It’s only fitting that Groundhog Day and the Super Bowl were both this weekend. Another Patriots Super Bowl felt like we’re just stuck in a loop that we can’t escape from no matter how hard we try, no matter what we do. All that’s missing is “I Got You Babe” on the radio, a “Bing!” from Ned Ryerson, and Andie MacDowell.
The Patriots made Super Bowl history in 2019 with a win — and would have with a loss
It might feel like we’re trapped in a Groundhog Day loop, but SOMETHING new happened in a Patriots Super Bowl.
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
This was the fourth time in the last five years that the Patriots were in the championship game and the ninth time in 17 years. This Sunday, they beat the Rams exactly 17 years after their first Super Bowl meeting — and the beginning of the Patriots’ never-ending (seriously, why hasn’t it ended?) dynasty.
So it feels like we’re just repeating ourselves at this point. The Patriots already own a filthy amount of Super Bowl records. So does Tom Brady. (It’s prreeeeettty annoying.) Nothing new could’ve possibly happened, right?
Well, not exactly. With their Super Bowl 53 win, the Patriots did something they’ve never done before — and made history in the process. The same would’ve happened with a loss, too.
The Patriots got some rare Super Bowl revenge
It may seem hard to believe, but this was only the second time the Patriots had made it to back-to-back Super Bowls. (They won both the first time, in the 2003 and 2004 seasons.)
The Patriots lost to the Eagles last year, go birds. With their victory over the Rams, the Patriots won a Super Bowl just one year after losing in the championship game.
Not only was that a first for the Patriots, but it’s a rarity in the NFL. It had happened just twice before.
The Cowboys fell to the Colts in Super Bowl V, and a year later, Roger Staubach led Dallas to a win over the Dolphins. Those Dolphins then won Super Bowl VII against Washington in January 1973.
That was the last time it had happened, 46 years ago.
No team has more Super Bowl wins than the Patriots
A win gave the Patriots their sixth Lombardi Trophy, which ties the Steelers for the most Super Bowl titles in NFL history.
Most Super Bowl wins, by team:
The Patriots’ 11th trip to the big game is also an NFL record, three more appearances than the Steelers have. The Steelers, though, have only lost in the Super Bowl twice.
If the Patriots had lost to the Rams, they would’ve joined some sad Super Bowl company
The Patriots have never lost back-to-back Super Bowls. That would’ve changed if the Rams had come out on top Sunday.
Three other teams have the unwanted distinction of losing consecutive Super Bowls, including the most suffering franchise of all: the Bills and their back-to-back-to-back-to-back losses:
1990-93 Bills, Super Bowls XXV, XXVI, XXVII, and XXVIII
The Bills’ final Super Bowl appearance and defeat happened in January 1994, the last time a team has finished as the NFL’s runner-up in consecutive seasons.
Even with the win, the Patriots still have the most Super Bowl losses in NFL history
Last year, the Patriots tied the Broncos for most losses in Super Bowl history. One more and the record is all New England’s.
Most Super Bowl losses, by team:
Patriots: 5
Broncos: 5
Vikings: 4
Bills: 4
We’ll have to wait longer until they own the record all by themselves, though.
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