This Super Bowl Sunday, an experienced and battle-tested New England Patriots team will clash with a young, plucky Los Angeles Rams team.
For the Patriots, it has become a habit of being in the Super Bowl. Since Tom Brady took over as starting quarterback during the 2001 season, he has led the Patriots to nine Super Bowl appearances in that time, an NFL record.
The Patriots seem to openly defy time over the last 18 years; no dynasty in the history of the NFL has had sustained greatness as long as the Patriots have had, becoming arguably the greatest football dynasty of all time. That has rubbed some people the wrong way.
“I’m surprised the Patriots have had this much consistent success,” senior Paul Robison said. “A lot of fans are probably like ‘Why can’t my team win?’”
If the Patriots represent the past, then it could be argued that the Rams represent the future of the league.
The first season in L.A. for the Rams after relocating from St. Louis did not go as smoothly as many had hoped, after going 4-12 their debut season there. The Rams decided a coaching change was necessary, firing head coach Jeff Fisher and hiring the youngest head coach in the history of the league Sean McVay.
The Rams, now in their second season under McVay, have become one of the most entertaining offenses in the entire league. In both seasons under McVay, the Rams have been one of the most productive offenses in the league, ranking in the top 10 for scoring offenses both seasons. However, as good as the Rams have been, the controversy will surround their trip to the Super Bowl.
As it has been widely discussed in every form of media since it happened, the Rams did benefit from a horrific blown call on a blatant pass interference play in the NFC Championship Game against the New Orleans Saints on Jan. 20. If the call had been made by the referees, the Saints would have more than likely played in the Super Bowl against the Patriots.
“I felt that the Rams don’t deserve to be in the Super Bowl,” senior Evan Bell said. “Had they called that pass interference play, then the Saints would’ve been able to score to take the lead with four seconds left, so it did cost the Saints the game.”
All the controversy aside, it is the Rams and the Patriots in the Super Bowl, not the Saints, and football fans at Eastern Michigan University seem to have a firm consensus on who will win.
“I believe the Patriots will win because of consistency and experience, and I don’t think they will let Todd Gurley take over,” junior Austin Jones said.
No matter who wins the Super Bowl on Sunday, it will surely be a close game. Eight out of the nine Super Bowls that New England has played in were decided by four points or less. The one game that wasn’t? It was last year’s Super Bowl that resulted in a 41-33 victory for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Those who choose to tune in to the Super Bowl are almost guaranteed an entertaining game that will come down to the wire. If none of that happens, at least we can look forward to watching the commercials.
