The New England Patriots are just one win away from securing the franchise’s seventh Vince Lombardi Trophy. With this in mind, many fans have begun drawing parallels between Drake Maye’s 2025-26 Patriots and the Tom Brady era.
Here’s a closer look at the last time Brady and the Patriots appeared in the Super Bowl, along with how they performed on the league’s biggest stage.
Which Year Did the New England Patriots Last Appear in the Super Bowl?
The New England Patriots last appeared in the Super Bowl 53 during the 2018-19 season. Bill Belichick was the head coach, while soon-to-be Hall-of-Fame quarterback Tom Brady was under center. At the time, it was Brady’s ninth-ever Super Bowl appearance, while it was the franchise’s 11th.
On the other side, the NFC representative Los Angeles Rams, took the stage. Led by young offensive guru Sean McVay, third-year quarterback Jared Goff, and legendary defensive lineman Aaron Donald, the Rams were aiming to secure the organization’s second-ever Super Bowl.
Interestingly enough, this was the second-ever Super Bowl matchup between the Patriots and Rams, offering extra motivation for these two storied franchises. Unfortunately for Los Angeles, nearly two decades later, they were once again outclassed.
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Arguably, the greatest coach of all time in Belichick, simply out-schemed McVay. New England’s defense completely shut down the Rams’ number-three-ranked offense (per PFSN’s Impact metric). As for the offense, Brady did just enough to seal the deal, winning the game 13-3. Notably, this game holds the record for being the lowest-scoring Super Bowl game in NFL history.
Sony Michel scored the only touchdown of the game. However, Julian Edelman received Super Bowl MVP honors, thanks to his 10 receptions for 141 yards. Even more notably, both Brady and Belichick won their sixth Super Bowl together, officially proving to be the greatest quarterback-head coach duo in NFL history.
What To Expect on Sunday From Drake Maye and the Patriots
In only his second NFL season, Maye will start in the Super Bowl for the Patriots. Across the regular season and playoffs, fans have continuously doubted Maye’s ability to deliver in big spots. However, time and time again, the 23-year-old has proved them wrong.
On his path to Super Bowl 60, Maye and the Patriots have faced some of the league’s top defensive groups, including the Chargers, Texans, and Broncos. And sailing through those, the former North Carolina quarterback had a solid season.
He caught 354 of his 492 passes, leading the league with 72% completion, while scoring 31 touchdowns with just 8 interceptions. He also logged 450 yards on 103 carries and four scores. Unsurprisingly, Maye almost toppled Rams veteran Matthew Stafford for this year’s MVP award. He received just one first-place vote less than Stafford.
On Sunday, if Maye can lead the Pats to the big win against the Seahawks, he will solidify himself as a top-tier NFL quarterback while also making history by becoming the youngest QB in NFL history to lift the Vince Lombardi trophy.
