Most Super Bowl Champs Win Their Preseason Games

[FalconFanSince1970]

I hear many people here saying preseason wins don't count. You're right. Not in the standings. But they do count in the making of a championship team.

Nine of the last 11 Super Bowl Champs won at least 3 of their 4 preseason games. That's 82%. Those nine teams had a combined 30-6 preseason record (.833).

Only two of those eleven teams won a Bowl with a losing preseason record.

Champions usually establish a winning attitude in preseason and extend it into the regular season.

Yes there are teams that win in the preseason that don't bring home a Lombardi, but there are not many that lose in the preseason and go on to be champions.

I say we need to win tonight.

PRESEASON RECORDS OF SUPER BOWL CHAMPION TEAMS FROM 1999-2009

2009 - NO - 3-1

2008 - PIT - 3-1

2007 - NYG - 4-0

2006 - IND - 1-3

2005 - PIT - 3-1

2004 - NE - 1-3

2003 - NE - 4-0

2002 - TB - 3-1

2001 - NE - 3-1

2000 - BAL - 4-0

1999 - STL - 3-1

TOTAL - 32-12

[JKH5785]

I think it's good for teams moral.

I mean, I got ribbed by a lot members for saying that we were averaging over 5ypc and 7ypc up the middle, and on 3rd and 2 we should have ran it up the middle.

A lot members gave me the whole it's preseason and it doesn't matter and we were just trying things out speech, and I agree with some of that to an extent.

HOWEVER

If you watch the Interview they did with Turner on the sideline, you can tell he was obviously disappointed that they didn't score a TD on drive. These guys are competitors through and through, and the best way to feed that is to win and let them see the fruits of their labor.

[CHOCTHEFALCONFAN™]

Nice! - I'll take 4-0 , 3-1 or 1-3 for our preseason record then!

[Dale4Saul2Red0]

Overrated useless statistic. I like crunching numbers with the best of them and you can believe what you want, but if we go 1-3 or 2-2 in the preseason I won't be saying "****** now we can't win the Super Bowl"

[FalconFanSince1970]

I think it's good for teams moral.I mean, I got ribbed by a lot members for saying that we were averaging over 5ypc and 7ypc up the middle, and on 3rd and 2 we should have ran it up the middle.A lot members gave me the whole it's preseason and it doesn't matter and we were just trying things out speech, and I agree with some of that to an extent.HOWEVER If you watch the Interview they did with Turner on the sideline, you can tell he was obviously disappointed that they didn't score a TD on drive. These guys are competitors through and through, and the best way to feed that is to win and let them see the fruits of their labor.

Excellent post. Totally agree.

Teams don't scheme and they don't play their starters but they try to win. They are competitive and want to establish a winning mentality. Nobody wants to lose but losers.

[CHOCTHEFALCONFAN™]

Overrated useless statistic. I like crunching numbers with the best of them and you can believe what you want, but if we go 1-3 or 2-2 in the preseason I won't be saying "****** now we can't win the Super Bowl"

I definitely Agree with this^^ - I just think its a bunch of hoopla

[FalconFanSince1970]

Overrated useless statistic. I like crunching numbers with the best of them and you can believe what you want, but if we go 1-3 or 2-2 in the preseason I won't be saying "****** now we can't win the Super Bowl"

Well it's been proven you can win with a 1-3 record but the odds don't look good.

[aerosmith67]

Then you have the Lions who went 4-0 in the 2008 Preseason and then went on to a historical 0-16. I think the problem is that people tend to get to high or low on individual players based off of their stats and play in the Preseason, it's just not a good measuring stick for the average fan to use. It's not a problem exclusive to this message board either. The worst are the teams that have 5 Preseason games, you're not going to get anything out of that first HOF game.

[bossFALCON™]

those teams had good backups. you can't win a ship without backups. whoever has the best backups in preseason wins games.

[JKH5785]

Overrated useless statistic. I like crunching numbers with the best of them and you can believe what you want, but if we go 1-3 or 2-2 in the preseason I won't be saying "****** now we can't win the Super Bowl"

I don't think he was insinuating that we wouldn't have a chance in the Superbowl if we went 2-2 or 1-3. I think the whole point behind his thread was that most teams who have had large post season and Superbowl success have set a tone in the Pre-season and carried it into the regular season.

omg, did I just take up for FF70?

Edited August 19, 2010 by JKH5785

[ltstorm2]

The score of the game does not matter. Matty Ice and the boys could run down the field score two td's on first two drives and the starting defense could cause 2 straight 3 and outs. Then end up losing by a field goal when the other teams 3rd stringers out play ours.

The end score of a game does not matter.

[FalconFanSince1970]

Then you have the Lions who went 4-0 in the 2008 Preseason and then went on to a historical 0-16. I think the problem is that people tend to get to high or low on individual players based off of their stats and play in the Preseason, it's just not a good measuring stick for the average fan to use. It's not a problem exclusive to this message board either. The worst are the teams that have 5 Preseason games, you're not going to get anything out of that first HOF game.

