SUPER BOWL LIII
Sunday, February 3, 2019 at 6:30 p.m., televised by CBS
AFC Champions
New England Patriots (11-5)
v.
NFC Champions
Los Angeles Rams (13-3)
New England Patriots versus L.A. Rams - These two teams have some things in common, and yet, in certain respects, they are also very different.
Both the Rams and the Patriots were the road teams in the conference championship games, and both were official underdogs. Both teams managed to come out on top in overtime to reach this Super Bowl. Both have high-powered, potent offenses. And both teams met in the Super Bowl once before, way back in Super Bowl XXXVI. That was the only time that I actually managed to see a Super Bowl preview, as I had gone to the Patriots-Rams game earlier that season on a Sunday Night Football game in mid-November. The Rams had won that, 24-17. However, the Patriots would exact a strong measure of revenge in the biggest possible game, shocking the prohibitive favorites, the then St. Louis Rams, 20-17, clinching the win on the game's final play.
Yes, the Rams had been heavy favorites, having won the Super Bowl just two seasons earlier, and having one of the best offenses that the game had ever seen, becoming the first team to score at least 500 points in three consecutive seasons. New England, meanwhile, had surprised many people's low expectations of them, particularly after their star quarterback, Drew Bledsoe, went down with an injury early in the season. The Pats kept relevant, however, and after losing that game to St. Louis in November to drop to 5-5, they would not lose again. They kept winning and winning, finishing 11-5 and earning the second seed in the playoffs. They then beat the Oakland Raiders in that controversial "Tucker Rule" game. That was arguably the game that started the current Patriots dynasty during this era of Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and Robert Kraft. If not, then it was surely the Super Bowl itself, which the Pats reached by knocking off the favored Steelers in the AFC title game in Pittsburgh. They shocked the Rams, too, to earn the first Vince Lombardy Trophy in franchise history. Back then, many were happy to have seen a very unexpected result in the Super Bowl, as well as a very exciting game.
Now, if anything, the roles are reversed. The Rams come in as the unproven team. They might not be prohibitive underdogs, but most people seem to expect that they will lose. This is, in part at least, based on past history. We have seen the New England Patriots reach this game time and time again. This is the third straight Super Bowl appearance by New England, as they became only the third team in league history to qualify for the big game three times in a row. That first Super Bowl against the "Greatest Show on Turf" St. Louis Rams in the 2001-2002 season was just the first of what has been nine Super Bowl appearances in all, and the Patriots have won five of the prior eight Super Bowls during that stretch, as they enter this game. They have won two of the last Super Bowls, and most people figure that they will win this one, because regardless of their issues during the regular season, they have seemingly predictable begun to make everything click again during the postseason, which is clearly this team's specialty during the Brady/Belichick era. They do not win literally every time, of course, which is one piece of good news that the Rams can hang onto heading into the big game. Still, the Patriots win far too frequently to be dismissed, and their stubborn will to win has victimized far more of their opponents than it has seen the Patriots on the short side of the stick. Tom Brady will be starting in his 40th postseason game, far and away a record. He enters this game with a 29-10 record in those previous playoff games, and holds most meaningful all-time playoff records as a result. Most teams have not been to as many playoff games in their franchise history as Brady has managed to play in just in his career. Should he win, Brady will have won more playoff games than all but five NFL franchises in history!
Those are some incredible numbers, and they are almost impossible to believe, frankly! The level of success that this New England Patriots franchise has managed to enjoy in this Brady/Belichick era is unprecedented. Only the San Francisco 49ers from 1981-1998 had a similar level of success, and that was with quite a bit fewer Super Bowl appearances, and with two quarterbacks and several different coaches, while New England has basically had one starting quarterback during this stretch, minus those games when Brady was sidelined either due to injury or his ban. People have grown used to this level of consistent success from the Patriots. They keep winning, even when other teams finally seem to have built serious championship level teams in their own right. Just think of the last five seasons, during which time New England has qualified for four Super Bowls. They have beaten the Seahawks, who seemed on the verge of a dynasty, overcoming a 10-point fourth quarter deficit to do so. They have beaten the Falcons, overcoming a historic 28-3 deficit to ultimately win Super Bowl LI, in the first overtime in Super Bowl history. They have defeated the Steelers, a team that most football experts considered serious championship contenders. And this season, they downed the Chiefs twice, including in Kansas City for the AFC title game, when most people had believed that KC had finally built themselves a serious championship contender. So, you can see why most people would pretty much expect them to get the better of the Rams, as well.
