By late Sunday evening, New Orleans will be able to boast it has hosted the Super Bowl 11 times. Laissez les bons temps rouler.

The greater Miami area (Miami and Miami Gardens) has hosted 11 Super Bowls combined. The greater Los Angeles area (Los Angeles, Pasadena and Inglewood) has hosted eight and is in line to host No. 9 in 2027, in Inglewood. No other city has hosted the game more than five times.

For a city admittedly proud of its history, food and jazz culture, New Orleans also has been able to hold its head high for what has happened on the NFL’s grandest stage for 55 years. And it’s all taken place within a 4-mile radius.

With Super Bowl LIX set to kick off Sunday, New Orleans once again will serve as a gracious host to tens of thousands of fans expecting an entertaining game, a memorable halftime show and tons of stories before and after the main event. It’s become routine in some ways, as Super Bowls of the past have taken place at either Tulane Stadium or Mercedes-Benz Superdome, formerly known as the Louisiana Superdome.

Mercedes-Benz Superdome is now known as Caesars Superdome. New Orleanians keep it simple by calling the building “the Superdome.” And for five decades, fans have come from all over the world to sit in the Superdome to watch the NFL’s best play in pro football’s most anticipated game.

The welcome mat has been rolled out, as Sunday will mark the first time since 2013 that the Super Bowl returns to New Orleans. But before kickoff, we must pay homage to the Super Bowls that were played in a 70118 or 70112 ZIP code.

I ranked my 10 Super Bowls played in New Orleans, a loose and lighthearted ranking based on overall game excitement and memorable moments. It starts with the No. 10 pick and ends with the top choice. Feel free to share your favorite New Orleans-based Super Bowl in the comments section.

10. Super Bowl VI (Jan. 16, 1972): Dallas Cowboys 24, Miami Dolphins 3

Location: Tulane Stadium

This was the first of the Cowboys’ five Super Bowl championships. Dallas, under coach Tom Landry, methodically controlled the game and made light work of Don Shula’s Dolphins.

At the time, the Cowboys set Super Bowl records for rushing yards (252) and first downs (23). Dallas’ defense also held Miami to 3 points, which is still a Super Bowl record. (The Los Angeles Rams also had 3 points against the New England Patriots in 2019 — more on that later.)

Roger Staubach was named Super Bowl MVP after throwing for two touchdowns but only 119 yards. Duane Thomas rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. Defensively, the Cowboys — with Bob Lilly in the trenches, Cliff Harris in the secondary and Lee Roy Jordan and Chuck Howley at linebacker — held Miami to 214 total yards and 10 first downs. The Dolphins also had three turnovers.

One of the most memorable plays came at the end of the first quarter. Lilly sacked Miami quarterback Bob Griese for a 29-yard loss, which is still a Super Bowl record.

9. Super Bowl XXIV (Jan. 28, 1990): San Francisco 49ers 55, Denver Broncos 10

Location: Louisiana Superdome

This game didn’t take long to turn into a blowout. Some fans in attendance had lost their interest before intermission, as the 49ers held a 27-3 lead before the halftime show.

The game set several Super Bowl records, including the most points scored by one team (55) and the largest margin of victory (45). It also reminded fans how dominant the Joe Montana-Jerry Rice connection was. Montana, named the game’s MVP, put on a master class, throwing for 297 yards and five touchdowns. Rice caught seven passes for 148 yards and three touchdowns.

Because of all the offensive firepower, San Francisco’s defense wasn’t discussed nearly enough. That unit ranked among the top five in fewest points allowed, and it held the John Elway-led Broncos to 167 total yards for the day. The Niners forced four turnovers, including interceptions by safety Chet Brooks and linebacker Mike Walter.

8. Super Bowl XV (Jan. 25, 1981): Oakland Raiders 27, Philadelphia Eagles 10

Location: Louisiana Superdome

This was the Eagles’ first Super Bowl appearance, but the Raiders proved too strong on offense and defense. Jim Plunkett had an efficient game for Oakland, throwing for 261 yards and three touchdowns on only 13 completions.

Plunkett was named the game’s MVP, and one of the biggest highlights came late in the first quarter when Kenny King capitalized on an 80-yard catch-and-run, giving the Raiders a 14-0 lead. The Eagles had more first downs and only 17 fewer total yards, but the result came down to turnovers. Oakland forced four turnovers, three of which were interceptions by linebacker Rod Martin.

7. Super Bowl XII (Jan. 15, 1978): Dallas Cowboys 27, Denver Broncos 10

Location: Louisiana Superdome

Super Bowl XII was the first to be played in a domed stadium. The Cowboys earned their second Super Bowl win behind the play of their vaunted Doomsday Defense.

