Patriots vs. Rams: An In-Depth Preview of Super Bowl LIII
By Colin Giuliani// Sports Editor
On Feb. 3, the New England Patriots will take on the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta. For the Rams, their appearance in the game solidifies what has been an incredible transformation under head coach Sean McVay. After 12 consecutive seasons without a winning record, and after moving from St. Louis to Los Angeles prior to the start of the 2016 season, McVay has guided the Rams to consecutive first-place finishes in the NFC West, and their first Super Bowl appearance since 2001.
For the Patriots, their appearance in their quest to seemingly defy the laws of Father Time further solidifies a two-decade run that has never been seen before in NFL history, and might never be seen again. Since the 2001 season, the Patriots have made the Super Bowl nine times in 18 years, and have made it to the game four times in the last five seasons. Even at 41 years old, an age where most quarterbacks are either retired or have fallen off a cliff, Tom Brady is doing what he does best- win games and make Super Bowls. With the biggest game of the season taking place on Sunday, here are four storylines to keep an eye out on.
PatriotsOffense: Which Rob Gronkowski will show up?
In his nine-year career, Rob Gronkowski might have already established himself as one of the greatest tight ends of all-time. When Gronkowski is healthy he poses a threat that is almost impossible to stop on the defensive side of the ball. However, the main question throughout Gronkowski’s entire career has been his ability to stay healthy. The last time he played 16 games in a season was all the way back in 2011 and this year, he has looked like a shell of his former self at times. His three touchdowns in the regular season tied a career low, his 52.5 yards per game was the worst total of his career since his rookie season in 2010, and there have been rumblings that he might retire after the Super Bowl.
Having said that, Gronkowski can still pose a threat to opposing defenses. In his last game in the AFC Championship against the Kansas City Chiefs, he had six receptions for 79 yards and was targeted 11 times by Brady. Even though he had quiet performances before that game (in his previous four games, he had just five receptions), he came alive in the AFC Championship and played a big part in New England’s victory. Which version of Rob Gronkowski will show up in the Super Bowl- the one who looks sluggish and injured, or the one who looks like a Hall of Fame player?
Patriots Defense: Which version of the run defense will we see?
Entering the postseason, one of the biggest concerns for the Patriots was their run defense. In the regular season, the Patriots allowed opponents to rush for an average of 4.9 yards per carry. This was the fourth worst total in the NFL, and it was something that killed the Patriots at times during the regular season. Against Pittsburgh, they allowed 142 yards on 19 carries to Jaylen Samuels in a loss. Against Miami, they allowed 92 yards on 12 carries to Frank Gore in a loss. And, against Detroit, they allowed 101 yards on 16 carries to Kerryon Johnson in a loss.
However, the switch was seemingly flipped in the postseason. The Chargers entered the postseason with one of the best backfields in football, headlined by Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler; the Patriots shut them down and held the Chargers to 19 rushing yards on less than two yards per carry. Kansas City halfback Damien Williams was coming off of a fantastic game against the Indianapolis Colts, with 129 yards on 25 carries; against the Patriots in the following game in the AFC Championship, he was held to just 30 yards and was shut down. Despite some struggles in the regular season, the Patriots have had an exceptional postseason when it comes to stopping the run. Against a dynamic Rams backfield with Todd Gurley and CJ Anderson, can the Patriots keep that going, or will they revert to their old struggles against the run?
Rams Offense: How will the Rams’ dynamic backfield be used?
Perhaps no midseason acquisition in the league was more impactful than the Rams acquiring CJ Anderson. After playing nine games for the Carolina Panthers and barely being utilized (he had just 24 rushing attempts in Carolina), the Rams picked up the free agent and made him a critical part of the offense. When Todd Gurley got injured and Anderson had to start the final two games of the regular season, he performed exceptionally well, picking up 299 rushing yards and two touchdowns in those two games.
It can be argued that the Rams have the best halfback in the entire league in Todd Gurley. He’s led the league in rushing touchdowns in each of the past two seasons, and had 17 rushing touchdowns in 2018, which is the third highest total in franchise history, only behind Eric Dickerson’s 18 rushing touchdowns in 1983 and Marshall Faulk’s 18 rushing touchdowns in 2000. However, during the postseason, Gurley has been on the sidelines. Over the two playoff games, Anderson has gotten the majority of the reps; Anderson has gotten 39 carries, while Gurley has gotten 20. Against the Saints, Gurley only had four rushing attempts. How will the Rams use their backfield against the Patriots? Will they give the majority of the carries to Gurley, will they do what they’ve been doing in the postseason and get Anderson heavily involved, or will they split the reps evenly?
Rams Defense: Can the Rams get to Tom Brady?
It’s no secret that any team that wants to beat the Patriots has to be able to apply pressure and get to Tom Brady. This is way easier said than done, during the postseason Brady has not been sacked. Over New England’s last eight games, Brady has been sacked just six times and has only been sacked more than once in one of those games (two sacks in week 14 against the Miami Dolphins). This season, when Tom Brady gets sacked multiple times in a game, the Patriots are 4-4; when Brady takes less than two sacks in a game, the Patriots are 9-1. If the saying that defense wins championships is true, then the Rams are going to need to do everything to get to Brady and apply some defensive pressure.
The Rams have a defensive line that has an opportunity to force some pressure. Aaron Donald finished the season with 20.5 sacks, which led the NFL and is the seventh-best total in league history; he will likely end the season as the Defensive Player of the Year. Dante Fowler, who was acquired in a midseason trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a third-round pick, has had an exceptional postseason, recording 1.5 sacks and three quarterback hits. He’s also had success against the Patriots in the past; in his last two games against the Patriots, both as a member of the Jaguars, he has three sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, two tackles for a loss, and three quarterback hits. And, while Ndamukong Suh has somewhat struggled this season, he is starting to pick it up as of late; he had 1.5 sacks in the NFC Championship against New Orleans and has recorded multiple quarterback hits in four of his last five games. On paper, the Rams have the talent to force pressure and get Tom Brady rattled. Whether that will translate onto the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium remains to be seen.
On Sunday, the New England Patriots will look to tie the NFL record and get their sixth Super Bowl victory in franchise history, while the Los Angeles Rams will look to win the Super Bowl for the second time. Photo by madjacksports.com