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NFL Notebook Week 9: MVP race, playoff picture, awards and more

By Zach Cohen

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 30: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens hugs quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns after the Baltimore Ravens 26-24 win over Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 30: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens hugs quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns after the Baltimore Ravens 26-24 win over Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
(Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Beware Brady, Belichick and Co.

I’m here to save you the effort of trying to figure it out where the Patriots go next after their 37-20 loss to Baltimore: The playoffs.

In fact, I still find it hard to fathom a Super Bowl without New England. Looming matchups against the Cowboys, Texans and Chiefs seem fine enough when you see that the Patriots will also face the Bengals and Dolphins. Considering the team is a solid 8-1 with an elite defense, a 12-4 season seems like the worst-case scenario.

I’m more interested in who the Patriots have played in their last few Super Bowls. This has been bugging me so I did some research on all the opponents the Patriots faced in their last three consecutive Super Bowl trips. In case you forgot:

  • 2017: Patriots def. Falcons 34-28
  • 2018: Eagles def. Patriots 41-33
  • 2019: Patriots def. Rams 13-3

The comparison between the three NFC teams were interesting. The Falcons and Eagles both won fewer games the following season, despite sneaking into the playoffs and losing in the Divisional Round.

The next season following their post-Super-Bowl hangover, each team noticeably looked worse. The Falcons failed to make the playoffs in 2018 and in 2019, well, they’ve won one game.

It seems like the Eagles are following in the Falcons’ footsteps as they too have not looked up to par this season. As for the Rams, they’re already matched their loss total from last year’s Super Bowl season.

Basically, New England’s Super Bowl opponents in the past three seasons seem to be following a trend of their slow demise. Just to be sure, though, I checked every Super Bowl team that the Patriots have faced in the Belichick-Brady era.

With the exception of the Giants, every team had a worse season the year after facing New England in the Super Bowl. The teams before New York (2008) all had losing records before bouncing back to the playoffs a year later, whereas the teams after New York (2012) all have slowly built up worse seasons.

Therefore, my suspicions are true: Any team that faces Brady, Belichick and the Patriots in a Super Bowl suffer in the years to follow.

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