The sequel.
The very utterance of that word tends to be the bane of existence for most folks, especially in this era of entertainment when even movies that had absolutely no business getting a sequel get one. (Gladiator II and Ridley Scott we are looking right at you).
Then of course there is the dreaded, sequel to the sequel, or prequel to the original. Or, dare I say: reboot!
Marvel and Disney, we are looking right at you too!
Every once in a while we get a Godfather Part II, or Terminator 2: Judgement Day that is equal to or even slightly better than the original. Then again, this is few and very far between.
And so in the case of the Big Game, it too is no stranger to the … gulp … sequel.
So which Big Game rivalry/sequel has been the best? Let’s rank ’em.
Honorable Mention: Rematches We Wish We Had
FOXBOROUGH, MA – NOVEMBER 04: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots talks with Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers after the Patriots defeated the Packers 31-17 at Gillette Stadium on November 4, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Granted while rematches in the Big Game seem to becoming more common, there are a few matchup’s we wish we saw again:
New England Patriots vs. Green Bay Packers: These two teams met once on this grand stage in 1996, a game Green Bay won 35-21 as Brett Favre and company dominated Drew Bledsoe and the Pats for Green Bay’s first Big Game title in over 30 years at the time. Too bad we never got a sequel, especially considering we could have had Tom Brady vs. Brett Favre, or Brady vs. Aaron Rodgers in their prime. DAMN!
Green Bay Packers vs. Denver Broncos: These two met in what many consider the best Big Game ever in 1997. Denver won 31-24 as John Elway finally got his first world championship ring after three previous losses in this very spot. It was a game that featured Hall of Famers on both sides from Elway to Favre, to Terrell Davis, Reggie White, and Shannon Sharpe. Even coaches Mike Holmgren and Denver coach Mike Shanahan should get in the Hall at some point. But, what if we got a rematch between these two franchises? Imagine if Aaron Rodgers Packers went up against the Peyton Manning led Broncos? Wow, what a game that would have been.
Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: two flagship franchises that only met once in 2010. It was a good one, featuring two Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Rodgers and Ben Rothlisberger, but it was not the classic it should have been. We should want to see these two franchises meet again some day on this stage.
Green Bay Packers vs. Kansas City: The first ever Big Game was KC vs. Green Bay. A modern day reboot was definitely something people wanted. Why? Think about it this way: we never got an Aaron Rodgers vs. Patrick Mahomes game ever in the regular season. When the opportunity came about, one or the other was hurt, with the most recent example happening in 2023 when Rodgers tore his Achilles with the Jets, and was not available for the Sunday night showdown with Mahomes in Week 4 of that year.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Buffalo Bills
30 Jan 1994: RUNNING BACK EMMITT SMITH OF THE DALLAS COWBOYS SCORES A TOUCHDOWN DURING THE COWBOYS 30-13 VICTORY OVER THE BUFFALO BILLS IN SUPER BOWL XXVIII AT THE GEORGIA DOME IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA. SMITH RUSHED FOR TWO TOUCHDOWNS.
Oye. Talk about a double-feature that we could do without. Yikes. The Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills met in back-to-back Big Games in 1992 and 1993, and each time it was a one-sided blowout in favor the Boys. Dallas rolled over Buffalo 52-17 in the first matchup out in Pasadena, California, with Troy Aikman winning the MVP. What people probably remember most from that game was Don Beebe stripping Dallas’ Leon Lett of the football at the goal line that would have made the score … 59-17.
The sequel the very next year was closer. Buffalo’s Jim Kelly made it through the entire game. Buffalo led 13-6 at the half, then Emmitt Smith turned on the jets, and gored the Bills as Dallas won again, and Jimmy Johnson got his hair messed up again to the tune of 30-13.
This Big Game rematch would be the last time we would see Buffalo in the Big Game. They’ve been trying, but there is a certain other dynasty in their way right now in Kansas City.
Miami Dolphins vs. Washington
WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 20: U.S. President Barack Obama (L) is presented with a jersey by current team owner Stephen Ross (2nd L) as members of the 1972 Miami Dolphins, head coach Don Shula (R), running back Larry Csonka (3rd L) and other members look on during an East Room event August 20, 2013 at the White House in Washington, DC. President Obama hosted the undefeated 1972 Super Bowl champions who didnt get the chance to be honored at the White House back then.
Or as some would like to say the forgotten sequel.
Everyone remembers the original between these two franchises in 1972, when the Miami Dolphins held off a late Washington rally to win 14-7. Not a great game by the score, but it was significant because it etched the ’72 Dolphins as the only team to go undefeated for an entire season (regular and post-season combined), at 17-0.
