The Ten WORST Defending Super Bowl Champions

The reigning Super Bowl champions always have a target on their backs, and sometimes that has a negative effect on their success. We count down the ten teams who had the worst seasons following their triumph in the Super Bowl.
In this video, I refer to Super Bowl 21 as Super Bowl 20, and I neglected to mention that the 1975 Dallas Cowboys were the first wild card team to advance to the Super Bowl. The former was simply misspoken. The latter was a mistake on my part. Thank you to those in the comments who pointed this out.
Explanation of C-Score:
C-Score is a metric created by this channel to assign an overall value to a football team. It takes a team's:
-Results, including standard and Pythagorean W-L record
-Performance, including game control and play-by-play production
-Quality of opponents, specifically performance level against opponents
and distills all of that into one cumulative and comparative score reflecting the context of the season in question. When applicable, a team's playoff performance is also included.
A C-Score of 0 represents an average football team, whereas anything above 0 represents an above average team and anything below 0 represents a below average team.
A team's record is important, but not always indicative of C-Score. An 11-5 team can rate higher than a 13-3 team or lower than a 9-7 team. Not all records are created equally.
#football #nfl #top10

[@MilsurpMikeChannel]

The only shock is the 1999 Broncos at 6-10 not making it over teams with winning records. They were only outscored by four points with the league's toughest schedule... but I figure that double digit loss would still tank them.

[@paulmicheldenverco1]

Elway had retired and Davis was gone for most of the season, Shannon Sharpe was out for 11 games and on D, The Brain [Mike Shanahan] decided to replace Darrien Gordon with Dale Carter. Carter stank and Darien had scored 5 TDs in the SB years as a CB and PR. They were minus 3 HoF players and a sneaky playmaker. The team was not the same.

[@cccproductions2019]

Came in 12th. Hardest schedule in the league, 3-8 in one-score games. Brutal.

[@leethecomedian]

Two words. Bubby Brister

[@Wolf_3125]

​@@paulmicheldenverco1Don't forget that Steve Atwater was lost in free agency. If TD had decided to not help make a tackle on that interception, he could have possibly prolonged his career to 2004 or longer.

[@jeremydobbs5578]

Let's not forget the most embarrassing incident: the 1981 Raiders getting shut out three weeks in a row

[@jeremy28135]

Now that is an insane stat. Leave it to a Jeremy to drop some great knowledge up in here 🎓🧐

[@elfofcourage]

You should also do a video about teams that lose the super bowl getting the SB Hangover. That’s a thing too.

[@Rickman897]

To be fair for the Rams in 2022. Most of their SB stars were hurt & they ended up rebounding in 2023.

[@KingOfTheNighttime]

Slight correction on your #2 (1981 Oakland Raiders) - they were the first wildcard to win the Super Bowl, but the 1975 Dallas Cowboys was also a wildcard Super Bowl participant.

[@cccproductions2019]

That is a mistake, yes. Thank you for pointing that out. Made a note in the description.

[@nuwildcat90]

Also, Kansas City didn't win the AFL Western Division in the 1969 season either. Oakland did. However, the term "wildcard" wasn't used then.

[@Mr.MikeBarksdale]

I'm a little surprised the 1999 Broncos weren't on your list. They finished 6-10 with a points margin of -4 (suggesting they should have gone 8-8). Of course, they had won more games over the previous 3 seasons as almost any team in history in the modern era.

[@THEREDHOTWRECK]

3-8 in one score games and had the toughest schedule that year. He had them at 12th.

[@georgesowers7009]

1980 Oakland Raiders were the second team to make the Super Bowl as a Wild Card. The 1975 Cowboys were the first. Unless you count the 1969 Chiefs before the final merger.

[@kibitznec700]

Y??????

[@REALmikegordan]

Interesting. The 2018 Eagles are the only defending Super Bowl champions on your list to make the playoffs. And honestly, I'm kinda shocked how you never drew attention to that all-time bad offseason the Ravens had for a defending Super Bowl champions as they had lost a ton of star power on the defensive side of the ball due to retirement and free agency. The biggest shock to me was simply how bad the 2022 Rams were, given their Super Bowl core was still largely intact and the injury bug didn't really strike this team until after they begun spiraling. Sure, they didn't have any early draft picks, and 2021 was essentially their all-in season. But they only lost one key player from that season due to retirement. My theory as to where that Rams squad went wrong was Matthew Stafford being one of the most notoriously streaky quarterbacks in NFL history, and the team happened to have gotten bad Stafford that season.

[@markula_4040]

The nanosecond I saw the title, I figured my beloved LA Rams were #1, aren't they? Still worth it. Los Angeles went almost 40 years without a Super Bowl title.

[@gbalph4]

That 2022 Rams season was brutal. But no matter what I held as much hope as I could and thankfully we are on the up and up. Another ring is on the horizon for us.

[@thekingbarrelmaker7642]

That 2022 team had no chance with all those injuries. Thankfully we bounced back last year and I hope we can continue developing going forward.

