Atlanta- Down by a touchdown with 6 minutes left in regulation, Jared Goff threw a crucial interception trying to tie the game up at the Patriots 30 yard line. That mistake cost the Rams points and ultimately was the key factor in a 13-3 defeat.
The Rams had no answer for the Patriots and their running game. Sony Michel torched the Rams and finished the game with 94 yards with an average of 5.2 yards a carry. Goff looked rattled throughout the entire game. He had open receivers and could not get the ball down to them. Down by three on a 3rd and five with the Patriots on their heels in the third quarter, Goff missed an open receiver, which could have been easily a touchdown to put the Rams up. Goff finished the game up 38 of 19 for 229 yards with 1 interception.
However, many people questioned why Todd Gurley was not taking the majority of the snaps and C.J. Anderson was. The Patriots stop both running backs and held them for a combined of 57 yards on the ground. The Rams were trying to stay true to their identity with running the ball down the Patriots’ defensive front, but it did not work. After the loss, Gurley spoke to reporters about the defeat.”It is a team sport. There are eleven people on the field. Everyone can’t touch the ball. It was still a great season by us. I am blessed either way it goes and I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to play in the Super Bowl.”
The Rams who were averaging around 25 points per game during the regular season, could not get a touchdown and struggled to find any type of rhythm. Sean Mcvay talked about how Belichick and his defensive coordinators stopped their offense.”There is really no way to put it; The Patriots’ coaches did an outstanding job putting their guys in positions, as well as the players, did a great job executing. They definitely changed it up with what they had done over the past.”
Despite the loss, the Rams felt like they deserved to be at the Super Bowl and use this is a motivational tool to improve and make another run at it next year.
