Good news from NFL Network today. They’ll be airing 10 classic Super Bowls in their entirety over the next 12 days. Five of these Super Bowls have never been reaired before, and a few of them will include their halftime shows. The broadcasts include the original network announcers and graphics, but alas, the original commercials won’t air with them (I could use some Bud Bowl action). NFL Network will also show the 2007 Week 17 Patriots-Giants game on Jan. 24 at 9pm ET and Feb. 1 at 9pm ET.
Oh, you still don’t get NFL Network? Then it’s TS4U.
Here are the 10 classic Super Bowls, and I included a few personal reminiscences from each of them.
Super Bowl Classics On NFL Network Schedule
Monday, January 21 at 12pm ET
Super Bowl XXII
Washington Redskins vs. Denver Broncos
Announcers: Al Michaels, Frank Gifford and Dan Dierdorf (ABC)
Cubicle QB On SB XXII: This is either the Doug Williams (“How long have you been a black quarterback?“) game or the Timmy Smith game, depending on your point of view. Either way, it’s just one of those 1980s Kick-The-Crap-Out-Of-The-Broncos Super Bowls that all sort of blur together.
Monday, January 21 at 8:30pm ET
Super Bowl XLI
Indianapolis Colts vs. Chicago Bears
Announcers: Jim Nantz and Phil Simms (CBS)
**Halftime show featuring Prince**
Cubicle QB On SBXLI: My Bears were making their first Super Bowl appearance since that ’85 season. Plus, I was in Vegas that summer and put $10 just for fun on the Bears to win the Super Bowl at 13:1 odds, so I had a little bit of cash riding on the outcome as well as team pride. The Bears were underdogs, but I figured if Devin Hester had a big day and the defense got some takeaways, we could keep Peyton Manning’s feel-good story from happening. After Hester returned the opening kickoff for a TD, I was stoked. And I was still feeling pretty good about our chances for most of the first half, but I sort of got this icky feeling as momentum was swinging in the Colts’ favor. The Bears couldn’t pressure Manning or stop the run, and when Rex Grossman started recklessly chucking the ball around, it was over. It’s been long enough. I can probably watch this game again — the first half, anyway.
Wednesday, January 23 at 8:30pm ET
Super Bowl XX
Chicago Bears vs. New England Patriots (premiere)
Announcers: Dick Enberg, Bob Griese and Merlin Olsen (NBC)
Cubicle QB On SBXX: My favorite Super Bowl, for obvious reasons. Total domination from the Shufflin’ Crew. I’ve watched NFL Films highlights from this game dozens of times since, but I’ve never actually seen the game in its entirety since it was played. I’m pretty excited about seeing it.
Sunday, January 27 at 4pm ET
Super Bowl XXXI
Green Bay Packers vs. New England Patriots (premiere)
Announcers: Pat Summerall and John Madden (FOX)
Cubicle QB On SBXXXI: I was in college then in 1997, a Bears fan among all my Packers fan friends. It was a rough season for me, with Green Bay clearly the best team in the league and the Bears wallowing in the Wannstedt era. I remember going out with my friends after the game to join the masses that had gathered in the snow to celebrate on State Street in Madison, but I really wasn’t celebrating (though I did enjoy high-fiving the chick who thought a piece of athletic tape was a suitable bikini top). The N.Y. Giants saved me from having to deal with something similar this year.
Sunday, January 27 at 8pm ET
Super Bowl XXXVIII
New England Patriots vs. Carolina Panthers
Announcers: Greg Gumbel and Phil Simms (CBS)
Cubicle QB On SBXXXVIII: This game was a defensive struggle, until the teams combined for 37 points in the fourth quarter and Adam Vinatieri (again) kicked the game-winning FG for the Pats. It turned out to be one of the best Super Bowls ever. But I was at a party in which the women found it more interesting to talk about doilies and whatnot than to watch the game, and it was a real distraction. It did not, however, distract me from Janet Jackson’s bare breast at halftime, which is really all people remember this game for anyway. “Wardrobe Malfunction” is this game’s legacy.
Monday, January 28 at 8pm ET
Super Bowl XXI
New York Giants vs. Denver Broncos (premiere)
Announcers: Pat Summerall and John Madden (CBS)
Cubicle QB On SB XXI: I don’t remember much, other than it was Phil Simms’ game and yet another beatdown on the Broncos.
Tuesday, January 29 at 8pm ET
Super Bowl XXXVI
New England Patriots vs. St. Louis Rams
Announcers: Pat Summerall and John Madden (FOX)
**Halftime show featuring U2**
Cubicle QB On SB XXXVI: This was the last hurrah for the Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf” and the beginning of the Patriots’ dynasty. It was also the first post-9/11 Super Bowl, as you’ll remember from U2’s halftime show. I remember being at a party, and all of us were just shocked at how ballsy Tom Brady and the underdog Patriots were to attempt that last-minute drive instead of playing for overtime. We were even more shocked when Adam Vinatieri nailed the game-winning 48-yard FG.
Wednesday, January 30 at 9pm ET
Super Bowl XXV
New York Giants vs. Buffalo Bills
Announcers: Al Michaels, Frank Gifford and Dan Dierdorf (ABC)
Cubicle QB On SBXXV: Ah, yes. The Jeff Hostetler/Scott Norwood Super Bowl. This game was during Operation Desert Storm, and the “USA! USA!” volume was pumped way up. Norwood’s 47-yard FG attempt with four seconds left sailed just wide right, sealing the first of four-straight Super Bowl losses for the Bills.
Thursday, January 31 at 9pm ET
Super Bowl XXXIX
New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles (premiere)
Announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Cris Collinsworth (FOX)
**Halftime show featuring Paul McCartney**
Cubicle QB On SBXXXIX: Not as interesting a game as the 24-21 score indicated. I remember it mostly for Terrell Owens having an awesome game on a bad ankle, and all the rumors that Donovan McNabb was getting sick in the huddle, and that’s why the Eagles couldn’t run the hurry-up offense in the fourth quarter. The Patriots won their third Super Bowl in four years, and “dynasty” started being applied to them.
Saturday, February 2 at 9:30pm ET
Super Bowl VII
Miami Dolphins vs. Washington Redskins (premiere)
Announcers: Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis (NBC)
Cubicle QB On SBVII: I didn’t see this game, as I did not yet exist. This game unleashed the scourge of the ’72 Dolphins upon us. Fortunately, this scourge will probably be over in two weeks.
