Fansided

5 reasons Los Angeles Rams will win Super Bowl 53

By Russell S. Baxter

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 20: Brandin Cooks #12 of the Los Angeles Rams makes a catch over P.J. Williams #26 of the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 20, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 20: Brandin Cooks #12 of the Los Angeles Rams makes a catch over P.J. Williams #26 of the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 20, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 30: Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (99) jokes around as he sits out the fourth quarter in Los Angeles on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018. The Rams beat the 49ers 48-32. (Photo by Scott Varley/Digital First Media/Torrance Daily Breeze via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 30: Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (99) jokes around as he sits out the fourth quarter in Los Angeles on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018. The Rams beat the 49ers 48-32. (Photo by Scott Varley/Digital First Media/Torrance Daily Breeze via Getty Images) /

4. Pressure Tom Brady up the middle

In many ways, legendary New England Patriots’ offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia never really does get his due. Of course, he’s a specialist when it comes to the least glamorous position on the football field. But he is certainly going to earn his money in Super Bowl LIII going against the Los Angeles Rams’ talented defensive front that includes the likes of former first-round picks such as Aaron Donald, Ndamukong Suh and Michael Brockers.

In two postseason games, the Pats have run a total of 172 offensive plays in eight-plus quarters, averaging 511.0 total yards per game. There have 82 runs and 90 pass plays. New England has run for 165.0 yards per contest and quarterback Tom Brady has yet to be sacked. In the AFC title game, a Kansas City Chiefs’ team that tied for the NFL lead with 52 quarterback traps during the regular season were shut out in this department vs. the Pats.

But that doesn’t mean Rams’ defensive coordinator Wade Phillips doesn’t have something planned for the well-schooled New England offensive front. The key will be putting the heat on the 19-year signal-caller up the middle. Keep in mind that it was Phillips’ Broncos defense in 2015 that in hindsight has prevented the Patriots from making it five straight Super Bowl appearances.

Donald (20.5) had exactly half of the team’s 41 sacks during the regular season. It will be fascinating to see how Scarnecchia deals with the 2017 (and possibly ‘18) NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

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