Super Bowl LIII Preview

Super Bowl LIII Preview

     Another season in the NFL has almost left us. Now that the Pro Bowl has finished, it’s time for the world to focus on the Super Bowl. In a year in which it looked like surprises were about to be had in the National Football League, either the league or the Football Gods dealt us one more AFC ticket held by the Foxboro faithful. They’re making their ninth appearance in seventeen years.

     I find it fascinating that Tom Brady, who faced the Rams in his first Super Bowl, is facing the Rams in his ninth go around. To give an example of how much the game has changed since his 2001 campaign, the Rams were in St. Louis then. Different city, same situation, no matter how many things change, some things stay the same.

    The Rams are once again blessed with a great passing and running game. The only thing missing is that receiving corps from ’99-’01. Tyreek Hill is a world-class receiver going up against a world-class cornerback in Stephon Gilmore. The best thing the Rams can do is go back and watch all of the Super Bowls New England’s played in since that time. I’m sure they’ll find something to work on.

    Some will hold something against the Rams for stealing the NFC Championship from the Saints but the bottom line is that New Orleans continually allowed Los Angeles to get back into the game. The league did put the screws to New Orleans but that situation could’ve been avoided had the Saints been more effective. Then again, maybe the Rams play kept such a thing from happening.

    PATRIOTS:

    “We’re still here”, those are the three words New England’s plunged into the rib cage of the American psyche. I should’ve known the gig was up when the Chargers went out in Foxboro. All this talk about being great on the road and a possible upset…like Kansas City was going to do anything with their 31st ranked defense.

    All this talk about the Los Angeles offense, the Patriots have averaged 500 yards of offense in these playoffs. Julian Edelman has 247 receiving yards while Sony Mitchell’s gained 242 yards on the ground. This has happened in two games people, will the Rams D be able to keep up? That’s a question.

    The Rams are one of the youngest teams in the league while the Patriots are one of the oldest. That’s one of the biggest headlines heading into the Super Bowl, the student-master like showdown. Atlanta unfolded with their big lead while Philly wasn’t assured a win until the very end. What will this game showcase?

    Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are the models of the NFL. Their success had and will continue to be the standard for the next 50 years of Football. The way they’ve gotten back over and over throughout all of these years is something to behold. Is Brady the greatest Football Player ever? If he wins this Sunday, I think he is.

    And that’s a big if.

    RAMS:

    Reason being is Aaron Donald. Yes, the Aaron Donald, who might’ve eclipsed JJ Watt as the best D-Tackle in the league this year. There are some who feel he should be MVP of the league and I’m all for it. I don’t see why there aren’t more Defensive Players named as MVP and Donald would surely deserve it this year.

    Aaron Donald will spearhead the pressure on Tom Brady and Belichick knows this. We’ve all seen what pressure does to Brady’s rhythm and the Rams must lay the hits down. Of course, in the watered-down NFL, that’s going to cost them which is bullshit but hey…I don’t make those dumbass rules.

     Thanks to the debauchery of last week, I feel the league will be tamer with the calls made this coming Sunday. Should the ref-ball continue, there may be an all-out boycott of the NFL next year. In the meantime, Rams, hit Brady when you can. Don’t be held back by PC Football.

    Los Angeles is in the Super Bowl but from what I hear, it’s not that big of a deal in the city of Angels. What I mean is that the team has been there for just a few years so their following isn’t that of the Lakers or the Dodgers but with a win, that might change. Sean McVay, the hottest commodity in the NFL right now, just got hotter.

    With a win, McVay can shift the power from Foxboro to Los Angeles. Can the Rams become something if they win? Of course, they can. They can eclipse the Greatest Show on Turf and go on to be the next great team but what gives? CJ Anderson has done a great job filling in for Todd Gurley but you’d have to think Belichick has something us his sleeve for that.

     Will Belichick force the Rams to become a one-dimensional offense? That tends to cause more turnovers, which is the whole point of defense. Jared Goff has been a tad underwhelming this postseason but has stepped up when it’s mattered most. He wears 16 because he idolizes Joe Montana, so does the man he’s facing. There are many who claim Brady has eclipsed Montana but should he lose this Sunday, such talk must disperse.

    Should he win, I’ll reconsider but the Rams have a great opportunity here. No one believes in them. Everyone is looking at them as a fluke or not deserving of this trip to Atlanta but they’ve got the weapons to make something happen. Should Belichick and Brady win, they would set a new precedent that may never be topped again in the NFL.

    Should the Rams win, it would make things very interesting in the NFL. No one knows how much more time Brady has in the take. The Rams could start something amazing here but then again, how many promising dynasties derail too soon or never get started at all?

  Listen to me, talking about a Rams dynasty. These kids haven’t won one Super Bowl. Let’s just focus on the game February 3rd. It should be a good one. I’m looking forward to the Goff-Brady duel. It should be almost as enticing as the Belichick-McVay duel. How will the Patriots O-Line handle Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh?

    Will Todd Gurley bust out for a big performance? CJ Anderson? Or will the Patriots shut down the Rams top-rated running game while making a fool out of Jared Goff’s right arm? These are questions that I’m awaiting an answer too. I hope Maroon 5 instills some kind of Spongebob tribute during the half-time show and I wish people would stop giving Gladys Knight a hard time for singing the National Anthem. I’m sure she’ll hit a grand slam.

    It’s already a compelling match-up for several reasons and I hope the game lives up to the hype. Last week, despite some irritations, we had a historic weekend. I hope this Super Bowl eclipses that notion and goes down as the greatest Super Bowl ever. The last two have been amazing, let three times be a charm as well.

Oh, by the way, Go Rams.

-By: Thomas P. Braun Jr.