Super Bowl LIII Review: Patriots Wear Down Rams & Win Lowest Scoring Super Bowl Ever

SUPER BOWL LIII

Sunday, February 3, 2019 at 6:30 p.m., televised by CBS

Super Bowl LIII Champions

New England Patriots (11-5) 

v. 

NFC Champions

Los Angeles Rams  (13-3) 

New England Patriots 13, L.A. Rams 13

Well, this definitely was not the Super Bowl we were looking for. When you looked at the New England Patriots, and you looked at the Los Angeles Rams, you figured that the game might be a little more like last year's big game, when the two teams (the Philadelphia Eagles and the Patriots) combined to produce a record amount of offense in all NFL games, period.

The Patriots just keep finding their niche, and their niche is remaining true to their ultimate goal: winning, come what may.

That is why Belichick and Brady have so often won together. That is why they manage to keep winning, regardless of disappointments.

Early on, they made it look easy, winning three titles in a four year span. Then, they went through what amounts to a drought for Belichick and Brady. They failed to win a Super Bowl for ten years, although they did make it back twice during that stretch. Finally, they won again, outlasting the Seahawks. Two years later, they fell behind, 28-3, to Atlanta, only to storm back and pull off the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history. They lost to Philadelphia last season, but they were right back in the big game this season.

This time, it was against the Los Angeles Rams. Many people expected serious fireworks. After all, both defenses had seemed vulnerable during the regular season. Both teams had prolific offenses, and so this seemed like a dream championship in many ways. This was not only had an East Coast versus West Coast aspect to it, but it was Los Angeles versus Boston, two cities with a rich history of sports rivalry between one another, as Magic Johnson described in the pregame show. All of those battles between the Lakers and the Celtics through many decades, and with many different great names and faces. There was the Bosox knocking off the Dodgers in the last World Series. And now, the New England Patriots would take on the high-flying, young and dynamic Rams. 

Patriots 33:10 to 26:50 for the Rams. Fairly decisive, but also hardly the most lopsided that anyone has ever seen. New England outgained Los Angeles 407 yards of total offense to 260 total yards, and earned 22 first downs, while the Rams only managed 14 first downs. Both teams committed one turnover each, although the difference in timing could not have been more glaring. Tom Brady's interception was on the very first pass that he threw on the day. It might have set the tone, except that New England's phenomenal defensive effort shone through shortly thereafter, as they held the Rams to a quick three and out, refusing to allow Los Angeles a chance to capitalize on the turnover.

Brady settled down after that. On the day, he completed 21 of 35 passes for 262 yards, with that one interception. His favorite target was Julius Edelman, who caught 10 of Brady's passes for 141 yards in a brilliant performance. It seemed that every time that Brady needed him, Edelman was there for him, getting open and reliably hauling in the catch. For his remarkable efforts and performance, Edelman was given the MVP honors for the game.

Yet, he did not score the game's only touchdown. That touchdown, which was scored by New England with seven minutes left, was a dagger in the heart, given that it broke a 3-3 tie in an obviously low-scoring game. That touchdown was two-yard run into the end zone by Sony Michel, who had 94 yards and that one touchdown on 18 carries for the day, which was a solid effort. But the score was only made possible when Brady connected with Gronkowski for a 29-yard reception that put New England on the edge of the end zone. On the game, Gronk hauled in six catches for 87 yards, but none were as big as that one.

Jared Goff was pressured by the New England defense all day, and never seemed to get in sync. Goff was sacked four times, for 31 yards lost. Overall, he completed 19 of 38 passes for 229 yards, but had that one very costly INT very late in the game and on a drive when the Rams were seriously threatening, with roughly four minutes left in the game. The Patriots held a 10-3 lead at the time, but that allowed them to get the ball back late, while ending 

It was not just Goff who could not get the normally prolific Rams offense going. Todd Gurley II only picked up 35 yards on 10 carries, while C.J. Anderson 22 yards on seven carries. Broadcaster, and former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was mentioning at points that if the Rams managed to win the game, they might seriously have to name their punter, Johnny Hekker, as the game's MVP. He was an unexpected highlight for the Rams, setting records with his numerous punts. And given the offensive woes for Los Angeles, he had a busy day and got plenty of opportunities to set records. Another highlight for the Rams was wide receiver Brandin Cooks, who picked up 120 yards on eight catches.

None of that was enough to overcome the tremendous Patriots defensive effort. They were the unsung heroes in this game, which was supposed to be dominated by the offenses. But New England's defense did something that nobody else had managed to do this season, holding the potent Rams offense to a pedestrian three points.

Think about that. One field goal, for an offense that, at certain points this season, was being hailed as perhaps the greatest, or one of the greatest, offenses in history! Only once before did another team fail to even score a touchdown in the Super Bowl, and that was the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI. Maybe Los Angeles can take heart in the fact that, after they were dominated by Dallas, they went back to win the next two Super Bowls, and went undefeated in the first one.

Now, whether or not this will, in actuality, bode well for Los Angeles is another story. Maybe they are built to last, and they certainly have youth on their side. But you have to wonder just why they looked quite that bad, even against the Patriots in the Super Bowl. The best teams consistently rise to the occasion, and on defense, the Rams did. On offense? Well, let's just say that I found it amusing that some people are already referring to this game as "The Silence of the Rams" offense.

But this day belonged to the Patriots. Yes, once again, New England captures a Super Bowl title, and this distinguishes this amazing era of greatness for the franchise still more. The consensus among the experts seems to be that this Patriots dynasty truly is unique, and we are unlikely to see anything like this again.

I agree. Yes, maybe much of the nation is getting tired of Boston-area teams winning championships, especially the Red Sox and the Pats. Perhaps that is particularly true of the Patriots, in particular. Something about them really seems to rub many people the wrong way.

Whether or not you like it, or even accept it (some people - haters - insist that the Pats cannot win without cheating), the fact of the matter is that the Patriots are back on top of the football world once again, for a third time in five seasons, and for the sixth time overall under Belichick and Brady. They are now tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most Super Bowl titles of all-time, and deserve this latest moment in the sun. This truly is a dynasty like no other in recent memory.