However, the Rams are here for a reason, as well. No, they cannot compete with the experience of New England, having only had two winning seasons in a row, and having won only the two postseason games that they got in the last few weeks. Yet, they have a very good offense, one that has been good enough to earn them the nickname of "Greatest Show on Turf 2." And their defense has played well at critical times, when it is needed most, as well. After the Saints took that early 13-0 lead in the NFC Championship, the Rams managed to clamp down on that dangerous New Orleans offense, allowing their own offense to get into rhythm and back into the game, which they obviously ultimately won.
Los Angeles has looked awesome almost all season long. They raced off to an 8-0 start, before losing their first game in New Orleans. They were 11-1 and had already won the NFC West. Then, they stumbled, with their offense really grounded and ineffective on a cold Sunday Night Football game in Chicago. They followed that up with a home loss to the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles, and suddenly, for the first time this season, they seemed vulnerable. But they won their final two games, with their offense clicking once again, and finally clinched the playoff bye. They beat the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional round, and exacted a strong measure of revenge in New Orleans by stunning the Saints (admittedly, with the help of a highly controversial call, or rather, non-call).
Now, here they are. Nobody is surprised that the New England Patriots are here, but many people are indeed surprised that the Rams have made it this far. But again, they showed some resilience on top of that offensive firepower, and the defense came through at the most key moments this season, when they needed it the most. they are not here by mistake, they earned it.
But will that be enough? Again, let us remember that this is the New England Patriots. They don't always win these big games, particularly the Super Bowl. But more often than not, they find the way to do it. They did it when they were underdogs, such as when they were serious underdogs against both the Steelers and the Rams in the 2001-02 playoffs, the 2004-05 playoffs against Pittsburgh, and this season against Kansas City. The line was back and forth in the Super Bowl against Seattle a few years back, but New England were underdogs at some points in the lead-up to that game. I had to go back all those years ago to 2001-02, because that was the last time that New England were underdogs with any measure of consistency. Since then, the Patriots have more often than not been the favorites, and they clearly know how to win then, too. They have done so in most playoff games, including AFC Championship Games and Super Bowls. Not always, of course. Remember, they also lost the two Super Bowls to the Giants, and the big game last year to the Eagles. Something about the NFC East, apparently. If you were hoping that the loss in that game would make their play lag a bit this season, it might have seemed promising at certain points, such as when they were 1-2 early this season, or when they lost two in a row fairly late in the season. However, here they are, back in the biggest game, and with nobody denying that the edge in experience is clearly in their favor, for what it's worth.
So, here comes the big moment, the one that my legions of loyal readers have been anxiously waiting with bated breath, on the edge of their seats for (I am being facetious, just in case you were wondering). It is time for me to make my prediction about who will win.
Drum roll, please...
Well, I have favored the Patriots, I believe, in almost literally every game that they have played. I figure it is a safe bet, because more often than not, they do find a way to win.
And while the Rams have enjoyed a hugely successful season, right from their perfect 8-0 start on, and have looked especially impressive thus far in the playoffs, I just do not see them having all the tools necessary for them to win it all, to take this Super Bowl away from the Patriots. This is Belichick, Brady, and Kraft. They have been here so many times before.
Are they unbeatable? Hell, no! After all, the Eagles beat them in the big game just last year!
But that's the thing: if they needed a reminder of just how beatable they are, they have gotten it. They lost last year's Super Bowl, even as they played well in so doing. And they went 3-5 on the road this year during the regular season. But they won in the playoffs, and are right back where absolutely nobody is surprised to see them, back in the big dance. They know that they can lose, but they also know that they can win.
And yes, that is what I expect them to do. Qualifying for the big dance three times in a row shows that they know how to get here. But I expect them to dance once they get there this year, as well.
