Super Bowl LIII

Super Bowl LIII was an American football game played on February 3, 2019, to determine the champion of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2018 season. The American Football Conference (AFC) champion New England Patriots defeated the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Los Angeles Rams, 13–3. The contest was held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, marking the third time the city hosted the event, following Super Bowl XXVIII and Super Bowl XXXIV. The victory gave the Patriots their sixth Super Bowl title, tying the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most all-time, and was the lowest-scoring game in Super Bowl history.

Background

The New England Patriots earned their third consecutive AFC Championship and eleventh overall under the leadership of head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in a thrilling overtime contest at Arrowhead Stadium. The Los Angeles Rams, led by the league's youngest head coach, Sean McVay, and quarterback Jared Goff, won the NFC Championship Game in a defensive battle against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, a game later infamous for a controversial non-call on pass interference. This matchup set a Super Bowl record for the largest age gap between starting quarterbacks, with the 41-year-old Brady facing the 24-year-old Goff. The game was a rematch of Super Bowl XXXVI, where the then-St. Louis Rams lost to the Patriots.

Broadcasting

The game was televised nationally in the United States by CBS, with the broadcast team of Jim Nantz on play-by-play and Tony Romo as color analyst. The broadcast featured extensive use of the network's "Eye Vision" 360-degree replay technology. The halftime show was headlined by pop-rock band Maroon 5, with guest performances by rapper Travis Scott and Outkast member Big Boi. Commercial time during the game was sold for a record $5.25 million per 30-second spot, with notable advertisements from brands like Bud Light, Microsoft, and PepsiCo. The telecast earned a national Nielsen rating of 41.1, making it the lowest-rated Super Bowl since Super Bowl XLIII in 2009.

Game summary

The first half was a defensive struggle, with both teams punting on every possession except for the final drive of the second quarter, which ended with Stephen Gostkowski missing a 46-yard field goal for the Patriots. The only score before halftime was a 42-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein, giving the Rams a 3–0 lead. The Patriots' offense finally broke through in the fourth quarter, culminating in a 2-yard touchdown pass from Brady to tight end Rob Gronkowski. The subsequent drive by the Patriots resulted in another Gostkowski field goal, extending the lead to 10–3. With just over four minutes remaining, the Rams drove into Patriots territory, but an interception by Stephon Gilmore at the New England 4-yard line sealed the game. A final field goal by Gostkowski provided the 13–3 final margin. Patriots running back Sony Michel was named the game's Most Valuable Player (MVP) after rushing for 94 yards.

Aftermath

The victory solidified the New England Patriots dynasty of the 21st century, with Brady and Belichick winning their sixth championship together. The game's low score sparked widespread discussion about the effectiveness of the high-powered Rams offense, which had been the league's second-highest scoring unit during the regular season, against the veteran Patriots defense coordinated by Brian Flores. For the Rams, the loss marked the end of a resurgent season following their relocation from St. Louis to Los Angeles. In the following offseason, the controversial non-call in the NFC Championship Game directly influenced a rule change allowing pass interference calls to be subject to instant replay review for the 2019 NFL season.

Official records

Super Bowl LIII set several official records, primarily for defensive prowess and low scoring. It was the first Super Bowl without a touchdown through three quarters and the lowest-scoring game in Super Bowl history, with the combined 16 points breaking the previous record of 21 set in Super Bowl VII. The Patriots' 13 points were the fewest ever by a winning team. The game also set a record for the longest punt in Super Bowl history, a 65-yard kick by the Rams' Johnny Hekker. The Patriots tied the Pittsburgh Steelers with six Super Bowl victories, while Tom Brady extended his records for most Super Bowl wins by a player (6) and most Super Bowl MVP awards (4).

Category:Super Bowl