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Brady faces possible MVP jinx

VegasInsider Staff
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3 minute read
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Super Bowl MVP QB Curse

When the Denver Broncos upended the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50, it might not have been all that surprising to history lovers. Not when winning the NFL MVP award has been a kiss of death for quarterbacks in Super Bowl games.

And when it comes to the biggest game the NFL has to offer, our well-oiled database confirms the fact that MVP winning quarterbacks have struggled in the big game since the inception of the Super Bowl in 1967.

It can safely stated that these MVP trophy winners have suffered a fate similar to Heisman Trophy winners in bowl games, as MVP winners are just 19-25 SU (straight up) and 12-31-1 ATS (against the spread) in postseason games dating back to 1974.

Here is the league record of same season NFL QB MVP's playing in Super Bowl games throughout the history of the NFL's crown jewel:

1967 - SB I - Bart Starr - Packers (-14) 35, Chiefs 10 - win and cover
1969 - SB III - Earl Morrall - Colts (-18) 7, Jets 16 - lose no cover
1979 - SB XIII - Terry Bradshaw - Steelers (-3.5) 35, Cowboys 31 - win and cover
1982 - SB XVI - Ken Anderson - Bengals (+1) 21, 49ers 26 – lose no cover
1984 - SB XVIII - Joe Theismann - Redskins (-3) 9, Raiders 38 - lose no cover
1985 - SB XIX - Dan Marino - Dolphins (+3.5) 16, 49ers 38 - lose no cover
1988 - SB XXII - John Elway - Broncos (-3) 10, Redskins 42 - lose no cover
1989 - SB XXIII - Boomer Esiason - Bengals (+7) 16, 49ers 20 - lose and cover
1990 - SB XXIV - Joe Montana – 49ers (-12) 55, Broncos 10 - win and cover
1995 - SB XXIX - Steve Young – 49ers (-18.5) 49, Chargers 26 - win and cover
1997 - SB XXXI - Brett Favre - Packers (-14) 35, Patriots 21 - win and push
1998 - SB XXXII - Brett Favre - Packers (-11) 24, Broncos 31 - lose no cover
2000 - SB XXXIV - Kurt Warner - Rams (-7) 23, Titans 16 - win and push
2002 - SB XXXVI - Kurt Warner - Rams (-14) 17, Patriots 20 - lose no cover
2003 - SB XXXVII - Rich Gannon - Raiders (-4) 21, Buccaneers 48 - lose no cover
2008 - SB XLII - Tom Brady - Patriots (-12) 14, Giants 17 - lose no cover
2010 - SB XLIV - Peyton Manning - Colts (-5) 17, Saints 31 - lose no cover
2014 - SB XLVIII - Peyton Manning - Broncos (-2) 8, Seahawks 43 - lose no cover
2016 - SB L - Cam Newton - Panthers (-4.5) 10, Broncos 24 - lose no cover
2017 - SB LI - Matt Ryan - Falcons (+3) 28, Patriots 34 - lose no cover

Collectively these NFL MVP Super Bowl quarterbacks are 6-14 SU and 5-13-2 ATS in all games, including 0-7 both SU & ATS since 2002.

Arguably the most infamous loser was Baltimore Colts NFL MVP QB Earl Morrall, who lost 16-7 as an 18-point favorite to Joe Willie Namath and the New York Jets in SB III. Last year’s historic record-breaking comeback win by New England over Atlanta’s MVP award-winning QB Matt Ryan was just the icing on the cake.

Rest assured, with Patriots’ QB Tom Brady expected to be announced the NFL MVP winner for the 2017 season the night before Super Bowl LII, we'll pay close attention to New England’s fate in this year’s Super Bowl spectacular.

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