Why The Rams Will Win The Super Bowl, Send Message To Patriots And The Rest Of The NFL

The Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots didn't look like underdogs in their admittedly unconvincing conference championship wins. When the two teams face off Sunday in Atlanta there should be plenty of twists and turns in what could be another classic Super Bowl.

The Rams and Patriots enter the matchup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with more in common than many might think. Both teams are coming off overtime road wins in their conference championships with a little help from the refs in the fourth quarter — the Rams were spared a pass interference call against the New Orleans Saints, while the Patriots extended a drive with a questionable roughing the passer call against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The two teams boast an efficient offense and a defense that finds a way to do just enough to win. They are led by head coaches who seem to pride themselves on getting the most out of every player.

But New England has far more experience in title games than L.A. and look more battle-tested in close games. All eight Super Bowl appearances under quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick were tight contests and this one should be no different. Oddsmakers have the Patriots favored by just 2.5 points, while ESPN's Football Power Index gives the Rams a 52.4 percent chance of winning.

While the Patriots have enjoyed great success over the past 18 seasons, they have also had their share of troubles on the big stage. New England lost three Super Bowls under Brady and Belichick — the Philadelphia Eagles got the best of them last year — proving that they aren't quite as invincible as some might assume.

The Patriots can be forgiven for having some extra butterflies in their stomach this weekend. In what could very well be another nail-biter, there is plenty of reason to believe the Rams will come away with their first Super Bowl win since 2000.

Goff Will Find His Receivers

Young quarterback Jared Goff has shown little fear in the postseason so he should be up for the challenge against the Patriots. After tolerating the excruciating noise in New Orleans, he will welcome the neutral surface in Atlanta and the sporadic noise that comes with it. Goff is a good threat to run but when he throws he delivers accurate passes to an impressive cast of receivers.

Brandin Cooks torched his other former team in the NFC Championship and is more than capable of putting up another strong effort against his other former team in the Super Bowl. The Patriots secondary struggled to contain former Ram playmaker Sammy Watkins in the AFC Championship and can expect additional headaches from the speedy Cooks.

Robert Woods fulfilled his potential in his first full season since 2014 and might be the X factor for Los Angeles. He runs his routes well, has breakaway speed and reliable hands. Woods has shined in this offense, leading to 1,219 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 2018. Though All-Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore will probably be assigned to cover him, Woods had little problems against an Arizona Cardinals' secondary that includes Patrick Peterson.

And Los Angeles has more weapons than their top two receivers. When Cooper Kupp went down with a season-ending injury, the Rams didn't skip a beat with Josh Reynolds. The second-year wideout is no longer a secret weapon, having caught 29 passes for 402 yards and five touchdowns in 2018 after limited playing time in 2017.

It doesn't end there. Don't be surprised if Sean McVay's offense gets more clutch performances from unheralded tight ends Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett. Even the running backs have a dominating presence in the passing game, with a total of 70 completions and five touchdowns in the regular season.

Goff has shown a strong command of the offense and his targets excel at yards after catch (YAC). Everett, in particular, looked unstoppable with a 39-yard catch and run in the fourth quarter against the Saints.

Patriots safeties Patrick Chung and Devin McCourty may need to play the game of their lives to contain this group.

While Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes may have had some problems against the Patriots in the Kansas City cold, Goff could find it very easy to find his receivers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. In two games against the Saints in New Orleans, he threw for 391 yards and 297 yards.

Jet Sweeps

A huge part of the Rams' offense is the jet sweep. Many teams use the motion play but the Rams seem to do it better than anyone else. Opposing defenses know it's coming and simply can't defend it, as Woods, Cooks and Reynolds execute the play to perfection. The jet sweep often serves as a great tool in fakes, which can lead to even bigger plays.

McVay curiously didn't call jet sweeps against the Chicago Bears in Week 14, leading to the Rams to muster just six points. The lesson was learned, as the Rams reverted back to their bread-and-butter play to a 31.6-point scoring average in their last five games.

Gurley And Anderson Are A Devastating Combo

Todd Gurley, who should be fully fit on Sunday, is coming off a poor game against the Saints but remains one of the NFL's most explosive running backs. His mere presence in the backfield should serve as an obstacle for the Patriots defense.

Gurley will also enter the game with a chip on his shoulder. A dropped ball in the first quarter against the Saints resulted in an interception and aside from his six-yard touchdown run Gurley managed just four yards on three carries. It was an uncharacteristically poor effort for an all-purpose back who had 1,831 total yards in the regular season.

