On Sunday evening, the Patriots will meet the NFC champion Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII. So take that you haters and doubters, naysayers and nonbelievers.
ATLANTA - It was an offseason of intrigue and, equally unusual, a regular season plagued by potholes and pitfalls for the perennially powerful Patriots.
Think back to April and May when Rob Gronkowski was playing games as to whether he had played his last game in the NFL. And Tom Brady was shunning Bill Belichick, ostensibly to display his displeasure for the snubbing of confidante Alex Guerrero.
September brought a two-game losing streak, as did December, the Patriots finishing with less than 12 wins — albeit a still-impressive 11 — for the first time in nine years. The dynasty, pigskin prognosticators proclaimed, was in decline.
Then came January and the postseason.
The Patriots routed the Los Angeles Chargers and nipped the Kansas City Chiefs to earn a third straight Super Bowl berth, an historic feat previously accomplished by only two teams. Order was restored.
In the words of a gloating GOAT to those who dissed and dismissed the Patriots, “We’re still here.”
On Sunday evening, “here” will be Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where the Patriots will meet the NFC champion Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII. So take that you haters and doubters, naysayers and nonbelievers.
“We knew we had the talent — not many other people think we do for whatever reason — but we just held together,” outspoken linebacker Kyle Van Noy said from Atlanta.
Actually, these Patriots can’t match the top-end talent of their eight predecessors who played into February in the Belichick-Brady era.
But they have top-to-bottom depth, a willingness to work and a plethora of persistency that the coaching staff — the real MVP of this team — has fully utilized and maximized.
Josh McDaniels coordinates an offense that has the versatility to line up in a power I or go five wide, often with the same personnel. Brian Flores calls the shots for a defense that has been opportunistic and energetic with seven takeaways and 10 sacks in the past four games, all wins.
“Everyone contributes, everyone knows they’re going to have their opportunity to help us win,” Brady said, “and I think that brings a great team spirit to what we have.”
Now, 17 years to the day after the Spirit of 2001 Patriots defeated the then-St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI and hoisted the first Lombardi Trophy in franchise history, this group has the chance to add to its historic legacy.
With a win over the Rams, the Patriots would tie the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most Super Bowl championships with six and break a tie with the Steelers for the most playoff wins with 37. It would also earn a sixth ring for Brady, breaking a tie with Charles Haley for the most by a player.
(On the other hand, Brady could join former Buffalo Bills great Jim Kelly as the only quarterbacks with four Super Bowl setbacks.)
Standing in their way is a Rams team that won 13 games in mostly explosive fashion during the regular season before showing its mettle and grinding out playoff wins over the Dallas Cowboys and, in overtime and on the road, the New Orleans Saints.
The Rams are built from the inside out with terrific offensive and defensive lines. They have a hotshot coach in Sean McVay, who is smart enough to know passive play calling won’t get it done because the Patriots aren’t going to beat themselves.
The status of All-Pro running back Todd Gurley is the unknown wildcard. If Gurley, whose balky left knee is presumably healthy, comes in with a determined mindset the Rams have the means and ways to do what the Philadelphia Eagles did last year at this time, upset the Patriots.
That’s right, upset, because — sorry Tom — the Patriots are favored by 2½ points over the Rams.
Football followers outside of New England are certifiably and, perhaps, justifiably sick of the Patriots’ success. That doesn’t mean they’re foolish enough to put their money where their mouth is.
As of Friday, 77 percent of the bets were on the team America loves to hate.
The Brady-quarterbacked Patriots have played in eight Super Bowls. They were decided by 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 6 (OT), and 8 points.
As for the Rams, they’re eminently familiar with close finishes. They’re 7-1 in games decided by seven points or less, including 5-0 in games decided by three points or less.
“Usually whoever has the ball last, you’re a little bit worried about in this game,” Brady said. “It’s just a tough game to get away from anyone because it’s such a long game. It’s hard to maintain momentum for 3½ or 4 hours.”
But if they can successfully remain in it for the long haul, the Patriots will cap a perfect postseason after having made their way through an uncharacteristically unsettled preseason and regular season.