Super Bowl Loser Jinx Ignores 1 Key Trend
The Philadelphia Eagles steamrolled their competition on the way to an appearance in Super Bowl LVII. They return as NFC favorites entering 2023. However, you’ve unquestionably heard the skeptics point to the trend of the Super Bowl loser struggling to bounce back after missing the chance to hold the Lombardi Trophy.
It’s not a hollow criticism. Only two teams in NFL history have lost the Super Bowl and returned to win it the following season. The Dallas Cowboys lost the Super Bowl after the 1970 season, but they won their first in franchise history one year later.
The New England Patriots recovered from the infamous loss to Nick Foles and the Eagles in Super Bowl LII with a victory over the Los Angeles Rams after the 2018 season.
That’s two out of 56 teams. The chances of the Eagles winning the Super Bowl are low, right? Recent trends aren’t so simple.
The Super Bowl Loser
Recent history doesn’t suggest a dooming trend. For starters, one of the two teams to accomplish the rare feat did it only five years ago.
The previous two Super Bowl losers before the Eagles fared pretty well in their bounceback efforts. The 2021 Kansas City Chiefs and the 2022 Cincinnati Bengals both made it back to the AFC Championship Game (to face each other).
Additionally, the Super Bowl loser from all four seasons from 2011-14 recovered with 12-4 records the following season (Steelers, Patriots, 49ers, Broncos). Two advanced to the conference championship round.
The 2/56 stat seems overwhelming, but it doesn’t account for the 2013 Denver Broncos, who brought home a Lombardi two years after their Super Bowl loss, and the 2018 Rams, who won the Super Bowl three years later.
The Seattle Seahawks also provided a relevant example. They won the Super Bowl after the 2013 season and returned after 2014. They have also made the playoffs in six of the eight seasons since.
Acknowledge the reality of the big picture: Only two of the 10 Super Bowl losers from the 1998 season through the 2007 season advanced to the playoffs the following season. That trend is ancient history. 11 of the last 14 Super Bowl losers have made it back to the playoffs the following season. Five of them have advanced to the conference championship, and one has taken home the top prize. It’s no longer a doomsday scenario.
The Importance of Quarterbacks
Most things are Not For Long in the NFL. However, look no further than the most important position on the field for your indicator of long-term stability after a Super Bowl loss.
Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Ben Roethlisberger led AFC powers to consistent success in the earlier years of this recent sample size.
Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes have kept their teams afloat the last two seasons, only to lose the AFC Championship Game in what has become a great NFL rivalry.
What about the teams that haven’t maintained success after a Super Bowl loss? The Carolina Panthers went 15-1 behind an MVP effort from Cam Newton in 2015. They plummeted to 6-10 the next season as Newton slipped from his previous production. The 2020 49ers also finished 6-10 without the advantage of star quarterback play.
The 2022 Rams also limped through a brutal 5-12 season after a Super Bowl victory. Matthew Stafford only started 9 games for them.
How Will the 2023 Eagles Fare?
It’s not hard to identify to the key to stability for the Eagles after looking at the recent trend of Super Bowl losers.
Jalen Hurts signed a lucrative contract during the offseason. The organization made an obvious choice about the long-term commitment after Hurts shattered every expectation in his third NFL season.
The 25-year-old has, however, missed at least one start due to injury in his only two seasons as a starting quarterback. An ankle injury also limited his mobility late in the 2021 season, and he missed starts in Weeks 16 and 17 in 2022. Marcus Mariota didn’t inspire much hope during an underwhelming preseason.
It’s difficult to overstate the impact that quarterback health has on NFL teams. An injury to Donovan McNabb played a major factor in sinking the 2005 Eagles just one year removed from a Super Bowl appearance.
If Jalen Hurts replicates his 2022 performance, he’ll help the Eagles remain in the top tier of the NFL just like Mahoms and Burrow have done for their teams the past two seasons.
?s=20The 2023 NFL MVP will be _____________‼️🏆
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) September 4, 2023
Peter King predicts Jalen Hurts will win the award this season. #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/TuwwYFjd3P
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Philadelphia Eagles Projected 2023 Week 1 Starters
Jalen Hurts
Quarterback, #1
Oklahoma University/University of Alabama
4th NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (53rd overall) in 2020D'Andre Swift
Running Back, #0
University of Georgia
4th NFL season- Acquired in a trade from Detroit Lions (April 2023)A.J. Brown
Wide Receiver, #11
Ole Miss
5th NFL season- Acquired in a trade from Tennessee Titans (April 2022)DeVonta Smith
Wide Receiver, #6
University of Alabama
3rd NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (10th overall) in 2021Quez Watkins
Wide Receiver, #16
Southern Miss
4th NFL Season- Drafted in 6th Round (200th overall) in 2020Dallas Goedert
Tight End, #88
South Dakota State
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (48th overall) in 2018Jordan Mailata
Left Tackle, #68
Jeff Stoutland University
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 7th Round (233rd overall) in 2018Landon Dickerson
Left Guard, #69
University of Alabama
3rd NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (37th overall) in 2021Jason Kelce
Center, #62
University of Cincinnati
13th NFL Season- Drafted in 6th Round (191st overall) in 2011Cam Jurgens
Right Guard, #51
University of Nebraska
2nd NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (51st overall) in 2022Lane Johnson
Right Tackle, #65
Oklahoma University
11th NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (4th overall) in 2013Brandon Graham
Defensive End, #55
University of Michigan
14th NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (13th overall) in 2010Fletcher Cox
Defensive Tackle, #91
Mississippi State
12th NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (12th overall) in 2012Jordan Davis
Defensive Tackle, #90
University of Georgia
2nd NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (13th overall) in 2022Josh Sweat
Defensive End, #94
Florida State
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 4th Round (130th overall) in 2018Haason Reddick
Edge Rusher/Linebacker, #7
Temple University
7th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (March 2022)Nakobe Dean
Linebacker, #17
University of Georgia
2nd NFL Season- Drafted in 3rd Round (83rd overall) in 2022Zach Cunningham
Linebacker, #52
Vanderbilt University
7th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (August 2023)Darius Slay
Cornerback, #2
Mississippi State University
11th NFL Season- Acquired in trade from Detroit Lions (March 2020)James Bradberry
Cornerback, #24
University of Arkansas/Samford University
8th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (May 2022)Reed Blankenship
Safety, #32
Middle Tennessee State
2nd NFL Season- Signed as Undrafted Free Agent (May 2022)Terrell Edmunds
Safety, #26
Virginia Tech
6th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (March 2023)