The sequel some 10-years later is sometimes forgotten, until you mention the name John Riggins. Washington won this rematch 27-17 out in Pasadena, California of 1983, with Riggins leading the way with 166 yards rushing on 38 carries. It was the first of three Big Game championship for Washington under Joe Gibbs.
New England Patriots vs. L.A./St. Louis Rams
03 Feb 2002: Quarterback Kurt Warner #13 of the St.Louis Rams is stopped by Bobby Hamilton #91 of the New England Patriots during Superbowl XXXVI at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Patriots won 20-17, with a 48-yard field goal by kicker Adam Vinatieri with 10 seconds left in the game . DIGITAL IMAGE.
The first matchup between the New England Patriots and then-St. Louis Rams was one of the most significant games in NFL history. It pitted the Greatest Show on Turf: the Rams led by quarterback Kurt Warner, and slew of Hall of Famers looking to become the first NFL dynasty since the 90s Cowboys. Instead, another dynasty was born: New England. A young Tom Brady guided New England into field goal range, and Adam Vinateri kicked the game winner. It was the start of a new era for sure, only in Massachusetts and not St. Louis.
The sequel between the Pats and Rams some 19 years later featured New England at the end of its glorious run and an upstart Rams team, now relocated back to Los Angeles. This sequel was bad. Think of any bad sequel or reboot you’ve seen: The Godfather Part III; Jaws 3D; Indiana Jones 4 and 5. Yeah, it stunk. The game was a snooze fest with only one touchdown the entire night. New England won its sixth and final title of the Brady/Belichick era, 13-3.
New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – FEBRUARY 04: Nick Foles #9 of the Philadelphia Eagles catches a 1-yard touchdown pass against the New England Patriots during the second quarter in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
New England and Philadelphia met in what has to be the weirdest double-bill in the history of the Big Game. Their first match-up was a long-awaited battle between two of the NFL’s best teams in the 39th Big Game in 2004. At that time Andy Reid (KC’s current Head Coach) had struggled for years to get Philly over the hump in the NFC Championship. In 2004 they broke through thanks in part to receiver Terrell Owens. In the Big Game, Owens was great, but the Patriots were better.
Tom Brady, now entering his prime, was impeccable. The Patriots defense was grand, as they held Donavan McNabb in check. The final was 24-21 Patriots, but it wasn’t as close as the score indicated.
That game is best remembered for McNabb getting ill in the fourth quarter, and Philly taking a very long time on their final scoring drive that wound up costing them the game.
The rematch some 13 years later featured Belichcik and Brady going for their sixth ring, and back-to-back titles for the first time since their earlier run from 2001-2004. Philly came in huge underdogs. They were relying on a back-up quarterback named Nick Foles, and a Head Coach in Doug Pederson in only his second year. It didn’t matter. Foles and Pederson drew up the perfect play at the perfect time: The Philly Special.
That play, which resulted in Foles catching a touchdown pass propelled Philadelphia to a wild 41-33 win in one of the most bizarre Big Games in recent memory.
San Francisco vs. Kansas City
MIAMI, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 02: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates a win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida. The Chiefs won the game 31-20. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
The most recent rematch falls somewhere in the middle of our list. The Kansas City Dynasty began five years ago in this battle between KC and San Francisco in a game that saw the Niners lead by as many as 10-points heading into the fourth quarter. But, as KC is known to do, Patrick Mahomes and company stormed back, thanks in large part to the running of running back Damien Williams, who should have been the games MVP. KC scored three unanswered touchdowns to win 31-20.
The rematch was even better. And what better setting than Las Vegas. A back and forth battel pitted Mahomes against Niners quarterback Brock Purdy. The teams exchanged four lead changes as the Big Game went into overtime. In the end Mahomes hit Mecole Hardman for the game winner with :03 seconds left in the first OT. KC won 25-22.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Montana #16, Quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers hands the ball off to running back #33 Roger Craig during the National Football League Super Bowl XXIII game against the Cincinnati Bengals on 22 January 1989 at the Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida, United States. The 49ers won the game 20 – 16.
If the 1980s were the decade of success and excess, the San Francisco 49ers were its perfect symbol. Winners of four Big Games in the decade, the 49ers of the 80s brought the NFL into the modern era with its high powered offensive precision. Just the names Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and Roger Craig should bring back memories of days of old.
The foil for Montana’s heroics on this stage were the Bengals. Not just once but twice.
