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Super city: Looking back at Tampa's Super Bowl history

Tampa's 4 previous Super Bowls have been mix of blowouts, close calls
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium graphic
Posted at 12:36 PM, Feb 06, 2021
and last updated 2021-02-06 12:37:07-05

When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take the field for Super Bowl LV this Sunday, they'll do what no other team in 54 previous attempts has done.

The Buccaneers are in the unique position of playing host to the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium.

As Tampa prepares to host its fifth -- and arguably greatest -- Super Bowl, WPTV.com takes a look back at the four prior games played on Florida's Gulf coast.

Super Bowl XVIII
Tampa Stadium
Jan. 22, 1984

Los Angeles Raiders 38, Washington Redskins 9

Los Angeles Raiders head coach Tom Flores after winning Super Bowl XVIII in Tampa, Jan. 22, 1984
Los Angeles Raiders head coach Tom Flores gestures to members of his team as they carry him off the field after their 38-9 victory over the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XVIII, Jan. 22, 1984, in Tampa, Fla.

Tampa's history as a Super Bowl city actually began three years earlier when, in 1981, NFL owners awarded the game to a community that had slightly under 1.4 million residents in the metropolitan area at the time. In doing so, Tampa became the first mid-sized city and first Florida city outside of Miami to host the championship game.

Despite Washington's league-best 14-2 record, the Raiders dominated the Redskins, setting what were then records for points scored and margin of victory in a Super Bowl.

Los Angeles built a 21-3 halftime lead and let MVP Marcus Allen run all over the Redskins, who led the NFL in fewest rushing yards allowed. The Raiders running back carried the ball 20 times for a then-record of 191 yards and two touchdowns, including a 74-yard run in the third quarter. He also caught a pair of passes for 18 yards.

Los Angeles Raiders running back Marcus Allen in Super Bowl XVIII in Tampa, Jan. 22, 1984
Los Angeles Raiders running back Marcus Allen high-steps his way down the sideline past Washington Redskins defensive backs Anthony Washington (24) and Darrell Green (28) during Super Bowl XVIII, Jan. 22, 1984, in Tampa, Fla. Allen rushed for a Super Bowl-record 191 yards on 20 carries and scored two touchdowns as the Raiders trounced the Redskins 38-9.

The game became known as "Black Sunday" for Washington fans, not only because of the lopsided score, but also because the Raiders wore their black jerseys.

The CBS telecast of Tampa's first Super Bowl was equally notable for an occurrence during a break in the third quarter of the game -- the broadcast debut of the first-ever Apple Macintosh television advertisement.

Super Bowl XXV
Tampa Stadium
Jan. 27, 1991

New York Giants 20, Buffalo Bills 19

New York Giants receiver Stephen Baker scores TD in Super Bowl XXV in Tampa, Jan. 27, 1991
New York Giants wide receiver Stephen Baker hauls in a touchdown pass in the end zone from quarterback Jeff Hostetler in the final minutes of the first half of Super Bowl XXV, Jan. 27, 1991, in Tampa, Fla.

Just call it the Scott Norwood game.

Tampa's sophomore Super Bowl was one of the most entertaining championship games ever played.

It was also one of the most tumultuous times in Super Bowl history, as tensions were high with the conflict in the Middle East intensifying.

Amid a patriotic backdrop, Whitney Houston delivered what is widely considered to be one of the greatest renditions of the national anthem as a preamble to the final Super Bowl played at Tampa Stadium.

Unlike the previous Super Bowl in Tampa, the score through Super Bowl XXV never got out of hand.

Although neither team committed a turnover, the biggest blunder of the evening came courtesy of the Bills kicker.

With the Giants leading 20-19, Buffalo drove to the 29-yard line with eight seconds left, setting up Norwood for a 47-yard field goal to win the game. But Norwood's kick sailed wide right, less than a yard outside of the goalpost upright.

