Stats are funny. You think you know who the GOAT is until you actually look at the numbers and realize half of what we talk about on Super Bowl Sunday is just good marketing. Honestly, everyone remembers the flashy catches and the Gatorade showers, but the actual record books tell a much weirder story.
Take last year's game, for instance. Super Bowl LIX was supposed to be the "Three-Peat" coronation for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Instead, Jalen Hurts and a relentless Philadelphia Eagles defense basically tore up the script in New Orleans. They didn't just win; they routed Kansas City 40-22. It was a statistical bloodbath. At one point, the Eagles were up 34-0. Imagine that. A team coming off back-to-back titles getting shut out for three quarters on the biggest stage in the world.
The Numbers Nobody Expected in Super Bowl LIX
If you're looking at current Super Bowl stats, you have to start with that February night at the Caesars Superdome. The Eagles’ defense was a nightmare for Mahomes. They sacked him six times. Six! Josh Sweat was living in the backfield, and Cooper DeJean—on his 22nd birthday, no less—pulled off a 38-yard pick-six that basically ended the game before halftime.
Jalen Hurts walked away with the MVP, and he deserved it. He threw for two scores and ran for another. But here’s the kicker: the game set a massive viewership record. Even though it was a blowout, which usually makes people flip the channel to find a movie, 127.7 million people tuned in. That's a new all-time high for U.S. television. People stayed for the Kendrick Lamar halftime show and, apparently, they stayed to watch the collapse of a dynasty.
Breaking Down the All-Time Passing Leaders
When we talk about the big-picture Super Bowl stats, Tom Brady’s name is obviously all over the place. It’s almost annoying how many records he holds. He’s got seven rings, which is more than any single franchise in NFL history. Both the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers are stuck at six. Brady literally out-succeded the most successful organizations in the sport.
But let’s look at the single-game passing yardage. You’d assume he set his record in one of his many wins, right? Wrong.
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Brady’s greatest statistical performance actually came in a loss. In Super Bowl LII, he threw for a staggering 505 yards against the Eagles. He was slinging it everywhere. And he still lost. That’s the beauty and the horror of this game. You can have the greatest individual day in history and still go home with the silver medal because Nick Foles decided to have the game of his life at the exact same time.
- Most Passing Yards (Career): Tom Brady (3,039)
- Most Passing TDs (Single Game): Steve Young (6 in SB XXIX)
- Most Career Super Bowl Starts: Tom Brady (10)
Steve Young’s performance in 1995 still feels untouchable. Six touchdowns in one game. Mahomes has been to four Super Bowls and hasn't touched that single-game mark yet. It shows you how much the game has changed—even in a pass-heavy era, that 1994-95 49ers explosion was something else.
Why the Ground Game Still Matters (Sorta)
Most people think the running back is a dead position in the modern NFL. Maybe it is for the regular season, but Super Bowl history is built on guys like Timmy Smith. Who? Exactly.
Timmy Smith holds the record for most rushing yards in a single Super Bowl with 204 yards for Washington in Super Bowl XXII. He was a rookie. He barely did anything else in his career. He just showed up, ran through the Denver Broncos like they were a high school team, and then faded into obscurity. It’s the ultimate "one-hit wonder" stat.
Then you have Emmitt Smith. He’s the career leader with five rushing touchdowns across his Super Bowl appearances. It’s a different kind of greatness—consistency versus the lightning strike of a Timmy Smith.
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Interestingly, Jalen Hurts is now tied for the single-game rushing touchdown record. He punched it in three times in Super Bowl LVII. He’s a quarterback. That tells you everything you need to know about where the game is going. The "Tush Push" or "Brotherly Shove" has become a statistical cheat code for the Eagles.
The Jerry Rice Tier of Greatness
We need to talk about Jerry Rice. There is "great," and then there is "Jerry Rice in a Super Bowl."
The gap between Rice and whoever is in second place is hilarious. He has 589 career receiving yards in the Super Bowl. The next closest guy isn't even in the same zip code. He also has the record for most receiving yards in a single game (215) and most career touchdowns (8).
Whenever someone tries to argue about the greatest receiver ever, just show them his Super Bowl stats. It ends the conversation. He didn't just play in these games; he owned them. He’s the only player to have three receiving touchdowns in a single Super Bowl, and he did it twice. Twice!
Defensive Stats: The Unsung Heroes
Defense doesn't get the headlines, but it wins the bets. Most fans can't tell you who holds the record for most sacks in a game. It’s actually shared by a few guys, including L.C. Greenwood and Kony Ealy, who both notched three.
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What the Eagles did to Mahomes in LIX—six team sacks—is significant because it tied them for the third-most sacks by a team in a single Super Bowl. The record is seven, held by the 2015 Broncos (who terrorized Cam Newton) and the 1985 Bears. When a defense gets that kind of pressure, the stats for the opposing quarterback don't just dip—they crater. Mahomes finished LIX with a 95.4 rating, which isn't terrible, but he threw two picks and was under duress on nearly 40% of his dropbacks.
Looking Ahead to Super Bowl LX
We are currently heading toward Super Bowl LX, which will be held at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on February 8, 2026. This is going to be a massive milestone. The "Diamond" Super Bowl.
The early stats for this season have been wild. The Eagles are trying to become the first team to repeat since the 2003-04 Patriots. The Chiefs are actually struggling; they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014. It feels like the guard is finally shifting.
If you're tracking these numbers for betting or just to win an argument at a bar, keep an eye on the "First Time Winners" list. There are still 12 teams that have never won a Lombardi Trophy. The Lions and the Browns are the big ones everyone watches, but the Bills and Vikings have the most heartbreaking stat: both are 0-4 in the big game.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
- Watch the Turf: Super Bowl LX is at Levi’s Stadium. Northern California weather in February can be unpredictable, but the grass at Levi’s is notoriously fast. This favors high-flying offenses over heavy power-run schemes.
- Don't Overvalue the MVP: Quarterbacks win the MVP about 55% of the time. If you're looking for value, look at the defensive line. If a team is racking up sacks like the Eagles did last year, a pass-rusher is a sneaky bet.
- Live Betting Strategy: Viewership peaks in the second quarter. Interestingly, so does scoring. Recent trends show that the "Middle Eight"—the last four minutes of the first half and the first four of the second—is where most Super Bowls are won or lost statistically.
- The Three-Peat Curse: It is officially impossible. No team has ever won three in a row. The Chiefs came the closest in history by making it to the game, but the statistical wall is real. Physical and mental fatigue usually sets in by year three.
The numbers are always changing, but the legends stay put. Whether it's Brady's yards or Rice's catches, these stats are the yardstick we use to measure everyone else. As we move closer to February 2026, we'll see if anyone has the legs to chase down these ghosts.
Start looking at the divisional round matchups now. The teams with the highest "Pressure Rate" on defense are the ones that historically cover the spread in the Super Bowl. Don't just look at points scored; look at how often a quarterback is hit. That’s the stat that actually determines who holds the trophy at the end of the night.