The New England Patriots held the second highest scoring team in the NFL this season to just 291 total yards and a field goal, and Sony Michel had a fourth quarter touchdown run to break a 3-3 tie as the Patriots won their sixth Super Bowl title in the Brady-Belichik era on Sunday with a 13-3 win over the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta in Super Bowl LIII.
New Englands defense had Los Angeles off balance all night, consistently putting pressure on quarterback Jared Goff who was sacked four times. Despite the difference in yardage in the first half the Patriots could only muster a 42 yard second quarter field goal by Stephen Gostkowski to take a 3-0 lead at the half. Julian Edelman made a 26 yard reception to set up the field goal on a 3rd and 1 play, and had 93 yards receiving alone in the first half. Quarterback Tom Brady was intercepted as New England was driving to open the game by Cory Littleton at the Rams 28 yard line, and Gostkowski also missed a field goal attempt of 44 yards in the opening quarter. The Patriots also couldn’t convert on a 4th and 1 from the Rams 32 yard line late in the first half with 1:13 left.
Los Angeles (15-4) was finally able to break through and tie the game in the third quarter when Greg Zuerlin hit a 53 yard field goal to make it 3-3. On the drive Goff completed passes of 15 yards to Brandin Cooks and 20 yards to Robert Woods, and under threw an open Cooks who would of had a touchdown, and then took a nine yard sack on a 3rd down and 7 play forcing the field goal attempt. With less than 10 minutes to play in the game, Michel started a drive with a 20 yard run. Passing plays to Rob Gronkowski of 18 yards and then 29 yards set things up at the Rams 2 yard line. Michel ran it up the middle and into the endzone on the next play for the only touchdown of the game to make it 10-3 Patriots with just over seven minutes left. Goff though led the Rams deep into New England territory when he got the ball back. Cooks had a great chance again on a pass from Goff from the Patriots 27 yard line, but couldn’t come up with it in the endzone on what would of been the tying score. Goffs next pass was intercepted by Stephon Gilmore at the 3 yard line with just over four minutes remaining to play. On the ensuing Patriots possession, two big runs by Michel and one of 26 yards by Rex Burkhead set things up as they attempted to put Los Angeles away. Later in the drive the Patriots came up short on 3rd down and 1, and Gostkowksi was forced into a 41 yard field goal which was good on 4th down with 1:16 left that gave New England a 10 point lead and all but sealed the win. Zuerlin attempted to get the Rams back within seven points with eight seconds left with a 48 yard field goal, but it was no good.
Brady finished his night 21-35 passing, 262 yards, and one interception. Michel had 18 carries for 93 yards, while Burkhead added 43 yards on seven attempts as the Patriots rushed for 154 yards on the night including 70 of those yards on the final scoring drive that clinched the win. Edelman garnered the Super Bowl MVP finishing with 10 receptions for 141 yards. Jonathan Jones led the defense with eight total tackles and a sack, while Gilmore added five tackles and the big interception late. New England improves to 6-5 overall as a franchise in Super Bowl games, now 6-3 since the start of the Brady-Belichik era. The Pats finish with a final 2018-19 record of 14-5. Goff went 19-38, 229 yards, and one interception. Todd Gurley led the Rams running game, who struggled all night against the Patriots front seven, carrying 10 times for just 35 yards. LA only had 62 total yards rushing. Cooks had eight receptions for 120 yards, while Woods added 70 yards on five catches. Littleton had 10 total tackles and an interception to lead the defense.
The victory parade celebrating the World Champion Patriots is set to begin Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. on Boylston Street in Downtown Boston.
