Editing Super Bowl (section)

===1980s and 1990s: The NFC's winning streak===
In the 1980s and 1990s, the tables turned for the AFC, as the NFC dominated the Super Bowls of the new decade and most of those in the 1990s. The NFC won 16 of the 20 Super Bowls during these two decades, including 13 straight from [[Super Bowl XIX]] to [[Super Bowl XXXI]].
[[File:1986 Jeno's Pizza - 28 - Roger Craig (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|The 49ers against the Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX]]

The most successful team of the 1980s was the 49ers, which featured the [[West Coast offense]] of Hall of Fame head coach [[Bill Walsh (American football coach)|Bill Walsh]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bill Walsh Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/WalsBi0.htm |access-date=June 14, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> This offense was led by three-time Super Bowl MVP and Hall of Fame quarterback [[Joe Montana]], Super Bowl MVP and Hall of Fame wide receiver [[Jerry Rice]], running back [[Roger Craig (American football)|Roger Craig]], and Hall of Fame defensive safety/cornerback [[Ronnie Lott]]. Under their leadership, the 49ers won four Super Bowls in the decade ([[Super Bowl XVI|XVI]], [[Super Bowl XIX|XIX]], [[Super Bowl XXIII|XXIII]], and [[Super Bowl XXIV|XXIV]]) and made nine playoff appearances between 1981 and 1990, including eight division championships, becoming the second dynasty of the post-merger NFL.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XVI - San Francisco 49ers vs. Cincinnati Bengals - January 24th, 1982 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198201240cin.htm |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XIX - Miami Dolphins vs. San Francisco 49ers - January 20th, 1985 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198501200mia.htm |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XXIII - Cincinnati Bengals vs. San Francisco 49ers - January 22nd, 1989 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198901220cin.htm |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=San Francisco 49ers Playoff History |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/playoffs.htm |access-date=June 14, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The [[1984 San Francisco 49ers]] were the first team to achieve an 18–1 record, doing so under Walsh. The [[1989 San Francisco 49ers]], under first-year head coach [[George Seifert]], posted the most lop-sided victory in Super Bowl history, defeating the Denver Broncos by a score of 55–10 in [[Super Bowl XXIV]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XXIV - San Francisco 49ers vs. Denver Broncos - January 28th, 1990 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199001280den.htm |access-date=June 14, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

The 1980s also produced the [[1985 Chicago Bears]], who posted an 18–1 record under head coach [[Mike Ditka]]; quarterback [[Jim McMahon]]; and Hall of Fame running back [[Walter Payton]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1985 Chicago Bears Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/chi/1985.htm |access-date=June 14, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Their team won [[Super Bowl XX]] in dominant fashion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 27, 1986 |title=BEARS TROUNCE PATRIOTS, 46-10, IN SUPER BOWL |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/01/27/sports/bears-trounce-patriots-46-10-in-super-bowl.html |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=The New York Times |language=en-US}}</ref> The [[Washington Redskins]] and New York Giants were also top teams of this period; Washington won Super Bowls [[Super Bowl XVII|XVII]], [[Super Bowl XXII|XXII]], and [[Super Bowl XXVI|XXVI]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XVII - Miami Dolphins vs. Washington Redskins - January 30th, 1983 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198301300mia.htm |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XXII - Washington Redskins vs. Denver Broncos - January 31st, 1988 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198801310den.htm |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XXVI - Washington Redskins vs. Buffalo Bills - January 26th, 1992 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199201260buf.htm |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The Giants claimed Super Bowls [[Super Bowl XXI|XXI]] and [[Super Bowl XXV|XXV]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XXI - Denver Broncos vs. New York Giants - January 25th, 1987 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198701250den.htm |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XXV - Buffalo Bills vs. New York Giants - January 27th, 1991 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199101270buf.htm |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Both teams won multiple Super Bowls with different starting quarterbacks; Washington won with [[Joe Theismann]] (XVII), [[Doug Williams (quarterback)|Doug Williams]] (XXII) and [[Mark Rypien]] (XXVI), and the Giants with [[Phil Simms]] (XXI) and [[Jeff Hostetler]] (XXV). As in the 1970s, the Raiders were the only AFC team to interrupt the Super Bowl dominance of NFC teams; they won Super Bowls [[Super Bowl XV|XV]] and [[Super Bowl XVIII|XVIII]] (the latter as the Los Angeles Raiders).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XV - Oakland Raiders vs. Philadelphia Eagles - January 25th, 1981 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198101250phi.htm |access-date=June 14, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XVIII - Washington Redskins vs. Los Angeles Raiders - January 22nd, 1984 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198401220rai.htm |access-date=June 14, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

