The New England Patriots are Super Bowl Champions Once Again

The Patriots captured their franchise’s sixth Super Bowl on Sunday night after defeating the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 in Super Bowl LIII. The game was played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

The score was 3-3 until Patriots running back Sony Michel scored the go-ahead touchdown with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter. On the following drive, Rams quarterback Jared Goff threw an interception to Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore, essentially clinching the Super Bowl for the Patriots.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady threw for 262 passing yards — 141 of which went to his most reliable target and Super Bowl MVP — Julian Edelman. However, Brady’s stat line was not as flashy compared to his past Super Bowl performances. Failing to throw a touchdown, coupled with his lone interception, demonstrated the defensive struggle that both teams faced.

Tom Brady spoke to NFL Network analyst Willie McGinest after the game. “I can’t believe it,” he told McGinest. “What a year. I am just so proud of this team. How about our defense? They played unbelievably.” Brady said he was impressed with his team’s resilience all postseason long: “We had to grind it out and find a way, we did that against KC, we did it against LA, and finally did it tonight. World champs man, it’s pretty unreal.”

Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman had one of the best games of his career. Along with his ten receptions for 140 yards, Edelman strengthened his postseason reputation. Edelman passed Michael Irvin for the second-most receiving yards in NFL postseason history and only trails Jerry Rice. He also trails only Rice in postseason receptions. His postseason performances alone have played him into the Hall of Fame discussion.

In a game with little offense, a defensive clinic emerged that polarized the game’s audience. Many were bored by the low-scoring affair, but others were mesmerized by Wade Phillip’s and Brian Flores’ defense gameplans. Phillips, the Rams defensive coordinator, had historically given Brady problems and continued that trend Sunday night. Flores, the Patriots defensive coordinator, held the NFL’s second-highest scoring offensive team to just three points. Flores was also named the new head coach of the Miami Dolphins the following morning after the Super Bowl.

One of the many storylines of the game involved the head coaches of the Patriots and the Rams — Bill Belichick and Sean McVay. Belichick has won 292 career games and been a part of eight Super Bowls as a coach. Hailed as the “next Belichick,” McVay, who is only 33-years-old, has changed the culture of the Ram’s organization. Just last year, He was awarded the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year, becoming the youngest head coach ever to win the award.

The most confusing part of Super Bowl night was the Ram’s usage of star-running back Todd Gurley. During the regular season, Gurley was the focal point of the Ram’s offense. He ran for 1,251 yards and scored 17 rushing touchdowns during the season. However, Gurley was a no-show for the majority of the postseason and capped it off rushing for 35 yards on ten carries in the Super Bowl. During the Super Bowl, he was not hurt, which only adds to the suspicion as to why he did not play a more significant role.

Super Bowl LIII was a rematch of Super Bowl XXXVI 17 years ago, where the Patriots beat the St. Louis Rams 20-17. It was the Patriot’s first NFL championship. Flash-forward to 2019 and the Patriots find themselves tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers as the only two NFL franchises with six Super Bowl titles.

This win only strengthens the notion that the Patriot’s Dynasty is still going strong. Brady and Belichick have almost eclipsed every postseason record the NFL has to offer. Brady is the only position player to have won six Super Bowls, and Belichick tied George Halas and Curly Lambeau for the most NFL championships by a head coach. Despite being 41-years-old, Brady has shown he has what it takes to continue playing in the NFL.

On the postgame stage, as he hoisted his sixth Lombardi trophy, Brady exclaimed, “Look at this!” acknowledging the fans cheering him on, “How could this not motivate you?”

With Brady onboard for another season, the Patriots now look forward to the 2019 season, when the Patriots will try to become the only NFL team with seven NFL championships.