Super Bowl Super Study Says Patriots, Broncos Built Like Champs

8. Record against Playoff Teams

Given the ever-growing nature of the NFL postseason over the years, this part of the study won’t be as reliable as most. Remember, the league didn’t expand to a 16-game season until 1978, and the playoff format didn’t expand to 12 teams until 1990. Therefore, any figures before that time won’t tell a definitive picture.

Still, we try to hold the theory that the playoff teams with winning experience against their counterparts are more likely to make that playoff run. And to stick with the theme, every Super Bowl team enters the study.

Winners				Losers
SB	Team	W-L			SB	Team	W-L
I	66 Packers	0-0			I	66 Chiefs	1-1
II	67 Packers	1-1			II	67 Raiders	1-0
III	68 Jets	1-1			III	68 Colts	1-1
IV	69 Chiefs	2-2			IV	69 Vikings	2-0
V	70 Colts	1-1			V	70 Cowboys	0-1
VI	71 Cowboys	1-1			VI	71 Dolphins	1-1
VII	72 Dolphins	0-0			VII	72 Redskins	2-1
VIII	73 Dolphins	2-1			VIII	73 Vikings	2-1
IX	74 Steelers	0-1			IX	74 Vikings	1-1
X	75 Steelers	2-1			X	75 Cowboys	2-1
XI	76 Raiders	1-1			XI	76 Vikings	1-0-1
XII	77 Cowboys	2-1			XII	77 Broncos	3-2
XIII	78 Steelers	3-2			XIII	78 Cowboys	3-3
XIV	79 Steelers	3-3			XIV	79 Rams	1-4
XV	80 Raiders	1-3			XV	80 Eagles	3-3
XVI	81 49ers	3-0			XVI	81 Bengals	2-2
XVII	82 Redskins	2-1			XVII	82 Dolphins	2-1
XVIII	83 Raiders	4-3			XVIII	83 Redskins	5-1
XIX	84 49ers	4-1			XIX	84 Dolphins	2-1
XX	85 Bears	4-1			XX	85 Patriots	2-5
XXI	86 Giants	4-0			XXI	86 Broncos	3-3
XXII	87 Redskins	1-0			XXII	87 Broncos	2-3
XXIII	88 49ers	3-2			XXIII	88 Bengals	4-2
XXIV	89 49ers	3-1			XXIV	89 Broncos	2-3
XXV	90 Giants	4-3			XXV	90 Bills	4-3
XXVI	91 Redskins	5-1			XXVI	91 Bills	3-2
XXVII	92 Cowboys	3-2			XXVII	92 Bills	4-2
XXVIII	93 Cowboys	5-1			XXVIII	93 Bills	3-3
XXIX	94 49ers	3-2			XXIX	94 Chargers	3-2
XXX	95 Cowboys	5-2			XXX	95 Steelers	2-2
XXXI	96 Packers	4-2			XXXI	96 Patriots	4-3
XXXII	97 Broncos	2-3			XXXII	97 Packers	7-1
XXXIII	98 Broncos	3-1			XXXIII	98 Falcons	3-2
XXXIV	99 Rams	0-2			XXXIV	99 Titans	3-1
XXXV	00 Ravens	1-2			XXXV	00 Giants	2-1
XXXVI	01 Patriots	2-2			XXXVI	01 Rams	6-1
XXXVII	02 Bucs	4-2			XXXVII	02 Raiders	3-1
XXXVIII	03 Patriots	5-0			XXXVIII	03 Panthers	1-3
XXXIX	04 Patriots	5-1			XXXIX	04 Eagles	2-2
XL	05 Steelers	2-4			XL	05 Seahawks	2-2
XLI	06 Colts	4-1			XLI	06 Bears	3-1
XLII	07 Giants	1-5			XLII	07 Patriots	6-0
XLIII	08 Steelers	3-4			XLIII	08 Cardinals	1-4
XLIV	09 Saints	3-1			XLIV	09 Colts	3-1
XLV	10 Packers	3-3			XLV	10 Steelers	2-4
XLVI	11 Giants	1-3			XLVI	11 Patriots	1-2

This part of the study holds no water in this postseason, as every playoff team defeated at least two playoff counterparts. Of note, the 2012 Seahawks defeated a league-best four playoff teams.

 

 

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