New Orleans Saints: Just how important is the No. 1 seed for New Orleans?

Super Bowl XLVII – LIII – The Road to Victory

Let’s take a brief look at the past six Super Bowls to see if we can gain any insight on how a No. 1 seed may fare and if it’s important or not for New Orleans.

Super Bowl XLVII: San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens

Winner: Baltimore Ravens – AFC North

Record: 12-4
Division: 1
Playoff Seed: 4
First-round Bye: No
Home field advantage Wildcard: Yes, vs. Indianapolis Colts (5)
Home field advantage Divisional: No, vs. Denver Broncos (1)
Home field advantage Championship: No, vs. New England Patriots (2)

Loser: San Francisco – NFC West

Record: 11-4-1
Division: 1
Playoff Seed: 2
First-round Bye: Yes
Home field advantage Divisional: Yes, vs. Green Bay Packers (3)
Home field advantage Championship: No, vs. Atlanta Falcons (1)

Super Bowl XLVIII: Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos

Winner: Seattle Seahawks – NFC West

Record: 13-3
Division: 1
Playoff Seed: 1
First-round Bye: Yes
Home field advantage Divisional: Yes, vs. New Orleans (6)
Home field advantage Championship: Yes, vs. San Francisco (5)

Loser: Denver Broncos – AFC West

Record: 13-3
Division: 1
Playoff Seed: 1
First-round Bye: Yes
Home field advantage Divisional: Yes, vs. Chargers (6)
Home field advantage Championship: Yes, vs. Patriots (2)

Super Bowl XLIX: Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots

Winner: New England Patriots – AFC East

Record: 12-4
Division: 1
Playoff Seed: 1
First-round Bye: Yes
Home field advantage Divisional: Yes, v. Ravens (6)
Home field advantage Championship: Yes, vs. Colts (4)

Loser: Seattle Seahawks – NFC West

Record: 12-4
Division: 1
Playoff Seed: 1
First-round Bye: Yes
Home field advantage Divisional: Yes, vs. Carolina (4)
Home field advantage Championship: Yes, vs. Green Bay (2)

Super Bowl 50: Carolina Panthers vs. Denver Broncos

Winner: Denver Broncos – AFC West

Record: 12-4
Division: 1
Playoff Seed: 1
First-round Bye: Yes
Home field advantage Divisional: Yes, v. Steelers (6)
Home field advantage Championship: Yes, v. Patriots (2)

Loser: Carolina Panthers – NFC South

Record: 15-1
Division: 1
Playoff Seed: 1
First-round Bye: Yes
Home field advantage Divisional: Yes, v. Seattle (6)
Home field advantage Championship: Yes, v. Arizona (2)

Super Bowl LI* (28-3): Atlanta Falcons v. New England Patriots

Winner: New England Patriots – AFC East

Record: 14-2
Division: 1
Playoff Seed: 1
First-round Bye: Yes
Home field advantage Divisional: Yes, v. Texans (4)
Home field advantage Championship: Yes, v. Pittsburgh (3)

Loser: Atlanta Falcons – NFC South

Record: 11-5
Division: 1
Playoff Seed: 2
First-round Bye: Yes
Home field advantage Divisional: Yes, v. Seattle (3)
Home field advantage Championship: Yes, v. Packers (4)

Super Bowl LII: Philadelphia Eagles v. New England Patriots

Winner: Philadelphia Eagles – NFC East

Record: 13-3
Division: 1
Playoff Seed: 1
First-round Bye: Yes
Home field advantage Divisional: Yes, vs. Atlanta (6)
Home field advantage Championship: Yes, v. Minnesota (2)

Loser: New England Patriots – AFC East

Record: 13-3
Division: 1
Playoff Seed: 1
First-round Bye: Yes
Home field advantage Divisional: Yes, v. Tennessee (5)
Home field advantage Championship: Yes, v. Jacksonville (3)

Super Bowl LIII – The Game That Shall Not Be Named: Los Angeles Rams v. New England Patriots

Winner: New England Patriots – AFC East

Record: 11-5
Division: 1
Playoff Seed: 2
First-round Bye: Yes
Home field advantage Divisional: Yes, v. Chargers (5)
Home field advantage Championship: Yes, v. Chiefs (1)

Loser: Los Angeles Rams – NFC West

Record: 13-3
Division: 1
Playoff Seed: 2
First-round Bye: Yes
Home field advantage Divisional: Yes, v. Dallas (4)
Home field advantage Championship: Yes, in the Referees vs. Saints (1)