By Christian Clark
NFC Champions: Los Angeles Rams
The Greatest Show on Turf is back on the NFL’s brightest stage. The Rams went all-in on the 2018-19 season and it has certainly paid dividends up to this point. On offense, Jared Goff set the league ablaze with nearly 4,700 yards passing and 32 touchdown passes to his name. To support him has been two dynamic receivers with similar stats with former Patriots WR Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods both surpassing 1,200 yards and at least five touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball is arguably the best defensive player in the league, DT Aaron Donald. His 20.5 sacks leads the NFL this year. Amidst controversy, Greg Zuerlein and Goff came up clutch to send the Rams back to the big game. Will it be a hollywood ending for McVay and Co?
AFC Champions: New England Patriots
Never count out the Patriots. Tom Brady is in his NINTH, yes his NINTH Super Bowl. Should we just cancel the AFC? After all, following the win in Arrowhead, the AFC Championship has essentially become the “Tom Brady Invitational.” Back to the point. 11-5 was a “disappointment” in the eyes of Pats fans but their third Super Bowl appearance suggests this season was anything but. New England started off the season 1-2 with some questionable midseason losses to Miami and a blowout against Tennessee. However, knocking off premier teams like the Bears, Chargers, and Chiefs twice, shows they still have what it takes to take home another Lombardi. Josh Gordon left the team following the Steelers game but Julian Edelman and Chris Hogan have done enough to pick up the slack. Can the Patriots stun the league once again and take down one of the league’s young best young squads.
Super Bowl LIII Prediction:
Two of the NFL’s marquee franchise’s square up in Hotlanta as the AFC’s New England Patriots take flight in a Super Bowl 36 rematch against the NFC representative, the Los Angeles Rams. The last couple of years have been a whirlwind for the Rams. In 2015, they left the gateway to the west, St. Louis, and jettisoned their way to Los Angeles. Their first season in LA was a struggle with former Rams QB Case Keenum looking terrible and 2016’s first overall pick, Jared Goff, looking like a bust early. Enter Sean McVay, a then, offensive coordinator for the Redskins. The Rams immediately turned into a Super Bowl contender as the Rams finished 11-5 and NFC West champions. They fell to the Falcons in the playoffs but used that as motivation for their 2018 season to finish 13-3 and pave their path to the Super Bowl.
The Patriots are in their fourth Super Bowl in the last five years as 41 year old Tom Brady goes for Ring No. 6. The season started off a little rough with an L to the Jags and Lions but they turned it on when they needed to, especially in the playoffs to knock off the Chiefs and give themselves a chance at glory atop the NFL. The radial symmetry in the Patriots dynasty under Bill Belichick and Tom Brady is pretty scary. They ignited their dynasty as the “underdog” Pats upset the Rams on an Adam Vinatieri field goal. Will the dynasty conclude in style with another dramatic win against the same team...with the exception of being in a different city?
The championship games are over and now it’s time for the final showdown. In Super Bowl 53, we will see the largest difference of ages as Tom Brady, 41, and Jared Goff who is 24. Both offenses are explosive and have the capability of providing a great show. On the Patriots offense are the usual subjects of Gronk, Chris Hogan, and Julian Edelman. The trio of backs with rookie Sony Michel, receiving back Rex Burkhead, and James White who has had his fair share of Super Bowl moments including Super Bowl 51’s three touchdown effort. I fully expect James White to have another breakout game in this one.
For the Rams defense, the spotlight may be on little known linebackers in Cory Littleton and Samson Ebukam. Out of the two, Ebukam has had the quieter season with just 40 tackles. However, his performance in the LA vs Kansas City mid-season shootout put him on the map with an interception, a fumble recovery for a TD, and a sack to take down the presumed MVP Patrick Mahomes. As for Littleton, the undrafted player out of Washington has now turned into one of the solid young stars on LA’s front seven. He currently leads the team with 125 tackles and turned in a dominate performance in the NFC Championship victory over New Orleans.
The Patriots linebackers are no slouches either with Donta Hightower and Kyle Van Noy having nice seasons. Offensively, the Rams will need Todd Gurley and C.J. Anderson to have effective days in the trenches to alleviate the stress off of Goff’s passing attack. Most people will discuss electrifying receiver Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods but ultimately if the ground game doesn’t roll, it won’t be good against a Pats D that continues to defy all odds.
