Past three Super Bowls won by No. 6, No. 4, and No. 4 seeds

[Red Dragon]

The past three Super Bowls have been won by teams that were the No. 6, No. 4, and No. 4 seeds, respectively.



No. 6 seed Packers: Won Super Bowl XLV.

No. 4 seed Giants : Won Super Bowl XLVI.

No. 4 seed Ravens : Won Super Bowl XLVII.



In each instance, very few fans probably saw it coming during the regular season or start of the playoffs.


What this essentially means is that, really, any team out of the 12 teams in the playoffs can win the Super Bowl. It's not just an adage; it is very true.


Increasingly, it's looking that performance in the regular season (as long as one manages to qualify for the playoffs) doesn't matter so much as suddenly getting it together in the playoffs and going on a run. The Packers, Giants and Ravens were all surprise teams.

 

[op124]

It's been this way since 2005 with 09 NO and 08 Steelers being the exception. 05 Steelers, 07 Giants and 10 Packers were wild card teams. 06 Colts were the third seed.

I think more than a few saw the Giants taking it. It was history repeating itself. Same schedule, similar situations etc

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

The past three Super Bowls have been won by teams that were the No. 6, No. 4, and No. 4 seeds, respectively.



No. 6 seed Packers: Won Super Bowl XLV.

No. 4 seed Giants : Won Super Bowl XLVI.

No. 4 seed Ravens : Won Super Bowl XLVII.



In each instance, very few fans probably saw it coming during the regular season or start of the playoffs



What this essentially means is that, really, any team out of the 12 teams in the playoffs can win the Super Bowl. It's not just an adage; it is very true.


Increasingly, it's looking that performance in the regular season (as long as one manages to qualify for the playoffs) doesn't matter so much as suddenly getting it together in the playoffs and going on a run. The Packers, Giants and Ravens were all surprise teams.

So, what you is implying is that all we half to do is GET INTO the playoffs?
I say we should definitely try to get into the playoffs then.

 

[Doomsay]

Jerry Jones logic.

 

[Nav22]

And we were 1 win from being the 4th seed in the NFC last season.

Where are all the "realists" to assure us that the Cowboys aren't even close to being a playoff contender?

 

[Hoofbite]

And we were 1 win from being the 4th seed in the NFC last season.

Where are all the "realists" to assure us that the Cowboys aren't even close to being a playoff contender?

A fat majority of the league is in the same position.

Not sure anyone has ever said Dallas wasn't a contender for a playoff spot. I know I've said it's really not all that impressive when a dozen or so other teams are all in the same position, scratching and clawing their way to try and secure a playoff spot. If you count the 12 that get in, that means there's about 22-24 teams who can say they are in contention for a playoff spot.

Wow, what an exclusive group to be in.

Guess it is always nice to laugh at the bottom dwelling, lower 25% of the league who just sucks. Not really setting one's sights too high but still fun to laugh.

 

[burmafrd]

And we were 1 win from being the 4th seed in the NFC last season.

Where are all the "realists" to assure us that the Cowboys aren't even close to being a playoff contender?

you and many others seem to be unable to grasp the difference between playoff contender and SB contender.

One bar is MUCH higher than the others.

Looking at each team that has won the SB in that time period you will find EVERY SINGLE ONE was better then what we are. Most of the time it was not even close.

 

[jjktkk]

A fat majority of the league is in the same position.

Not sure anyone has ever said Dallas wasn't a contender for a playoff spot. I know I've said it's really not all that impressive when a dozen or so other teams are all in the same position, scratching and clawing their way to try and secure a playoff spot. If you count the 12 that get in, that means there's about 22-24 teams who can say they are in contention for a playoff spot.

Wow, what an exclusive group to be in.

Guess it is always nice to laugh at the bottom dwelling, lower 25% of the league who just sucks. Not really setting one's sights too high but still fun to laugh.

I thinking along the lines that you have to crawl before you walk, meaning the Cowboys need to get into the playoffs, and go from there.

 

[burmafrd]

I thinking along the lines that you have to crawl before you walk, meaning the Cowboys need to get into the playoffs, and go from there.

right now this team can get to the playoffs but will do no damage once there

 

[Nav22]

you and many others seem to be unable to grasp the difference between playoff contender and SB contender.

One bar is MUCH higher than the others.

Looking at each team that has won the SB in that time period you will find EVERY SINGLE ONE was better then what we are. Most of the time it was not even close.

