Are the Patriots the Worst Team in Super Bowl History? Why New England Was Historically Lucky

Though the New England Patriots boast a 17-3 record this season (including the playoffs) ahead of Super Bowl 2026 against the Seahawks, popping the hood on their season reveals that the team isn't all that it's cracked up to be.

Are the Patriots the worst team in Super Bowl history? I'm searching to answer that question as part of our Super Bowl predictions by investigating New England's path to the Big Game.

🗑️ Are the Patriots the worst team in Super Bowl history?

While the stats may not point to the 2025 Patriots as the worst team to ever reach the Super Bowl, they're certainly in the conversation as the worst finalist in years.

While other teams this century (2008 Cardinals, 2003 Panthers) can give New England a run for its money for that dubious distinction, there's a mountain of evidence that the Patriots aren't who they seem to be on the surface - and that they could be on the verge of being exposed in the Super Bowl this Sunday.

Soft schedule

While their 14-3 regular-season record indicates a powerhouse, the Patriots thumped historically weak competition. More than a third of their games came against five of the worst six teams in the league, including a loss to the 3-14 Las Vegas Raiders. Only two teams in Super Bowl history have lost to the worst team in the league and then gone on to lift the Lombardi Trophy that year.

The Patriots had the easiest schedule of any Super Bowl participant we've seen in more than 50 years, with their opponents combining for a winning percentage of just .391. New England played only three games against opponents that finished the season with a winning record (Steelers and Bills twice), losing two of those three matchups.

Favorable playoff path

That soft regular-season schedule helped set up one of the easiest postseason paths we've seen in some time, starting at home at Gillette Field in Foxborough.

New England only scored one offensive touchdown in its wild-card win over the Chargers, a team that had no juice left on offense behind a ravaged offensive line. Then came the Divisional Round win against the Texans, in which the Patriots needed an all-time meltdown from Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud (four interceptions) to escape with an unimpressive win.

But the real luck came in the AFC Championship Game. Though New England had to travel to No. 1 seed Denver, the Broncos had just lost starting quarterback Bo Nix to a season-ending ankle injury. Even facing backup Jarrett Stidham, who had an egregious turnover to set up the Patriots' only touchdown that day, New England barely won 10-7.

Even that victory was aided by the weather, which turned into a borderline unplayable blizzard in the fourth quarter with the Patriots holding a slim lead. The wind and snow were the real challenge for the Broncos rather than what New England was doing.

Rough postseason exposing Maye

Drake Maye has had one of the most impressive seasons we've ever seen by a second-year quarterback. He led the league in completion percentage, ranked third in passing touchdowns, and finished fourth in passing yards en route to nearly winning NFL MVP.

However, we haven't seen the same Maye in the postseason against much tougher competition. Maye is completing just 55.8% of his passes (compared to 72% in the regular season) and has turned the ball over five times. The Patriots have even been fortunate that Maye's turnover total hasn't been worse - he's only lost three of six fumbles in the playoffs.

Maye has faced some of the league's top defenses (Chargers, Texans, Broncos) and has struggled with the increased pressure he's had to deal with. The signal-caller has been sacked five times in each of the three playoff games this year, and the matchup won't get any easier against the Seahawks on Sunday in Super Bowl 60.

Our Rob Paul broke down the best ways to fade Drake Maye in the Super Bowl. One thing is for sure: New England will need Maye to look more like the quarterback he was in the regular season for the team to have a chance against a dominant Seattle squad.

😵‍💫 Why the Patriots are in trouble vs. Seahawks

As we've laid out above, the Patriots are fortunate to be in this spot and have survived a series of flawed teams to reach the Super Bowl. While they likely aren't the worst Super Bowl team of all time or even this century - the '08 Cardinals - they wouldn't be favored against most finalists across history.

That's why I'm betting on the Seahawks this weekend, as they ran through the gauntlet in the NFC West and have proven themselves against the NFL's best teams on both sides of the ball. Our Gary Pearson is also backing the betting favorites in his Seahawks vs. Patriots prediction ahead of Sunday.

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