In the majority of cases, odds matter because they reflect the reality of the involved competitors. Talent, work ethic, cohesion, and concentration show themselves when things matter most. However, sports represent a reality that always rears its head: life is unpredictable in the most surprising possible ways.
The NFL and professional football, in particular, are cases in which a slew of things need to go well throughout a season. Whether it’s roster management, avoiding injuries, good play-calling, or pristine execution, too many factors must work well. As the BetBrain odds calculator proves, all these elements reflect how bookmakers perceive a team’s chances.
Throughout the Super Bowl era, some examples have proven that a team must have a complete run if it wants to be the champion. As such, there have been famous instances when the favorites simply couldn’t get it done.
Whether it was a collapse or a once-in-a-lifetime performance, underdogs have always been shining stories that inspire us. Let’s look at some of the most famous examples throughout the Super Bowl era in the National Football League!
Broadway Joe’s Legendary Run to Clinch Super Bowl III
For all his faults, controversies, and indictments of being an overrated Hall of Famer, Joe Namath is a staple of NFL, quarterback, and Jets history. The New York Jets have deservedly earned the reputation of a dysfunctional franchise, but there was a time when they captured the hearts of all the NFL community.
Super Bowl III saw the Don Shula-coached Baltimore Colts, quarterbacked by Johnny Unitas, start as -18 favorites for the big game. On the other hand, the NY Jets were the representatives of the weaker AFL. After painstakingly taking down the better-perceived Oakland Raiders, their quest to grab the big trophy looked impossible.
This didn’t stop Broadway Joe from making his famous guarantee at a Miami Club. He told the audience that the Jets were going to win the game and even guaranteed it. Despite not even throwing a touchdown during the game, he had a solid performance, connecting with George Sauer Jr 8 times and completing 17 of his 28 passes.
Despite Namath winning the Super Bowl MVP, the only touchdown of the game was the effort of another big performer, running back Matt Snell. His touchdown during the 2nd quarter was one of 30 carries, yielding 121 yards. While still holding up as the only ring in Jets history, this legendary underdog victory is still the shiniest spot in franchise history.
Enter Tom Brady – Super Bowl XXXVI and The End of the Greatest Show on Turf
If we were to define the prototypical NFL underdog, his portrait would be Tom Brady. Starting as an unathletic 6th round pick under franchise QB Drew Bledsoe is no easy thing. As we all know, Brady overcame his apparent deficiencies and made the most out of his opportunity to turn into the greatest quarterback of all time.
After an absurdly great ascension during the 1999 season and a major hiccup during the 2000 outing, the Greatest Show on Turf returned for 2001. After a statistical gem as a starting QB, Kurt Warner was back into the fold, leading the St. Louis Rams to a 14-2 record and a strong claim as favorites for the Lombardi.
Brady, who came in for Bledsoe after a fateful injury during the start of the season, played his ultra efficient football, had decent stats, and even made the Pro Bowl. Despite a difficult start to the season, the newly invigorated New England Patriots also played with a ravenous Belichick defense but were still 14-point underdogs to the Rams.
The 20-17 result ushered an era that the haters consider the rise of an evil empire. However, the truth is that this game saw Brady vanquish his first foe in the battle for the alpha NFL QB status and launch the most successful NFL dynasty to date.
Super Bowl XLII – The Greatest Perfect Season That Never Was
We return to the Patriots after jumping 6 years into the future. Brady was a 3-time champion, the Patriots defense was running rampant, and Randy Moss was showing that his unsuccessful stint was an aberration, not proof of being washed.
Whenever you ask an NFL fan to name the greatest team ever assembled, they’ll likely name the 2007 Patriots. Eight Pro Bowlers, five All-Pros, and an all-time great performance over a season take the cake. Moreover, they went undefeated during the regular season and steamrolled their way through the playoffs.
However, the less successful of the Manning brothers and his New York Giants had something to say. As you surely know, this was the first painful loss that Eli administered to Brady in the Super Bowl. The Giants finished as a 10-6 Wildcard and sought to take down the undefeated, 12-point favorite Pats.
After a defensive grinder that saw a scoreless 3rd quarter, the 4th quarter was when all hell broke loose. It took one of the greatest NFL offensive drives to topple a Moss touchdown catch with 2:42 to go.
The legendary drive that saw David Tyree, Steve Smith, and Plaxico Buress make game-clinching catches turned Super Bowl XLII into an all-time great upset, but also into an all-time great football game.
Wide Right and The Heartbreak of Super Bowl XXV
Despite having easily identifiable causes, the Bills’ steak of 4 straight Super Bowl losses is still a mind-numbing phenomenon. Some losses made more sense than others, and the pain of these defeats is still a looming scar over the history of the Buffalo Bills.
None of these losses is as painful as the first of them. Despite giving the hope that the Jim Kelly-led team would be back (and they were, but not as champions), the Wide Right moment is still absolutely heart-wrenching and serves as a painful upset.
At the end of the 1990 NFL season, the Bills and the football Giants of New York met in Tampa to settle the game between one of the best offenses (the Bills) and defenses (the Giants). This was one of the first Belichick (then the defensive coordinator for the Giants) defensive masterclasses.
Despite starting as 7-point favorites, the Bills weren’t very comfortable throughout the game, especially in the second half. After losing the lead in the 3rd quarter, the 4th quarter saw Scott Norwood’s 47-yard last-second field goal go wide right. Losing on a last-second play by a point in the biggest game of your life must be unimaginable.
Conclusion
The world of sports can be as cruel as it can be gratifying. The love for the game is what drives athletes forward, even when the odds do not favor them in the slightest. The story of NFL underdogs who defeated their own disadvantages is concrete proof that one can predict success but cannot clearly determine it!