It has happened three times in the past seven seasons. The defending Super Bowl champion gets back to the “Big Game” the following year. And in an attempt to repeat as NFL title holders, the club is knocked off.
The 2014 Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVIII but were stunned in the fourth quarter by the New England Patriots in XLIX. Three years later, New England returned to the Super Bowl after winning LI and faced the Philadelphia Eagles. And in one of the wildest Super Bowls ever, the Birds prevailed, 41-33.
Look no further than this past year. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs showed up in Tampa looking to win back-to-back Super Bowls, They failed to score a touchdown against the defensive-minded Buccaneers via a 31-9 loss.
All told, there have now been 14 examples where a team has gotten back to the Super Bowl a year after hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. NFL fans have seen Super Bowl rematches during the following regular season. There are examples of teams clashing during the regular season and then clashing later that year in that “Big Game.”
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However, we have yet to see the previous two Super Bowl champions square off on Super Sunday. It’s hard to believe such a monumental clash has eluded the league. But could this finally be the year? The Chiefs have reached the “Big Game” two consecutive years and now features a revamped offensive line to help protect Mahomes. The Buccaneers will enter 2021 with an eight-game overall winning streak. The team returns all 22 starters from that 22-point rout of Andy Reid’s club.
Obviously, both clubs face their challengers. Reid’s team faced a slew of contenders. A year ago, the AFC required at least 11 victories to reach the playoffs. In 2020, Bruce Arians’ club didn’t even win their division. Tampa Bay now looks to become the first club to repeat as Super Bowl champions since the Pats – with quarterback Tom Brady at the helm – pulled the trick in 2003 and ’04 (XXXVIII and XXXIX).
It is a long way between now and February 13, 2022. But nothing like a little food for thought.