Rams, Patriots will meet for Super Bowl LIII on February 3
The Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots both advanced to the 53rd Super Bowl for the championship of the 2018 NFL season as they defeated their respective rivals on Sunday.
Greg Zuerlein #4 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates with the NFC Trophy after defeating the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship game, January 20, 2019. /VCG Photo
The Rams beat the New Orleans Saints 26-23 in the NFC Final in overtime thanks to a 57-yard field goal by placekicker Greg Zuerlein. What's more heartbreaking than the loss was that this was the second straight time for the Saints to be eliminated by a buzzer beater and their first loss at home in the playoffs.
Only two years ago, the Rams were one of the league's worst teams under head coach Jeff Fisher as they won only four games in the 2016 season. Since then the team made huge progress in improving their performance with new boss Sean McVay and claimed 24 victories in the following two seasons. Moreover, 32-year-old McVay will become the youngest head coach in Super Bowl history.
"It's unbelievable, man. I can't put it into words. The defense played the way they did to force it to overtime. The defense gets a pick and Greg makes a 57-yarder to win it. That was good from about 70. Unbelievable," said quarterback Jared Goff.
Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates with the Lamar Hunt Trophy after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime during the AFC Championship game, January 20, 2019. /VCG Photo
On the other ground, the Patriots, also in OT, took out the Kansas City Chiefs 37-31 as running back Rex Burkhead pushed into the end zone with a touchdown to put an end to the AFC Final, clearing the way for Tom Brady and his teammates to play Super Bowl for the third straight time.
Patrick Mahomes, quarterback of the Chiefs reached 50 touchdowns in the 2018 season and thus was seen by many as the next Brady. However, the real Brady showed Mahomes why he remains the legend at the age of 41 by delivering the game-winning pass to Burkhead after many failed passes in the game.
"There's no one I'd rather have in two-minute drill than No. 12 (Brady). It's in his DNA. He has a clutch gene," said New England wide receiver Julian Edelman. Brady praised the Chiefs: "Overtime, on the road against a great team – they had fight, they had no quit."
Super Bowl LIII will happen on February 3 when Brady will again chase his sixth Super Bowl championship.