Not every bowl super, but some stand out

Will Super Bowl XXXIX between the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles today in Jacksonville be a close battle from start to finish or a blowout? The Super Bowl has featured plenty of both.

The 2003 showdown between Tampa Bay and Oakland was over almost as soon as it began, with the Buccaneers wiping out the Raiders, 48-21.

In 1995, San Francisco embarrassed San Diego 49-26, but that was nothing compared to Dallas' 52-17 drubbing of Buffalo in 1993, or the 49ers' 55-10 beating of Denver in 1990.

Yet, just as there have been plenty of blowouts in the Super Bowl, there have also been several contests that have been highly competitive and entertaining. Here are 10 of the best:

SUPER BOWL XXXVIII

FEB. 1, 2004

NEW ENGLAND 32, CAROLINA 29

Thirty-eight Super Bowls, and the NFL saved its best for last time.

Nearly a year ago in Houston, kicker Adam Vinatieri closed the books on one of the most exciting championship games ever played when his 41-yard field goal with four seconds remaining gave New England a 32-29 victory over the Carolina Panthers. It was the second time in three years Vinatieri had accounted for a win in pro football's biggest contest, and his boot with four seconds to go sealed the deal on a title tilt for the ages.

This one was a donnybrook from the opening kickoff, with Patriots QB Tom Brady going 32 of 48 passing for 354 yards and three TDs. Carolina's Jake Delhomme was nearly as effective, also tossing three touchdowns and accounting for 323 yards through the air.

The frantic finish came with 1:08 to play when Brady and the Pats started at their own 40 following an errant Panthers kickoff. Brady calmly drove the team down the field, and Vinatieri took care of the rest.

SUPER BOWL XXXVII

FEB. 3, 2002

NEW ENGLAND 20, ST. LOUIS 17

The finale of the 2002 season was supposed to be a showcase for the Rams, who possessed one of the greatest offenses in NFL history. Instead, this game will be remembered as the one that saw the Cinderella Patriots shock the world with a final-play victory.

Although St. Louis finished the night with a 427-267 advantage in total yards, New England led 14-3 at halftime and pulled in front 17-3 late in the third quarter.