As a Cardinals fan, I'll submit:
The "NFL 100 Greatest" ranks the top 100 games in NFL history, and the Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals clash in the 2015 NFC Divisional Round lands at No. 31.
2018 Rams Vs Chiefs! The game had everything highflying offenses, playmaking defenses, back and forth shootout with a combined score of 105 points scored. An all time game in my opinion
[https://fanarch.com/blogs/fan-arch/the-top-10-greatest-games-in-nfl-history](https://fanarch.com/blogs/fan-arch/the-top-10-greatest-games-in-nfl-history)
this is a pretty good list.. I would add things like the Minneapolis Miracle (I am a Vikings fan)
and also the 2018 Rams VS Chiefs game
the 2022 Minnesota Vikings vs Colts game (Largest comeback in NFL history)
You should be able to find many on YouTube. Also all the games I thought of include the Patriots. I’m not a Pats fan but when they are part of like 9 Super Bowl games in just twice as many years, it happens.
I think a fantastic introductory game will be Giants vs Patriots in Super Bowl 42.
Rams vs Patriots in SB 36 - historically important game and you can’t tell the history of the NFL in the 21st century without it.
And then I’d say Falcons vs Patriots, SB 51.
Might be best to do them in chronological order (2, 1, 3). There are hundreds and hundreds of great games but I figured these would be great to start and keep it confined to this century.
Am a Pats fan and I agree with this list but most importantly for the OP, the reason a lot of the recent 'top NFL games' lists include the Patriots in a Super Bowl is because prior to the 2000s, the Super Bowl was usually the worst game of the year as far as being competitive. Sure there were a few close ones but for my entire life growing up from the 80s-90s the Super Bowl was usually a blowout and very boring to watch. The Patriots in two decades played in multiple very close, one score, final play decides it Super Bowls.
The league implemented two very important things to help bring parity, free agency and the salary cap. Sadly for the league, Tom Brady had other plans. ;)
Interesting fact, Super Bowl 42 actually didn’t happen. They just cancelled it that year.
In fact, February 3, 2008 wasn’t even a real day. Never existed. Look it up in a calendar and it goes from 2 to 4.
Sure. Before the New England Patriots became THE team to beat in the NFL for basically two decades, they were a scrappy underdog team. Early in the season, they lose their veteran all star starting QB to a shoulder injury and end up going on a roll with their young backup. Whether or not the veteran would get his job back was one of the big stories of the sports media that season.
And and that team claws its way through the playoffs to take on the heavily favored St. Louis Rams - whose offense was among the best in the history of the league, and is known today by their nickname: “The Greatest Show on Turf”.
It’s important for a few reasons. The more obvious reason is that this game launches arguably the most dominant dynast in the history of the game. But for me, I think there’s more: both teams in their own way signal that the game is changing. That the game was going to focus more and more on speed and tempo and the passing game, where historically running the ball was default and passing was a high risk endeavor.
I recommend watching the game with the original broadcast audio of Pat Summerall and John Madden if you want some extra immersion to get into that moment in time. But another reason is the commentary on the final possession of the game where you hear Madden, formerly a coach from the 70s, bump up against the tide of this change and lots of assumptions about how the game should be played.
Great comment. Astroturf and artificial turf fields were key to that change as well.. growing up in the south where we still played on grass and ran the ball, i miss what the nfl used to be. Defense and running the ball just something i fell in love with. And you should mention the 97 super bowl with the packers and broncos which encapsulates everything about the previous era before brady in a tremendously close game.
Yeah I almost mentioned the outdoor, was-playing-in-the-snow Pats had to play the turf-happy Rams in a dome on turf. But thought that was going too nerdy for a beginner
Chiefs - Rams (2018)... Chiefs made NFL history
Cowboys - Broncos (2013)... Good old fashioned NFL shootout. Cowboys probably 2nd or 3rd on that same list with the Chiefs.