[@iamhungey12345]

After SB XXV the Giants had a coaching change and some of their players including LT were nearing the end of their primes even during that playoff run beforehand. Not to mention Hoss took over as the starting QB over Simms, there were various factors that led to that team's fall from 1990, not simply because they weren't up to the task. You could have at least mention the head coaching change being had when Parcells stepped down.

[@kevinmadden1645]

Ray Handley had absolutely no business being an NFL head coach . This might have been the biggest reason for the Giants' decline from 1990-1991 .

[@Samsungor]

Lets not forget those LA Rams beat the broncos 51 - 14 in the infamous (Patrick Star game) so how bad could they really be??

[@Joemama..]

You should do a ranking of the worst nfl teams in the 21st century

[@billquantrill4960]

Raiders win, Raiders win!

[@randywatkins2359]

Love the background music dude!

[@michaelleroy9281]

The 1981 Raiders, the story was off the field more than on it, they were trying to move to LA which they would do the next year

[@blastechee-3546]

Any team can have ONE good year. The best teams are in the championship window year after year.

[@1987phillybilly]

How are the Eagles ninth? I know they dropped of to 9-7 but won the wildcard and if not for a dropped pass would have gone on to the NFC championship game.....odd...

[@pendragon2012]

Surprised the 0-3 Pats didn't make it. Guess maybe because of the shock factor of them winning at all the year before.

[@TizherukWolf541]

Good list but I don’t think the 2018 Eagles deserve to be on here. Replace them with the 1999 Denver Broncos and the list should be good.

[@billquantrill4960]

Nice "SB loser" hangover they just enjoyed.

[@carsonc29]

naw...Philly should be on here..the 1999 Broncos were replacing a HOF QB..Philly on the other hand had essentially the same team from the previous year

[@billquantrill4960]

@@carsonc29 All true, but anytime you can slag on the Walmart Donkeys you should.

[@john-ic9vj]

2006 or 2009 steelers could be on here

[@jimmyplenderleith9471]

How is an Eagles team, that had a winning record and WON a playoff game, one of the 10 WORST Defending SB Champs? There are other teams that missed playoffs completely after winning SB, including my Steelers twice (2006 and 2009) where they went 8-8 and 9-7 respectively. What about either of those teams put them ahead of a team with a 9-7 record AND a playoff win? Just curious. This was a great list.....do some more!!

[@johnmassoud930]

Great list. Thought the 88 Redskins would have been higher. Rams deserve the top spot. 2002 Patriots deserve some mention too.

[@Rickman897]

Would the Rams still have made the list if their Super Bowl stars weren’t injured?

[@jimmyplenderleith9471]

2002 Pats went 9-7 and barely missed playoffs.....If they belong on this list, they'd replace Philly, who I dont think should be on here.

[@christophersobieszczyk9234]

make a video explaining C score in depth.

[@camerondelamotte159]

I know they lost both games but watching the Falcons fall to pieces after each game is always good value

[@edwardrhoads7283]

You should do the same thing but with the losers of superbowls because some of those have stunk the next year.

[@calebellis7173]

NFC East was a blood bath in the late 80s and early 90s with New York Washington and Dallas winning multiple super bowls Philly always being a playoff team they all got to beat up on Arizona

[@Rickman897]

That’s probably why Arizona left them.

[@calebellis7173]

@@Rickman897 That and it doesn't make geographic sense for Arizona to be in the East division, Dallas either

[@Rickman897]

@@calebellis7173 Carolina would make more sense to be in the East than Dallas.

[@calebellis7173]

@@Rickman897 Yes and for people who think the Cowboys would lose their rivalries the Saints and Falcons are great replacements for the Eagles and Commanders

[@Rickman897]

@@calebellis7173 The Bucs could also make for a good fill in for the Giants too.

[@deaton82]

Pretty sure that the 86 Giants won SB XXI, not XX.

[@hitmangfx7162]

2001 Baltimore Ravens were a big step back. Elvis Grbac was a massive bust in Baltimore.

[@seanmanahan477]

Hahaha grbac was overrated even in kc I laughed when Baltimore got rid of dilfer for him

[@luisreyes1963]

To clarify: the Chicago Bears won SB XX, NOT the NY Giants.

[@elfofcourage]

The 2002 Patriots finished 9-7 and didnt make the playoffs after winning Super Bowl 36

[@jameswinslow8540]

probably based on strength of schedule

[@elfofcourage]

@@jameswinslow8540 plus they did lose 4 games in a row too.

[@johnwhite5485]

Wasn’t Brady injured for most of the year?

