NFL 2018 Week 21 Predictions: Super Bowl Sunday

Super Bowl Predictions

One more time. It really feels like it may be the last, and I’ll ruin the suspense right now. I’m not picking against Tom Brady.

Pats -2 over Rams, 27-23

-The most fascinating matchup to me is actually not the Pats O-Line versus the Rams D-Line. I know Donald and co. are really good, but overall since the two Giants Super Bowls there has been an enhanced focus on dominating up front for the Pats. I think the emphasis is on keeping Brady clean, running the ball a lot, and pushing the D-Line backwards. The Rams thrive on making the QBs make quick decisions fearing Donald, and then the corners feasting on those quick decisions. I trust Brady to make good quick decisions, and Donald to be eliminated as a primary factor.

To me, it is the Pats normal defensive strategy of taking away a specific offensive concept or player from the other team. In this case, I’m not sure who that is. I’d normally say Gurley, but who knows with him right now. Woods and Cooks are co-#1s unlike anything we have seen for a little while. Perhaps Bill is going to look at it more like taking away deep and mid passing zones, or trying to fluster Goff who likely still is the most individually weak link on the Rams offense even if he is relatively capable overall. In any case, McVay’s creativity and the equally distributed talent on the Rams likely results in their ability put up points.

But good luck stopping NE right now. All season I was waiting for the team to gel and coalesce one offensive identity. They have done that, and at the right time. Other Pats teams I saw peak too early, something that you don’t complain about as it is happening, but you wish it could work later in the season. I think the experience level and difference at QB will be a huge difference in this game, and the pattern of the Rams not blowing teams out/having to come back late mixed with NE starting out with guns blazing. Super Bowls are normally shorter, lower scoring, and the first halves blaze by in a 10-6 kind of way. I see NE going out like 14-0 and the Rams having to play catchup. We haven’t had a one-sided Super Bowl in a while, and I am wondering if this is it. I predicted a close score, but only due to last minute score to make it close.

Record last week:

Straight Up: 1-1

By Spread: 1-1

Record in 2018:

Straight Up: 154-87

By Spread: 125-113

Lifetime record:
Straight Up: 1416-771
By Spread: 1162-1026