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Super Bowl Superstitions
Sports never seem to have enough curses, jinxes and superstitions. It's not enough to just lose a game or have a string of bad luck. It was a jinx! Or at least that's something that will make us fans feel better when our team doesn't win. Here's a haphazard (some might say unfounded) look at some possible curses which loom for the eight remaining playoff teams.
The Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV with Dilfer at quarterback and looked even stronger the following year. But, then the team replaced him with Elvis Grbac. And to hear anybody from the Ravens organization tell it, they went with a more prolific passer. Yet, every time I hear that, all I can think of is George Steinbrenner as he sat in Frank Costanza's home and tried to reason why the Yankees traded Jay Buhner for Ken Phelps. Needless to say, the Ravens haven't won a Super Bowl since. Chances this could actually be a thing: 63 percent.
The legend of John Elway casts a shadow over the Broncos as tall as the Rocky Mountains. Many have tried to escape, from Brian Griese to Jay Cutler to Jake Plummer to Tim Tebow. None have been able to deliver a title. And it could stand to reason Elway doesn't want anybody to succeed him. But what about Peyton Manning, you ask? Well, you do know about Manning's playoff history, right? Elway might be an evil genius. Chances this could actually be a thing: 38 percent.
The Packers got a little too endorsement happy after they beat the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. And it caught them off guard when a hungrier Giants team came into Lambeau Field and punched them in the mouth in last year's playoffs. Chances this could actually be a thing: 11 percent. Check back after this year's playoffs.
The 49ers wanted to beat the Cowboys so badly in 1994, they sold their souls to the devil. And by that, I mean they broke the bank for Deion Sanders, along with a lot of other high-priced free-agents. And it worked. The 49ers defeated the Cowboys (thanks, Barry Switzer) and won an unprecedented (at the time) fifth Super Bowl. Since then? Nada. Chances this could actually be a thing: 83 percent. Hey, they did pass on Aaron Rodgers for Alex Smith.
Dude. And if you read the Gridiron Breakdown, you should know better. Seattle doesn't need to ask for any more trouble. Chances this could actually be a thing: 65 percent.
Stay with me, please. Yes, Gary Anderson played for the Vikings and it was his missed field goal which sent the Falcons to the Super Bowl. But think about that, instead of one of the best Super Bowls with the Broncos and the 15-1 Vikings, we got the Broncos and Falcons in the Super Bowl. So it's fitting, the Falcons haven't been back since. Chances this could actually be a thing: 84 percent.
Renfro caught an apparent touchdown pass against the Steelers in the 1979 AFC Championship Game. The officials huddled and ruled Renfro didn't make the catch (this was before replay, but there wasn't enough evidence to overturn the ruling anyway). The Steelers went on to win the game, and this was the last time a Houston football franchise would go to the AFC title game. Chances this could actually be a thing: 16 percent, because wouldn't it stick with the Titans?
The Patriots and their fans would love to forget the whole "Spygate" saga. It's in the past they say! Yes, and so are all of their Super Bowl victories. Chances this could actually be a thing: about 99 percent. Want to prove it wrong? Go out and win a title.