[@elfofcourage]

@@johnwhite5485 That was 2008

[@rtchidc]

The 2002 Patriots team was a decent, above-average team (+2.2 ppg average scoring margin; moderate-difficulty regular season schedule). The Patriots missed the playoffs because the Jets won a 3-way tie-breaker for 1st in the AFC East at 9-7, along with the Patriots and Dolphins. All three teams were 2-2 head-to-head in games among each other, but the Jets and Patriots were 4-2 in the AFC East, while the Dolphins were 2-4 (making them 3rd place). The Jets won the 2-way tie-breaker with the Patriots for 1st place in the AFC East, based on record in common games (8-4 vs. 7-5). The Patriots didn't make the playoffs as a wild card, because the Colts were 2nd in the AFC South at 10-6, and the Browns (9-7, 2nd in the AFC North) won a tie-breaker with the Patriots and Broncos (9-7, 2nd in the AFC West) based on conference record (Browns 7-5 vs. Patriots 6-6 vs. Broncos 5-7). Under the NFL playoff format in place since the 2020 season, the 2002 Patriots would not have been the #7 playoff seed in the AFC in 2002, since the Broncos won a head-to-head match and would have earned the spot. I have the 2002 Patriots at #20.

[@jeremy28135]

The City That Never Repeats 🍎

[@leethecomedian]

So to a technicality here as you mention the chief for the last AFL champions That means the Vikings won an NFL championship. I know I know it's not a super bowl But remember The super bowl originally was AFL versus NFL so to have that matchup You would have to have an NFL champion It's a hell of a stretch but it's really funny to watch Vikings fans defend that

[@jimmyplenderleith9471]

Yes, the Vikes would be NFL Champs.....when GB went to first 2 SBs, they were NFL Champions first and the Colts were NFL Champs before SB III

[@leethecomedian]

@@jimmyplenderleith9471 fun fact. The only nfl championship rematch of the og NFL possible after the merger in a super bowl. would be Colts giants. Vikings colts too I think I'm pry missing a few but it's a small list. I forget Detroit Cleveland and Cleveland vs Cleveland I'm still missing some I'm sure

[@rtchidc]

@@leethecomedian Browns vs. Rams - 1950, 1951, 1955 Browns vs. Lions - 1952, 1953, 1954, 1957 Colts vs. Giants - 1958, 1959 Browns vs. Packers - 1965 Browns vs. Vikings - 1969

[@rtchidc]

Only NFL franchise with a Super Bowl era NFL championship, but not a Super Bowl win - Minnesota Vikings Only current NFL franchise with a Super Bowl win, but not an NFL championship - New York Jets

[@jimmyplenderleith9471]

@@rtchidc What about the Steelers? 6 Super Bowls, no NFL Championships pre-Super Bowl.

[@UserName-ts3sp]

lowkey surprised you didn’t mention tony dungy’s return game for the bucs. definition of not meant to be

[@AJ_hwd954]

2002 Patriots?

[@THEREDHOTWRECK]

Where did the 68 Packers rank? They weren't very good in the first year post Lombardi

[@cccproductions2019]

Not great, they were 16th, but better than their record would indicate. 1-5 record in one score games.

[@ericfett9218]

Giants first Super Bowl win was in Super Bowl 21 not 20

[@AnimalClans]

I presume the 1972 Dolphins rank 58th.

[@Rickman897]

You mean the 1973 Dolphins?

[@rtchidc]

It would be the 1973 Dolphins. I have the 1973 Dolphins at 55th worst (or 4th best). For 1st, 2nd, and 3rd best, I have: (1) 1989 San Francisco 49ers, (2) 2004 New England Patriots, and (3) 1967 Green Bay Packers.

[@davidalexander8996]

It's amazing that my favorite NFL team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, failed to make the playoffs after each of their last three Super Bowl titles, yet none made the list! I wonder which one came the closest. Also the 1987 Giants aren't entirely blameless; unlike division rival Washington, they failed to adequately prepare for the replacement games and maintain organizational chemistry.

[@cccproductions2019]

Ha, good call, they came in 11th ('09), 13th ('80), and 15th ('06)

[@miked31784]

5:38 Superbowl 21, not Superbowl 20

[@kylegross1081]

You can’t really look at 2022 for the rams. You have to look at 2023 as they had so many injuries the prior season and didn’t have a fair shot at defending

[@Rickman897]

I know the 2005 Patriots had Injuries too.

[@aryksnag1935]

The Rams weren’t the defending champions in 2023, the Chiefs were.

[@user-cd9tw3qk2u]

Brilliant video!!!

[@cccproductions2019]

Thank you!

[@esdeathisbae9480]

HOW ARE THE 2012 GOINTS NOT HERE the eagles shouldnt even be on this list they MADE the playoffs and WON a game

[@Rickman897]

Not to mention they were the first defending Super Bowl champion to win a playoff game on the road since the 2004 Patriots.

[@esdeathisbae9480]

@@Rickman897 there are a lot of teams not on this list that didn't even make the playoffs the next season the eagles don't belong anywhere near it

[@Rickman897]

@@esdeathisbae9480 True. The 1999 Broncos are an example.

[@esdeathisbae9480]

@@Rickman897 2006 Steelers the 2015 broncos. The 2002 patriots so no the eagles are not in this top 10 they overachieved given the circumstances

[@tiejen1110]

They beat the Patriots twice