We’ve seen this story before. Second-year whiz kid coach leads his young team to a Super Bowl, only to run into Bill Belichick’s so-called unbeatable dynasty. The tyro coach’s defense is anchored by a pocket-crushing franchise tackle. His quarterback is asked to match Tom Brady, throw for throw, touchdown for touchdown.
The upstart team is given little chance by the experts.
Yeah, we’ve seen this story before – just last season, as a matter of fact. That time, as you recall, Doug Pederson’s Eagles beat the Pats, 41-33.
This time, Sean McVay’s Rams will do it again. The Evil Empire is, indeed, crumbling, and anyone smart enough to take the 2-1/2 points this Sunday will be rewarded.
As an Eagles fan, I remember the dismissive approach the football geniuses had toward any possibility my team would win last February. Hell, Cris Collinsworth was joyfully predicting a Brady Comeback Miracle right up until the moment that last Hail Mary attempt fell harmlessly to the ground.
This year’s Rams carry a similar pedigree to the Eagles – maybe even a little better. Aaron Donald is a notch superior than Fletcher Cox as that disruptive defensive tackle. Donald and the Rams defense, ably coached by Wade Phillips, will rattle Brady on Sunday.
Jared Goff, of course, has to play Nick Foles in my scenario (although he’s actually the guy drafted right in front of Carson Wentz in 2016). What made Foles so amazing in last year’s Super Bowl was his extraordinary calm under pressure.
And that’s going to be the key for Los Angeles. Part of the Pats’ mystique is their aura of invincibility. Teams facing them this time of year often seem intimidated from the opening coin flip. Hey, the Pats have been here before – eight times, in case you missed hearing that the first 10,000 times it’s been mentioned.
Foles and the rest of the Eagles weren’t overwhelmed by it all. They played it like Buster Douglas vs. Mike Tyson: Punch the bully in his face and you’ve destroyed his illusion of invincibility.
Speaking of punching them in the face, that’ll be the job of Todd Gurley and C.J. Anderson. The Pats have been great against the run in these playoffs, but I’m not buying it. In the five games they lost this season, New England allowed 152 rushing yards per game (The Eagles rushed for 164 in Super Bowl LII). Gurley (who vows that he’s healthy) and Anderson (a tremendous scrap-heap pickup) will do the same next Sunday.
It’s going to be close and tense – just like last year. And the underdogs are going to win – just like last year. I’ll call it Rams, 31-28.
