20. OLB Rod Martin, Oakland Raiders – Super Bowl XV
They say defense wins championships, and in Super Bowl XV, Rod Martin proved that to be true. Yes, Jim Plunkett led the offense with three touchdown passes, but Martin did his part by intercepting Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski 3 times. He even picked off Jaworski’s very first pass attempt of the day.
Martin added 5 solo tackles in the game as well as the Oakland Raiders became the first wildcard team to win the Super Bowl. It was the Raiders’ second Super Bowl win in 5 seasons.
19. RB Timmy Smith, Washington Redskins – Super Bowl XXII
When you think of one-hit wonders you think of musicians who have a breakout hit amidst a career of obscurity. Well, Timmy Smith may be the greatest one-hit wonder in sports history, and it happened at exactly the right time.
Smith came into Super Bowl XXII having played in just 7 regular-season games that season and having totaled just 126 yards. During the game, he carried the ball 22 times for 204 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The rushing total was a Super Bowl record, as the Redskins walloped the Broncos 42-10.
18. LT Art Shell, Oakland Raiders – Super Bowl XI
John Madden coached some great Oakland Raiders teams. Unfortunately for Madden, he was stuck in the AFC with some of the greatest Steelers and Dolphins teams of all-time so he didn’t get that many chances at the Super Bowl.
That was until the Raiders showed up for Super Bowl XI against the Minnesota Vikings. Led by future Hall of Famer Art Shell, the Raiders offense racked up 429 yards of offense, including 266 yards on the ground. Shell was so dominant that Vikings defensive end didn’t make a single tackle the whole game.
17. DT Manny Fernandez, Mami Dolphins – Super Bowl VII
There were many heroes on the 17-0 Dolphins team. Some of their names you know, some you don’t, especially on Don Shula’s legendary “No-Name Defense.” That was the point, a bunch of guys all doing their job, no big deal.
That was until the Super Bowl when Fernandez tallied 10 tackles and a sack and helped keep the Redskins offense out of the end-zone completely. History was made and the team was immortalized forever.
16. QB Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints – Super Bowl XLIV
Slow and steady won the race for Brees and the Saints in Super Bowl XLIV. The Colts jumped out to a 10-0 lead and Brees completed just 3 of his first 7 passes. That would all change after the first quarter though.
Brees caught fire and completed his next 29 of 32 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns. New Orleans would go on to win their first Super Bowl 31-17 over the Peyton Manning-led Colts. Brees would be named MVP.
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