Repeating as Super Bowl champions hasn’t been easy lately
New England Patriots: Won Super Bowls XXXVIII and XXXIX
After missing the playoffs in 2002 and opening 2-2 in ’03, the team would win its next 21 games, including postseason wins over the Titans, Colts and Panthers. Bill Belichick’s club, 6-0 in 2004, would see that record streak end in Pittsburgh but the Patriots would lose just one more game the rest of the season. They stifled the Colts in the divisional round, avenged that setback to the Steelers in the AFC title game and beat the Eagles in Jacksonville.
Seattle Seahawks: Won Super Bowl XLVIII, Lost Super Bowl XLIX
Pete Carroll’s magnificent defense came up big on Super Sunday against a Broncos’ team that amassed an NFL-record 606 points in 2013. The Seahawks scored on offense, defense and special teams in a 43-8 triumph at MetLife Stadium.
A year later, the club got off to a so-so start but entered the playoffs with a head of steam. In Super Bowl XLIX, Seattle owned a 24-14 fourth-quarter lead before Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady did his thing.
New England Patriots: Won Super Bowl LI, Lost Super Bowl LII
Bill Belichick’s club finished 14-2 in 2016 and then rolled the Texans and Steelers in the divisional playoffs and AFC title game, respectively. The Pats proceeded to fall behind the Atlanta Falcons, 28-3, in the third quarter of Super Bowl LI before rallying to win in overtime.
Next. 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Texans trade Deshaun Watson to Panthers. dark
The defending champs were 13-3 in 2017 and knocked off the Titans and Jaguars in the playoffs. But 505 passing yards by Tom Brady wasn’t enough as the team fell to the Eagles, 41-33.