As the 40th Super Bowl approaches, NFL teams are jockeying for position to play in the most-watched sporting event in the world. One of 32 teams will go down in the history book. And fans will wonder: Is that the greatest team ever?
What is the greatest football team in Super Bowl history? Is it the undefeated, untied 1972 Miami Dolphins. How about the brash 1985 Chicago Bears, which danced the Super Bowl Shuffle to a championship?
What about one of the four Pittsburgh Steelers teams of the 1970s behind their Steel Curtain defense. Or the Dallas Cowboys of the 1970s and their Doomsday Defense? Or the 1990s version of the Cowboys, led by Aikman, Smith and Irvin?
The Augusta Chronicle has pared down the list of 39 Super Bowl winners to a 32-team bracket. In the coming weeks, you decide which teams would win in hypothetical matchups. The ultimate champion will be decided Feb. 5, date of Super Bowl XL.
Starting Monday morning, go to chronicle.augusta.com/polls to place your vote for each of the 16 first-round games. First-round results, as well as second-round pairings, will be in Jan. 8 editions of The Augusta Chronicle.
SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS YEAR BY YEAR
1967 SUPER BOWL I: Green Bay (14-2) - Led by legendary coach Vince Lombardi, ferocious linebacker Ray Nitschke and quarterback Bart Starr, the Packers won the inaugural matchup in the AFL-NFL merger. Starr, the season MVP, also was named Super Bowl MVP.
1968 SUPER BOWL II: Green Bay (12-4-1) - The Packers sent Lombardi out a winner in his final game with the team. They might not have been quite as good as the previous year's team, but they capped a decade of dominance.
1969 SUPER BOWL III: New York Jets (13-3) - Led by cocksure quarterback Broadway Joe Namath, who guaranteed a Super Bowl win. The Jets pulled off the biggest upset in Super Bowl history, defeating 18-point favorite Baltimore, 16-7.
1970 SUPER BOWL IV: Kansas City (14-3) - Quarterback Len Dawson won Super Bowl honors for his efficient passing, but the Chiefs' defense made the difference. They recorded three interceptions and two fumble recoveries against Minnesota.
1971 SUPER BOWL V: Baltimore (14-2-1) - Johnny Unitas got his only Super Bowl win as the Colts survived a game which saw 11 total turnovers. They used a Jim O'Brien field goal with 5 seconds left to knock off Dallas.
1972 SUPER BOWL VI: Dallas (14-3) - Led by Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach, the Cowboys won their first Super Bowl. The "Doomsday Defense" did not allow a touchdown the final 29 quarters of the season, including the 24-3 Super Bowl win over Miami.
1973 SUPER BOWL VII: Miami (17-0) - The Dolphins became - and remain - the only undefeated team in NFL history. The two-headed monster of Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris combined for more 2,100 rushing yards and 18 TDs. Former Georgia standout Jake Scott recorded two interceptions and was named Super Bowl MVP in the 14-7 win over Washington.
1974 SUPER BOWL VIII: Miami (15-2) - Some observers believed this Dolphins team was better than the previous year's squad. The "No-Name Defense" continued their domination.
1975 SUPER BOWL IX: Pittsburgh (13-3-1) - Led by "Mean" Joe Greene and the "Steel Curtain" defense, the Steelers won their first of four Super Bowls.
1976 SUPER BOWL X: Pittsburgh (15-2) - Quarterback Terry Bradshaw and receivers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth start to come into their own and take the offensive burden off running back Franco Harris. The Super Bowl featured one of the greatest catches, with Swann's 53-yard juggling reception.
1977 SUPER BOWL XI: Oakland (16-1) - Led by the AFC's top-rated passer in Ken Stabler, along with receivers Cliff Branch and Fred Biletnikoff and future Hall of Fame linemen Art Shell and Gene Upshaw, the Raiders rolled over the Vikings. Coach John Madden won his only Super Bowl.
1978 SUPER BOWL XII: Dallas (15-2) - Rookie running back Tony Dorsett rushed for 1,000 yards and became the newest Cowboys weapon. Led by linemen Harvey Martin (23 sacks), Ed "Too Tall" Jones and Randy White and linebacker Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson and safety Mel Renfro, the "Doomsday Defense" was at the top of its game.
1979 SUPER BOWL XIII: Pittsburgh (17-2) - Quarterback Terry Bradshaw had his finest season, throwing for almost 3,000 yards and 28 touchdowns en route to winning MVP honors. Bradshaw set Super Bowl records for passing yards and touchdowns and won the game's MVP honors.
