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NFL playoff picture 2018: Picking the Super Bowl champ

By Cody Rivera

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Running back Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after catching a two-point conversion against the Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Running back Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after catching a two-point conversion against the Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 28: Running back Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after catching a two-point conversion against the Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 28: Running back Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after catching a two-point conversion against the Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

Predicting Super Bowl LIII

New England Patriots vs. Los Angeles Rams

You really couldn’t script this any better.

While many fans would probably be disappointed that they weren’t getting a rematch between the Rams and Chiefs in Atlanta, this Super Bowl would essentially bring Tom Brady’s career full-circle.

Back in the 2001 season — Brady’s first year as the starting quarterback for New England at age 24 — he won his first Super Bowl championship after the Patriots defeated the St. Louis Rams 20-17 at the New Orleans Superdome.

If Brady were to meet the Los Angeles Rams 18 years later in what could potentially be his final appearance in the Super Bowl, it would almost seem a little uncanny. In Super Bowl XXXVI, nobody knew who Brady was. He was just the former sixth round draft pick who filled in for the injured Drew Bledsoe.

In Super Bowl LIII, everyone would now know Brady as the greatest quarterback of all time and a five-time world champion.

Unfortunately, though, I couldn’t imagine this Super Bowl against the Rams ending as happily as the first one did. As mentioned earlier, the Rams are just too good offensively. Belichick might be the greatest defensive mind we’ve ever seen, but this isn’t the strongest Patriots defense we’ve seen over the years.

Best NFL player from each state. dark. Next

Once again, the Rams would do what they’ve done all season and absolutely light up the scoreboard, and they would finally avenge that Super Bowl loss to the Patriots from 18 years ago.

Just like it was before the season started, my early-December Super Bowl prediction remains the Los Angeles Rams.

Pick: Los Angeles 35, New England 29

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