New England will have a tough task with defensive backs Stephon Gilmore and Devin McCourty having to match up against Cooks and Woods. However, the most interesting matchup may be in the slot. In Week 10, Rams WR Cooper Kupp tore his ACL on a non-contact play which thrusted Josh Reynolds into the spotlight. In the NFC Championship, Reynolds came up clutch with a big catch on the Rams final drive in regulation to help set up the tying field goal. The Reynolds vs Pats slot defender J.C. Jackson matchup may not be talked about very much but it could provide the key for a Rams victory.
The Patriots O-line will need to be elite once again as they’ve kept Tom Brady off the turf so far in the postseason.The way the Pats lose this game would most likely be if Aaron Donald, Ndamukong Suh, and Dante Fowler are getting into the face of the five time world champion. The offense will get their due so the Rams will need to capitalize on the few opportunities they get to fluster Brady.
Who’s taking home the Lombardi. At the beginning of the season, I had the Rams taking on the Jaguars in the Super Bowl. Well...I got half right. Another reason to not doubt Tom Brady. Overall, I have been very impressed with how Los Angeles and New England have dealt with adversity to get within a game of hoisting the league’s most coveted prize. Ultimately, I believe that this Super Bowl will be another close one that will come down to the last drive of the game. Expect the first half to be a little sluggish with the fourth quarter providing all the fireworks. At the end of the day, I trust the experienced Tom Brady to engineer a clutch game winning drive against the Rams and give the Patriots their sixth ring in franchise history.
New England 31, Los Angeles 27.
X-Factors:
C.J. Anderson, RB, Rams
For LA’s offense, look no further than CJ Anderson. Once a free agent twice this season, he has found his niche with the team. Prior to the NFC Championship, Anderson had 66 carries for 422 yards rushing and four rushing TDs. It has been a revelation after being a part of Carolina and Oakland for parts of the year and it almost seems like he has supplanted Todd Gurley in terms of total carries and the impact with the team. I expect Anderson to outperform Gurley once again and provide Los Angeles with the needed boost to keep it competitive throughout.
Dante Fowler Jr, LB, Rams
Defensively, the media mostly focuses their talks mostly about Aaron Donald, Marcus Peters, and Ndamukong Suh and for good reason. However, one of the key players that could cause havoc and give the Rams defense a boost is Dante Fowler Jr. He was the a key contributor in the NFC Championship game as his pressure forced Brees into a season-changing interception to help send LA to the big game. If his can replicate his impact, the Rams may win their second Super Bowl in franchise history.
James White, RB, Patriots
Next up on the X-Factor is James White. His 14 carries for 110 yards in Super Bowl 51 set a record. His Super Bowl 52 performance wasn’t as dynamic but still reached the end-zone. I’ve noticed more than ever, Brady is relying on White in the short passing game to move the chains. Sony Michel will get the bulk of the carries but it will be up to White to provide Brady with easy “pitch and catch” opportunities to set up the big bombs as the game progresses.
Kyle Van Noy, LB, Patriots
If you tuned in to the AFC Championship, you may have seen Patrick Mahomes running sideways. LB Kyle Van Noy’s impact is the reason why the Patriots are playing for their sixth Lombardi. His ten tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble has given the Patriots confidence to rely on their pass rush and give Gilmore and McCourty time to cover Woods and Cooks. If Van Noy can get into the face of Goff, it could be a long day for LA.
Bold Predictions:
Three Patriots running backs score touchdowns in Super Bowl LIII (Michel, White, Burkhead)
Todd Gurley will be held under 75 total yards as his counterpart C.J. Anderson has two carries over 15 yards as he outrushes Gurley
WR Brandin Cooks will explode for 150 total yards but fails to score
P Johnny Hekker completes a fake punt for a first down
QB Tom Brady throws a pick-six
Quarter-by-Quarter Score Prediction
1st Quarter:
C.J. Anderson 8 yard TD run; Rams 7-0
2nd Quarter:
James White 5 yard TD REC from Brady; Tied 7-7
Greg Zuerlein 39 yard FG; Rams 10-7
Stephen Gostkowski 49 yard FG; Tied 10-10
Greg Zuerlein 60 yard FG; Rams 13-10
HALF
3rd Quarter:
Sony Michel 26 yard TD run; Patriots 17-13
4th Quarter:
Nickell Robey-Coleman 46 yard pick-six; Zuerlein XP miss; Rams 19-17
Rob Gronkowski 3 yard TD REC from Brady; Patriots 24-19
Josh Reynolds 51 yard TD REC from Goff; Todd Gurley 2PT Successful; Rams 27-24
Rex Burkhead 11 yard TD REC from Brady; Patriots 31-27
END
Super Bowl MVP: Tom Brady, QB, Patriots; (366 yards passing, 3 TDs, 1 INT)
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