1980 SUPER BOWL XIV: Pittsburgh (15-4) - Behind Hall of Fame center Mike Webster and fullback Rocky Bleier, running back Franco Harris rushed for 1,000 yards for the seventh consecutive season. With its "Steel Curtain" defense, Pittsburgh covered the 10.5-point spread.
1981 SUPER BOWL XV: Oakland (15-5) - Castoff Jim Plunkett became the team's starting quarterback in the sixth game after starter Dan Pastorini suffered a broken leg. Plunkett led the Raiders to wins in nine of their final 11 games, and they later went on to become the first wild card team to win a Super Bowl.
1982 SUPER BOWL XVI: San Francisco (16-3) - Sparked by "The Catch," Joe Montana's last-minute touchdown pass to Dwight Clark in the back of the end zone to defeat Dallas in the NFC Championship game, the 49ers won the first of five Super Bowls. Third-year quarterback Montana, Super Bowl MVP, and rookie cornerback Ronnie Lott led the team.
1983 SUPER BOWL XVII: Washington (12-1) - In a strike-shortened season, quarterback Joe Theismann threw for 2,000 yards with top targets Art Monk and Charlie Brown. Fullback John Riggins led the running attack by the offensive line, known as the "Hogs." Mark Moseley became the first kicker to win regular-season MVP honors.
1984 SUPER BOWL XVIII: Los Angeles Raiders (15-4) - Second-year halfback Marcus Allen led the team in rushing, receptions and touchdowns. He became the Super Bowl MVP after rushing for a record 191 yards, including a memorable 74-yard touchdown run.
1985 SUPER BOWL XIX: San Francisco (18-1) - High-powered offense led by Montana, running back Roger Craig and Pro Bowl running back Wendell Tyler. All four of the 49ers' defensive backs made the Pro Bowl. First NFL team to win 15 regular-season games.
1986 SUPER BOWL XX: Chicago (18-1) - One of the most balanced teams in NFL history; led the NFL in scoring and fewest points allowed. "Da Bears" danced the Super Bowl Shuffle behind a cast of characters, including coach Mike Ditka, quarterback Jim McMahon, defensive tackle William "Refrigerator" Perry and defensive lineman Richard Dent. Running back Walter Payton was NFL Offensive Player of the Year, while linebacker Mike Singletary was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year.
1987 SUPER BOWL XXI: New York Giants (17-2) - Running back Joe Morris ran for a franchise record 1,516 yards. Behind MVP linebacker Lawrence Taylor, the "Big Blue Wrecking Crew" defense wreaked havoc on opponents. Quarterback Phil Simms completed 22 of 25 passes to become Super Bowl MVP.
1988 SUPER BOWL XXII: Washington (14-4) - Doug Williams became the first black quarterback to start a Super Bowl game. He won MVP honors after throwing for 340 yards and four touchdowns.
1989 SUPER BOWL XXIII: San Francisco (13-6) - Montana eventually won the QB battle with Steve Young and found a favorite target in Jerry Rice (1,300 receiving yards). Craig accumulated more than 2,000 total yards and was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year. Montana drove his team 92 yards and tossed the game-winning 10-yard pass to John Taylor with 34 seconds left to give the 49ers their second Super Bowl win over Cincinnati.
1990 SUPER BOWL XXIV: San Francisco (17-2) - Montana recorded the highest passer rating in NFL history (112.4) and won the MVP award, while Rice accumulated almost 1,500 receiving yards, Taylor 1,000 receiving yards and Craig 1,000 rushing yards. The 49ers scored 71 points in two playoff games and rocked Denver with the most points scored in a Super Bowl game (55).
1991 SUPER BOWL XXV: New York Giants (16-3) - Quarterback Jeff Hostetler took the reins at the end of the regular season after Phil Simms suffered a broken leg. Led by a ball-control offense and a tenacious defense, they won their second Super Bowl after surviving Buffalo kicker Scott Norwood's failed 47-yard attempt at the buzzer.
1992 SUPER BOWL XXVI: Washington (17-2) - Quarterback Mark Rypien had a career season with 3,500 passing yards and 28 touchdowns. Earnest Byner and Ricky Ervins combined for 1,600 rushing yards, while fullback Gerald Riggs scored 11 touchdowns. Coach Joe Gibbs won his third Super Bowl.