C.J. Anderson has emerged as a key weapon in McVay's offense, as he often takes advantage of holes, barreling through defenses with ease. McVay can count on Anderson to pick up first downs on short-yardage situations against a Patriots defense that finished 11th against the rush, while competing in the weak-rushing AFC East.

In two playoff games, Gurley and Anderson combined for 292 rushing yards and four touchdowns. In the regular season, they combined for eight games of 100 yards rushing or more. McVay can count on at least one of them to have a big game in the Super Bowl.

Creative Coaching

Eagles head coach Doug Pederson pulled out all the stops in a win against the Patriots in Super Bowl LII so don't be surprised if McVay digs into his bag of tricks, as well. The 33-year-old head coach won't have reservations about running a trick play and don't be surprised if he takes a chance at an oddly timed moment. Throwing off Belichick often seems like the only way to beat New England.

Special teams coordinator John Fassel even ran a trick play against the Saints that involved the punter passing to a defensive back for a first down.

Highly Effective Offensive Line

When Gurley went down with a left knee injury, the Rams showed little signs of slowing down due to one of the league's best lines. Before the Rams brought on Anderson, injured running back Malcolm Brown was averaging 4.9 yards a carry — the same average as Gurley. The Rams boast a talented group of rushers but much of their success can be credited to the line.

The passing game has also thrived because of the offensive line. Once considered a "bust" by some observers, Goff emerged as an MVP candidate due to the ample time he has to throw. The offensive line's effectiveness explains why the 24-year-old finished with just 12 interceptions — just one more than Brady.

The unit has been healthy, with the starters having played all 18 games. Left tackle Andrew Whitworth, left guard Rodger Saffold, center John Sullivan, right guard Austin Blythe and right tackle Rob Havenstein will be up to the task against a Patriots defense that finished 30th in the regular season in sacks (30).

In two playoff games, the Rams offensive line gave up just one sack. The Patriots' Kyle Van Noy and Trey Flowers will likely have a tougher time against the Rams than they did against the Chiefs.

Underrated Defense

Brady can expect plenty of pressure from not just superstar Aaron Donald but also the rest of the defensive line. Ndamukong Suh has stepped up in the playoffs, while Michael Brockers, John Franklin-Myers and Ethan Westbrooks have quietly had strong seasons.

Wade Phillips' unit has also gotten a big boost from the addition of outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. and the return of veteran cornerback Aqib Talib.

The secondary seems up to the task of slowing a Patriots receiving corps that lacks a true deep threat. After suffering a calf injury early in the season, cornerback Marcus Peters has shown flashes of brilliance and improved with the presence of Talib.

Other players to watch out for are linebackers Samson Ebukam and Cory Littleton, who have overachieved after the departure of Alec Ogletree.

The problem for the Rams defense for much of the season was depth but that carries little significance in the playoffs when starters play more. When tested in key situations, it became clear that the Rams defense was further along than many thought.

Indeed, this is a refreshed group from the one that conceded 31 points or more to six opponents, holding their two playoff opponents to an average of just 22.5 points. The Saints high-octane offense looked pedestrian in the NFC Championship with just a mere 290 total yards on 12 drives. Aside from a botched effort by safety Lamarcus Joyner on a deep fourth-quarter pass to Tedd Ginn, the Rams defense seemed to have held the Saints offense in check from start to finish.

Brady and Co. can't afford to make many mistakes against this defense. Phillips has a talented group of starters that can pressure the superstar quarterback enough that he may struggle to find his rhythm or even throw a regrettable pass or two. Expect Belichick to play it safe with Sony Michel, Rex Burkhead and James White for the bulk of the plays to keep the game competitive.

Excellent Special Teams

Placekicker Greg Zuerlein showed in the NFC Championship what he could do in clutch situations and in a dome, so the Patriots should feel a little nervous when the Rams set up to kick. The Thursday injury report listed Zuerlein as "limited" with a left foot injury but fortunately he kicks with his right.

The Rams offense is so effective that they rarely have to punt, but when they do they have a Pro Bowler in Johnny Hekker, who can also throw a pass on a trick play.

How It Will End

Though the Rams don't have experience on their side, they have consistently outplayed their opponents over 18 games, with the lone exception being the strangely uninspired road effort against the Bears.

This team knows how to win and has every base covered. As usual, the Patriots will put up a great fight but it won't be enough. The Rams potent offense, improved defense and efficient special teams are simply too much to overcome.

Expect the Rams to have a couple of missteps along the way but still pull off a deserving win. Don't look now but a new dynasty might be brewing.

Rams over Patriots, 34-28