Before the 2018/19 NFL season, the Patriots and the Rams were trendy selections to reach Super Bowl 53 for completely different reasons. The Los Angeles Rams were the up-and-coming bully in the NFC with a fresh new roster, while the New England Patriots were considered an established team that was reloaded with AFC power after appearing in Super Bowls for two consecutive seasons.
Why the Rams Could Win Super Bowl 53
Super Bowl 53, in some ways, features contrast in Atlanta. In others, the Patriots and the Rams are more similar than fans might believe. Bill Belichick from New England and Sean McVay from the Rams are the longest-tenured and youngest coaches within the NFL, respectively. However, both of them are widely respected. A huge chunk of the key starters for the Rams were acquired during 2018 through free agency or trades versus just a handful for the Patriots. However, the number of players for the Rams who were drafted is 28, while that number is 29 for the Patriots.
Obviously, some of those acquisitions that were made by the Rams is the primary reason why they will have the edge over the Patriots when Super Bowl 53 rolls around. Les Snead, the general manager for the Rams, had a clear mission to improve the overall
Los Angeles Rams Defense
Some might argue that the defense of the Rams underachieved during the regular season as they managed to allow 24 points on an average per match which placed them 20th in the league. However, that defense of the Rams managed to hold the Saints to 23 points and 290 total yards which included overtime, during the NFC championship match.
On the other hand, the defense of the Patriots that were ranked 7th in the league with a 20.3 point average per match during the regular season managed to slip during the postseason against the Chiefs and Chargers. The 29.5 point average that the Patriots allowed in both those matches is the most out of all teams in the playoffs.
However, Sony Michel, the running back for the Patriots, has been the league’s most productive rusher by far during the postseason. That is exactly why Suh is considered such an important player when it comes to the Super Bowl.
The Patriots will see a Rams run defense that managed to rank 23rd in the league who will most likely produce another run-heavy game plan which will be a similar approach to what they faced during their games against the Chiefs and Chargers. However, New England haven’t faced the Donald and Suh defense duo before which might be a huge problem for them.
The Rams will have the best player on their side in Donald and due to their timely roster-stuffing, they certainly have the best team on the field when they face New England.