Top 10 Super Bowl Performances of the Last Decade

If you love professional football – and more importantly – are looking to make some bankroll-boosting 2011 Super Bowl Prop bets courtesy of BetUS, then you’ll love this look back at the ‘real’ top 10 Super Bowl performers of the last decade. That’s right gridiron gamblers … this look back at the top 10 Super Bowl performers of the last decade, will help NFL fans and betting enthusiast formulate a good idea of just which players will have the best chance of winning this season’s Super Bowl MVP title should their respective teams make it to the big dance.

10. Super Bowl XXXV – Ray Lewis – LB – Baltimore Ravens 2001

Back in 2001, Lewis led the Baltimore Ravens to an emphatic 34-7 win over the New York Giants in a dominating performance that capped off Baltimore’s jaw-dropping, season-long defensive effort. Led by the Hall of Fame-bound Lewis, Baltimore allowed the third fewest yards in Super Bowl history. Lewis is just one of two defensive players to win the Super Bowl MVP award in the last decade, but the only one to truly ‘earn’ it.

9. Super Bowl XXXVI – Adam Vinateri – K – New England Patriots – 2002

Yeah, I know that Tom Brady won the first Super Bowl MVP award of his career in this game, but I say it was Adam Vinateri that was the best player on the field in this contest as he coolly nailed the game-winning kick from 48 yards out to lift the Pats to their first Super Bowl title.
If any kicker ever deserved to win a Super Bowl title, it’s Adam Vinateri. Besides, Tom Brady completed just 16 of 27 passes for one touchdown, so it’s not like he actually led the Pats to victory with an impressive aerial performance.

8. Super Bowl XXXVII – Dexter Jackson – CB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 2003

Jackson won the Super Bowl MVP award in this contest and I guess I have to say he was the best player on the field that day – even though he didn’t have to do much except open up his arms for two of the five interceptions that Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon so willingly tossed that day.

7. Super Bowl XXXVIII – Adam Vinateri – K – New England Patriots – 2004

Once again, I’m going to say the best player on the field was Adam Vinateri after he saved the Patriots from what could have turned out to be an embarrassing collapse.
I know Tom Brady won this Super Bowl MVP award, but he wasn’t even the best quarterback in this game as he threw three TD passes – and one interception while Carolina’s Jake Delhomme tossed three TD passes with no picks. Thanks to the ice in his veins, Vinateri nailed the game-winner with just 0:04 seconds remaining.

6. Super Bowl XXIX – Tom Brady – QB – New England Patriots – 2005

Ironically, this is the one Super Bowl MVP award that I think Brady should have won after completing 23 of 33 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Instead the MVP award went to teammate Deion Branch after he caught 11 passes for 133 yards – and no scores. I know one thing NFL fanatics, if the Pats reach Super Bowl XLV, then Brady will likely be the odds-on-favorite to win the MVP award in the 2010 Super Bowl Prop Bets Courtesy of BetUS.

5. Super Bowl XL – Willie Parker – RB – Pittsburgh Steelers – 2006

I know Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward won the Super Bowl MVP award in this contest after grabbing five passes for 143 yards and one touchdown, but if you saw this game and know the sports of professional football thoroughly, then you know it was ‘Fast’ Willie Parker’s Super Bowl record 75-yard run in the third quarter that really won this contest for the Steelers.
Not only did Parker’s jaunt put the Steelers up 14-3 at the time, but it also put the Seahawks back on their heels which then opened up the passing game for Hines Ward to make his five receptions.

4. Super Bowl XLI – –QB – Indianapolis Colts – 2007

I guess Peyton Manning should have won this Super Bowl MVP award, in the Colts 29-17 win over Chicago, but let’s be for real for a moment and admit that Manning’s 25-for-38 day for 247 yards with one TD and one interception is not the stuff of legend, no matter how much you like the older of Archie’s two, NFL-playing sons!

3. Super Bowl XLII – Eli Manning, David Tyree – QB, WR – New York Giants – 2008

I know Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning won this award after going 19-for-34 for 255 yards and one touchdown, but there is no way he wins the award – or the game for that matter – without David Tyree’s now legendary ‘helmet catch’ where he miraculously held Manning’s high pass against his helmet while being tackled by a throng of defenders.
Yeah, Manning won this MVP award, but it is David Tyree’s one-of-a-kind play that NFL fans everywhere will remember for decades to come and should keep in mind for the quickly-approaching 2010 Super Bowl Prop Bets.

2. Super Bowl XLIII – Santonio Holmes – WR – Pittsburgh Steelers – 2009

Why the Steelers jettisoned their 2009 Super Bowl MVP and kept the disgraceful Ben Roethlisberger is beyond me, but this isn’t a morality contest so I’ll let it go by saying that, were it not for Holmes’ miraculous grab in the corner of the end zone – off a great pass from Roethlisberger – the Steelers don’t win this contest – and Kurt Warner wins the MVP!

1. Super Bowl XLIV –Drew Brees – QB – New Orleans Saints – 2010

Brees outplayed Peyton Manning in this Super Bowl matchup by completing 32 of 39 passes for 288 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions while hooking up with a whopping eight receivers in the contest and seven of those on multiple passes.