SUPER BOWL XXIX : Just Read Between the Lines : With 49ers Heavy Favorites, Chargers Will Try to Follow Jets’ Lead

The San Diego Chargers waited almost 30 years for a chance to play in a Super Bowl.

So what do they get as a reward for their patience after defeating Pittsburgh in the AFC championship game to gain a berth in Super Bowl XXIX? The distinction of being the largest Super Bowl betting underdog in history for their game Sunday against the 19-point favorite San Francisco 49ers at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami.

At least one person believes the Chargers have a chance to win.

“First of all,” said Hall of Famer Joe Namath, “the Chargers have a little advantage. They know a heavy underdog can win. History says that, and history can repeat. They were angry going into Pittsburgh because they felt that they were not getting any respect. If they can handle it right, they can use that anger, make it an advantage rather than a negative.”

Namath should know, because he played in the biggest Super Bowl upset when he led the New York Jets to a 16-7 victory over the heavily favored Baltimore Colts in 1969.

So, will San Diego duplicate the Jets’ feat?

Or will the Chargers be like the Denver Broncos, who were 11 1/2-point underdogs for Super Bowl XXIV and lost to San Francisco, 55-10.

Here are brief summaries of five of the most mismatched Super Bowls:

SUPER BOWL III

New York Jets vs. Baltimore

Jan. 12, 1969, at Miami

Colts favored by 18 points

Final score: Jets, 16-7

Namath and the Jets gave the old American Football League credibility when they arrived as the greatest Super Bowl underdogs ever and defeated the Colts, who had lost only once in 16 games.

Namath always will be remembered for his guarantee of victory despite Baltimore being an 18-point favorite at game time. After all, the Colts had NFL legends Tom Matte, Bubba Smith, Raymond Berry and Johnny Unitas, who was injured.

Who did the Jets have besides Namath? No one, according to NFL experts.

Namath and his teammates proved the betting world wrong when they dominated the Colts to give the AFL its first Super Bowl victory. Namath, chosen the game’s outstanding player, completed 17 of 28 passes for 206 yards, and the Jets intercepted Earl Morrall three times in the first half.

The Jets had 337 total yards, including 121 rushing yards by Matt Snell. Unitas, who had been sidelined most of the season because of a sore elbow, came off the bench and led Baltimore to its only touchdown late in the fourth quarter after New York led,16-0.

SUPER BOWL IV

Kansas City vs. Minnesota

Jan. 11, 1970, at New Orleans

Vikings favored by 12 1/2 points

Final score: Chiefs, 23-7.

One year after the Jets’ Super Bowl upset, Minnesota was supposed to restore order for the NFL and entered the game as a 12 1/2-point favorite over the Chiefs, who were making their second Super Bowl appearance in four years.

The Vikings, however, learned that Kansas City and the AFL were for real as the Chiefs dominated. Behind the play of quarterback Len Dawson, who was named Super Bowl MVP, Kansas City took a 16-0 halftime lead and never looked back. Dawson completed 12 of 17 passes and connected with Otis Taylor on a 46-yard play for the Chiefs’ final touchdown.

Kansas City’s defense limited the Vikings’ strong rushing game to 67 yards and had three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

SUPER BOWL XX

Chicago vs. New England

Jan. 26, 1986, at New Orleans

Bears favored by 10 points

Final score: Bears, 46-10.

Whereas the Jets and the Chiefs engineered upsets for the AFL after being heavy underdogs, New England did not have the same results against Chicago, which was favored by10 points.

In the only Super Bowl that featured two teams making their first and only appearances, the Bears arrived with as much hype as any team ever. Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton was their leader, but he was overshadowed by the Bears’ assortment of personalities, including quarterback Jim McMahon and defensive tackle/fullback William (Refrigerator) Perry.

The Bears not only covered the betting line but also set a then-Super Bowl record with 46 points. Under assistant coach Buddy Ryan, Chicago’s league-leading defense tied the Super Bowl record with seven sacks and limited New England to a record-low seven rushing yards.

New England scored quicker than any Super Bowl team on a Tony Franklin 36-yard field goal with 1:19 elapsed in the first quarter, but the Bears responded to take a 23-3 lead at half-time.

Defensive end Richard Dent became the fourth defender to be named the game’s most valuable player after contributing 1 1/2 sacks. McMahon became the first quarterback to rush for two touchdowns as the Bears’ victory margin of 36 points was the largest in Super Bowl history at that time.

SUPER BOWL XXIV

San Francisco vs. Denver

Jan. 28, 1990, at New Orleans

49ers favored by 11 1/2 points

Final score: 49ers, 55-10

Few people gave the Denver Broncos much of a chance to upset Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers.

In the most lopsided Super Bowl ever, San Francisco arrived as an 11 1/2-point favorite and put the game away early with touchdowns on four of its first six possessions in the first half to take a 27-3 halftime lead.

Interceptions by Michael Walter and Chet Brooks of Denver quarterback John Elway ended the Broncos’ first two possessions of the second half as San Francisco dominated in total yards (461 to 167), first downs (28 to 12) and time of possession (39:31 to 20:29).

Montana, who was named the Super Bowl most valuable player for a record third time, was 22 for 29 passing for 297 yards and a Super Bowl-record five touchdowns. Jerry Rice caught seven passes for 148 yards and three touchdowns.

SUPER BOWL XXIX

San Francisco vs. San Diego

Jan. 29, 1995, at Miami

49ers favored by 19

By opening with a 17 1/2-point betting line, the Chargers became the all-time Super Bowl underdog, beating the open-ing 17-point line in Super Bowl III.

The bad news for the Chargers is that the 49ers have covered spreads of 10 points or more 11 of 16 times over the last two seasons, including the playoffs. Some Las Vegas sports consultants say that the Chargers might be underdogs by as many as 21 points by kickoff.

The good news for San Diego is that the last time a team was this heavy an underdog in the Super Bowl was the Jets in 1969. And where was that game played? Miami, where Super Bowl XXIX will be played.

“It’s happened before and I know that it can happen again,” Namath said. “Who knows what will happen? What if, on the second play, somebody twists his knee? Who know who’s going down? That’s why they play the game, because we don’t know what’s going to happen.”