning 47-yard field goal.

Giants over Bills

AP

The Giants used their ball-control offense, keeping possession for 40 minutes and 30 seconds, to contain a Bills offense that had scored 95 points in its two previous playoff games. But the Bills had a chance until Scott Norwood's potential game-winning 47-yard field goal attempt went wide right, giving Buffalo its first of four straight Super Bowl losses.

Chiefs over Vikings

AP

The Chiefs defense limited Minnesota to 67 rushing yards and forced five turnovers as Len Dawson completed 17 of 22 passes for one touchdown, and Jan Stenerud (right) nailed three field goals.

Broncos over Packers

Al Tielemans/SI

Terrell Davis led the Wild Card Broncos and John Elway to their first Super Bowl win with 157 rushing yards and a Super Bowl-record three touchdowns.

Raiders over Redskins

John Iacono/SI

The Raiders delivered the most-lopsided outcome in Super Bowl history against the 14-2 Redskins after Washington had beaten the Los Angeles Rams 51-7 in the divisional round. MVP Marcus Allen ran for 191 yards and scored two touchdowns.

Raiders over Eagles

Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

Behind Ron Jaworski and a defense that had allowed the fewest points in the league during the regular season, Philadelphia beat Oakland 10-7 during the regular season. But Jim Plunkett threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns to make Oakland the first Wild Card team to win the Super Bowl.