Pats vs. Rams Superbowl pre-game analysis

[Chevrolet]

Do the rams have a similar offense as philly did last year? Seems like to me that the rams are under center a lot

I believe the talent level on the Rams is very similar to the Eagles from last year. The patriots offense has a much better run game but worse pass offense. Pats defense this year is MUCH better than last year.
Overall I believe the competition is similar talent wise and coaching to last year but an improved Pats D will make the difference.
Based on Rams defense weakness, I belive Sony. James White and Burkhead will be very busy.
Both teams will be very aptient with the run to set up the pass.

 

[VectorPrime]

The Rams don’t run an RPO offense.

 

[luuked]

I’d have to disagree with Baltimore in 2014...I thought overall they played well against a tough opponent. Nothing from that game leads me to believe the Pats were lucky to win. The 2001 Raiders game was in the snow and Brady was a first year QB - hard to say it was a struggle given the circumstances.

They were down twice 14 points, needed trick formations and the double pass to get back into the game but this game was less of a struggle to you than the 2011 Ravens game where we were never down more than 7 ?

This is just exactly the kind of bias that makes this thing so pointless.

Similarly, they should have lost the 2016 SB against the Falcons even though they won the two other playoff games pretty easily.

 

[TinhWoodhead]

Just ram it down their throats!

 

[RobertWeathers]

Is there a practice/injury report today? I don’t remember if they release that stuff for the week before

My belief is an injury report is offered only the week before a game which takes place on the upcoming Sunday.

So, no.

EDIT: I'm wrong.


Mike ReissESPN Staff Writer
The Patriots submitted their first injury report of the Super Bowl bye week and there are no players listed. A clean sheet.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

They were down twice 14 points, needed trick formations and the double pass to get back into the game but this game was less of a struggle to you than the 2011 Ravens game where we were never down more than 7 ?

This is just exactly the kind of bias that makes this thing so pointless.

Similarly, they should have lost the 2016 SB against the Falcons even though they won the two other playoff games pretty easily.

I was much more confident in the 2014 team and it’s ability to come back against the Ravens than the 2011 team. The 2007 and 2011 teams were not peaking during playoff time. We can agree to disagree.

 

[UFGatorPat]

On the flipside the same can be said for our offense against their run defense. I think the game is pretty evenly matched based on perceived weaknesses and strengths except our pass defense is better than theirs.

I think their run defense is going to play closer to their recent results. I worry about them getting a lot of momentum and 3 and outs early. I also think they’re going to bracket Jules a lot, so our game plan needs to be a bit unique early on in both the run and pass game. I think we can get Dorsett on a double move or could be a blown coverage with Patterson on a drag route or wheel route out of the backfield. I think they match up well with what we’ve been doing lately.

That said, our defense is capable of holding them to a very low amount thanks to that pass defense you mention and we can sell out to stop the run. I think we’ve stopped shooting gaps with Roberts and KVN for the most part and asking more of the DTs, and not giving up the gashing runs. We just need to avoid that big super bowl mistake from Tom or a fumble from a skill player, play with a small lead if needed, and go from there.

I think this ends up as 13-17 pt win for us or them in most scenarios, and I’m leaning like 55/45 us. There’s a thousand way it could play out, so that’s just the most likely IMO.

 

[UFGatorPat]

This and this again.

They are not the same offense without Cooper Kupp.

Goff is not the same QB without Kupp.

With Cupp and KC game (which was the first one he missed) 35 ppg.

After Kupp & KC: 24ppg

Goff w/ Kupp + KC game= 68% comp, 322ypg, 113 rating, 2.4TDs, .5INT per game
Goff after KC no Kupp= 59% 232ypg, 76.08 rating, 1TD, 1INT per game.

"MIKE, GOFF SUCKS AND HE BLOWS WITHOUT COOPER KUPP"

I’m the least concerned about their pass game, in fact not even remotely concerned. Only thing that opens that up is the run game getting going which will keep our pass rush at bay.

I wonder if Clayborn gets more run or less with their run game ability and all of the bootlegs and rollouts.

 

[Redman443]

Isn’t SB 36 the last time we scored first in a super bowl?

 

[UFGatorPat]

This is one of the three worst teams the Patriots have faced in a Super Bowl. Of course, they lost to those two Giants teams. (Though they're a better team than they were in 2011, too.) Definitely the worst quarterback they've faced, including Eli. Anything can happen but I definitely lean Patriots in this game in a way that I haven't in any Super Bowl since 2007.