Their first battle in Detroit in 1982 was the first, and probably easily forgotten of their Big Game triumphs. San Fran dominated early, holding a 20-0 halftime lead, and then held on for a 26-21 victory. Cincinnati never led, despite Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson throwing for more yards than Montana in the game.
The sequel some seven years later was a major improvement. The 23rd Big Game became one of the best ever in the series. The Bengals were huge underdogs, but held three different leads, including a lead of 13-6 thanks to a 96-yard kick return by Stanford Jennings.
But Montana led the Niners back, hitting Jerry Rice for the game tying score early in the fourth quarter. Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason drove the Bengals back in front with a long 5:30 minute drive that culminated in a field goal and a 16-13 lead with 3:20 to play. Problem is that was too much time for Montana.
He drove the Niners all the way down field and hit John Taylor with the game winner with 34 seconds to play. Niners win 20-16 for their third Big Game title.
New England Patriots vs. New York Giants
GLENDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 03: Wide receiver Plaxico Burress #17 of the New York Giants catches a 13-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter over Ellis Hobbs #27 of the New England Patriots during Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
If Tom Brady and the Patriots had any kryptonite during their seemingly unstoppable two-decade Dynasty it was the New York Giants.
The first meeting was perhaps the greatest Big Game of all time in 2007. The Giants were 12 point underdogs to an unbeaten (18-0) Patriots team. The two squads met five weeks prior in Week 17 of the regular season. The Patriots won that game, but New York outplayed them, and many Giants players and coaches attest that that game set the tone for the postseason.
The G-Men rolled pasted Tampa Bay, Dallas and Green Bay to the Big Game in Arizona. And the game didn’t disappoint. The Giants held the highest scoring offense in the NFL to just 14 points, but trailed 14-10 late in the fourth quarter. Then the Gods of football shown down on the G-Men. Eli Manning heaved a pass up in the air toward David Tyree who caught the ball against his helmet. A few plays later, Manning hit Plaxico Burress in the end zone for what would be the game winning score. 17-14.
Four years later, the Giants and Pats met again in the Big Game. This time the stakes weren’t as huge. The Patriots had two losses on the year already. But the game was still huge. Big Blue trailed 17-15 late in the fourth quarter. Eli Manning didn’t need a helmet catch in this one, but he got Mario Manningham to make a toe-tapping sideline catch to change the momentum. A few plays later, Ahmed Bradshaw mistakenly scored to give the Giants a 21-17 lead. Mistakenly, because the Giants wanted Bradshaw to fall at the one so they could run the clock and kick a field goal. The Pats and Brady got the ball one last time, and Brady nearly won it, as the ball fell just short of the hands of tight end Rob Gronkowski as the clock struck triple zero.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
28 Jan 1996: Wide receiver Andre Hastings of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs down the field as cornerback Robert Bailey of the Dallas Cowboys chases after him at Super Bowl XXX at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. The Cowboys won the game 27 – 17.
The only trilogy in Big Game history. If there is one rivalry that best exemplifies the Big Game and the NFL it is the Steelers and Cowboys.
Power, prestige vs. blue collar, and hard work. It’s the two America’s on one stage. One team that wears white, blue and silver. The other in black and gold.
The Steelers and Cowboys met three times in the Big Game. Their first two match-ups came in the 1970s at the peak of the Steel Curtain era, and, at the same time, the peak of the Tom Landry era in Dallas.
The 10th Big Game in 1976 is best remembered for Lynn Swann’s acrobatic catch and Terry Bradshaw’s big arm as Pittsburgh won 21-17.
The sequel three years later in 1979 was a brutal grudge match with three different lead changes, and over 700 combined yards between the two teams as Bradshaw and Roger Staubach put on a show. The game is best remembered for Dallas tight end jackie Smith dropping what would have been the game winning score late in the fourth quarter. Pittsburgh won the rematch 35-31.
Finally in 1995, Dallas got some vengeance. It was the final title of the 90’s Cowboys dynasty, and why not against their Big Game rivals. Dallas pretty much dominated this game, leading 20-7 at one point en route to a 27-17 win. Larry Brown got the MVP with a pair of interceptions of Pittsburgh quarterback Neil O’Donnell.
The Dallas dynasty was complete. It was the final time we saw Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin on the Big Stage. It was also Dallas’ first and only title in the post-Jimmy Johnson era. On the other side, O’Donnell’s three-interception game was a preview of coming attractions for him; he would sign with the Jets weeks later. Ouch.
Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher would return once more, ten years later, and avenged this loss with Big Ben and the Bus Jerome Bettis.