Conversely, the [[Cincinnati Bengals]] (XVI and XXIII), Dolphins, (XVII and XIX), and Broncos (XXI, XXII and XXIV) made multiple Super Bowls in the 1980s without winning one.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cincinnati Bengals Playoff History |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cin/playoffs.htm |access-date=June 14, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Miami Dolphins Playoff History |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/mia/playoffs.htm |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Denver Broncos Playoff History |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/den/playoffs.htm |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

Following several seasons with poor records in the 1980s, the Cowboys rose back to prominence in the 1990s. During this decade, the Cowboys made post-season appearances every year except for the seasons of 1990 and 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dallas Cowboys Playoff History |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal/playoffs.htm |access-date=June 14, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> From 1992 to 1996, the Cowboys won their division championship each year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dallas Cowboys Team Records, Leaders, and League Ranks |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal/index.htm |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> In this same period, the Buffalo Bills reached the Super Bowl for a record four consecutive years, but lost all four (XXV-XXVIII).<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 9, 2015 |title=30 for 30s "Four Falls of Buffalo" lifts up our beloved Super Bowl Bills |url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/30-for-30-s-four-falls-of-buffalo-lifts-up-our-beloved-super-bowl-bills-16464335 |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=BuffaloBills.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=George |first=Thomas |date=January 31, 1994 |title=It's Fourth-and-Heartbreak as the Bills Lose One More |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/31/sports/super-bowl-xxviii-it-s-fourth-and-heartbreak-as-the-bills-lose-one-more.html |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=The New York Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 31, 1994 |title=Dallas Wins Super Bowl; Bills 0 for 4 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/31/sports/dallas-wins-super-bowl-bills-0-for-4.html |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=The New York Times |language=en-US}}</ref> After Super Bowl championships by division rivals New York (1990) and Washington (1991), the Cowboys won three of the next four Super Bowls ([[Super Bowl XXVII|XXVII]], [[Super Bowl XXVIII|XXVIII]], and [[Super Bowl XXX|XXX]]) led by quarterback [[Troy Aikman]], running back [[Emmitt Smith]], and wide receiver [[Michael Irvin]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XXVII - Buffalo Bills vs. Dallas Cowboys - January 31st, 1993 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199301310buf.htm |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XXVIII - Dallas Cowboys vs. Buffalo Bills - January 30th, 1994 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199401300buf.htm |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XXX - Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers - January 28th, 1996 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199601280dal.htm |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> All three of these players went to the Hall of Fame. The Cowboys' streak was interrupted by the [[1994 San Francisco 49ers season|49ers]], who were the first team to win their league-leading fifth title overall with [[Super Bowl XXIX]] with a dominant performance featuring the Super Bowl MVP and Hall of Fame quarterback [[Steve Young]] (who threw a Super Bowl record 6 touchdown passes), Hall of Fame wide receiver [[Jerry Rice]], and Hall of Fame cornerback [[Deion Sanders]]; however, the Cowboys' victory in Super Bowl XXX the next year also gave them five titles overall and they did so with Sanders after he won the Super Bowl the previous year with the 49ers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XXIX - San Diego Chargers vs. San Francisco 49ers - January 29th, 1995 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199501290sdg.htm |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 29, 2019 |title=Jan. 29, 1995: Steve Young Leads 49ers to Fifth Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl XXIX |url=https://www.49ers.com/news/jan-29-1995-steve-young-leads-49ers-to-fifth-lombardi-trophy-in-super-b-16763434 |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=49ers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The NFC's winning streak was continued by the Packers led by Hall of Fame quarterback [[Brett Favre]], won [[Super Bowl XXXI]], their first championship since Super Bowl II in 1967.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XXXI - New England Patriots vs. Green Bay Packers - January 26th, 1997 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199701260gnb.htm |access-date=June 14, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

The Patriots made their maiden Super Bowl appearances in XX (1985) and XXXI (1996) but lost both times.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New England Patriots Playoff History |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nwe/playoffs.htm |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> However, the turn of the century would soon bring hope and glory to the franchise.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gaines |first=Cork |date=February 1, 2023 |title=Why Tom Brady was overlooked in the NFL draft and why it was more than luck that led him to the Patriots |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/new-england-patriots-draft-tom-brady-sixth-round-pick-2022-2 |access-date=June 15, 2024 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref>