Gerry Wolstenholme's Blog - Posts Tagged "superbowl"

New England Patriots 13 Los Angeles Rams 3

The New England Patriots went into the record books last night after defeating the Los Angeles Rams in Superbowl LIII in Georgia, They become the second team to have won the trophy on six occasions, following in the footsteps of the Pittsburgh Steelers. And quarterback Tom Brady surpasses Charles Haley, once of the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys, with six Superbowl rings to his name. Haley previously held the record with five, two with the 49ers and three with the Cowboys; all Brady's rings have come with the Patriots.

After the exploits of the two teams over the NFL season, most people were expecting an offence driven game but it turned out very differently. Defences were on top throughout with the result that the 16 points scored is the lowest in Superbowl history. The 21 points scored in the Miami Dolphins versus Washington Redskins Superbowl of 1972 was the previous lowest.

And speaking of statistics, it was the second lowest scoring first half in a Superbowl, beaten only by the two points scored in Superbowl IX when the Steelers led the Minnesota Vikings two-nil and it was the first Superbowl to have no touchdowns scored in the first three quarters of the game. What is more, neither team had a possession in the red zone until seven minutes 43 seconds were left in the fourth quarter. That was when the game changer came about.

Needless to say, it was Tom Brady who provided it with an incisive 29-yard pass to Rob Gronkowski who made an excellent catch on the Rams' two-yard line. On the very next play running back Sony Michel ran in the game's only touchdown, the other points coming from two Stephen Gostkowski field goals and a point after touchdown for the Patriots (he also missed from 41 yeards, the first point after touchdown missed in the Georgia Dome all season) and a field goal from the Rams' Greg Zuerlein, who also missed a long distant attempt late on.

The game began badly for Brady for Cory Littleton intercepted his first passing attempt but the Patriots strong defence prevented the Rams from capitalising on it. In the final analysis, Brady completed 21 of 35 passes for 252 yards, including 10 for 141 yards to the game's most valuable player, the elusive Julian Edelman.

As for quarterback Jared Goff of the Rams, he had an extremely quiet first half but finished with 19 completed passes out of 38 attempts for 229 yards and one late-game interception by Stephon Gilmore. Goff, who has had a fine season, seemed somehow out of his depth as Patriots' coach Bill Belichick outfoxed his rival coach the young pretender Sean McVay, who has a great future ahead of him.

Poor Goff looked like a rabbit in the headlights as the Patriots' defence completely fooled him most of the time. He did have one moment when it looked as though he might secure a touchdown but his fractionally late release to a wide open Brandin Cooks in the end zone allowed cornerback Jason McCourty, playing in the side alongside his twin brother Devin, to get across and make a sensational play. And that was about it as the Patriots' defensive dominance continued.

As for Brady he was under more pressure than usual but Aaron Donald, the Rams 20.5 sackmaster from the regular season, and his team-mates could not get to him often enough to disrupt his rhythm. And so the Patriots' dynasty continued ... and we are left to wonder, 'Where will it end?'

Brady certainly made it clear that he intends to carry on, and why shouldn't he? Belichick has given no intimation, even at 66 that he intends to retire, although one wonders how long can the Patriots keep Josh McDaniels waiting in the wings to take over. Belichick is now the oldest coach to win a Superbowl, surpassing Tom Coughlin of the New York Giants, who was 65. And tight end Rob Gronkowski has said that he will party and then consider his future.

It was very definitely a game for the purists rather than the casual observer but nevertheless, it was an historic night that ended in glory for owner Robert Kraft's Patriots and in tears and disappointment for the Los Angeles Rams.

