Top 5 Upsets of All Time

It has been 30 years to the day since the Miracle on Ice. I figured why not celebrate by counting down the top 5 biggest upsets in sports history.

5.) 1913 Francis Ouimet vs. Harry Vardon and Ted Ray
In the 1913 U.S. Open in golf, an amateur golfer took on the two heavily favored Britons in a stunning upset against the two favored Harry Vardon and Ted Ray.

4.) 2002 Super Bowl XXXVI New England Patriots vs. St. Louis Rams
The Rams had been dominating the NFL for the past couple of years. They were led by a fierce offense commanded by two-time MVP Kurt Warner. For the Patriots, their Super Bowl hopes were almost non-existent as the season had barely begun. Starting Quarterback Drew Bledsoe suffered a sheared blood vessel after a hit by New York Jets linebacker Mo Lewis. In comes Tom Brady, a back up QB who had been in that position essentially his whole life as a football player, and tested poorly at the combine. Stunning football critics, Brady led the season to a 11-5 record and to the Super Bowl, where Brady led the Patriots to on a final drive to keep the game from going into overtime. Patriots kicker Adam Vinateri's kick went right where it was supposed to go, directly through the uprights generating a 20-17 victory. The victory at Super Bowl XXXVI marked the beginning of a great career for Tom Brady, one which still goes strong today.

3.) 2007 Stanford vs. University of Southern California
Pete Carroll's USC Trojans were ranked #2 by the AP in NCAA football with a 4-0 record. Stanford was 1-3 and operating on back up Quarterback Tavita Pritchard, who had never started a game and only thrown three passes. Stanford upset the elite Trojans in a stunning 24-23 victory.

2.) 2008 Super Bowl XLII New England Patriots vs. New York Giants
Just weeks prior to the Super Bowl the Patriots came from behind to beat the Giants, giving the Patriots a perfect 16-0 regular season. The Giants were the Wild card team from the NFC with a record of 10-6. Just to get to the Super Bowl the Giants had to beat Brett Favre in his last game as a Packer in arctic conditions at Lambeau Field. The Patriots stepped over Jacksonville and San Diego to make it to the Super Bowl, and to close out a perfect season they would have to beat the team that gave them the perfect regular season, the Giants. The Patriots had Tom Brady at QB, commanding an unstoppable offense comprised of receivers Randy Moss and Wes Welker, TE Kyle Brady, and running backs Kevin Faulk, Laurence Maroney, and FB Heath Evans. Patriots LB Tedy Bruschi headlined a defense of big names such as Mike Vrabel, Richard Seymour, Vince Wilfork, Ellis Hobbs, Adalius Thomas, and Rodney Harrison The Giants had Eli Manning as QB, the younger brother of the still great Peyton Manning. Giants RB Tiki Barber retired the year before, and TE Jeremy Shockey was injured. When the game was all but over, Eli Manning broke a tackle and sent a 32 yard pass to receiver David Tyree, a WR who normally is on the bench. This catch gave the Giants ground in the redzone where just a few plays later, Manning sent a game winning touchdown pass to WR Plaxico Burress. Tom Brady was unable to make progress downfield on the following drive, ending the Patriots perfect season attempt.

1.) 1980 USA vs. USSR
"Do you believe in miracles? YES!"