The NFL’s Biggest Underdog Success Stories

🏈 Who Thrives When the Odds Are Against Them?

Being counted out can bring out the best in a team. A new analysis of NFL betting data from Sports Illustrated reveals which teams have consistently defied expectations when entering games as underdogs — and which teams have struggled most when the odds are stacked against them.

👑 The Chiefs Rule the Underdog Game

The Kansas City Chiefs have dominated the NFL over the past decade, capturing three Super Bowl titles — and their success extends to games when they aren’t favored to win. Since 2016, the Chiefs have won an impressive 66.7% of their games as underdogs, posting a remarkable 20-9-1 record.

🦅 Ravens & Steelers Rise to the Challenge

The Baltimore Ravens rank second among the NFL’s best underdog performers, winning 61.9% of games when expected to lose. The Pittsburgh Steelers follow closely behind, with a 45-29-1 record and a 60% underdog win rate.

The Seattle Seahawks, meanwhile, have won 56.7% of their games as underdogs — an especially intriguing stat after their historic underdog run to last season’s Super Bowl championship.

🐏 Where Do the Rams Rank?

The Los Angeles Rams currently have the NFL’s eighth-worst underdog record over the past 10 seasons, winning 47.69% of games when they were expected to lose. With the Rams currently listed at +550 to win the Super Bowl, improving that underdog performance could be key if they hope to make another championship push.

📊 The Top Underdog Performers

Rounding out the NFL’s top 10 are the Green Bay Packers (56.5%), New Orleans Saints (56%), Cincinnati Bengals (55.1%), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (54.4%), Philadelphia Eagles (53.6%), and Denver Broncos (53.5%).

🌟 Final Thoughts

From the Chiefs’ remarkable ability to win against the odds to the Steelers, Ravens and Seahawks consistently exceeding expectations, NFL history shows that being the underdog doesn’t mean being out of the fight. With another season on the horizon, the question is: which team will defy the odds next?