Brady and Belichick back in Super Bowl

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Andrew Walker, Sports and Web Editor

Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are in the Super Bowl for the fourth time in five years.

The Patriots have a chance to use their fourth-ranked offense to best the Rams’ 20thranked defense.  The Rams’ defense has allowed 24 points per game and the Patriots’ offense scores 273 points per game.

Running back Sonny Michel has been running wild this postseason with 242 rushing yards and five touchdowns. The Rams allow 122.3 rushing yards per game, 23rd in the NFL, which the Patriots and Michel can exploit. 

The Patriots will need the offensive line to stop the Rams’ defense and keep Brady on his feet. 

Brady has 4,355 passing yards and 29 touchdowns on the season. Brady has performed well this season and has a history and playoff success. The Rams rank 14th in passing yards allowed per game

The Patriots can use the Rams weakness on play-action dropbacks to win the game. The Rams have allowed opposing quarterbacks to be 91-of-121 for 1,153 yards, 14 touchdowns and four interceptions. The Patriots rank third in the NFL in play action attempts and Total quarterback rating (QBR).

The Patriots’ defense has held opponents to 20.3 points per game, seventh in the NFL.  They did very well against the run, ranking 11th, holding opponents to 112.7 yards per game. Linebacker Kyle Van Noy leads the team in tackles with 92 and is key to stopping the run.

The Patriots will want defensive ends Trey Flowers and Deatrich Wise Jr. to pressure Goff, as they lead the team in sacks with 7.5 and 4.5 respectively. New England will look to intercept Goff; the Patriots have 20 interception in the regular season including four by safety Duron Harmon.

The Patriots will have Stephen Gostkowski doing the kicking duties. The 35-year-old kicker was 27-32 on field goals in the regular season and made all three attempts in the postseason.