Defense Wins Championships

Photo Credit: National Football League

Photo Credit: National Football League

Colin Shashaty, Freelancer

Don’t count out the Patriots. Ever.

In a season that had people doubting them because Tom Brady looked like a slower version of himself, the New England Patriots can call themselves champions for the sixth time in franchise history after defeating the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 in the lowest scoring Super Bowl in NFL history.  This was the second time the Pats have defeated the Rams in the ‘Big Game’ dating back to Super Bowl XXXVI when a 24 year old Tom Brady took down future Hall of Famer Kurt Warner.

The game was a defensive chess match with both teams coming up with key stops throughout the game. Both teams had a tough time gaining any rhythm to their offense because of the lockdown defense both teams were playing. The score at the half indicated this fine play by both teams, as it was just 3-0. But when it mattered most late in the fourth quarter, Brady did what he has done best for so many years and stormed the Patriots down the field. With 7:03 left in the fourth quarter, Sony Michel’s one yard touchdown run proved to be the difference. The Rams looked as though they were going to counteract that drive but Rams quarterback Jared Goff was picked off by Stephon Gilmore, sealing another Patriots Super Bowl Win.

Discussing that last drive after the game, Brady went on to say, “ I thought we had good time of possession and (that’s) sometimes when you make the most plays. We moved the ball decent, we just couldn’t get the points on the board for one reason or another. But in the end, it feels a lot better than last year when we did get some points on the board and (it’s) just a great win for our team”.

The MVP of the game was Patriots Wide Receiver Julian Edelman, who caught 10 passes for 141 yards. Reflecting on the rollercoaster of a season the Patriots went through, Edelman said, “Tough times don’t last. Tough people do. I preach it, and I guess you have to live buy it”.

For the Rams, a very positive season with many high marks ended in such disbelief and disappointment. Head Coach Sean McVay was shocked on much he was out coached late in the game. “ It’s pretty numb right now, but I got out-coached,” McVay said at his postgame press conference. “ I didn’t do nearly as good for our football team. The thing that is so tough all of this is the finality to it”.