Patriots Claim Sixth Super Bowl Championship with 13-3 win over Los Angeles

The New England Patriots held the Los Angeles Rams out of the end zone to win their sixth Super Bowl in franchise history, 13-3.

There were not a lot of options for the Super Bowl’s Most Valuable Player. Every time the Patriots needed something done, wide receiver Julian Edelman appeared for Tom Brady and the struggling New England offense. Brady finished with 262 yards and an interception on 21-of-35 passing.

Edelman caught 10 passes for 141 receiving yards to earn Super Bowl MVP honors. He became just the seventh wide receiver named as the game’s MVP.

The Patriots saw rookie running back, Sony Michel, rush for 94 yards and score the game’s only touchdown.

Super Bowl LIII will be remembered for being the lowest combined score in a Super Bowl (16), the lowest score for a Super Bowl winning-team (13) and the second-lowest first-half score (3-0) in the history of the game.

Before Sunday, the lowest combined score and the lowest score for a winning team both happened in Super Bowl VII, when the undefeated Miami Dolphins beat Washington 14-7. The lowest first half score is still Super Bowl IX, where Pittsburgh led Minnesota 2-0.

The LA Rams tied the Miami Dolphins, who lost Super Bowl VI 24-3 to Dallas, for the least points scored in a Super Bowl.

In the regular season, the Rams scored the second-most points per game (32.9) while the Patriots scored the fourth-most points per game (27.3).

This week, Rams head coach Sean McVay said Todd Gurley II would be a big part of the LA game plan. Gurley only had 11 touches for 34 total yards.

LA quarterback Jared Goff struggled all night long and completed just 50 percent of his passes (19-of-38) for 229 yards. The former Cal QB also lost 31 yards on four sacks.

Goff threw his only interception to end the best Rams drive of the day. Before the pick, the Rams drove 48 yards to the Patriots 27. The next two plays pretty much decided the game.

Goff tried to find Brandin Cooks, but the former Oregon State wide receiver couldn’t hold on for the touchdown. The next play Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore stepped in front Cooks and intercepted Goff with 4:17 to go in the fourth quarter.

The Patriots drove down the field in nine plays, and Stephen Gostkowski essentially put the game away with a 41-yard field goal.

Notes

• Tom Brady became the oldest QB to win a Super Bowl (41 years old)
• Bill Belichick became the oldest head coach to win a Super Bowl (66 years old)
• New England tied Pittsburgh for the NFL lead in Super Bowl titles for one franchise
• Julian Edelman is the first wide receiver named MVP since Santonio Holmes in Pittsburgh’s win in Super Bowl XLIII.

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