When it comes to modern Super Bowl history, there isn’t a single NFL team that can match the success of the New England Patriots.
With coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady leading the way, the Pats enjoyed a sustained run of greatness for nearly two full decades. New England made several trips to the playoffs and raised a few Super Bowl banners at Gillette Stadium.
How much do you know about New England’s Super Bowl runs? Here is a full breakdown of the Patriots’ history in the championship game.
How many championships have the New England Patriots won?
The Patriots have won six Super Bowls, putting them atop the all-time list with the Steelers, who have also captured six Lombardi Trophies. New England has reached the Super Bowl 11 times, beating the Rams in its most recent appearance (Super Bowl LIII in 2019).
Through 59 playoff games, the Patriots hold an all-time postseason record of 37-22. They have advanced to the conference championship game 15 times with 11 wins and four losses.
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Super Bowl struggles in first two matchups
Before the glory days of Patriots football, the franchise stumbled through periods of coaching and ownership changes. They finally punched their ticket to the Super Bowl in 1986 under Raymond Berry, beating the Jets, Raiders and Dolphins before running into the Bears. Chicago crushed New England, 46-10, behind a dominant defensive performance.
The Patriots didn’t reach the Super Bowl again until 1997 when Bill Parcells guided the team to an AFC title. The Pats fell to the Packers, 35-21, and Parcells left New England to serve as the head coach of the Jets.
The Tom Brady and Bill Belichick dynasty
The Patriots hired Belichick, who previously worked under Parcells, in 2000, and they drafted Brady in the sixth round that same year. New England captured the first Lombardi Trophy in franchise history in Belichick’s second season and Brady’s first as a starter, then won back-to-back championships in 2004 and 2005.
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After finishing 16-0 during the 2007 regular season and winning their first two playoff games, the Patriots were expected to complete a perfect run against the Giants in Super Bowl XLII. However, New York pulled off a stunning upset, and to make matters worse for New England fans, Eli Manning and the Giants beat the Pats again in Super Bowl XLVI.
Brady and Belichick bounced back, though, advancing to four Super Bowls and winning three championships in a five-year span (2015-19). Brady famously led the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history against the Falcons, throwing for 466 yards and two touchdowns on 62 pass attempts in Super Bowl LI.
Patriots record in Super Bowls
The Patriots have a record of 6-5 in their 11 Super Bowl appearances. New England won all of its Lombardi Trophies under Belichick.
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| Super Bowl | Result | MVP | Coach | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Bowl XX | Bears 46, Patriots 10 | Richard Dent | Raymond Berry | New Orleans |
| Super Bowl XXXI | Packers 35, Patriots 21 | Desmond Howard | Bill Parcells | New Orleans |
| Super Bowl XXXVI | Patriots 20, Rams 17 | Tom Brady | Bill Belichick | New Orleans |
| Super Bowl XXXVIII | Patriots 32, Panthers 29 | Tom Brady | Bill Belichick | Houston |
| Super Bowl XXXIX | Patriots 24, Eagles 21 | Deion Branch | Bill Belichick | Jacksonville |
| Super Bowl XLII | Giants 17, Patriots 14 | Eli Manning | Bill Belichick | Glendale |
| Super Bowl XLVI | Giants 21, Patriots 17 | Eli Manning | Bill Belichick | Indianapolis |
| Super Bowl XLIX | Patriots 28, Seahawks 24 | Tom Brady | Bill Belichick | Glendale |
| Super Bowl LI | Patriots 34, Falcons 28 | Tom Brady | Bill Belichick | Houston |
| Super Bowl LII | Eagles 41, Patriots 33 | Nick Foles | Bill Belichick | Minneapolis |
| Super Bowl LIII | Patriots 13, Rams 3 | Julian Edelman | Bill Belichick | Atlanta |
The Patriots’ pursuit of a seventh title
New England has been searching for the winning formula since that victory in Super Bowl LIII. After adding that banner to the collection, the Patriots have only earned two playoff berths (2020, 2022).
But there is a now sense of hope in New England. Mike Vrabel has re-energized the organization, and the Pats have their QB of the future in Drake Maye, who has already shown MVP potential. A seventh ring could be coming sooner than many Patriots fans expected.
Featured image via Usa Today
