Ranking The Patriots Six Super Bowl Victories

Posted By on February 10, 2023

The Patriots went to nine Super Bowls from 2001-2018 and won six championships. Each game, and season, had incredible moments. This is a ranking of those six victories, weighing both entertainment value and significance to the larger dynasty.

6. Super Bowl LIII

The final Super Bowl victory of the dynasty era was the lowest scoring of all the championships, with New England beating the Rams 13-3. The game had plenty of great moments, however. Brady’s 29-yard pass to Rob Gronkowski to set up the game’s only touchdown in the fourth quarter was a perfect throw and catch. Jason McCourty’s pass breakup in the end zone of Brandin Cooks is one of the most underrated plays in Super Bowl history, it completely swung the game. Julian Edelman had 10 catches for 141 yards and won the game’s MVP.

5. Super Bowl XXXIX

This win solidified the first half of the dynasty as it was the Patriots third Super Bowl victory in four years. They beat an Eagles team that was loaded on both sides of the ball. Deion Branch won the game’s MVP, finishing with 11 catches for 133 yards. Mike Vrabel caught a Super Bowl touchdown pass for the second year in a row.

The performance of Eagles receiver Terrell Owens should not be forgotten; he caught nine passes for 122 yards on a leg that was still healing from being broken seven weeks earlier.

4. Super Bowl LI

The comeback. The Patriots were down 28-3 with 2:12 left in the third quarter. New England proceeded to pull off the greatest single game comeback in the history of sports, winning 34-28 in overtime. This is the game that Brady became the GOAT in many eyes. He finished 43/62 for 466 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

James White was also masterful in this game, totaling 139 yards from scrimmage and 20 points scored.

3. Super Bowl XXXVI

The first championship of the dynasty run was also the birth of the Brady legend. The Patriots outplayed the Rams for most of the game and had a 17-3 lead heading into the fourth quarter thanks to a Ty Law pick-six and a great Brady touchdown pass to David Patten. The Rams scored twice in the fourth quarter, though, and left the Patriots with 1:21 left on the clock. The Patriots offense marched down the field and got into field goal range thanks to a big catch by Troy Brown for 23 yards. That set up an Adam Vinatieri 48-yard field goal that won the game as time expired.

Lost in the heroics was the Patriots defense holding the “Greatest Show on Turf” to only 17 points. Bill Belichick’s plan was masterful, and the talented Patriots defense executed it almost perfectly.

 

2. Super Bowl XXXVIII

Of the Patriots six championships, this game may have been the most entertaining from start to finish. It had everything: great offense, great defense and key special teams. This was not a flawless performance from Brady, but it was one of his most resilient. He finished with 354 yards, three touchdown passes, one interception and won his second Super Bowl MVP.  Deion Branch had a case for MVP as well, finishing with 10 catches for 143 yards and one touchdown. The Patriots’ defense was able to slow down Carolina for most of the game, but the Panthers exploded for 19 fourth quarter points in which a terrific Patriots unit was exhausted.

After sputtering in the first quarter, Brady led the Patriots offense on two touchdown drives in the second quarter. After a scoreless third, the Patriots put up 17 points in the fourth quarter including a game winning field goal with three seconds to go. What stands out most to me is what happened after Brady’s interception. The pick came on the Patriots first drive of the fourth quarter, in the red zone, and very well could have cost New England the game. How did Brady respond? By leading two successive scoring drives including the game winner.

 

 

1. Super Bowl XLIX

The Seahawks were the defending Super Bowl champions and best defense of the decade. Brady was not perfect in this one; he threw two interceptions including one in the end zone. However, he was brilliant. He threw four touchdown passes and 328 yards against a secondary and pass rush that routinely dominated opponents. The Patriots found themselves trailing by ten and facing a third and 14 in the fourth quarter, and Brady led them on a near miraculous comeback to take a four-point lead with two minutes to go.

The Seahawks then promptly drove down the field and had the ball at the Patriots one-yard line with 30 seconds to go. That’s when the decided to throw the ball on second and goal. Brandon Browner made a terrific play to jam Jermaine Kearse at the line allowing Malcolm Butler to jump the slant route and make the biggest play in Super Bowl history.

This game was a heavyweight fight; the Seahawks were the best team the Patriots faced during the entire dynasty era and it took everything New England had to win. A classic.