2018 NFL Playoffs

[conace21]

The Rams defense wore down late, but when you consider the rules changes and the fact that Brady was on the other side, it was one of the more impressive defensive performances in Super Bowl history. Wade Phillips has 2 of the best days of any DC in Super Bowl history...and he also has the very worst....Super Bowl XXIV. For all the talk that John Elway was a one man show for the 80's Broncos, the 1989 Broncos had the #1 scoring defense in the league (#3 in yards.) But Montana carved them up in the Super Bowl...that performance looks even more amazing in retrospect.

[rhickok1109]

The Rams defense wore down late, but when you consider the rules changes and the fact that Brady was on the other side, it was one of the more impressive defensive performances in Super Bowl history. Wade Phillips has 2 of the best days of any DC in Super Bowl history...and he also has the very worst....Super Bowl XXIV. For all the talk that John Elway was a one man show for the 80's Broncos, the 1989 Broncos had the #1 scoring defense in the league (#3 in yards.) But Montana carved them up in the Super Bowl...that performance looks even more amazing in retrospect.

It seems to me that the Patriots' defensive performance was considerably better than the Rams'. The Rams held the Patriots to 14 points below their season average while the Patriots held the Rams to 30 points below their season average. The Rams averaged 421 YPG during the regular season; the Patriots limited them to 260 in the Super Bowl. The Patriots averaged 393 yards per game and they gained 403 in the SB.

[conace21]

The Rams defense wore down late, but when you consider the rules changes and the fact that Brady was on the other side, it was one of the more impressive defensive performances in Super Bowl history. Wade Phillips has 2 of the best days of any DC in Super Bowl history...and he also has the very worst....Super Bowl XXIV. For all the talk that John Elway was a one man show for the 80's Broncos, the 1989 Broncos had the #1 scoring defense in the league (#3 in yards.) But Montana carved them up in the Super Bowl...that performance looks even more amazing in retrospect.

It seems to me that the Patriots' defensive performance was considerably better than the Rams'. The Rams held the Patriots to 14 points below their season average while the Patriots held the Rams to 30 points below their season average. The Rams averaged 421 YPG during the regular season; the Patriots limited them to 260 in the Super Bowl. The Patriots averaged 393 yards per game and they gained 403 in the SB.

Seeing a league leading offense deflate in the Super Bowl is not new. 1991 Bills, 2001 Rams (sort of), 2002 Raiders, 2007 Patriots, 2013 Broncos, 2015? Panthers.
Seeing Tom Brady struggle in a Super Bowl in the 2010's is new. Brady's teams had averaged 32 points in playing 3 of the prior 4 Super Bowls. This was the first time in 9 tries he failed to throw a TD, or had more interceptions than touchdown passes. Father Time may have played a slight role.

The Patriots defense had a better game than the Rams, but considering the context, I'd say Phillips has just as good a game plan has Belichick, and maybe just a little bit better.