Kansas City's 50-year wait for another Superbowl victory ended in Orlando last night as they came from behind to defeat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20. The Chiefs last won Superbowl IV when they defeated the Minnesota Vikings 23–7 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana, on 11 January 1970.
The 49ers won the toss and deferred, giving the ball to the Chiefs to begin the game, but they were unable to make a first down and went three and out. It was a nervy first series for Chiefs' quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo fared little better but in the eighth minute he worked his side into field goal range and the consistent Robbie Gould obliged from 38 yards to give his side a 3-0 lead. It was fairly even for a while thereafter before, with just 31 seconds remaining of the first quarter Mahomes dashed into the end zone from a yard out for a touchdown. So with Harrison Butker adding the extra point, the quarter ended with the Chiefs on top 7-3.
Early in the second quarter Butker increased the Chiefs' lead with a 31-yard field goal but with just over five minutes of the half remaining, Garoppolo found full back Kyle Juszczyk with a short pass that he took 15 yards before diving in for the touchdown; the Gould conversion made in 10-10 at the half. It was only the fourth Superbowl in which the teams had been level at half-time.
The third quarter belonged to the 49ers as Gould added a 42-yard field gold and then, capitalising on a rare Mahomes' interception - hs first in 164 pass attempts -, Raheem Mostert, playing for his seventh NFL team, having been cut by the previous six, added a one-yard touchdown run and with Butker's conversion it was 20-10. At this point the Chiefs looked as though they might be in serious trouble but they never give up, as witnessed by the two games that they won to get to the Superbowl when in both of them they came from behind for the victory.
And it turned out no different in Orlando with Patrick Mahomes inspiring his side with some superb play, including the night's longest play on a third down and 15, a marvellous 44-yard pass to Tyreek Hill that, after an end zone pass interference call on a third down and 10, set up tight-end Travis Kelce for a one-yard catch for the touchdown. And with Butker once more adding the extra point, it was suddenly a one-score game at 20-17.
It was then the turn of the Chiefs' defence to step up and they consistently stopped Garoppolo getting his side moving down the field. And with two minutes 44 seconds remaining, the almost inevitable happened. Damien Williams took a five-yard pass from Mahomes for the touchdown to put the Chiefs in front; Butker's kick made it 24-20.
It looked all over from that moment because the 49ers were deflated and again they could not move the ball downfield. So the Chiefs had one further opportunity and Damien Williams cashed in again as he made a 38-yard run down the left-hand touchline to score his second touchdown of the game. Once again Butker converted and at 31-20 that was all she wrote!
It was an excellent game and in the end the Chiefs were deserved winners with Mahomes getting the game's Most Valuable Player Award, making him the youngest player to win the League's MVP (2018) and a Superbowl MVP award. And well respected coach Andy Reid gained his first Superbowl ring, as well as a Gatorade dowsing by his team!
As Andy Reid said, or rather shouted to the fans, from the podium after the presentation of the trophy, 'How about those CHIEFS!'
This could well be the start of another NFL dynasty!

Superbowl LV

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31
Kansas City Chiefs 9

After last night’s Superbowl in Tampa Bay, there can be no doubt that Tampa’s quarterback Tom Brady is The Greatest Of All Time. At age 43 he not only led his team to victory in his first year at the club but he was the oldest quarterback to win a Superbowl and he won the game’s Most Valuable Player award for a record fifth time; not only that but his Superbowl win was his seventh, more than any other player and, indeed, more than any team in the National Football League.
On the night, Kansas City won the toss and deferred to Tampa so Brady started the game. His first two drives ended in failure, three and outs that resulted in his team punting and then the Chiefs took a 3-0 lead through a 49-yard Harrison Butka field goal after their drive had stalled. But that was practically as good as it got for the team that some pundits had down as clear winners by as many as 21 points.
Brady came back and a pass to Rob Gronkowski, his former team-mate at New England Patriots who Brady enticed out of retirement to join him at Tampa, brought a touchdown. This was the 13th hook-up that these two players had in post-season play, equaling the San Francisco 49ers’ Joe Montana/Jerry Rice record. 7-3 to Tampa.
And when he got the ball back, Brady took Tampa to the Chiefs’ one-yard line, and after his pass to eligible offensive lineman Joe Haeg had been knocked away at the last second, Chiefs’ defense came up trumps. They stopped Tampa on fourth down from the one-yard line and took over on downs.
But it did them no good and when his defense had once more stopped the Chiefs, Brady took over and a Ryan Succop field goal was initially the result when their drive was stopped. But a penalty on the Chiefs gave Tampa a first down and they paid the ultimate price for their indiscretion. And it was Brady to Gronkowski once more for a touchdown, a link up that overtook the Montana/Rice record. It was Brady’s fifth Superbowl touchdown pass to ‘Gronk’, putting the tight end second on the list of Superbowl touchdowns to Jerry Rice’s eight. ‘Gronk’ was in his element spiking the ball in the Chiefs’ end zone! 14-3 to Tampa.
The Chiefs could not get going again when they had possession, Patrick Mahomes was forced back and they had to settle for a 34-yard Butka field goal. 14-6 to Tampa.
Brady then went back to work with 61 seconds remaining he drove Tampa down the field, 71 yards in five plays, and with just 13 seconds left on the first-half clock he threw a pass into the end zone and it was knocked down.
However, the Chiefs’ Tyrann Mathieu had committed a pass interference infringement in the end zone so the ball was placed on the one-yard line. That was all Brady needed as he threw a short pass to Antonio Brown, a player that he had managed to persuade to join Tampa after he had been without a club. 21-6 to Tampa at half-time.
There were two storylines to the first half, firstly Brady’s superiority and secondly the undisciplined play of the Chiefs’ defense; eight penalties for 95 yards had been committed and six Tampa first downs had been by penalty.
The first play of the second half brought some satisfaction to the Chiefs as Clyde Edwards-Helaire brought off a 26-yard run, the Chiefs’ longest run of the night. But, once again the drive stalled and they had to settle for Butka’s 52-yard field goal. 21-9 to Tampa.
Tampa responded as Brady once more led the counter attack that resulted in Leonard Fournette’s going untouched for a 27-yard touchdown run. 28-9 to Tampa.
There seemed no way back for the Chiefs, for, although they had often overcome double-digit deficits, even in last year’s Superbowl victory, this was different as Tampa were in complete control. And when the Chiefs got the ball back again, Patrick Mahomes, desperately trying to make something happen, was intercepted by Antoine Winfield when his pass was tipped. Tampa took over again but on this occasion a mistake in snapping the ball sent it over Brady’s head. He chased back and fell on it with the result that Tampa had to settle for a Ryan Succop 52-yard field goal. 31-9 to Tampa.
And that was all she wrote as the fourth quarter went scoreless to leave Tampa Bay Buccaneers victorious by 31-9 thus winning their second Superbowl.
Appropriately the last play of the game ended with a Tampa kneel-down that left the ball in the hands of Tom Brady, who, unsurprisingly, was voted the game’s Most Valuable Player.

