The Patriots Are Champs… Again

The Patriots Are Champs… Again

Patriots 13, Rams 3

For the second time in the last three seasons, the New England Patriots are hoisting the Lombardi at the season’s conclusion. Tom Brady achieved a record sixth Super Bowl win and didn’t need to throw a TD pass to do so. In one absolute snoozefest of a championship game, two of the top five regular-season offenses combined for a record-low 16 points. Johnny Hekker booted 9 punts, including a record 65-yarder (the highlight of LA’s day).

Julian Edelman (second in all-time postseason receiving yards) was basically unstoppable throughout the game, racking up 141 yards off of ten receptions. He routinely toasted Rams defenders on crisp, well-run routes and earned the title of Super Bowl MVP. New England stuck to short passes for much of the affair, and for good reason, as Brady was only sacked once (even though he did take a big hit from Aaron Donald). Todd Gurley pulled off another disappearing act, and apparently, he took Jared Goff with him. On the other side, Sony Michel notched his 6th TD of the postseason, the only score of the game.

The Rams defense played out of its mind, holding Brady and Co. to a measly 13 points. Outside of shaky coverage on Edelman and some spotty run defense, they more than held up their end of the bargain throughout the contest. Unfortunately, when they absolutely needed a stop, they were too gassed from being on the field too long, and Michel and Rex Burkhead pushed the Pats into field goal range for Stephen Gostkowski. Gostkowski was the recipient of an announcer jinx earlier in the game, missing a FG after Jim Nantz brought up how kickers were 31/31 in Atlanta this season. When it mattered most though, Gostkowski drilled a 41-yarder to push the lead to ten.

The Rams had a few chances to seize this game, but Jared Goff chose a bad time to play one of his worst games of the season. On one play he had Brandin Cooks alone in the end zone but failed to get the ball there in time, allowing Jason McCourty to get there and make a play. The game was basically sealed when Goff attempted to throw a deep completion while getting walloped, and the ball ended up in the hands of All-Pro CB Stephon Gilmore.

The futures of players such as Andrew Whitworth, Rob Gronkowski, and Devin McCourty are TBD at this point, but they will all take some time to contemplate what their next move will be.

Congrats to the New England Patriots for their record-tying sixth Super Bowl victory.

-By: Micah Jimoh