The Kansas City Chiefs have already made historical past forward of Super Bowl LVII. By advantage of their AFC title recreation win over the Bengals, the Chiefs have joined a small group of groups that superior to 3 Super Bowls over a four-year span.
The Chiefs, led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight finish Travis Kelce and defensive lineman Chris Jones, guided the franchise to its first title in 50 years on the finish of the 2019 season. They made it again to the massive recreation in 2020 however had been upset by Tom Brady’s Buccaneers. Two years later, Mahomes and Co. are hoping to win one other ring whereas getting Andy Reid a Super Bowl victory over his former crew.
A win over the Eagles would give the Chiefs a 3-1 all-time file in Super Bowls and a 2-1 file throughout the Reid/Mahomes period. Here’s a have a look at the groups the Chiefs joined in historical past and the way every one fared on soccer’s greatest stage.
Super Bowl file: 2-1
In simply his second yr in Miami, Don Shula led the Dolphins to the franchise’s first Super Bowl on the finish of the 1971 season. Miami’s Cinderella season got here to a crashing halt within the Super Bowl, nevertheless, because the extra seasoned Cowboys blasted the “completely satisfied to be there” Dolphins, 24-3.
The loss served as motivation for the ’72 Dolphins, who made historical past by turning into professional soccer’s solely good crew. The Dolphins capped off their good season by besting Washington in Super Bowl VII. Fittingly, Miami acquired a stellar defensive efficiency that day from its “No Name” protection and Super Bowl MVP, security Jake Scott.
Miami efficiently defended its title in 1973. The Dolphins did not go undefeated, however they misplaced simply two video games that season whereas compiling a two-year file of 32-2. Facing the Vikings in Super Bowl VIII, the Dolphins leaned on fullback Larry Csonka, who received MVP honors after setting then-Super Bowl data with 33 carries for 145 yards and two touchdowns.
Super Bowl file: 0-3
Bud Grant’s Vikings had been victims of enjoying in an period with a number of different legendary groups. They by no means received the massive one, however Grant’s crew did win the 1969 NFL title and performed in 4 Super Bowls from 1969-76. Minnesota’s rosters again then featured Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton, versatile halfback Chuck Foreman, and the legendary “Purple People Eaters” protection that was anchored by Alan Page, the one defensive participant to win league MVP till Lawrence Taylor in 1986.
In their Super Bowls, the ’70s Vikings misplaced to 3 of one of the best groups in NFL historical past: Miami, Pittsburgh and Oakland. They additionally fell to the Cowboys within the 1975 playoffs on Roger Staubach’s legendary Hail Mary heave to Drew Pearson.
Super Bowl file: 1-2
Eight factors separated Tom Landry’s Cowboys from successful all three of their Super Bowl journeys throughout the late ’70s. Sandwiched between their 27-10 win over Denver in Super Bowl XII was two four-point losses to the Steelers, who had been topped the Team of the ’70s after successful 4 Super Bowls in a six-year span.
The Cowboys might have completed behind the Steelers in historical past, however they performed in yet another Super Bowl than Pittsburgh throughout the decade. They had been additionally branded “America’s Team” after turning into one among sport’s hottest and recognizable groups.
An enormous cause for the Cowboys’ success and recognition was Staubach, an actual life model of Captain America who led Dallas to a slew of come-from-behind wins. Staubach was complemented by Dallas’ vaunted “Doomsday” protection. He additionally benefited late in his profession by the arrival of 1977 first-round choose operating again Tony Dorsett, who helped the Cowboys win the Super Bowl throughout his rookie season.
Super Bowl file: 0-3
While they dominated the AFC, the late ’80s Broncos had been no match for the NFC’s heavyweights. This was throughout the period that noticed the NFC win 13 straight Super Bowls from 1984-96, with three of wins coming towards John Elway and Co.
The late ’80s Broncos are largely remembered for 2 issues: their epic wins over the Browns in consecutive AFC title video games and being on the brief finish of essentially the most lopsided rating in Super Bowl historical past. What’s usually forgotten was how nice Elway was in main the Broncos to these Super Bowls.
Super Bowl file: 0-4
Like the Vikings, Marv Levy’s Bills had been unable to win the massive recreation. While that’s a part of their legacy, the Bills’ legacy additionally contains being the one crew to play in 4 consecutive Super Bowls.
