What will it take for the Patriots or Seahawks to win this year’s Super Bowl? Win the turnover game? Running the ball? Red-zone offense?
Following is a look back at the previous 48 Super Bowls and which stats were a good indicator for victory. Here are 31 stats and how often a Super Bowl team won (and lost) the big game when they reached these noted statistical markers.
Note: The interesting thing about last year’s Super Bowl was that the Seahawks accomplished five of the top six stats listed below in their Super Bowl 48 win over Denver: They had at least a 10-point lead at halftime; returned an interception for TD; went into the fourth quarter with a lead of seven points or more; had a two or more takeaway margin over the Broncos; and had no turnovers in the contest.
When a Super Bowl team…
Had a 10-point lead at halftime… 24-0 1.000
Returned an interception for TD… 12-0 1.000
Went into the fourth quarter with a lead of at least seven points… 32-2 .941
Had a two or more takeaway margin over the opponent… 28-2 .933
Scored 30 or more points in the game… 25-2 .926
Had 0 turnovers… 18-2 .900
Had three or more takeaways… 32-4 .889
Did not throw an interception… 30-4 .882
Did not let the opposition score in the second half… 7-1 .875
Had two or more rushing touchdowns… 16-3 .842
Had 30 or more rushing attempts… 35-7 .833
Made three of more field goals… 10-2 .833
Rushed for 150-plus yards… 17-4 .810
Held the opponent scoreless in the fourth quarter… 20-5 .800
Had more than 100 yards of total offense than the opposition… 16-4 .800
Allowed 24 or fewer points in the game…43-16 .789
Had 400 or more total yards… 14-4 .778
Held the opponents to under 50% pass completions… 17-5 .773
Completed 70% or more of their passes… 10-3 .769
Held opponents to 0 rushing touchdowns… 25-9 .735
Held the opponents scoreless in the third quarter… 23-10 .697
Had three or more passing touchdowns… 11-5 .688
Held the opponents under 10 points in the first half… 28-13 .683
Held the opponents to 0 points in the first quarter… 25-12 .676
Scored first in the game… 32-16 .667
Did not allow a sack… 8-4 .667
Passed for 300 or more yards… 9-5 .643
Scored 10 or more points in the first quarter… 10-6 .625
Recovered a fumble for touchdown… 3-3 .500
Returned a kick-off for TD… 4-6 .400
Attempted 30 or more passes… 20-34 .370
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