Recent History of Super Bowl Underdogs

By Oliver Vaughn

February 23rd, 2023

Are you wondering how often favorites and underdogs have won the Super Bowl in the last five years? Well, we have the answer for you. Keep reading to find out who has been winning the most and why.

Overview

The past 5 Super Bowls have offered a treat to both favorite and underdog fans. Of the 5 Super Bowls played in the last five years, the favorite team has won 2 of these matchups, and 3 out of 5 wins went to the underdog team, highlighting their determination and resilience despite any underlying disadvantages.

Super Bowl LVII

During the build-up to Super Bowl 57, held a few days ago, analysts across the board gave the Kansas City Chiefs slim chances of triumph against their celebrated opponents, the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite the lopsided predictions, quite a few remained hopeful that quarterback Patrick Mahomes' prowess might just be enough to bridge the gap between them and the reigning champions.

Remarkably, through an intense game and some clever play-calling by Andy Reid’s team, they upended expectations and emerged victorious at 38-35 in one of the sport’s all-time greatest showdowns.

Super Bowl LVI

In 2022, the Los Angeles Rams made an incredible upset against the Cincinnati Bengals, thereby ending their four-game losing streak. Despite the odds being firmly in favor of the Bengal's advantage due to their strong momentum coming from a streak of three consecutive wins, it was the Rams rallied late to pull off a stunning 23-20 victory on their home turf.

This triumphant win was solely credited to the timely and clutch performance by quarterback Joe Burrow and his offensive line, which successfully pushed back against a fierce defensive push from the Bengals.

It was truly an admirable display of strength and resilience by the Rams that saw them come out on top that day, giving them much-needed confidence as they geared up to push further into postseason play.

Super Bowl LV

The victory of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV was truly remarkable. Going into the game, most professional football analysts had picked the Chiefs as favorites because of their impressive season record and experience.

However, the Bucs proved to be too strong for them, showcasing superior tactics and defensive play throughout all four quarters. From Tom Brady's pinpoint accuracy to Devin White's gutsy defensive decisions, the Bucs completely outplayed their opponents and clinched a decisive win with a score of 31-9. This result is sure to go down as one of the biggest upsets in NFL history and serves as a testament to what teamwork, leadership, and determination can achieve.

Super Bowl LIV

Many believed that the 2020 Super Bowl would be a match for the ages, pitting the heavily favored Kansas City Chiefs against the underdog San Francisco 49ers, with many betting on the upset.

However, when the final whistle blew, it was confirmed: The Chiefs had come out victorious at 31-21. Led by Patrick Mahomes, who was named MVP of Super Bowl LIV, and veteran guru Andy Reid on the sidelines, it's no surprise how deftly they were able to defeat their opponents.

Super Bowl LIII

The 2019 Super Bowl matchup between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams was one of the most highly anticipated games in NFL history. The Patriots, who fielded an experienced team with veteran talent and a four-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback, were heavy favorites to take home another championship.

Despite the Rams' impressive regular season record and a younger yet talented roster, it felt that the odds were against them coming into this big game. Turned out that the pre-game analysis was spot on. On February 3rd, 2019, the Patriots made sure to shut down any possible comeback from their opponent.

They dominated both offense and defense, and after four quarters of play, they took the crown with a score of 13 - 3. Although it was a much less exciting game than expected, it was a great victory for New England’s veteran team full of illustrious historical NFL players such as Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski.

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