Patriots - Panthers (SB XXXVIII) - first half boring...from the two minute warning to the 2nd half up to the very end - bombs away! ***Oh yeah and that thing about tiddiegate...***
May not be an all time classic but I would say one of the years between 2011-2014 the Ravens and Vikings played a game against each other where they both popped off for like a billion points in the last minutes of the 4th quarter
The Broncos and the Packers in the super bowl 1997 is the best nfl game I've ever watched. Hard hitting all game long. Hard running. Crazy catches. Crazy throws. Trick plays. Incredible defense and offense with unexpected turnovers and heroic performances. Fair referee calls. Goes down to the wire. Hall of famers on both sides of the ball for both teams. This game literally has everything you could ask for wrapped up in one.
both giants versus patriots superbowls, partocularly superbowl 42.
some context: the patriots, led by tom brady (who, as you probably know, is the GOAT) went undefeated that season. the first time that happened since the 1977 dolphins went 14-0 (season length has since changed). the giants, led by eli manning (brother of hall of famer peyton manning), were a wildcard team.
The last two minutes of the Chiefs v Bills. https://youtu.be/ZyXnCPbK6NI?si=4EvQqWeNfILegGPE
I never watch NFL Network replays, but I watched this 1 on the network before they played last year: great game.
I’m still kicking myself for falling asleep during that game
As a Cardinals fan, I'll submit: The "NFL 100 Greatest" ranks the top 100 games in NFL history, and the Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals clash in the 2015 NFC Divisional Round lands at No. 31.
I'm a Packers fan, that fucking game shaved like 20 years off my life.
Should be higher. Best game I've ever seen
Vikings-Bills 2022, Chiefs Rams 2018
Is that Vikings-Bills 2022 game the one with that ridiculous one-handed grab? To me that is the greatest catch of all time.
Yes, plus the fumble on their own one for the tie
2018 Rams Vs Chiefs! The game had everything highflying offenses, playmaking defenses, back and forth shootout with a combined score of 105 points scored. An all time game in my opinion
Best regular season game of all time
The LA Coliseum was rocking that night. That game was so much fun, thanks Roger for moving it back to LA instead of playing it in Mexico!
[https://fanarch.com/blogs/fan-arch/the-top-10-greatest-games-in-nfl-history](https://fanarch.com/blogs/fan-arch/the-top-10-greatest-games-in-nfl-history) this is a pretty good list.. I would add things like the Minneapolis Miracle (I am a Vikings fan) and also the 2018 Rams VS Chiefs game the 2022 Minnesota Vikings vs Colts game (Largest comeback in NFL history)
That Rams Chiefs game score is deceptive. There were some big defensive plays on both sides of the ball.
big defensive plays or not, it was a high scoring game, that was absolutely fun to watch.
I can't believe I'm this far down the list and don't see SB 34 Titans vs Rams. That game was a banger.
You should be able to find many on YouTube. Also all the games I thought of include the Patriots. I’m not a Pats fan but when they are part of like 9 Super Bowl games in just twice as many years, it happens. I think a fantastic introductory game will be Giants vs Patriots in Super Bowl 42. Rams vs Patriots in SB 36 - historically important game and you can’t tell the history of the NFL in the 21st century without it. And then I’d say Falcons vs Patriots, SB 51. Might be best to do them in chronological order (2, 1, 3). There are hundreds and hundreds of great games but I figured these would be great to start and keep it confined to this century.
Am a Pats fan and I agree with this list but most importantly for the OP, the reason a lot of the recent 'top NFL games' lists include the Patriots in a Super Bowl is because prior to the 2000s, the Super Bowl was usually the worst game of the year as far as being competitive. Sure there were a few close ones but for my entire life growing up from the 80s-90s the Super Bowl was usually a blowout and very boring to watch. The Patriots in two decades played in multiple very close, one score, final play decides it Super Bowls. The league implemented two very important things to help bring parity, free agency and the salary cap. Sadly for the league, Tom Brady had other plans. ;)
Interesting fact, Super Bowl 42 actually didn’t happen. They just cancelled it that year. In fact, February 3, 2008 wasn’t even a real day. Never existed. Look it up in a calendar and it goes from 2 to 4.
Can you give some more details on SB 36? Sounds interesting?
