What a dramatic headline! More drama inside.
John Riggins Steamrolls Don McNeal, Super Bowl XVIII
THE SETUP: In the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XVIII, the Redskins were trailing 17-13. Running back John Riggins, who had been carrying the team, tore off this 43-yard touchdown run, during which he discarded Dolphins cornerback Don McNeal like a dog shaking off water. The score put Washington ahead for good.
THE PAYOFF: The Redskins won 27-17, and Riggins had 166 yards on a grueling 38 carries, earning him Super Bowl MVP.
Steve Young Gets The Monkey Off His Back, Super Bowl XXIX
THE SETUP: Steve Young had existed in the shadow of Joe Montana up until Super Bowl XXIX. In that game, he threw six touchdowns and won MVP, putting himself in the shadow of no one. At the end of the game, he acknowledged the pressure he was feeling by going up to his teammates on the sidelines and telling them to take the monkey off his back.
THE PAYOFF: The monkey was off his back. After winning two Super Bowls as Montana's backup, Young now had a title of his own, with an MVP award to boot, and he would make the Hall of Fame in 2005 partly on the strength of that all-time-great performance.