RYAN DUNNING
Special to the Leader
Five months ago, we found ourselves in a familiar position. A new NFL season, a fresh start.
Fans of every team, hopeful that this year will be their year, and then fans of the Jets and Bills preparing for another year of sadness and disappointment.
The season progressed, and by this past Sunday, only two teams remained.
The Rams came into the season as the closest thing to a super team the NFL has ever seen.
With a newly confident Jared Goff at quarterback, Todd Gurley at running back, and players like Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh on defense, they had built a championship roster.
Head coach Sean McVay, at only 33 years old, had helped to build one of the most talent packed teams ever. The significance of these players was not lost on him.
“They’re about the right stuff, and they’re obviously very talented football players,” said McVay during the preseason.
Throughout the season, the offense lived up to the hype. They only failed to score 30 or more points on three occasions, their lowest scoring game being a 15-6 loss against the Bears.
However, despite the influx of talent through free agents and trades, the defense never quite put it together. They allowed 30 or more points on six occasions.
Their road to the Super Bowl began with an easy win over the Cowboys and a win over the Saints. The latter of those was aided by a massively controversial no-call. Rams CB Nickell Robey-Coleman hit Saints WR Tommylee Lewis well before the ball arrived. The refs looked the other way, and the Rams went on to win the game.
The Patriots had a much less comfortable road to the Super Bowl.
Finishing 11-5, they barely squeaked out a first round bye, with puzzling losses exclusive to teams who did not make the playoffs. At points, Brady looked like he might be looking at his final season in the league.
And yet, come January, they reminded us why they’ve had so much success over the years.
They built an underdog story for themselves, with Brady saying things like “They think I’m too slow and too old” at rallies. And they proceeded to cruise through the playoffs, with convincing victories over every team they faced.
The time finally came for the big game.
It was horrible.
Just one year after one of the most exciting games in Super Bowl history, we suffered through the worst Super Bowl of all time.
After a scoreless first quarter that included a missed field goal and a turnover, we were treated to a field goal.
The Halftime Show was not much better. Maroon 5 played some nostalgic songs with very poor execution, a fitting show for the game being played.
During the third quarter, we were treated to a field goal, and then the most exciting part of the game. After a three and out, Rams punter Johnny Hekker launched a 65 yard bomb, the longest punt in Super Bowl history.
The fourth quarter held the first touchdown of the game from the Patriots, sealing our deepest fears into reality.
After a Jared Goff interception, a Patriots field goal and a missed kick by the Rams, the game was over.
Julian Edelman won MVP, and we have to deal with another year of insufferable Patriots fans.