Los Angeles Rams 23 Cincinnati Bengals 20

In a pulsating Superbowl LVI at the SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Rams narrowly overcame the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 with a touchdown by Cooper Kupp in the final two minutes of the game.
Kupp, whose superb season had seen him take the triple crown for wide receivers, most touchdowns, receptions and yards, and who was the only player, other than Aaron Rodgers, who won the award, and Tom Brady, mentioned in the voting for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the overall NFL, had 92 yards receiving and two touchdowns and deservedly won the game’s MVP award.
The game got off to a slow start but then on the Rams’ second possession, quarterback Matthew Stafford found Odell Beckham Junior (OBJ) with a 17-yard pass for the game’s opening touchdown. The Bengals replied when Joe Burrow’s 45-yard pass to J’Marr Chase put them in a scoring position after Chase had left star corner back Jaylen Ramsey for dead. But they could not capitalise on the move and Evan McPherson’s field goal made the score 7-3.
The first play of the second quarter saw Stafford find OBJ with a 35-yard pass and this preceded the 11-yard pass that gave Kupp his first touchdown; Johnny Hekker dropped the ball for the point after so the score was 13-3. Burrow hit back with passes to Mixon and Tee Higgins then Mixon, receiving a flip from his quarterback, found Higgins with a six-yard pass to bring the Bengals back to 13-10. Interestingly it was Mixon’s first ever pass in the NFL and he had thrown only one previously when in College … and that also went for a touchdown!
But then disaster struck for the Rams as OBJ, under no immediate pressure went down with a knee injury that subsequently put him out of the game; up to that time he had two catches for 52 yards and his touchdown. Stafford ended the half with an interception when Jessie Bates took the ball away in the end zone and the half ended with the Rams, having control early, still leading 13-10 but with the Bengals coming back strongly.
There was a sensational opening to the second half when, with his first touch after 12 seconds, Burrow threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to Higgins, who, in fairness, was a trifle lucky in not getting called for a face mask offence when beating Ramsey. The Bengals thus went into a 17-13 lead. And things got even worse for the Rams for, from the restart, Stafford was intercepted by Chidobe Awuzie to put the Bengals back in charge. The Bengals could not fully capitalise but it did lead to McPherson’s 38-yard field goal that put the Bengals 20-13 in front.
Stafford replied by driving the Rams downfield with passes to Darrell Henderson, Kupp and back-up tight end Brycen Hopkins, playing in place of the injured Tyler Higbee and who had only one catch in the regular season, but finished the Superbowl with four catches for 47 yards, before Matt Gay cashed in with a field goal to make it 20-16.
The Rams were fighting back and their defence, with Aaron Donald and Von Miller, in the forefront, began to take control of the Bengals’ offence and Burrow’s protection was subjugated to such a degree that he was sacked seven times in the closing stages.
What could be described as a turning point came with four minutes 45 seconds remaining when, on an important fourth down, Borrow threw a perfect short pass to Tyler Boyd for a first down but the receiver who had not dropped a pass all season failed to look the ball into his hands, dropped it and it was turned over to the Rams.
And they made the most of their opportunity, embarking on a thrilling 15-play drive that saw Stafford eventually find Kupp with the final dramatic touchdown, after a series of penalties, in a relatively penalty-free game, had kept their drive alive. With one minute 38 seconds remaining the Rams were in front 23-20.
And their defence dominated those last 98 seconds so Sean McVey became the youngest coach to win the Superbowl, replacing Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mike Tomlin in that position by less than one year.
It was a valiant effort by the Cincinnati Bengals who two seasons previously had won only six games in two years and who had moved from last to first in their division in the space of the 2021 season. But all credit must go the Los Angeles Rams, and in particular their decision to sign quarterback Matthew Safford from the Detroit Lines to mastermind such a performance and, of course, to the mercurial Cooper Kupp; their game plan turned out to be perfect.

Gerry Wolstenholme