By: Nick LaPorte, 2/1/2021
In honor of the Chiefs or Patriots becoming the runner-up this Sunday, I wanted to look back and see how the last few NFL 2nd place finishers stack up. For what it’s worth: if the Chiefs lose, I would rank them ahead of anyone on this list. If the Bucs lose they probably fall somewhere between San Francisco and the beat-by-Nick-Foles Pats.
Without further ado:
5.) Carolina Panthers 2015-2016
The Panthers lost 24-10 to the Broncos. In Cam Newton’s MVP year, only the vaunted Broncos defense was enough to slow him down. This game was closer than the score indicates but a fumble changed the course of Newton’s career and helped Peyton Manning ride shotgun on his way to ring #2 and retirement. They are ranked last because I honestly believe their offense is the worst of the bunch. If they had to play any of the others on this list I don’t know if they would score twice.
4.) Los Angeles Rams 2018-2019
The Rams lost to the Patriots 13-3. This Rams team went quiet at the worst time, and it took a mighty defensive effort from the Patriots to hold them to one score. Their defense kept them in this game, and only Tom Brady was enough to make a difference in the contest. They held Brady to one of his uglier statistical days in the playoffs, and this is the same Brady that had set records in the previous Super Bowl (albeit in a loss). This Rams team when healthy could beat anyone on this list but I knock them for the poor showing in the most important game.
3.) San Francisco 49ers 2019-2020
The 49ers lost to the Chiefs 31-20. This 49ers team would be higher if not for their 2nd half collapse. They led by 10 points late in the game but couldn’t slow down Patrick Mahomes when it mattered most. Still, this is the team that ran wild on the Packers in the NFC Championship and were tested very few times in general. The Seahawks were the only team besides the Chiefs that actually looked competent against them. I would have them higher if not for Garroppolo. Put him against Brady in 2018 or Matt Ryan in his MVP campaign and I don’t think they win.
2.) Atlanta Falcons 2016-2017
The Falcons lost 34-28 to the Patriots. The famous game that sparked the “28-3 comeback” jokes Atlanta fans will deal with for the rest of their lives. It took a lot of bad decisions and bad luck to beat this team. If OC Kyle Shanahan had stuck with his run game, maybe the clock runs out before Brady can get comfortable. If Julio Jones stays in bounds maybe the Falcons eek out a close one. If Matt Ryan doesn’t take that sack… you get where this is going. All in all this Falcons team should have won this game on paper; they are likely the most talented team to not win a Super Bowl since the 2007 Patriots. But I had to knock them down to #2 in favor of the GOAT.
1.) New England Patriots 2017-2018
The Patriots lost 41-33 to the Eagles. In Brady’s only non-Giants Super Bowl loss (so far), it had everything to do with defense. This Patriots defense surrendered 41 points to a backup QB. Brady was a monster, throwing for 500+ yards and moving his team down the field at will. If the defense played as well as they did in any of Brady’s other 8 trips to the Super Bowl, the Patriots would have won. Give me this Brady against any of the other teams, he will carve up any defense.
Anyway, go Caps!
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