Alright, ladies and gentlemen. It’s time. The last roughly six months has led us to this very moment – Super Bowl 53. It’s the AFC Champion New England Patriots taking on the NFC Champion Los Angeles Rams. The road to get here has been an interesting one, to say the least. So, let’s dig into the meat of it.
The storylines
In my book, the unquestioned biggest storyline going into this game is the head coaching match-up. The established, accomplished, and legendary Bill Belichick vs. the emerging young hot shot Sean McVay. You’re already starting to see some interesting parallels between the two in the way that guys who have seemingly just breathed in the same room as them are being plucked for head coaching gigs. Belichick’s assistants have long been desired for learning from and working with one of the best coaches the game has ever seen. Now, you’re seeing a trail of assistants-turned-head coaches stemming from the old Shanahan tree that McVay is a product of.
What interests me most is the timing of this game. Belichick has been winning Super Bowls with the Patriots for nearly two decades now. McVay is coaching in his first. So, if you’re a fan of drama, this game sets up as the ultimate passing-of-the-torch story. It’s old guard vs. new guard – will McVay rise up and steal a championship from the great Belichick?
Then, you have this “aging” Patriots dynasty. This Patriots regime won its first Super Bowl in 2001. It won its latest in 2016. FIFTEEN YEARS APART! That’s insane – nevertheless, the questions of the “end of an era” are surfacing. Nickell Robey-Coleman made headlines this week when he said age had caught up with Tom Brady. Rumors are swirling that Rob Gronkowski, one of if not the greatest tight end to ever play the game, could retire afterwards.
Eventually, this dynasty is going to come to an end. But, it seems like the more you question the Patriots, the better they perform. I’ll be interested to see how that plays into Sunday’s game.
The Rams went on a free agent frenzy last spring. A lot of folks criticized the moves, but the Rams obviously felt like they were just a few major pieces away from a Super Bowl. They weren’t wrong, considering it’s the week of the Super Bowl, and they still have a game to play! But, will it ultimately pay off? If it doesn’t, then how will the Rams approach the upcoming offseason?
Last season, Brandin Cooks played for the Patriots, but this season, he finds himself suiting up for the Rams in the Super Bowl. Is he going to be a factor in the game? We saw the Patriots shut down Tyreek Hill in the AFC Championship. But, is Cooks familiar enough with New England to find ways to make plays anyway?
Jared Goff is another interesting piece to this puzzle. His rookie season, he was labeled a bust (I was guilty of this, too – don’t feel bad). But, since, he’s developed into one of the brightest young quarterbacks in the NFL.
Finally, I have to bring up Jeff Fisher. We make a lot of jokes about the guy, but he actually was a damn good football coach. It’s crazy how disastrous his final few weeks with the Rams were, and the fact that they were able to turn it around and get to the Super Bowl so quickly has to sit funny with him. He’s going to be a punching bag this week, and I’m not quite sure he deserves it. Still, pretty astonishing to think about how bad that Rams franchise was compared to what it is now. Specifically, with Goff.
The matchup
These teams make up two of the four highest scoring offenses in the NFL. Both are top five passing offenses. Both are top eight rushing offenses. There should be plenty of fireworks in this Super Bowl. I don’t know if it’ll be as wild as last year’s game, but seeing both teams get into the 30s shouldn’t be difficult at all. But, the defensive advantage goes to the Patriots, who are better, statistically speaking.
The Rams held the New Orleans Saints to just 48 rushing yards, but dynamic running back Alvin Kamara gashed them with 11 receptions for 96 yards. What’s concerning for the Rams is that they only produced two touchdowns on offense in the NFC Championship. While the Saints defense is lightyears better than the Kansas City Chiefs defense, it’s still impressive that the Patriots were able to hang five touchdowns on them. The Pats backfield is absolutely punishing, with three different backs that can kill you. To me, that’s the big difference in this match-up.
People have beaten this concept into the ground this week, but for good reason – the Rams are going to have to strike first and get out to a comfortable lead in the first quarter. Based on what they did against the Saints, do we think that’s likely to happen?
Final prediction
No – This just reeks of a big James White game. I don’t expect the Patriots to test the star-studded Rams secondary much, but Julian Edelman could give them the old ‘death by papercut’ routine. The Patriots should be able to control the tempo of the game with their vaunted backfield, but I do expect the Rams to make several big plays. Belichick is known for taking away your greatest weapon, so it may take an “unsung hero” type to step up for the Rams. Look at someone like tight end Gerald Everett, who tallied 50 yards on just two catches in the NFC Championship. This is going to be a close one, but I see Brady getting the last drive, dinking and dunking down the field to take the win, 37-34.
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Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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