Patriots do just enough to beat Rams in Super Bowl 53

ATLANTA — The dynasty’s not dead yet.

Tom Brady and the Patriots offense looked dormant for most of Sunday’s Super Bowl LIII, but they awoke in a big way in the fourth quarter on a five-play scoring drive that showcased the three men who have been such a huge part of the Patriots’ recent run — Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman — and they are Super Bowl champions again.

Sony Michel plunged into the end zone from the 2-yard line for the go-ahead touchdown with seven minutes left in the game. The Patriots added a Stephen Gostkowski field goal late for a 13-3 win over the Rams, New England’s sixth Super Bowl title and second in three years. It was the lowest-scoring Super Bowl ever played.

The Rams defense held Brady in check for most of the game, setting the tone with an interception of his first pass. But the Patriots took over the ball with 9:49 left at their own 31 and came to life. Brady hit Gronkowski for an 18-yard gain on the first play. Then, he found Edelman for his eighth first down of the day, this one a 13-yard grab. Rex Burkhead then caught a 7-yard pass from Brady.

Gronkowski, whom some pronounced dead this season, beat Cory Littleton for a 29-yard gain to put the ball at the 2-yard line, setting up Michel’s touchdown.

In an NFL season defined by offense, it was the defenses that controlled this game. The game was 3-0 at the end of the first half and 3-3 at the end of the third quarter.

After Brady and the Patriots showed life in the fourth quarter, it appeared Rams quarterback Jared Goff might have an answer. He moved the Rams to the Patriots 27 on the next drive, coming up with some big throws to Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods. But he missed a touchdown to Cooks in the front corner of the end zone when Patriots safety Duron Harmon made a play on the ball. On the next play, Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore intercepted Goff at the 4-yard line with 4:17 left in the game on another pass intended for Cooks.

After the turnover, the Patriots held the ball until Gostkowski kicked a 41-yard field goal with 1:12 left to secure the 13-3 win. Greg Zuerlein missed a 48-yard field goal attempt with five seconds left to set off the New England celebration.

The Patriots are now tied with the Steelers with six Super Bowl titles, further solidifying the legacies of Brady and coach Bill Belichick. It is their second title in three years and third in five.
Edelman finished with 10 catches for 141 yards to lead the Patriots. Brady went 21-of-35 for 262 yards and the interception.

The quarterback matchup between Patriots legend Brady and Rams upstart Goff fizzled for most of the day. Both quarterbacks played poorly. Brady was uncharacteristically shaky. He threw an interception on his first pass of the game and made some terrible throws.

The Patriots were able to get a 42-yard field goal with 10:29 left in the second quarter from Gostkowski, who had missed an earlier field goal. That 3-0 lead stood until deep into the third quarter.

Goff looked nervous playing in his first Super Bowl and struggled against the Patriots pressure defense. The Rams failed to convert on their first eight third downs. They finally broke through in the third quarter on a third-and-6 from the 47. Goff found Woods for an 18-yard gain and the Rams offense finally felt like it was moving.

Goff went 19-for-38 for 229 yards with one interception.

On the next play, though, Goff missed a wide-open Cooks in the end zone, seeing the wide receiver too late and giving Patriots cornerback Jason McCourty enough time to get to Cooks and break up the sure touchdown. Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower ended the Rams’ touchdown hopes with a third-down sack of Goff. Hightower came flying through the Rams’ line and Goff lost 9 yards. That gave Zuerlein a 53-yard field-goal attempt that he made with 2:11 left in the third quarter to tie the game at 3-3.

New England’s first two possessions of the game gave a clue of the offensive struggles that would be on display. The Patritos drove to the Rams 34 on their first drive by running the ball. Brady then attempted a pass on second-and-7, throwing it toward Chris Hogan. Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman got a hand on the ball, tipping it to his teammate Cory Littleton.

On the Patriots’ next possession, they again moved the ball pretty well. Brady began to connect with Edelman, who had a huge game. The Patriots reached the Rams’ 28 when Gostkowski came on to attempt a 46-yard field goal that he missed wide left.

The game was scoreless at the end of the first quarter. The Patriots’ streak of not scoring a touchdown in the first quarter in their nine Super Bowls under Belichick continued.

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