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The original was posted on /r/nfl by /u/iCE_P0W3R on 2024-01-31 19:30:37.
To start this off, I want to be explicitly clear about what I mean by “rematch.” I’m not simply talking about two teams meeting in their entire postseason history. I’m defining a “Super Bowl rematch” as one where two teams meet in the big game within at most five seasons.
With this definition in mind, the results of recent rematches were as follows (reverse chronological order):
February 5th, 2012: The New York Giants (Eli Manning) defeat the New England Patriots (Tom Brady) 21-17. Their previous Super Bowl matchup was on February 3rd, 2008, where the Giants (Manning) beat the undefeated Patriots (Brady) 17-14.
January 30th, 1994: The Dallas Cowboys (Troy Aikman) beat the Buffalo Bills (Jim Kelly) 30-13. Their previous Super Bowl matchup was on January 31st, 1993, where the Cowboys (Aikman) beat the Bills (Kelly) 52-17 (Of note, Kelly started but was injured, and Frank Reich came in during the second quarter).
January 21st, 1979: The Pittsburgh Steelers (Terry Bradshaw) beat the Dallas Cowboys (Roger Staubach) 35-31. Their previous Super Bowl matchup was on January 18th, 1976, where the Steelers (Bradshaw) beat the Cowboys (Staubach) 21-17.
This gives the previous champion a record of 3-0. If we expand the definition to include all franchise rematches in the Super Bowl, we include:
February 3, 2019: The New England Patriots (Brady) beat the Los Angeles Rams (Jared Goff) 13-3. Their previous Super Bowl matchup was on February 3, 2002, where the Patriots (Brady) beat the St. Louis Rams (Kurt Warner) 20-17.
February 4th, 2018: The Philadelphia Eagles (Nick Foles) beat the New England Patriots (Brady) 41-33. Their previous Super Bowl matchup was on February 6th, 2005, where the Patriots (Brady) beat the Eagles (Donovan McNabb) 24-21.
January 28th, 1996: The Dallas Cowboys (Aikman) beat the Pittsburgh Steelers (Neil O’Donnell) 27-17. Their previous matchup was on January 21st, 1979, where the Steelers (Bradshaw) beat the Cowboys (Staubach) 35-31.
January 22, 1989: The San Francisco 49ers (Joe Montana) beat the Cincinnati Bengals (Boomer Esiason) 20-16. Their previous matchup was on January 24, 1982, where the 49ers (Montana) beat the Bengals (Ken Anderson) 26-21.
EDIT: January 30th, 1983: The Washington R*dskins (Joe Theisman) defeated the Miami Dolphins David Woodley). Their previous matchup was on January 14th, 1973, when the Dolphins (Bob Griese) defeated Washington (Billy Kilmer) 14-7.
This expands the record of the previous champion to 5-3*. Of note, this Super Bowl will have one QB who maintains his position from the previous matchup (Patrick Mahomes), and one who is new (Brock Purdy). In matchups where the previous champion’s QB remains the same, their record is 5-1. In matchups where the previous champion’s QB remains the same but the previous loser changes, the record is 2-1.
Will Mahomes and the Chiefs continue this trend, or will Purdy prove to the world he is capable of smiting this dragon? Discuss.