Buffalo’s roster featured a number of all-time greats that included quarterback Jim Kelly, go rusher Bruce Smith, operating again Thurman Thomas, wideouts Andre Reed and James Lofton and particular groups ace Steve Tasker.
The Bills’ greatest probability at successful a Super Bowl got here of their first journey to the massive recreation. Buffalo misplaced Super Bowl XXV by a degree after lacking a discipline objective with eight seconds remaining. A key contributor to the loss was the truth that the Bills’ high-powered offense had the ball for lower than 20 minutes, which was the plan of then-Giants defensive coordinator Bill Belichick.
1992-95 Cowboys
Super Bowl file: 3-0
The Cowboys had fallen on laborious occasions by the point Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson arrived in Dallas in 1989. The new proprietor and coach had been tasked with taking on a franchise that was shedding cash practically as quick as they had been shedding video games. But with Jones engaged on the enterprise facet and Johnson engaged on the soccer facet, the previous school teammates made sports activities historical past.
Before making historical past, nevertheless, Jones and Johnson first needed to endure a 1-15 season. In the midst of that depressing yr, Johnson modified the trajectory of the franchise when he pulled off a blockbuster commerce that despatched Pro Bowl operating again Herschel Walker to Minnesota in alternate for a bounty of draft picks.
Johnson used the picks to helped assemble a roster that may win dominate professional soccer within the early-to-mid ’90s. He used one of many picks from that commerce to draft Emmitt Smith, who would go on to change into the NFL’s all-time main rusher.
Johnson, who made a whopping 51 trades in rebuilding the Cowboys, oversaw a historic transformation, because the Cowboys grew to become the primary crew to win the Super Bowl after successful only one recreation three years earlier. Dallas efficiently defended its title earlier than Johnson left the Cowboys after the 1993 season. The Cowboys received a 3rd title in 1995 with Barry Switzer on the sideline.
Super Bowl file: 3-0
This was the dynasty nobody noticed coming. New England went 5-11 throughout Belichick’s first season and had been 0-2 the next yr when then-franchise quarterback Drew Bledsoe suffered a major damage.
That’s when a backup named Tom Brady took heart stage, and the remaining is historical past. Brady performed effectively in these early video games, but it surely was Belichick’s gusty choice to stay with Brady upon Bledsoe’s return from damage that ignited the dynasty. The Patriots wouldn’t lose once more in 2001 after Belichick named Brady the long-term starter. With Brady on the helm, the Patriots defeated the Raiders and Steelers within the playoffs earlier than upsetting the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI on Adam Vinatieri’s game-winning discipline objective.
New England missed the playoffs the next yr and had been 2-2 halfway by the 2003 season. Similarly to 2001, the Patriots as soon as once more shocked everybody by happening an unprecedented 21-game successful streak that would not finish till New England added a second Lombardi Trophy to its assortment. The Patriots would go on to win the franchise’s third title in 4 years after defeating Andy Reid’s Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX.
Along with Brady, the early ’00s Patriots had been led by a punishing protection, led by Richard Seymour, Ty Law, Rodney Harrison and Teddy Bruschi. The group made life troublesome for rising stars Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger, particularly throughout the 2004 playoffs.
2014-17 Patriots
Super Bowl file: 2-1
Many had declared the Patriots’ dynasty useless by the fourth week of the 2014 season. By that point, the Patriots had been 2-2 and coming off of a 41-14 blowout loss to the Chiefs on “Monday Night Football.” It was so dangerous that Belichick was requested if he had thought of benching then 37-year-old Brady.
As they did a number of occasions throughout the earlier decade, the Patriots responded by successful video games. They would lose simply two extra occasions throughout the 2014 season en path to upsetting the defending champion Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX. Two years later, regardless of Brady serving a four-game suspension, the Patriots went 17-2 whereas pulling off the best comeback in Super Bowl historical past.
New England misplaced a shootout with the Eagles in Super Bowl LII, however they made it again to the massive recreation in 2018 whereas turning into the primary crew to play in 4 Super Bowls in a five-year span. They capped off their two-decade lengthy dynasty by defeating the Rams in Super Bowl LIII.
Brady’s favourite targets all through his second championship run was Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman. Gronkowski retired as arguably the best tight finish in NFL historical past, whereas Edelman — the MVP of Super Bowl LIII — ranks among the many most prolific go catchers in playoff historical past.