Buffalo Bills kicker Scott Norwood misses what would have been game-winning FG in Super Bowl XXV in Tampa, Jan. 27, 1991
Buffalo Bills kicker Scott Norwood, center, misses the field goal on the last play of the game, clinching a 20-19 victory for the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXV, Jan. 27, 1991, in Tampa, Fla.

It was the start of four consecutive Super Bowl losses for the Bills. But the first one was the closest Buffalo came to winning the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Although the New Kids on the Block were the halftime entertainment, few saw the performance live. That's because ABC, which televised the game, instead aired a special report about Operation Desert Storm.

Super Bowl XXXV
Raymond James Stadium
Jan. 28, 2001

Baltimore Ravens 34, New York Giants 7

Baltimore Ravens receiver Jermaine Lewis outruns New York Giants cornerback Emmanuel McDaniel in Super Bowl XXXV in Tampa, Jan. 28, 2001
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Jermaine Lewis outruns New York Giants cornerback Emmanuel McDaniel on his way to an 84-yard kick return for a touchdown during the third quarter of Super Bowl XXXV, Jan. 28, 2001, in Tampa, Fla.

After a 10-year hiatus, the Super Bowl found its way back to Tampa, this time at a new venue. Raymond James Stadium opened in 1998 as a replacement for the since-demolished Tampa Stadium (goodbye, "Big Sombrero").

The Giants returned to Tampa for Super Bowl XXXV, but they wouldn't have the same run of luck that they experienced a decade earlier.

Baltimore's defense allowed just 152 yards of offense, recorded four sacks and forced five turnovers in a 34-7 blowout victory.

All 16 of the Giants' possessions ended with punts or interceptions, with the exception of the last one, which ended when time expired.

New York's lone touchdown -- a 97-yard kickoff return in the third quarter -- was quickly answered by Baltimore on an 84-yard touchdown return on the ensuing kickoff.

Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis, who grew up in nearby Lakeland, was named Super Bowl MVP.

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis after winning Super Bowl XXXV in Tampa, Jan. 28, 2001
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis smiles after defeating the New York Giants 34-7 and being named the MVP of Super Bowl XXXV, Jan. 28, 2001, in Tampa, Fla.

The game took place during the annual Gasparilla festival, which was moved from its traditional spot in early February to the Saturday before the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl XLIII
Raymond James Stadium
Feb. 1, 2009

Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Arizona Cardinals 23

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison scores on 100-yard interception return in Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Feb. 1, 2009
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison returns the ball 100 yards for a touchdown after an interception in the second quarter against the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, Feb. 1, 2009, in Tampa, Fla.

Tampa's most recent Super Bowl was memorable for its dramatic finish.

Pittsburgh took a 17-7 halftime lead after linebacker James Harrison's Super Bowl-record 100-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter.

Trailing 20–7 at the start of the fourth quarter, Arizona scored 16 consecutive points, capped off by wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald's 64-yard touchdown catch that gave the Cardinals a 23-20 lead with 2:37 remaining.

Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald celebrates 64-yard TD in Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Feb. 1, 2009
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald celebrates his 64-yard touchdown reception against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLIII, Feb. 1, 2009, in Tampa, Fla.

But the Steelers spoiled the celebration for Arizona fans thanks to Santonio Holmes' 6-yard game-winning touchdown reception with 35 seconds left.

Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Santonio Holmes catches game-winning TD vs. Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Feb. 1, 2009
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes catches a touchdown pass as Arizona Cardinals safety Aaron Francisco (47) and his teammate Ralph Brown (20) watch during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLIII, Feb. 1, 2009, in Tampa, Fla.

Super Bowl LV
Raymond James Stadium
Feb. 7, 2021

Raymond James Stadium, site of Super Bowl LV
Raymond James Stadium, the site of Super Bowl LV, is shown Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers play the Kansas City Chiefs on Feb. 7.

Super Bowl LV will end the longest drought between Super Bowls in the Big Guava.

The game was actually supposed to be played in the Los Angeles area for the first time since 1993, but construction delays to the new stadium prompted owners to move it to Tampa. SoFi Stadium will instead host next year's Super Bowl.