Staubach threw for 183 yards and a touchdown, and rookie Tony Dorsett rushed for 66 yards and a score, but that win was highlighted by a defense that forced eight (!) turnovers. Denver quarterback Craig Morton threw four interceptions and the Broncos lost four fumbles.

Dallas’ defense was so good that linemen Harvey Martin and Randy White were named Super Bowl co-MVPs. It was the first time two players shared the game’s honor. It also was the first time the award wasn’t given to an offensive player.

6. Super Bowl IV (Jan. 11, 1970): Kansas City Chiefs 23, Minnesota Vikings 7

Location: Tulane Stadium

The city hosted its first Super Bowl, and the game told a story of two leagues ending an epoch. It was the last time an NFL champion played an AFL champion, as the two leagues officially merged before the start of the 1970 season.

The modern-day Chiefs have built a legacy of winning championships under the Patrick Mahomes/Travis Kelce/Andy Reid/Hunt family era since 2019 and will look to become the first NFL team to win three straight Super Bowls on Sunday against the Eagles. But their first-ever Super Bowl win came against a Minnesota team that committed five turnovers and allowed three sacks.

Len Dawson, who was named Super Bowl MVP, had pedestrian numbers, throwing for 142 yards, a touchdown and an interception on 12-of-17 passing for the Chiefs. His lone touchdown pass went to Otis Taylor, who turned a short hitch into a 46-yard catch-and-run.

Additionally, no Kansas City players rushed for more than 40 yards. But Hank Stram’s defense — led by Buck Buchanan (five tackles, sack), Jim Kearney (five tackles) and Willie Lanier (four tackles, interception) — made life a little simpler for his team.

5. Super Bowl XXXI (Jan. 26, 1997): Green Bay Packers 35, New England Patriots 21

Location: Louisiana Superdome

Before this trip to New Orleans, the Packers hadn’t won a championship since Super Bowl II in 1968. Desmond Howard dazzled the Superdome and televised audiences with a kickoff return still talked about today.

Following a Patriots touchdown that cut Green Bay’s lead to 6 late in the third quarter, Howard caught the ensuing kickoff at the 1-yard line, found a seam, turned on his afterburners and raced 99 yards for a game-altering touchdown. He celebrated by doing the robot in the end zone.

#Packers return stud Desmond Howard takes one 99 yards to the house in Super Bowl XXXI.

The fourth kickoff return — and at that time the longest — in Super Bowl history.

Howard becomes the only exclusive kick/punt returner to be named Super Bowl MVP.

Howard was named MVP, becoming the first special teams player to win the honor in the game’s history. He set five Super Bowl records as a kickoff returner and punt returner.

Brett Favre threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns in the win, and Green Bay’s defense had four interceptions against New England’s Drew Bledsoe.

4. Super Bowl XX (Jan. 26, 1986): Chicago Bears 46, New England Patriots 10

Location: Louisiana Superdome

It was a blowout win, but for many, watching the Bears’ legendary 46 defense it was quite the treat. Coach Mike Ditka joined Tom Flores as the only individuals to win a Super Bowl as a player, an assistant coach and a head coach.

Chicago’s defense was intimidating all season and even scored eight points in Super Bowl XX — 14 points if you count rookie defensive tackle William “The Refrigerator” Perry’s 1-yard touchdown run while lined up as a running back in the third quarter. For the game, the Bears held New England to 123 total yards, forced six turnovers, tallied seven sacks and allowed only 12 first downs. Defensive end Richard Dent was named the game’s MVP after forcing two fumbles and making 1 1/2 sacks.

Offensively, Jim McMahon threw for 256 yards and also ran for two touchdowns for Chicago. Many eyes were on Walter Payton, who had 61 rushing yards for the Bears, but it was Matt Suhey — and Perry — scoring touchdowns off McMahon’s handoffs.

3. Super Bowl IX (Jan. 12, 1975): Pittsburgh Steelers 16, Minnesota Vikings 6

Location: Tulane Stadium

This was the game to watch for those who love imposing defenses. Pittsburgh had the Steel Curtain. Minnesota had the Purple People Eaters. Tulane Stadium delivered in entertainment, despite the teams producing a total of only 22 points.

The Steelers, who won their first of six Super Bowls, led 2-0 at halftime and scored the first touchdown with a 9-yard run by Franco Harris early in the third quarter. The bruiser carried the ball 34 times for 158 yards and a score and was named the MVP.

OTD 1975 Super Bowl IX Franco Harris sets a then Super Bowl record with 158 yards rushing.