MVP Julian Edelman turns in legendary performance in Super Bowl LIII

ATLANTA — After missing all of last season with a knee injury and then the first quarter of the season due to a suspension, just how Julian Edelman would look in 2018 was uncertain.

As it turns out, Edelman looked like one of the best receivers in the NFL and it only got better from there. The Patriots wide-out capped off a solid season with a legendary performance in Super Bowl LIII in the team’s win over the Los Angeles Rams.

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ATLANTA — After missing all of last season with a knee injury and then the first quarter of the season due to a suspension, just how Julian Edelman would look in 2018 was uncertain.

As it turns out, Edelman looked like one of the best receivers in the NFL and it only got better from there. The Patriots wide-out capped off a solid season with a legendary performance in Super Bowl LIII in the team’s win over the Los Angeles Rams.

Edelman was named the Super Bowl MVP on Sunday after leading the Patriots with 10 receptions and 141 receiving yards. He joins Deion Branch as the last Patriots receiver to be named MVP in the Super Bowl and is the seventh receiver in NFL history to share the honor.

“It just feels great to win,” Edelman said when asked about the award.

In 12 games this season, Edelman led the Patriots in receiving with 74 catches, 850 yards and six touchdowns. At age 32, the receiver stepped up big time when the Patriots lost Josh Gordon, who was suspended indefinitely by the NFL. Edelman’s impact was seen in the regular season, but he was outstanding in the playoffs.

Edelman caught nine passes for 151 yards in the Patriots divisional win over Los Angles. In the AFC Championship Game, he caught seven passes for 96 yards. When you add in his production against the Rams, Edelman caught 26 passes for 388 receiving yards in three playoff games.

“He always does,” Tom Brady said when asked about Edelman rising to the occasion. “He’s a fighter, man, that kid. I’m just so proud of him. He’s been a incredible player for this team in the playoffs and he just cemented himself again, in the history of the NFL for what his accomplishments are.”

Sunday marked Edelman’s eighth 100-yard game in the playoffs. That ties him with Michael Irvin for the second most in NFL history. He also now has 1,412 postseason receiving yards, which is second all-time to Jerry Rice (2,245).

Edelman came up big all game on Sunday. In the Patriots' game-winning drive, he caught a 13-yard pass to move the chains. During the Patriots' only field goal drive in the first three quarters, it was again Edelman, who stepped up with a 25-yard catch and run.

Again and again, Edelman has shown to be one of the most clutch performers in Patriots franchise history. It was like that in Super Bowl LI when the receiver made a circus catch in the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons.

Edelman wasn’t with the Patriots last year when they fell to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII. He certainly made up for it on Sunday.

“It’s hard to [imagine], that’s for sure,” Edelman said. “I’m getting to live out a dream so it’s pretty surreal right now. I think everything happens for a reason. I was always taught as a young boy that you always just have to work hard. Work as hard as you can, put in the extra time and we will see where it goes.”

Well, it led him to Atlanta where he was named a Super Bowl MVP.