Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady were there after the 2001 season when kicker Adam Vinatieri (now with the Indianapolis Colts) nailed the game winning field goal as time ran out in a 20-17 victory, giving New England their first ever Super Bowl title.
They are the only two left from that team and will look to give the Patriots their sixth championship this Sunday in Atlanta. Super Bowl 53 is being hyped all week long and the Rams know they are facing a formidable foe in the Patriots, who are making their third consecutive Super Bowl appearance.
For the Rams to win this game, they must stifle the Patriots consistent running game (127 yards per game) which sets up the passing attack for Brady and company, which averaged 266 yards per game this season. Running back Sony Michel ran for 931 yards this season (4.5 ypc average and six TD) to lead the team.
Meanwhile, the Patriots defense must be ready to face the two headed monster running game the Rams boast. Todd Gurley (1,251 rushing yards, 4.9 ypc average and 21 total touchdowns in 2018 season) and C.J. Anderson, who was a late season signing when Gurley was injured and has averaged seven yards per carry. The Rams rushing game averages 139 yards per game.
The passing game averaged 281 yards per game and QB Jared Goff passed for 4,688 yards and had 32 TD passes and only twelve interceptions this season. He has flourished under Head Coach Sean McVay and his high octane offense the past two seasons. Plus, Goff led the Rams back from a 13-0 deficit in the hostile environment of the Super Dome when they beat the New Orleans Saints, 26-23 in OT in the NFC Championship Game.
The main targets for Goff include wide receivers Brandin Cooks (80, 1,204, five TD) and Robert Woods, who snagged 86 receptions for 1,219 yards and six touchdowns.
The Patriots defense has been stellar in the playoffs, giving up just 42 yards in the first half against the high powered offense of the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game, which they eventually won, 37-31 in overtime.
Look for a tight game as both teams will likely run the ball to control the field and the clock to keep each others' offensive units off the field. Protecting the ball is always key in big games and the Patriots rate a slight edge in that category. Brady has been here so many times and Goff will do well to limit mistakes and keep his team in the game.
One other factor is the pass rush. The Rams have Aaron Donald up front and all he did was lead the NFL with 20 1/2 quarterback sacks this past season. Ndamukong Suh is huge on the D-line as well and has stepped it up in the post-season.
Brady is well protected by the offensive line (21 QB sacks in regular season) and so far in the post-season has not been sacked. Goff was sacked 33 times this season. Meanwhile, the Rams defense amassed 41 sacks. New England's defense registered 30 sacks, led by Trey Flowers, who had 7 1/2 sacks.
When Brady does drop back to throw, he has the great Julian Edelman at wide receiver and also tight end Rob Gronkowski, who was limited by injuries in the regular season, but is healthy once again. Then there is running back James White, who hauled in 87 pass receptions this season for seven touchdowns while also averaging 4.5 yards per rushing attempt.
Both teams have reliable kickers as well. Stephen Gostkowski has been in New England since 2006 season and has been clutch through the years. This season, he scored 130 points and was 49-for-50 on PAT kicks while making 27 of 32 field goal attempts.
Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein (116 points with only one missed PAT kick in 36 attempts and 27-of-31 field goal accuracy) is known simply as "Greg the leg" for his booming kicks, which included the game-winning 57-yard field goal against the Saints in the NFC title game in overtime that put his team into the Super Bowl.
This is a game that could very well come down to which ever team has the final possession which should make for another exciting Super Bowl.
PREDICTION - New England Patriots 31, Los Angeles Rams 27
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