Top Five Super Bowl Dynasties

In order to commemorate Super Bowl XLII (and, let's be honest, the Patriots' inevitable march toward sports immortality) we present a five-day series of Super Bowl-themed top five lists, then will cap off our coverage with a special Saturday edition of Playing The Spread. Enjoy!

1. Steelers (1970's - IX, X, XIII, XIV)
Before he was the butt of Frank Caliendo's jokes on Fox NFL Sunday, Terry Bradshaw was one of the most successful quarterbacks in NFL history. Along with Mean Joe Green and the rest of the Steel Curtain, the Steelers captured four Super Bowl titles in six years -- a feat which has never been equalled.

2. Patriots (2000's - XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, ???)
When they won their first Super Bowl in 2001, the Pats were a double-digit underdog to the Greatest Show On Turf, yet pulled the upset. Since then, the Pats have been consistent favorites and they have yet to disappoint. If they pull off the victory on Sunday, the Pats will put the finishing touch on the best season of all-time and will further solidify their place among Super Bowl greats.

3. 49ers (1980's - XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV)
The postseason was where Joe Montana shined, and with a supporting cast that included dynamic receivers such as Dwight Clark and Jerry Rice, alongside ever-dependable running back Roger Craig, the 49ers were one of the most electrifying postseason teams of the Super Bowl era. Even when legendary head coach Bill Walsh retired, George Seifert filled his shoes and brought the Niners back to the promised land the very next season.

4. Cowboys (1990's - XXVII, XXVIII, XXX)
Dallas's Super Bowl dominance in the 1990's can be summed up in six words: Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin. Led by the Triplets, the Cowboys were able to survive boneheaded plays by their teammates (Leon Lett) and a chaotic coaching situation exarcerbated by megalomaniacal owner Jerry Jones. Of course, Neil O'Donnell throwing the ball straight into Larry Brown's hands, twice, didn't hurt.

5. Packers (1960's - I, II)
The Super Bowl era began at the tail end of the Packers' dominance. Nonetheless, Bart Starr, Vince Lombardi, and the rest of the Packers set an example for the rest of the league to follow by capturing the first two Super Bowls. If the AFL champion started playing the NFL champ beforehand, who knows how many Super Bowls the Packers would have won?