1) The Old Guard vs. The New Guard: Tom Brady and Bill Belichick against Sean McVay and Jared Goff. The Patriots are viewed as the old dynasty and the Rams are viewed as the new regime that could take the throne away from the Pats. Also, everyone is always searching for the next Bill Belichick. Who is going to be the next great coach in the NFL? Sean McVay has gotten all the praise as the next great coach for what he has done the last two years with the Rams. It will be fun to see this play out on Sunday.
2) The Patriots Last Stand? This might be the final chance for Brady, Belichick and the Patriots to win a Super Bowl. We have been saying that for the last few years, and at times this year it looked like the Pats were not going to make it back to the Super Bowl. Alas, they knocked off the Chiefs as underdogs and they are here for the 9th time in the Brady/Belichick era. We know it is going to end at some point, but could this be their last shot and last chance? That makes it all so fascinating because we know it will end sometime.
3) The Rams Dynasty Begins?The Rams have thrived under Sean McVay the last two years and it has turned around their franchise. Remember where the Rams were in St. Louis and under Jeff Fisher? They were a laughingstock. Jared Goff was being compared to Jamarcus Russell as far as #1 overall QBs who were busts in the NFL. Then, McVay got the job and everything changed. Goff has been great the last two years, and the Rams have been the class of the NFC. Could this Super Bowl be their moment to start their own Patriots-esque dynasty.
4) Super Bowl XXXVI Rematch: The Pats dynasty started with the upset win over the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. The Rams had won the Super Bowl two years earlier, and in 2001, the Rams were the "Greatest Show on Turf" and 16 point favorites heading into the Super Bowl against the Pats. I don't even think Tom Brady was a household name after taking over for the injured Drew Bledsoe in Week 3 of the season. Well, the Pats won the game, 20-17, and the rest is history. It is kind of ironic that 17 years later to the actual day, the Pats and Rams will be facing off once again. So much of NFL history changed on the outcome of that one game.
Onto the preview and prediction for Super Bowl LIII....
Last Week's Playoff Record: 0-2
Overall Playoff Record: 5-5
Overall Final Regular Season Record: 126-113-14
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
New England vs. Los Angeles Rams
A Case for the Patriots: They have been here before. This is the 9th Super Bowl with Brady and Belichick, and this is their third trip to the Super Bowl in three straight years. That is an amazing accomplishment. Everyone thought they were done heading into the playoffs this year, and everyone thought they were done when they were headed to Arrowhead for the AFC Championship against the Chiefs. Naturally, they came out and beat the Chiefs in overtime to head to the Super Bowl. At this point, how can you not see the Patriots winning another Super Bowl on Sunday? Also, it is hard to see Brady and Belichick losing back-to-back Super Bowls. You would think they would avoid that. After this game on Sunday, I can't see the Patriots record in Super Bowls being 5-4. It seems like they will be 6-3 after Sunday's game. You know Belichick will come up with something for the Rams that will throw them off and rattle Jared Goff. They have the experience, the coaching, and everything going into their favor to win another Lombardi Trophy.
A Case for the Rams: They were one of the best teams in the NFL all year long. They have talent across the board. They are very well-coached with the talented Sean McVay. They have big-time players on offense like Jared Goff and Todd Gurley. They have big-time players on defense with Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh. They have experienced vets like Aqib Talib and C.J. Anderson. They have Wade Phillips going up against Josh McDaniels. They are probably going to go into this game a little looser than the Patriots because they don't know any better. Couldn't you see a scenario where the Rams jump on the Pats early and then Donald and Suh are teeing off on Brady and making his life miserable? I can see that playing out on Sunday. It might be 28-10 Rams in the 3rd quarter, and we might be like "Wow, the Rams are just better than them." Maybe it is the Rams time, and the Pats are just a footnote in their legacy just like it was back in Super Bowl XXXVI when the Pats kicked off their dynasty by beating the Rams. It might just be the Rams moment.
Prediction: New England (-2) over LA RAMS: In a game that is fun, exciting, and close, the Patriots pull it out to win their 6th Lombardi Trophy in franchise history.
Final Score: Patriots-28 Rams-24
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