The New England Patriots are one of the most successful franchises in NFL history. Death, taxes, and the Patriots being Super Bowl threats were three guarantees for the better part of the last quarter-century, and for good reason, as the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick tandem gave New England a chance to win it all in any given season.
The Patriots have appeared in many Super Bowls throughout their illustrious history, holding the record with 11 appearances. Of those 11 games, New England has come away victorious in six of them, each offering their own level of satisfaction.
While each win left smiles on Patriots fans' faces, which victories felt the best? Let's take a look at them in order from least to most satisfying.
6. Super Bowl 53: Patriots 13, Rams 3
The most recent Super Bowl also falls as the least satisfying on the list. In Super Bowl 53, the Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. One reason why it is last on this list is mainly that the game holds no real significance compared to other victories. Outside of being the last time the Patriots won a Super Bowl, everything surrounding the game was pretty uneventful compared to prior wins.
During other championship-clinching wins, the game itself or the story leading up to the game gave it bigger stakes. Winning Super Bowl 53 is still satisfying; however, that win can afford to be the least satisfying when you have a history like the Patriots'.
5. Super Bowl 38: Patriots 32, Panthers 29
Out of all these rankings, these next two were the toughest to decide. Ultimately, Super Bowl 38 lands in fifth place. Here, the Patriots notched a thrilling 32-29 win over the Carolina Panthers, which saw legendary kicker Adam Vinatieri hit the game-winning field goal with 1:04 remaining in the contest.
If this list ranked the wins based on the actual game played, this would be higher on the list. Looking at it from how satisfying the win is, it falls in a really weird spot. Even though winning against the Panthers was huge, giving the Patriots a second Super Bowl in three seasons, the emotional weight here wasn't as strong when compared to the remaining four wins.
4. Super Bowl 39: Patriots 24, Eagles 21
Winning one Super Bowl can be challenging, but winning two in a row is very rare. Of the 32 teams, eight teams have won back-to-back Super Bowls, happening nine times in the history of the NFL. New England joined that list back in 2005 when they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21, winning Super Bowl 39.
This was the deciding factor in being ranked ahead of Super Bowl 38. Not only did this complete back-to-back championships, but it also gave the Patriots three wins in four years, of which only they and the 1990s Dallas Cowboys have accomplished. After winning Super Bowl 39, the Patriots were cemented as a dynasty, and while it would be a while until they won again, being recognized in the same breath as the NFL's all-time best teams made the wait even more satisfying.
3. Super Bowl 36: Patriots 20, Rams 17
New England's first Super Bowl comes in at No.3 on the list. These top three spots were tough to rank, as each win was very satisfying in different ways. Winning Super Bowl 36 saw the Patriots finally take home the big one after two losses under football's brightest lights.
Just like in Super Bowl 53, the Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams, though this game ended 20-17. Being able to watch your favorite sports team finally win a championship is one of the best experiences, yet the remaining two feel more satisfying.
But even if some Patriots fans are too young to remember that win or weren't even born yet, the importance of the SB36 victory can't be overstated.
2. Super Bowl 49: Patriots 28, Seahawks 24
The Patriots' fourth Super Bowl victory arrives at No. 2 on this list.
Super Bowl 49 was played against the Seattle Seahawks, which ended with Malcolm Butler's legendary goal-line interception to seal the game for the Patriots. As a result, New England walked away with the 28-24 win over Seattle.
What makes the win satisfying is showing the rest of the NFL that the Patriots can still win. After winning three of four Super Bowls in the 2000s, the Pats fell short in the following two appearances against the Giants in 2007 and 2012.
By winning in 2015, a decade after the team's last Super Bowl win, it was a reminder that the Patriots' dynasty wasn't over.
1. Super Bowl 51: Patriots 34, Falcons 28
From the beginning, Super Bowl 51 was probably what most fans would assume to find in the top spot. Even though it was a tough decision, the Patriots' winning Super Bowl 51 wasn't just satisfying for the game itself, but also for everything during the season.
At the start of the season, the Patriots were without Tom Brady, who was suspended for the first four games due to "Deflategate." New England would go 3-1 without Brady starting en route to a 14-2 regular season, before wins over the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers to make Super Bowl 51 against the Atlanta Falcons.
Of all the Super Bowls, New England got off to the worst start in this game, going down 28-3 at halftime. Despite all the odds, the Patriots would mount the greatest comeback in sports history, winning 34-28 in overtime, the first in the history of the Super Bowl.
Completing the largest comeback would've made it a satisfying win, but to do so in a year that started with the league against you made it all the more satisfying. To this day, a good chunk of Patriots fans would label it as their favorite game, and it's hard to imagine that changing in the near future.