My prediction, is that for the third time in five seasons, the New England Patriots will win the Super Bowl!
My prediction: New England Patriots Win Super Bowl LIII
However, the Rams are here for a reason, as well. No, they cannot compete with the experience of New England, having only had two winning seasons in a row, and having won only the two postseason games that they got in the last few weeks. Yet, they have a very good offense, one that has been good enough to earn them the nickname of "Greatest Show on Turf 2." And their defense has played well at critical times, when it is needed most, as well. After the Saints took that early 13-0 lead in the NFC Championship, the Rams managed to clamp down on that dangerous New Orleans offense, allowing their own offense to get into rhythm and back into the game, which they obviously ultimately won.
Los Angeles has looked awesome almost all season long. They raced off to an 8-0 start, before losing their first game in New Orleans. They were 11-1 and had already won the NFC West. Then, they stumbled, with their offense really grounded and ineffective on a cold Sunday Night Football game in Chicago. They followed that up with a home loss to the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles, and suddenly, for the first time this season, they seemed vulnerable. But they won their final two games, with their offense clicking once again, and finally clinched the playoff bye. They beat the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional round, and exacted a strong measure of revenge in New Orleans by stunning the Saints (admittedly, with the help of a highly controversial call, or rather, non-call).
Now, here they are. Nobody is surprised that the New England Patriots are here, but many people are indeed surprised that the Rams have made it this far. But again, they showed some resilience on top of that offensive firepower, and the defense came through at the most key moments this season, when they needed it the most. they are not here by mistake, they earned it.
But will that be enough? Again, let us remember that this is the New England Patriots. They don't always win these big games, particularly the Super Bowl. But more often than not, they find the way to do it. They did it when they were underdogs, such as when they were serious underdogs against both the Steelers and the Rams in the 2001-02 playoffs, the 2004-05 playoffs against Pittsburgh, and this season against Kansas City. The line was back and forth in the Super Bowl against Seattle a few years back, but New England were underdogs at some points in the lead-up to that game. I had to go back all those years ago to 2001-02, because that was the last time that New England were underdogs with any measure of consistency. Since then, the Patriots have more often than not been the favorites, and they clearly know how to win then, too. They have done so in most playoff games, including AFC Championship Games and Super Bowls. Not always, of course. Remember, they also lost the two Super Bowls to the Giants, and the big game last year to the Eagles. Something about the NFC East, apparently. If you were hoping that the loss in that game would make their play lag a bit this season, it might have seemed promising at certain points, such as when they were 1-2 early this season, or when they lost two in a row fairly late in the season. However, here they are, back in the biggest game, and with nobody denying that the edge in experience is clearly in their favor, for what it's worth.
So, here comes the big moment, the one that my legions of loyal readers have been anxiously waiting with bated breath, on the edge of their seats for (I am being facetious, just in case you were wondering). It is time for me to make my prediction about who will win.
Drum roll, please...
Well, I have favored the Patriots, I believe, in almost literally every game that they have played. I figure it is a safe bet, because more often than not, they do find a way to win.
And while the Rams have enjoyed a hugely successful season, right from their perfect 8-0 start on, and have looked especially impressive thus far in the playoffs, I just do not see them having all the tools necessary for them to win it all, to take this Super Bowl away from the Patriots. This is Belichick, Brady, and Kraft. They have been here so many times before.
Are they unbeatable? Hell, no! After all, the Eagles beat them in the big game just last year!
But that's the thing: if they needed a reminder of just how beatable they are, they have gotten it. They lost last year's Super Bowl, even as they played well in so doing. And they went 3-5 on the road this year during the regular season. But they won in the playoffs, and are right back where absolutely nobody is surprised to see them, back in the big dance. They know that they can lose, but they also know that they can win.
And yes, that is what I expect them to do. Qualifying for the big dance three times in a row shows that they know how to get here. But I expect them to dance once they get there this year, as well.
My prediction, is that for the third time in five seasons, the New England Patriots will win the Super Bowl!
My prediction: New England Patriots Win Super Bowl LIII
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