30 luckiest sports franchises

1. New England Patriots

The New England Patriots have brought five Super Bowl titles to Foxboro, including three in four years from 2001-2004, and two of the last three. While there has been legitimate dominance and insane skill between the team’s coaching and players, some of the rings have to be partly attributed to some luck.

For starters, in the team’s first Super Bowl run back in 2001, there was plenty of good fortune mixed in throughout the year. Tom Brady got his beginning as the team’s starting quarterback early in the year, but it wouldn’t have happened if Drew Bledsoe hadn’t been rocked on the sideline by an absolutely vicious hit.

To add onto it, there was the historic “Tuck Rule” game in the AFC Divisional round against the Oakland Raiders, which saved their season and propelled them on their run to a win over the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.

2003 and 2004 were legitimate wins over the Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles, with nothing but solid play carrying them to their titles. However, their next title came in 2014, with a certain lucky play-call giving them the win.

The Patriots benefitted from some stupidity on Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll’s part, and Malcolm Butler intercepted the ball at the goal line to win the team’s fourth title. If it wasn’t for a change of heart at the last second on the Seahawks’ part, we may not have seen the Patriots get back on top of the NFL with their win in Super Bowl XLIX.

In addition, the same can even be said for some play-calling decisions in Super Bowl 51 against the Atlanta Falcons for the Patriots’ historic 25-point comeback.

There’s been plenty of actual skill involved with the Patriots’ success, and luck isn’t a knock at what the team has accomplished over the last 17 years. However, you have to admit it’s there, and it’s contributed to at least two of the team’s five runs in the last 17 years.