Top Five Super Bowl Miscues

These horrific mistakes or otherwise boneheaded plays will go down in infamy as the worst miscues that the Super Bowl has ever seen.

1. Scott Norwood, Bills (Super Bowl XXV)
The favored Bills were trying to stave off an upset by the New York Giants. Taking the ball at their own 10-yard line with 2:16 remaining, the Bills drove to the Giants' 29, then sent Scott Norwood onto the field with :08 to play to kick what was a very makeable 47-yard FG. Norwood's kick sailed wide right, causing the Bills to lose in what would be the first of their four straight Super Bowl defeats.

2. Garo Yepremian, Dolphins (Super Bowl VII)
With the perfect Dolphins leading the Redskins 14-0, Garo Yepremian strode onto the field in the waning minutes to kick the field goal that would hopefully seal the game. His kick was blocked and the ball bounced back toward him. But instead of just falling on it, Yepremian tried to make something out of the play, picking up the ball and frantically trying to pass it to Larry Czonka. The ball slipped out of Yepremian's hands and straight up into the air when he was trying to throw it. He tried to tip it out of bounds but ended up tipping into the hands of Redskins cornerback Mike Bass who returned it for a touchdown, turning a potential 17-0 game into a 14-7 game. Fortunately for Yepremian, the Dolphins hung on for the win.

3. Leon Lett, Cowboys (Super Bowl XXVII)
This miscue never affected the game, since it took place in the fourth quarter of a blowout, but it ranks on this list for sheer embarrassment value. After the Cowboys forced Bills QB Frank Reich to fumble, the oversized Leon Lett scooped up the ball and trudged toward the end zone. With a clear field in front of him, Lett appeared to be home free. However, he made the foolish mistake of starting to celebrate before he actually reached the end zone, allowing Don Beebe to catch up and swat the ball out of his arms before he crossed the goal line. The ball bounced out the back of the end zone for a touchback, giving possession back to the Bills.

4. Baltimore Colts (Super Bowl V)
The seven turnovers committed by the Colts in the so-called "Blunder Bowl" warrant a team entry on this list. Among the numerous miscues were Ron Gardin's first-quarter fumble of a punt at his own nine-yard line, Jim Duncan's fumble of the kickoff that started the second half, Earl Morrall's end zone interception, and Mike Hinton's fumble on the 10-yard line (of a pass that he caught only by cutting in front of his teammate). Even the Colts' 75-yard touchdown pass in the first half was followed by a blocked PAT. Somehow, despite the seven giveaways and countless other examples of sloppy play, the Colts ended up with the 16-13 victory.

5. Eugene Robinson, Falcons (Super Bowl XXXIII)
This miscue took place the night before the Super Bowl. Hours after receiving the Bart Starr Award for outstanding moral character, Robinson was arrested for soliciting prostitution from an undercover police officer. For some reason, Robinson thought the best way to prepare for the big game was to get a quickie from a $40 hooker. Robinson was released from jail and allowed to play the game, but he was torched by Rod Smith for an 80-yard touchdown reception which set the stage for a runaway Broncos victory.