The Baltimore Colts and the New York Jets faced off in the third AFL-NFL Championship game, the first to be referred to as a Super Bowl game. The Colts entered the game as heavy favorites but Jets QB Joe Namath predicted and guaranteed that his team would win. He was right as the Jets upset the Colts 16-7 to become the first AFL team to win a Super Bowl. Namath was voted the game MVP.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH HIGHLIGHTS FROM SUPERBOWL III
source: http://www.cracked.com/funny-1793-joe-namath/
source: http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/81446687/Sports-Illustrated
In the AFC Championship game the Denver Broncos trail the Cleveland Browns 20-13 with 5:32 left in the 4th quarter. After a muffed kickoff return Denver starts with the ball on their own 2 yard line and John Elway leads the Broncos down the field in 15 plays to tie the game. Rich Karlis kicks the game winning field goal in overtime and sends the Broncos on to Superbowl XXI to face the NY Giants.
source: http://www.insidesocal.com/tomhoffarth/archives/2007/10/challenge-the-s-15.html
In the NFC Championship game the San Francisco 49ers defeat the Dallas Cowboys 28-27. With 58 seconds remaining in the game Joe Montana scrambles and throws a high pass deep into the endzone where Dwight Clark is able to make “The Catch”. 49ers would go on to win Super Bowl XVI.
source: http://www.cocktailmatch.com/SportsGuy/messageboard/?dbdId=406&ve=view
Buffalo kicks a field goal to take a 16-15 lead with 16 seconds remaining in the AFC wild card playoff game in Nashville. On the ensuing kickoff TE Frank Wycheck laterals to Kevin Dyson who runs 75 yards for the touchdown and the Titans win 22-16. Tennessee went on to beat Indianapolis and Jacksonville in the playoffs, advancing to face the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV.
source: http://www.life.com/image/78788140
At the International Bowl in Toronto, Rutgers defeats Ball State 52-30. Game MVP Ray Rice rushes for 280 yards and scores 4 touchdowns including this 90 yard touchdown run from scrimmage. Three days later the Rutgers Junior declared his intention to enter the NFL draft.
source: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=3400731
At the Orange Bowl in Miami USC and Oklahoma both entered the game undefeated. Trojan QB Matt Leinert throws for 5 TDs in a romp over the Sooners 55-19. This game marked the first time in history that two Heisman Trophy winners faced each other in a game with Leinert who won the award a month earlier facing Oklahoma QB Jason White who won it the previous season.
source: http://bealonghorn.utexas.edu/whyut/photos/ss2.php?g=1&s=14
Vince Young and the Longhorns take down Reggie Bush and the Trojans. Young had a game for the ages completing 30 of 40 passes for 267 yards and rushing 19 times for 200 yards. His total of 467 yards accounted for 84% of the Longhorns total yards in the game. The win gave Texas their first national championship since 1970 and also ended USC’s 34 game winning streak.
source: http://www.bills50.com/greatest-moments/moment/8
Houston Oilers lead 35-3 in the 3rd quarter but Buffalo comes back with five unanswered touchdowns to take the lead 38-35. Houston kicks a game tying field goal to send the game into overtime. On the first drive in the extra period Warren Moon throws an interception giving the Bills great field position enabling Steve Christie (pictured above) to kick the winning field goal for a 41-38 win.
source: http://www.idahostatesman.com/1476/gallery/884976-a885891-t3.html
In a thrilling game that goes into overtime the Broncos of Boise State beat Oklahoma 43-42 thanks to a couple of perfectly executed trick plays including a hook and ladder for a late touchdown and the old Statue of Liberty play. At the end of regulation the score is tied at 35 and Oklahoma draws first blood in overtime on a rushing touchdown by Adrian Peterson. Boise State answers back and converts the two point conversion for the win.
source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/gallery/featured/GAL1000212/15/33/index.htm
This Fiesta Bowl matchup featured the two best teams in the nation who both entered the game undefeated. #1 Nebraska destroys #2 Florida by the score of 62-24 with MVP honors going to Tommie Frazier and Michael Booker. Frazier led Nebraska throwing for 105 yards and a touchdown but did more damage on the ground rushing for 199 yards and 2 touchdowns.