Rams overwhelm Patriots
It’s over.
The season, any reasonable shot at the postseason, maybe even attaining a winning record.
It’s all over.
The Rams vanquished the Patriots 24-3 Thursday night in a lopsided Super Bowl rematch that hardly resembled their back-and-forth title bout from two years ago. The Pats’ streak of claiming 11 straight division titles could end as soon as Sunday in Buffalo with a Bills win over Pittsburgh. At 6-7, the Pats will need to win out and receive an inordinate amount of help to remain in contention for a Wild Card spot come Week 17.
Not to mention better quarterback play.
In Los Angeles, Cam Newton was pulled in the fourth quarter for backup Jarrett Stidham, who led the offense into two turnovers on downs and a punt over his three possessions. Newton finished 9-of-16 for 119 yards and a costly pick-six, which dropped the Pats into an early 17-point hole. He was also stuffed on a fourthand-goal run in the second quarter from LA’s 3-yard line, the closest his offense came to a touchdown all night.
The Patriots were outmuscled and out-coached by the team they last beat in the postseason, a Rams squad that rushed for 187 yards and collected six sacks. It was easy living in LA, right from the start.
The Rams cruised to an opening-drive touchdown on six plays, with quarterback Jared Goff leaping to extend the ball over the goal line for a 1-yard score on fourth-and-goal. The Pats responded with a three-andout, then allowed Goff to guide his offense back down for a field goal.
The Patriots’ response then, trailing 10-0? Another three-and-out.
But defensively, they received help from an unlikely, undrafted source. Chasing Rams wideout Robert Woods on a shallow crossing route, rookie cornerback Myles Bryant wrestled free a pass fired low and behind Woods as the two tumbled toward the sideline. Bryant’s ensuing touchdown return was called back, as a review determined he was down by contact.
Too bad. The Pats didn’t know it yet, but they needed that.
Three plays later, Newton matched Goff’s goof, lofting a hurried screen pass into the arms of Rams linebacker Kenny Young to start the second quarter. Seventynine yards later, Young was celebrating in the end zone, as coach Sean McVay sprinted down the sideline. Super Bowl LIII, the lowest-scoring game in Super Bowl history, suddenly felt like a distant, distant memory.
At last, the Pats offense strung together a few first downs, pounding out their problems on the ground over a 66-yard march. That is until they reached the red zone. Four straight goal-togo runs, the last a failed option play, netted three yards and ended with determined Rams front sending Newton backwards and handing possession back to its offense.
Backed up at his own 3-yard line, Goff created sufficient breathing room for the Rams, before sputtering some more. He went 16-of25 for 137 yards, one touchdown and a pick.
After a Los Angeles punt, the Pats mounted another drive, this time balancing their use of Damien Harris as a hammer and Newton’s arm as a slingshot to carry them downfield. His 25-yard strike to Damiere Byrd was perhaps his finest of the night.
But that series again sunk into the quicksand of the red zone, forcing Nick Folk to drill a 29-yard field goal. Another Rams punt and a failed Patriots attempt to score before the half froze the 17-3 margin at intermission.
While the Pats remained stuck in neutral with a three-and-out, McVay revved his Rams up one last time, orchestrating a 16-play, 90-yard drive that zapped almost 10 minutes off the clock before Goff slipped a 2-yard strike to Los Angeles wide receiver Cooper Kupp before Kupp stepped out of bounds and into the waiting arms of victory.
Here were the Patriots’ best and worst performances from Thursday:
Best
CB Myles Bryant His first career interception was a beauty. The undrafted rookie has seen his role on defense increase the last four weeks.
PR Gunner Olszewski Five days after scoring his first NFL touchdown, Olszewski nearly broke free multiple times. He averaged 9.4 yards per punt return.
Worst
OT Jermaine Eluemunor He allowed two sacks in the span of five plays during the third quarter.
Run defense The Patriots were out-numbered, outworked and out-leveraged. This was bad in every way possible.
Coaching The Rams started faster, racing out to a 17-0 lead, and then finished the Pats off with key halftime adjustments.
After Bill Belichick and his defense dominated in the Super Bowl, McVay got some revenge.