Editing Super Bowl XX (section)

===Playoffs===
{{See also|1985–86 NFL playoffs}}

In the playoffs, the Patriots qualified as the AFC's second [[wild card (sports)|wild card]].

But the Patriots, under head coach Raymond Berry, defied the odds, beating the [[New York Jets]] 26–14, [[Los Angeles Raiders]] 27–20, and the Dolphins 31–14 – all on the road – to make it to the Super Bowl.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wild Card - New England Patriots at New York Jets - December 28th, 1985 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198512280nyj.htm |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=[[The Hendon Mob Poker Database]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - New England Patriots at Los Angeles Raiders - January 5th, 1986 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198601050rai.htm |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=[[The Hendon Mob Poker Database]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins - January 12th, 1986 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198601120mia.htm |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=[[The Hendon Mob Poker Database]] |language=en}}</ref> The win against Miami had been especially surprising, not only because Miami was the only team to beat Chicago in the season, but also because New England had not won in the Orange Bowl (Miami's then-home field) since 1966, the Dolphins' first season (then in the [[American Football League|AFL]]). The Patriots had lost to Miami there 18 consecutive times, including a 30–27 loss in their 15th game of the season. But New England dominated the Dolphins in the AFC Championship Game, recording two interceptions from quarterback [[Dan Marino]] and recovering 4 fumbles. New England remains the only team to finish third in their division and qualify for the Super Bowl in the same season.

Meanwhile, the Bears became the first and only team in NFL history to shut out both of their opponents in the playoffs, beating the [[New York Giants]] 21–0 and the [[Los Angeles Rams]] 24–0.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - New York Giants at Chicago Bears - January 5th, 1986 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198601050chi.htm |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=[[The Hendon Mob Poker Database]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NFC Championship - Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears - January 12th, 1986 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198601120chi.htm |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=[[The Hendon Mob Poker Database]] |language=en}}</ref>