The Super Bowl is the biggest stage in football, and over the years, it has seen its fair share of memorable moments and incredible plays. From last-second game-winning drives to improbable comebacks, these plays have become etched in NFL lore.

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Fans are just a few short weeks away from seeing Super Bowl LVII. While the season has gone by quickly, it's been an incredible one and has perfectly set the stage for the championship game. Whoever makes the 2023 edition of the Super Bowl, there will be high expectations. Not only because they're playing for a championship, but because some of the best heroics in NFL history have come on the big stage. Let's take a look back at some of the most important plays in the history of the title game.

10 Super Bowl XXV: Wide Right

It may be strange to see a kick on this list, but it's understandable given the context. In the 1990s, the Buffalo Bills were always so close, yet so far, as they made the Super Bowl four times, losing each time. They first made the big game in 1991, facing the New York Giants led by backup quarterback Jeff Hostetler after Phil Simms went down due to injury.

Unlike the other Bills' appearances in the Super Bowl, this game was extremely close and came down to the final play. Kicker Scott Norwood had a chance to break Buffalo's bad luck before it even began if he could just make one final game-winning kick. Instead, it was wide right, and the Bills went on to lose three straight Super Bowls.

9 Super Bowl XXXVI: Adam Vinatieri Starts A Dynasty

From a missed kick to a made one. The 2001 NFL season came to a close in Super Bowl XXXVI, which featured' The Greatest Show on Turf', the St. Louis Rams led by Kurt Warner, meeting the New England Patriots quarterbacked by a young Tom Brady.

Despite the Rams trying to make a dynasty of their own, Brady, and especially kicker Adam Vinatieri put an end to those plans. Tied 17-17, the future Hall of Fame kicker nailed a 48-yard kick as time expired to win the game. In the process, beginning Brady's ascent to greatness, and the Patriots dynasty.

8 Super Bowl XLIV: Tracy Porter Seals The Game

The 2009 NFL season came to a close with Super Bowl XLIV, as Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts met the New Orleans Saints led by Drew Brees. As the story goes, Sean Payton was extremely aggressive in the game. He threw so many blitzes at Manning it was hard to keep his head straight, and the Saints even executed a successful onside kick following halftime.

Those blitzes paid off in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Trailing 24-17, Manning looked to do Manning things. However, Tracy Porter jumped a route and intercepted the ball for a touchdown, in the process, sealing the game for the Saints.

7 Super Bowl XXXIV: Steve McNair's Epic Scramble

One of the most heroic plays in Super Bowl history is also one of the most forgotten. Most fans remember how Super Bowl XXXIV ended, with the Tennessee Titans being stopped just one-yard short, handing the St. Louis Rams led by Kurt Warner, the victory.

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However, most fans forgot how the Titans got to the goal line. Facing 3rd and five, quarterback Steve McNair was nearly sacked, which would've likely ended the game anyway. However, he was able to escape from three Rams defenders to scramble and complete a 16-yard pass to Kevin Dyson to get to the red zone. While a heroic effort, fans know how the game ended from there.

6 Super Bowl XLIII: Ben Roethlisberger to Santonio Holmes

Super Bowl XLIII is widely considered one of the greatest championship games in NFL history, and for good reason. The game featured stars on offense and defense and saw the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals trade blows for all 60 minutes.

However, it was Ben Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes who got the last laugh. Trailing 23-20 with just a few minutes to go, the Steelers were able to drive down to the red zone. With seconds left in the game, Roethlisberger threw a touchdown pass to Holmes, who somehow managed to stay in bounds and seal the victory.

5 Super Bowl X: Lynn Swann's Incredible Catch

To be clear, Lynn Swann caught four passes in Super Bowl X, and all four were incredible. In fact, the Pittsburgh Steelers went on to defeat the Dallas Cowboys 21-17 to win their second Super Bowl mostly thanks to their wideout.

However, Swann's incredible acrobatic catch in the second quarter is regarded as one of the best ever. Somehow, the Steelers receiver hung onto the ball for a 53-yard gain despite being draped on by a Cowboys defender. That play capped off a scoring drive for the team and helped Swann become Super Bowl MVP.

4 Super Bowl LII: Philly Special

There are very few plays in NFL history that are known simply by their play call name. However, the Philly Special is one of those plays. In Super Bowl LII, backup quarterback Nick Foles led the underdog Philadelphia Eagles against the New England Patriots.

In the second quarter, coach Doug Peterson made one of the biggest gambles in NFL history, as he and Foles called the "Philly Special". The trick play saw multiple pitches, with backup tight end Trey Burton completing a touchdown pass to the backup quarterback, helping propel the team to victory 41-33.

3 Super Bowl XVIII: Marcus Allen Magic

In Super Bowl XVII, the number one seed Las Vegas Raiders met the number one seed Washington Commanders, with names such as Joe Theismann, and former MVP Mark Moseley. Sadly for the latter, this game was lopsided from the first whistle.

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However, in the third quarter, Washington began mounting a comeback, scoring a touchdown to make it 21-9. In the next possession, running back Marcus Allen put an end to the comeback, as he broke several tackles en route to a 74-yard touchdown run. The Raiders went on to win 38-9, with the runner winning MVP.

2 Super Bowl XLIIl: James Harrison 100-yard Interception

In case it's not clear, Super Bowl XLIII was a game for the ages. Two quarters before Ben Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes sealed the game, James Harrison made one of the wildest plays in the history of the championship game.

With the Arizona Cardinals at the goal line, Harrison made the interception. Despite several Steelers players trying to tackle the linebacker, he refused to go down, as he took the ball 100 yards for the defensive score.

1 Super Bowl XLII: Helmet Catch

As the story goes, the New England Patriots were attempting to join the Miami Dolphins as the only undefeated teams in NFL history. They met the fifth seed New York Giants, led by Eli Manning, in Super Bowl XLII.

In the final minutes of the fourth, while trailing, Eli Manning and David Tyree made magic. The quarterback somehow escaped several tacklers to air out the pass to the wideout for a 32-yard gain to get to the red zone. A couple of plays later, the Giants scored to secure one of the biggest upset wins ever.