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Essentials Inside The Story

  • A win on Sunday would make the New England the first franchise to reach seven Super Bowl victories
  • Despite being 4.5-point underdogs, history favors the Patriots to win the Super Bowl
  • If the Patriots win Super Bowl this year, it would prove that they can succeed without the legendary Bill Belichick and Tom Brady

The New England Patriots are tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most Super Bowls in NFL history, with six. With a win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, the Patriots could become the first team in NFL history to hoist the Lombardi Trophy seven times. And with the way these two franchises are trending, they could continue to put distance between themselves and the Steelers in the future.

Terrell Owens holding Dude Wipes XL

The Patriots enter this game as 4.5-point underdogs, which is a pretty significant spread for a Super Bowl. Luckily for them, history is on their side. Five teams in NFL history have been exactly 4.5-point underdogs in the Super Bowl. Those teams are 4-1 straight up.

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So, if the Patriots can become the fifth team to win as 4.5-point underdogs, where would this Super Bowl rank compared to their others? I consulted with my Patriots fan boss to make this list, and we had to compromise on a couple, but here’s what we came up with.

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Tony Paulines
Where Does Osu Still Lack Elite Talent?

Let Tony do the scouting, you just make the pick.

Pick your positions. Get Tony’s top 5:

1. Super Bowl XXXVI

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They always say there’s nothing like your first, right? Every NFL fan remembers their first Super Bowl victory (unless you’re a fan of a team without one, then it sucks to suck), and that’s no different for fans of the franchise with the most Super Bowl victories.

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This Super Bowl was especially sweet for those Patriots fans who were around to see their team lose two Super Bowls in 1986 and 1997 before winning their first. As a Saints fan, I remember watching them win it when I was seven years old, and even if they won it next year, I’m not sure it would be more meaningful than their first. This one will be remembered for years, especially because they were massive underdogs.

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2. Super Bowl LIII

They always say there’s nothing like your last, right? No…Okay, I’ll stop.

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On a more serious note, as an outside observer whose favorite team has only ever won one Super Bowl, tying the record for the most Super Bowls in NFL history has to mean something, right? Plus, this was their last one with Tom Brady, and even though he left, Pats fans still love the guy.

I know this was arguably the most boring Super Bowl in the past decade, but to Patriots fans, this one has to have meant a lot.

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3. Super Bowl LI

This is one Tim, and I disagreed on. From a pure entertainment standpoint, this might be No. 1. Seeing your team erase a 25-point deficit and win in the Super Bowl overtime has to be a feeling of pure ecstasy. It had to be the most thrilling watch of the six wins thus far, and in his mind, that counts for a lot.

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However, I was thinking, did this one really mean all that much? They were just a couple of years removed from winning their fourth Super Bowl, and what does five really do for you? Put you in second place all-time? Again, from an entertainment and bragging rights POV, this was great. From an overall legacy standpoint, I think some of the others were more meaningful.

But Tim is a Patriots fan, so I gave him the benefit of the doubt here and put it at No. 3.

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4. Super Bowl XLIX

Everyone was enamored with the Patriots’ dynasty after they won three in four years, but after winning their third, they didn’t win again for nine more years (I know, so horrible!). They were always really good, and even lost two Super Bowls in between their third and fourth win, so Super Bowl XLIX meant a lot to the fanbase.

On top of ending a nine-year drought, this might’ve been the most thrilling ending to a Super Bowl in NFL history. Jermaine Kearse made that “BS” reception, as Tim recalls it, to set the Seahawks up at the five-yard line. They chewed some clock to make sure New England didn’t have a chance to go back at them, but we all know what happened next…Why didn’t you give it to Beastmode?

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5. Super Bowl LX

If the Patriots do indeed win it all this year, I think it would be their fifth most meaningful Super Bowl in franchise history. I don’t think this team comes close to being one of their best teams, but proving you can win it all again without the likes of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady has to feel pretty dang good. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that it would give them the record for the most Super Bowls by any franchise in NFL history.

However, I had to drop it to five because Patriots fans are spoiled. I know you guys struggled sooooo much for the six years between Super Bowl appearances, but most Super Bowls of all-time, would it really move you as the others did?

Everyone hated the New England dynasty and was ecstatic when Brady left, and they were relegated to the bottom of the league (myself included), just for them to get right back to the Super Bowl before 27 other teams could make it. It’s just cruel, man. Can’t Boston sports fans go through some hardship for once in their lives?

6. Super Bowl XXXIX

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The term dynasty is loosely defined in the world of sports. Some people think you have to win three in a decade, but to me, a true dynasty is a team that wins three championships in a four, maybe five-year span if you’re being generous. That’s real dominance. I’m not sure if that’s what anyone else thinks or why I think that, but in my head, that’s what it is. Winning Super Bowl XXXIX helped the Patriots become a true dynasty in my book.

Winning this Super Bowl meant a lot to the fanbase and the franchise as a whole, but when you stack it up against the rest, it’s hard to find a place for it higher on this list.

7. Super Bowl XXXVIII

It’s hard to say any Super Bowl is not meaningful, because they all are tremendously meaningful to the fanbase, staff, players, and everyone else involved with the team. However, if I had to pick one to be last, it would be this one. It was the meat of their dynasty sandwich, and I don’t know, it just doesn’t feel that special compared to the other five (potentially six).

Fun fact: This is the Super Bowl with the most roman numerals in its name, and it will be until Super Bowl LXXXXIII (88).

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Written by

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Luke Hubbard

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Luke Hubbard is a NFL Analyst at EssentiallySports, recognized for his comprehensive coverage across the NCAA and NFL landscapes. An LSU graduate, Luke brings deep reporting experience as a writer for Know more

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Antra Koul

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