For many years the Super Bowl had a reputation as a disappointment. Perhaps inevitably for one of the most hyped events in every sporting year, the tendency was for tight games or uncompetitive blowouts. That trend has been reversed delightfully in the past decade or so, explaining the apparent recency bias of this list. But we begin in the 1980s:
10. Super Bowl XXIII: San Francisco 49ers 20, Cincinnati Bengals 16 (1989)
Joe Montana’s third Super Bowl win, a tight game best remembered for his calmness during the game-winning fourth quarter drive and the brilliance of wide receiver Jerry Rice.