How the Patriots’ Offense Stacks Up Against the Rams

by
Former Writers
January 30, 2019

JC Ruiz via Flickr

The Patriots Have One of the Most Dynamic Offenses in Football; in Super Bowl LIII, They’ll Meet their Match

The New England Patriots made it to yet another Super Bowl, with a mix of rushing and passing not seen in the Tom Brady era. Notably, New England no longer has a top-tier wide receiver. Julian Edelman is not a number-one option, Rob Gronkowski is no longer the player he once was, and the Patriots lost Josh Gordon earlier in the season.

James White and Sony Michel have emerged as the leaders of the Patriots offense alongside Brady. Michel has been one of the best rookies all season. He’s also turned into the perfect compliment for backfield mate James White. White is one of, if not the best receiving back in the league. White’s presence allows Tom Brady to have a dink-and-dunk check-down option. Between Brady and the backfield, the Patriots’ offense presents a new and very real challenge for the Rams.

Battle in the Trenches

The Patriots have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. The top-tier players across their line have facilitated offensive play that’s brought New England to another Super Bowl. The Rams present one of their toughest tests yet, though. New England’s line has to protect Brady from a Rams defense that is, similarly, one of the best in the league. Dante Fowler Jr., Ndamukong Suh, and Aaron Donald – to name a few playmakers – provide a stiff test for the Patriots’ offense.

New England will need to rely on their line to establish the run, which was key in their two playoff wins. Tom Brady also must rely on time in the pocket to work through his reads. Corralling Aaron Donald, however, is no small task. Donald will make impact in some way. That’s a given. The main goal on offense is to limit the impact Donald does have.

Establishing the Run

This is an overused term — “establishing the run.” It does, however, ring true for this Patriots team. Sony Michel has been a revelation during the playoffs. He’s averaged 26.5 carries and 121 yards through the Patriots two playoff wins. Michel has also racked up 5 rushing touchdowns over the same span. It’s not just Michel who has been a rushing weapon, though.

Backfield mate James White has also been fantastic for New England. White has caught 19 passes in the Patriots postseason wins. While Tom Brady is the best player on the offense, the team’s success will rely on the effectiveness of the White-Michel backfield duo.

Tom Brady

Everyone knows how Tom Brady shows out in Super Bowls. He lives for games like this and seems to perform the best when the lights come on. Though far from the same player he once was, Brady is still capable of winning the game for the team. As mentioned, the Patriots don’t have a great selection of receiving weapons. Julian Edelman is past his peak and, beyond him, are Phillip Dorsett, Cordarelle Patterson, and Chris Hogan — none of whom are top-notch receivers.

Someone will have to step up and play a bigger role, however, if the Patriots want to keep pace with the Rams potent offense. L.A. will undoubtedly challenge the Patriots in ways they may not be fully equipped for. For Tom Brady, though, situations like these are where he shines brightest.