There are plenty teams that win in the preseason and tank in the regular season, but not very many teams that lose in the preseason and go on to become champions.

[phattywankenobi]

I think these are nothing more than useless stats. I agree with the winning attitude part but when the starters sit after 2 series, I don't think it is a good barometer to base this on 3rd string players. How can you determine the ability of a team when the players who will be playing 90% of the time are not on the field? John Parker Wilson may have the winniest attitude in the world but that won't make him good with that attribute alone.

The pre-season is only about player evaluations and giving the new guys reps. Week 3 is the dress rehearsal but you can't really judge a season on 3/4's of game.

[JKH5785]

I think reason that teams who win in the preseason go on to have to success in the regular season is because of their backups.

Think about teams like the Patriots or Colts, who have always been able to plug a player in when a starter gets injured, and that player has played well enough to help carry that position long enough for the starter to return or for the team to make other moves.

Winning in the Pre-Season shows that you have quality depth on your team, plus the winning is good for moral.

The Lions winning all four and then going on 0-16 was simply a fluke, that never happens and is about as rare as the Dolphins going completely undefeated in 1972

[FalconFanSince1970]

I don't think he was insinuating that we wouldn't have a chance in the Superbowl if we went 2-2 or 1-3. I think the whole point behind his thread was that most teams who have had large post season and Superbowl success have set a tone in the Pre-season and carried it into the regular season.omg, did I just take up for FF70?

No bro you just get it.

Most Super Bowl Champs start winning in the preseason and never stop. Yes there are some who didn't, but not many. Two? In over a decade? I want 3 wins. Naw, make that 4 like that 2000 Raven team. Or the 2003 NE team.

[aerosmith67]

There are plenty teams that win in the preseason and tank in the regular season, but not very many teams that lose in the preseason and go on to become champions.

It may have less to do with the record and more to do with the opponents faced and what the teams accomplished with their first and second teams during the games. The Lions faced the Giants, Bengals, Browns and Bills. The Saints faced the Bengals, Texans, Raiders and Dolphins last year. The QUALITY of the Preseason Opponents may play a major factor moreso than the overall record.

Lions 2008

Giants 12-4

Bengals 4-11-1

Browns 4-12

Bills 7-9

Saints 2009

Bengals 10-6

Texans 9-7

Raiders 5-11

Dolphins 7-9

[aerosmith67]

I think these are nothing more than useless stats. I agree with the winning attitude part but when the starters sit after 2 series, I don't think it is a good barometer to base this on 3rd string players. How can you determine the ability of a team when the players who will be playing 90% of the time are not on the field? John Parker Wilson may have the winniest attitude in the world but that won't make him good with that attribute alone.

The pre-season is only about player evaluations and giving the new guys reps. Week 3 is the dress rehearsal but you can't really judge a season on 3/4's of game.

Stats can be used to prove almost anything. Which is something most people forget.

[FalconFanSince1970]

I think reason that teams who win in the preseason go on to have to success in the regular season is because of their backups. Think about teams like the Patriots or Colts, who have always been able to plug a player in when a starter gets injured, and that player has played well enough to help carry that position long enough for the starter to return or for the team to make other moves.Winning in the Pre-Season shows that you have quality depth on your team, plus the winning is good for moral.The Lions winning all four and then going on 0-16 was simply a fluke, that never happens and is about as rare as the Dolphins going completely undefeated in 1972

Another good post. You're on a freakin roll bro.

[phattywankenobi]

Stats can be used to prove almost anything. Which is something most people forget.

A stat is a recorded historical measurement of practically anything but without a strong correlation to the subject matter it is meaningless or at least misleading.

[TeamPlayer1]

Well it's been proven you can win with a 1-3 record but the odds don't look good.

FF, the way I look at it is if winning is not important, why do they keep score?

[FalconFanSince1970]

FF, the way I look at it is if winning is not important, why do they keep score?

Excellent question bro.

Anybody out there got a good answer?

[King ED]

Preseason has nothing to do with regular season. Here's the preseason record for the WORST teams in the league the last 5 years.

2009 - St Louis Rams - 3-1

2008 - Detroit Lions - 4-0

2007 - Miami Dolphins - 2-2

2006 - Oakland Raiders - 4-1

2005 - Houston Texans - 3-1

Yeah... I think I will stick with "it doesn't matter".

[JKH5785]

FF, the way I look at it is if winning is not important, why do they keep score?

oh no doubt.

Plus, these guys were super competitive in our first pre-season game. Did Smitty and Haley look like they were there just to evaluate? heck no, those guys were fired up!!

[phattywankenobi]

Every team has a competetive attitude and plays as if it is a game that counts but the only thing that contradicts the play to win attitude is not putting your best guys on the field. I believe when the starters go out they feel their performance is a glimpse towards how they may perform in the season. I believe that the 2nd string backups have an effect on the season but honestly Pre-season Week 4, albeit the most fierce is the battle of the practice squad to those being cut.

[Finally]

The statistic of failure in space flights related to one or more people failing to eat the traditional steak and eggs breakfast was 100 percent for many years.