The Super Bowl is thrilling when there are underdog teams competing. The underdog team often upsets the heavy favorite and that's when things get really exciting. While there have been many memorable Super Bowls with underdogs, how many of them actually won?
In the history of the Super Bowl, there have been quite a few underdog teams that have gone on to win the championship. In fact, as of 2022, a third of all Super Bowls have been won by underdogs. So what makes these teams so successful? And can an underdog team win in this year's Super Bowl? We'll take a look at some of the statistics behind underdog teams and see if there is any wisdom to be gleaned from their successes!
How Many Underdogs Won the Super Bowl?
In the 51 Super Bowls that have been held, there have been 26 underdog teams that have gone on to win. That means about half of all Super Bowls have been won by an underdog team. This includes some of the most famous upsets in NFL history such as Joe Namath's New York Jets over the heavily favored Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.
Most Popular Underdog Wins in Super Bowl History
1. San Francisco 49ers vs. San Diego Chargers, 1995
The Super Bowl XXIX featured the highly favored San Diego Chargers against probably the biggest underdog and the less heralded San Francisco 49ers. The Niners won in a blowout, 49-26. In 1995, Finally, Steve Young managed to break away from the shadow of Joe Montana and set a Super Bowl record with his impressive six touchdown passes. It was one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history and showed just how powerful an underdog team could be.
2. New York Giants vs. New England Patriots, 2008
On February 3, 2008, the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona hosted a thrilling game that will live long in the memories of sporting enthusiasts. The Giants were heavy underdogs but pulled off a stunning 17-14 victory over Tom Brady and the undefeated Patriots.
The Patriots were the heavy favorites to take home the Lombardi trophy, being that they had gone through an undefeated regular season since 1972's Miami Dolphins and were well on their way to making history by becoming the only NFL team going 16-0 in a sixteen game season. On their quest for greatness stood the Giants, who completed the regular campaign with a 10-6 record but still held great hope of proving doubters wrong and becoming Super Bowl champions as NFC wildcards. The win was particularly impressive considering that the Giants had lost their first two games of the season and had to fight to make it into the playoffs.
3. Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots, 2018
The Philadelphia Eagles were heavy underdogs in Super Bowl LII against the New England Patriots and Tom Brady but managed to win 41-33 in an exciting game that came down to the wire.
The Philadelphia Eagles made history as they claimed their first-ever Super Bowl title with a 41-33 victory over the New England Patriots at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis! Tom Brady's Hail Mary pass attempt fell incomplete in the end zone, and ultimately sealed the win for the Eagles during an unforgettable evening of football! Nick Foles, quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles, was awarded the title of Most Valuable Player.
4. Denver Broncos vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1999
The Denver Broncos have won two of their three Super Bowl appearances, and the first one was an upset win against the heavily favored Atlanta Falcons. The Broncos won 34-19 in a game that saw Denver take full advantage of Atlanta's mistakes and Michael Vick’s inability to lead his team in the fourth quarter. John Elway earned MVP honors for his three touchdown passes, and Terrell Davis rushed for over 100 yards.
5. St. Louis Rams vs. New England Patriots, 2001
The Super Bowl XXXVI between the St. Louis Rams and New England Patriots is widely remembered as one of the biggest upsets in NFL history. In the 2001 season, the St. Louis Rams celebrated their 65th year in National Football League (NFL) history and marked Mike Martz's second successful year as head coach for his seventh term with them since relocating to St.Louis.
Setting an NFL record, the Rams opened three consecutive seasons with six straight wins and scored 500+ points in each of those seasons. Two years after winning their first Super Bowl title, they returned to the championship game against Bill Belichick's 11-5 New England Patriots led by a then-emerging Tom Brady. With their formidable offense on full display and ambition for glory ignited, Los Angeles sought redemption as defending champions.
Numerous spectators anticipated that the Los Angeles Rams would capture their second Super Bowl victory, but they ultimately fell 20-17 to the New England Patriots after kicker Adam Vinatieri kicked a game-clinching field goal when both teams reached 17 points.
6. New York Jets vs. Baltimore Ravens, 1969
The 1969-70 Super Bowl was a major upset in which the AFL champion New York Jets routed the NFL's Baltimore Colts by a score of 16-7. Led by quarterback Joe Namath and head coach Weeb Ewbank, the Jets had won the AFL championship game against Oakland Raiders to earn their spot in Super Bowl IV.
The Colts, on the other hand, had won the NFL championship game against Cleveland Browns and were considered heavy favorites. However, Namath famously guaranteed victory prior to the Super Bowl and backed up his words with a solid performance that saw him complete 17 of 28 passes for 206 yards and 1 touchdown. The defense also played a huge role in the Jets’ win by holding the high-powered Colts' offense to just 7 points. This win was significant as it was the first time an AFL team had beaten an NFL team in a Super Bowl matchup. It is still remembered as one of the biggest upsets in sports history.
7. Indianapolis Colts vs. Chicago Bears, 2007
The Indianapolis Colts were huge underdogs against the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI, but they managed to pull off a 29-17 victory. This game marked Peyton Manning's first and only Super Bowl victory as he threw for 247 yards and a touchdown while completing 25 of 38 passes. The star of the game was running back Dominic Rhodes who carried the ball 22 times for 113 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, the Colts limited Bears quarterback Rex Grossman to just 144 passing yards as well as one interception. While this win was not quite as dramatic as some previous upsets, it proved that underdog teams can succeed if they use their strengths to their advantage and capitalize on their opponents' missteps.
8. Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots, 2018
The Philadelphia Eagles pulled off one of the biggest Super Bowl upsets in recent memory when they defeated the heavily-favored New England Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII. Nick Foles led the way for Philadelphia with a near-perfect performance that saw him complete 28 passes for 373 yards and 3 touchdowns while being named the game's Super Bowl MVP.
His performance was bolstered by LeGarrette Blount’s 90 rushing yards, Jay Ajayi’s 57 receiving yards, and Zach Ertz’s 9 receptions as well as his touchdown catch in the fourth quarter to seal victory.
9. New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts, 2010
The New Orleans Saints were heavy underdogs against Peyton Manning's Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV, but they prevailed 31-17. Drew Brees had a spectacular game and was named the MVP after throwing for 288 yards and 2 touchdowns. Wide receiver Marques Colston also caught 7 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown while tight end Jeremy Shockey added another 52 receiving yards to help seal the win.
10. Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos, 2014
The Seattle Seahawks were the underdog contenders in this Super Bowl XLVIII matchup against the Peyton Manning-led Denver Broncos. However, they managed to pull off a 43-8 blowout victory thanks to a suffocating defense and an efficient offense.
Russell Wilson threw for 206 yards and two touchdowns while Marshawn Lynch ran for a career-high 140 yards and 2 touchdowns. The defense played a huge role in the win as they held Denver's offense to just 8 points while forcing four turnovers. This game showed the power of a well-rounded roster that is able to capitalize on the weaknesses of their opponents.
In Underdogs We Trust!
The ten Super Bowls mentioned above are just a few examples of the underdog teams that have achieved success on football's biggest stage. These teams have shown that through hard work and perseverance, anything is possible and that an underdog team can take down even the most formidable opponents. So keep cheering for the underdogs this Super Bowl season as you never know what surprises they may have in store!
With these inspiring victories, one thing is certain: In underdogs we can trust!