When I say "playoff contender" I mean a team that can contend IN the playoffs. Not a team that can contend FOR a playoff spot.

Re-watch the Cowboys-Ravens game from last season then tell me the Ravens team was leaps and bounds better than a healthy Cowboys team.

Welcome to parity.

 

[Red Dragon]

So, what you is implying is that all we half to do is GET INTO the playoffs?

No, what I'm saying is that the belief which is often held by some fans that only the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in each conference are the "truly realistic Super Bowl contenders" is too narrowminded.


The past few seasons have shown us that once the playoffs start, anything can happen.

 

[Hoofbite]

I thinking along the lines that you have to crawl before you walk, meaning the Cowboys need to get into the playoffs, and go from there.

This team has been crawling and then walking backwards since 2007.

 

[Lonestar94]

I dont want to win the SB like the last 3 teams. I want to go 14-2 and dominate all along the way. To me that is way more satisfying.

 

[Aven8]

The offense is a mess. If it wasn't for Romo's magic, and Dez emerging, and a helluva year from Witten we wouldn't have gotten close to 8 wins.

The offense is the problem. And no, that's not on Tony.

 

[DFWJC]

right now this team can get to the playoffs but will do no damage once there

Must have a better Oline, obviously. And all SB winners have defenses that create turnovers if not dominate overall.

 

[DallasJ7]

The Ravens and the Packers may have won the Super Bowl as lower seeds, but both teams have been top-rate organizations that consistently have success in the regular season and make the playoffs. These are not teams that miss the playoffs 4 out of 5 years. The Ravens made the playoffs and won at least 1 game an astounding 4 years in a row before they made their playoff run. So it's not like these teams came out of nowhere just because they were a lower seed.

The Giants have been kind of a funny exception in that they've been pretty erratic, but went on two epic runs. Still, this shouldn't be what we're shooting for.

And while it may be more common nowadays for lower seeds to win it all, it's still clear that teams with well-run organizations, top-tier coaches, and franchise QBs have been rewarded. We have 1 out of 3 of those, which has been enough to put us at 8-7 going into Week 17 the last two years, which due to a couple of lucky factors has been sufficient to compete for a division title.

With the possible exception of the Giants in '07, we're definitely not where these other teams have been when they've made their runs. We should be shooting for regular and post-season success, and though it may not result in a Super Bowl most years, the teams that accomplish this tend to eventually be rewarded with at least a Super Bowl appearance, if not a Lombardi trophy.

 

[burmafrd]

When I say "playoff contender" I mean a team that can contend IN the playoffs. Not a team that can contend FOR a playoff spot.

Re-watch the Cowboys-Ravens game from last season then tell me the Ravens team was leaps and bounds better than a healthy Cowboys team.

Welcome to parity.

before the D got their act together and before they reshuffled their O line.

The team that won the SB would take us easily.

Early to mid season games tell you very little about who gets hot in December and January.

But first you have to have the basic talent and frankly that was where the Ravens had a definite edge.

 

[burmafrd]

No, what I'm saying is that the belief which is often held by some fans that only the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in each conference are the "truly realistic Super Bowl contenders" is too narrowminded.


The past few seasons have shown us that once the playoffs start, anything can happen.

wrong. Those that slam the Cards the year they made it need to take a closer look at that roster. It was surprisingly talented.

We do not have the baseline talent to be a SB contender.

 

[visionary]

The past three Super Bowls have been won by teams that were the No. 6, No. 4, and No. 4 seeds, respectively.


Increasingly, it's looking that performance in the regular season (as long as one manages to qualify for the playoffs) doesn't matter so much as suddenly getting it together in the playoffs and going on a run. The Packers, Giants and Ravens were all surprise teams.

about as bad a way of looking at one's team as you can find

but par for the course for many

 

[Nav22]

before the D got their act together and before they reshuffled their O line.

The team that won the SB would take us easily.

Early to mid season games tell you very little about who gets hot in December and January.

But first you have to have the basic talent and frankly that was where the Ravens had a definite edge.

The Ravens D was awful, even in the playoffs. Try paying attention next season.

They won it all by getting scorching hot offensively in the playoffs. If you don't think the Cowboys have the talent to do THAT, you're simply lost. When Romo gets a clean pocket, he's as dangerous a QB as there is in the league.

Hilarious that you've already decided we don't have the ability to get hot in December 2013. As if there's no hope whatsoever in our O-line/D staying healthy and playing well.