Smart bet for long odds on Super Bowl MVP is Cordarrelle Patterson, for what it's worth. Rams special teams coverage is iffy and they're going to want to attack the outside of their defense on jet sweeps. If Patterson can get into space, especially if the person facing him down is Marcus Peters (whose willingness to tackle strongly resembles Chris Canty's) or hold onto the damn ball when he's thrown it, he could have a huge impact in all phases of the game. It's hardly impossible to imagine him emerging with a receiving, rushing, and return touchdown.

Agree on Patterson 100%. I hadn’t seen they struggle with coverage though, but I agree on the jet sweeps against a poor LB core, edge crew and DBs. Drag routes and maybe a double move.

Not to mention Dorsett or Hoags...

 

[UFGatorPat]

Donald tends to declare a gap early and almost over-pursue as if he's playing the pass all the way on every down. I would suspect that the Patriots are going to dust off their game plan for Julius Peppers in 2003 for Mr. Donald. There should be since nice holes for the RBs to get to the next level.

If that happens.....

 

[fightingirish595]

They were down twice 14 points, needed trick formations and the double pass to get back into the game but this game was less of a struggle to you than the 2011 Ravens game where we were never down more than 7 ?

This is just exactly the kind of bias that makes this thing so pointless.

Similarly, they should have lost the 2016 SB against the Falcons even though they won the two other playoff games pretty easily.

I think the better team won, but we struggled. Came out flat.

 

[UFGatorPat]

Just ram it down their throats!

Won’t be that simple. They have DL talent and they’re playing better at this point in the season. I would go against tendencies, run it a bit with some varied jet sweeps, lots of RB throws, lots of action getting them moving side to side.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

I believe the talent level on the Rams is very similar to the Eagles from last year. The patriots offense has a much better run game but worse pass offense. Pats defense this year is MUCH better than last year.
Overall I believe the competition is similar talent wise and coaching to last year but an improved Pats D will make the difference.
Based on Rams defense weakness, I belive Sony. James White and Burkhead will be very busy.
Both teams will be very aptient with the run to set up the pass.

I would argue the pass offense was worse last year without Edelman and Cooks getting knocked out.

I would also argue the Rams have some similarities to last year's Eagles teams - strong D line, oline, weak LBs, so-so secondary, good running game. One major difference is last year's Eagles receivers/TE group was better - mainly because of Ertz.

 

[Drake&BarmoreFTW]

Isn’t SB 36 the last time we scored first in a super bowl?

I'm getting deja vu as someone definitely asked that question before. In Super Bowl XLIX Lafell's touchdown reception in the second quarter was the first score of the game.

 

[Redman443]

The rams selected Sam Bradford 1st overall in 2010. He was a bust and then they drafted Goff 1st overall in 2016 and while he’s not like mahomes, he’s not a bust. Wonder why Bradford flopped but goff excelled?

 

[miloofcroton]

I don't necessarily think it will be close, but I hope it will be. I'm hoping for a defensive showdown. Everyone's talking Brady vs Goff or Belichick vs McVay, but how about Belichick vs Phillips? Two of the greatest defensive minds of all time.

That being said, I think the Rams defense matches up well (comparatively) with the Pats offense, and I think the Pats defense matches up well with the Rams defense.

 

[Tb12goesinya]

Not well. Nobody matches up well against Donald. He's a force of nature. But Mason can win one-on-one against Suh and the Patriots' tackles have the advantage against their outside rushers. Donald's always going to get a double team, and in the run game they'll wham him. I think they have the offensive line to do well against the Rams' defensive line. The Rams secondary is particularly vulnerable to slot receivers. Larry Fitzgerald, Tyreek Hill, Emmanuel Sanders, Bruce Ellington, and Stefon Diggs all had big games against them this season. Nickell Robey-Coleman is quite bad, Marcus Peters doesn't care, and their safeties are vulnerable. Edelman should feast.

Good points..Develin could have a big impact on wearing Donald down by later stages on game. I wonder how often he's gotten barreled into by a fullback this year.

 

[JMC00]

Is there a practice/injury report today? I don’t remember if they release that stuff for the week before

 

[The Brandon Five]

First practice is tomorrow.

Conflicting reports. I guess Pats did, Rams didn’t.

SB LIII: Patriots - Rams Injury Report