1993 SUPER BOWL XXVII: Dallas (16-3) - Three seasons removed from a 1-15 campaign, the Cowboys started to hit their stride with three primary offensive stars - quarterback Troy Aikman, running back Emmitt Smith and wide receiver Michael Irvin. Aikman threw for 3,400 passing yards, while Irvin recorded almost 1,400 receiving yards. Smith rushed for 1,700 yards and 18 touchdowns.
1994 SUPER BOWL XXVIII: Dallas (15-4) - Aikman, Irvin and Smith all earned trips to the Pro Bowl, despite Smith sitting the first two games due to a contract dispute and Aikman missing time with injuries. The Cowboys scored 24 unanswered second-half points and handed Buffalo its record fourth consecutive Super Bowl defeat.
1995 SUPER BOWL XXIX: San Francisco (16-3) - The 49ers brought in a slew of free agents to shore up their defense, including lineman Richard Dent, linebacker Ken Norton Jr. and defensive back Deion Sanders. Quarterback Steve Young broke Montana's record for highest passer rating (112.8) and won MVP. Young finally won the big game, throwing six touchdown passes en route to the Super Bowl MVP award.
1996 SUPER BOWL XXX: Dallas (15-4) - Under second-year coach Barry Switzer, the Cowboys regained their status as the NFL's top team. Smith won the rushing title for the fourth consecutive season.
1997 SUPER BOWL XXXI: Green Bay (16-3) - Quarterback Brett Favre won his second consecutive MVP award after throwing for almost 3,900 yards and a record 39 touchdown passes. The "Minister of Defense" Reggie White recorded three sacks in the Super Bowl, while Desmond Howard had a key kick return 99 yards for a touchdown.
1998 SUPER BOWL XXXII: Denver (16-4) - After suffering three Super Bowl losses early in his career, John Elway led his team back to the ultimate game. At 37, Elway was named to the Pro Bowl, along with running back Terrell Davis and tight end Shannon Sharpe. Davis rushed for a Super Bowl record three touchdowns to give Denver its first title.
1999 SUPER BOWL XXXIII: Denver (17-2) - Davis again put up stellar numbers, rushing for 2,000 yards and 23 touchdowns. The ageless Elway had plenty of targets in 1,000-yard Pro Bowl receivers Ed McCaffrey and Rod Smith and Pro Bowl tight end Sharpe.
2000 SUPER BOWL XXXIV: St. Louis (16-3) - Led by former Arena Football League MVP Kurt Warner, the Rams assembled the "Greatest Show on Turf." Warner was named league MVP after throwing 41 touchdown passes with top targets in receivers Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt. Running back Marshall Faulk was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year by recording 1,000 yards rushing and receiving.
2001 SUPER BOWL XXXV: Baltimore (16-4) - Led by MVP linebacker Ray Lewis, the defense is considered one of the best ever in NFL history after allowing just 165 points in the regular season. Running backs Jamal Lewis and Priest Holmes gave the Ravens a potent rushing attack.
2002 SUPER BOWL XXXVI: New England (14-5) - Tom Brady emerged as the starting QB early in the season after Drew Bledsoe suffered an injury. Brady put up stellar numbers, with receiver Troy Brown, from Blackville-Hilda, hauling in 101 receptions for almost 1,200 yards. Adam Vinatieri's 48-yard field as time expired gave the Patriots their first title after two defeats.
2003 SUPER BOWL XXXVII: Tampa Bay (15-4) - Defense reigned supreme, with Pro Bowl linemen Warren Sapp and Simeon Rice, linebacker Derrick Brooks and defensive back John Lynch. First-year coach Jon Gruden got just enough offense out of Pro Bowl QB Brad Johnson, running back Michael Pittman and Pro Bowl fullback Mike Alstott.
2004 SUPER BOWL XXXVIII: New England (17-2) - Brady put together another solid season, while coach Bill Belichick upgraded the defense. Shutdown cornerbacks Ty Law and Tyrone Poole recorded 12 of the team's 19 interceptions. Vinatieri kicked the game-winning field goal with 4 seconds remaining as the Patriots survived a shootout with Carolina for the Super Bowl title.
2005 SUPER BOWL XXXIX: New England (17-2) - Running back Corey Dillon, in his first season with the Patriots, became a major weapon. He recorded 1,600 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in a Pro Bowl season after frustrating years in Cincinnati.
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