5 worst NFL Super Bowl hangovers ft. Carolina Panthers
Every NFL team strives to reach the Super Bowl every year, but only two of the 32 teams across the league can make it. To reach the big game, you have to play well in your 17 regular season games, as well as winning at least two playoff games. This takes its toll on the players involved.
Many teams play through the pain in the Super Bowl, and if they can come out on top, that confidence can help them next season. However, the losing team have to regroup and start again the following season. This is easier said than done.
Plenty of NFL teams have suffered Super Bowl hangover. Here are five examples.
#5 - 2002 St Louis Rams
After losing Super Bowl XXXVI to the New England Patriots, the St. Louis Rams suffered a horrible Super Bowl hangover in the 2002 NFL season. The Rams went 14-2 in 2001, as Kurt Warner led the ’Greatest Show on Turf’ to the big game before losing out to Tom Brady and the Patriots.
The next year, however, was a disaster for St. Louis as they lost their first five games to start the year. They did win a few following that, but ultimately finished 7-9 and missed the playoffs.
#4 - 2005 Philadelphia Eagles
Tom Brady was again the instigator of another Super Bowl hangover, after the Patriots defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 in Super Bowl XXXIX. The Eagles had an excellent 2004 NFL season, going 13-3 and topping the NFC before losing in the big game.
However, 2005 was somewhat of a disaster. Eagles wideout Terrell Owens was a huge offseason headache, which included him doing sit-ups in his driveway while being interviewed.
The distractions caused a rift in the locker room and Philadelphia fell to 6-10, missing the playoffs altogether and finishing last in the NFC East.