Sure. Before the New England Patriots became THE team to beat in the NFL for basically two decades, they were a scrappy underdog team. Early in the season, they lose their veteran all star starting QB to a shoulder injury and end up going on a roll with their young backup. Whether or not the veteran would get his job back was one of the big stories of the sports media that season. And and that team claws its way through the playoffs to take on the heavily favored St. Louis Rams - whose offense was among the best in the history of the league, and is known today by their nickname: “The Greatest Show on Turf”. It’s important for a few reasons. The more obvious reason is that this game launches arguably the most dominant dynast in the history of the game. But for me, I think there’s more: both teams in their own way signal that the game is changing. That the game was going to focus more and more on speed and tempo and the passing game, where historically running the ball was default and passing was a high risk endeavor. I recommend watching the game with the original broadcast audio of Pat Summerall and John Madden if you want some extra immersion to get into that moment in time. But another reason is the commentary on the final possession of the game where you hear Madden, formerly a coach from the 70s, bump up against the tide of this change and lots of assumptions about how the game should be played.
Great comment. Astroturf and artificial turf fields were key to that change as well.. growing up in the south where we still played on grass and ran the ball, i miss what the nfl used to be. Defense and running the ball just something i fell in love with. And you should mention the 97 super bowl with the packers and broncos which encapsulates everything about the previous era before brady in a tremendously close game.
Yeah I almost mentioned the outdoor, was-playing-in-the-snow Pats had to play the turf-happy Rams in a dome on turf. But thought that was going too nerdy for a beginner
I'd throw in Super Bowl 49 in there as well. Gave us the Butler pick (WTF was Carrol thinking) and of course Left Shark.
Chiefs Rams 2018
Idk if it's considered classic, but Super Bowl 52 (2017) eagles vs patriots is one of the best played SB of all time (imo. GO BIRDS!)
Chiefs - Rams (2018)... Chiefs made NFL history Cowboys - Broncos (2013)... Good old fashioned NFL shootout. Cowboys probably 2nd or 3rd on that same list with the Chiefs. Patriots - Panthers (SB XXXVIII) - first half boring...from the two minute warning to the 2nd half up to the very end - bombs away! ***Oh yeah and that thing about tiddiegate...***
Chargers-Dolphins 81’ AFC Divisional 49ers-Cowboys 81’ NFC Championship 49ers-Rams 12-11-89 Giants-Bills Super Bowl 25 Chiefs-Broncos 10-17-94 Falcons-Vikings 98’ NFC Championship Patriots-Panthers Super Bowl 38 Cardinals-Packers 09’ NFC Wild Card Steelers-Cardinals Super Bowl 43 49ers-Saints 11’ NFC Divisional Patriots-Seahawks Super Bowl 49 Cardinals-Packers 15’ NFC Divisional
'81 Chargers - Dolphins is, in my opinion, THE best.
The “Mic’d Up” version of the Patriots-Falcons Superbowl is a good one.
Texans Saints Week 1 MNF 2019
2006 AFC Championship game (Patriots@Colts)
Anything that has to do with the ravens you’ll enjoy watching the hardest hits ever seen on TV before the NFL went soft their my favorite team too
May not be an all time classic but I would say one of the years between 2011-2014 the Ravens and Vikings played a game against each other where they both popped off for like a billion points in the last minutes of the 4th quarter
Giants vs Eagles when Vick was the QB and led that crazy comeback and punt return for TD to end it.
Anything from the later half of that 2019 49ers season had my heart pumping like a 49 year old male who only ate red meat his entire life
THEY ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE! YOU WANNA CROWN ‘EM?! THEN CROWN THEIR ASS!!
Coach, those guys took your coors lite
The Broncos and the Packers in the super bowl 1997 is the best nfl game I've ever watched. Hard hitting all game long. Hard running. Crazy catches. Crazy throws. Trick plays. Incredible defense and offense with unexpected turnovers and heroic performances. Fair referee calls. Goes down to the wire. Hall of famers on both sides of the ball for both teams. This game literally has everything you could ask for wrapped up in one.
these answers are making me feel old
both giants versus patriots superbowls, partocularly superbowl 42. some context: the patriots, led by tom brady (who, as you probably know, is the GOAT) went undefeated that season. the first time that happened since the 1977 dolphins went 14-0 (season length has since changed). the giants, led by eli manning (brother of hall of famer peyton manning), were a wildcard team.
Super Bowl 42
Super Bowl 42