All the hype, all the pomp and circumstance, and what did we get?  A DUD!  This year’s Super Bowl was billed as the young lion vs. the old salty dog.  The Rams up and comer head coach, Sean McVay playing the young lion, along with his young QB Jared Goff.  Those salty dogs, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady were playing in their ninth Super Bowl and 3^rd consecutive.

The Rams had been a high wire act all season with there 30+ points per game scoring average and the reigning 2 time DPOY in Aaron Donald.  The Patriots on the other hand had pretty much flown under the radar this season.  This was the first time in a long time that they didn’t have home field throughout the playoffs and were not favored to win the AFC title.  But that is why they play the games.

Prior to the game everyone wondered about the health of the Rams’ Todd Gurley.  He had been shelved over the last 2 weeks of the regular season due to a minor knee injury, and didn’t get his usual workload in the previous 2 playoff games due to the emergence of free-agent signee, CJ Anderson.  But all indications were that he was healthy and would take on his familiar work-horse role in the Rams high flying offense.  However, we received a rude awakening.  I don’t know if it was scheme, or flat out inept play calling, but we’re still waiting for Gurley to show up.

After only 3 touches in the first half, Gurley ended the game with only 10 carries for 35 yards.  This was not how this was supposed to go.  At the half, the score was 3-0 Patriots.  You just continued to feel that L.A. would get on track in the 2^nd half and give heavy doses of Gurley.  But it never happened.  Only 7 carries and only 2 targets out of the backfield.  This is a guy that was your workhorse, and you never got him into a rhythm.  As a result, the play-action pass was a non-factor.  Expecting Goff to drop back and pick apart a Belichick coached defense was asking a lot.  Apparently the young lion failed to do his homework.

Instead of the well-played 27-24 game most expected, this turned out to be a 13-3 snoozer.  People will call it a great defensive game, but in my view, that was definitely not the case.  It was a case of total ineptitude by both offenses.  In other words, 4 hours of my life that I can’t get back.

This will sting the Rams for a while.  But it could also be viewed as karma.  They got here as the beneficiary of a famous non-call in the NFC title game vs. New Orleans.  Fans from the Big Easy will say they didn’t deserve to be here, so they got what they deserved.  Others will say that they blew a golden opportunity on a night when Tom Terrific wasn’t all that terrific.  But the obvious is that young McVay was outcoached by wise old Belichick.

The Patriots now join the Pittsburgh Steelers as the only 6-time Super Bowl champs.  And according to Brady and Belichick, they’re not done yet.  And quite frankly, who in the AFC is gonna stop them?  The Steelers continue to implode.  Kansas City was close, but was this year a fluke?  The Texans can’t seem to get out of their own way in the post season.  And San Diego just seems to be forever a bridesmaid.  Only time will tell, but the haters and nay-sayers may have to endure another Super Bowl trip by the Patriots next season.  Hopefully next time it won’t be such a waste of time.