Super Bowl 53: Score, highlights, recap – Patriots beat Rams in snoozefest

The Patriots won Super Bowl 53 over the Rams in a game that was incredibly boring, featured a lousy halftime performance and one total touchdown.

Super Bowl 53 was incredibly boring unless you were a Patriots fan.

The first three quarters saw six combined points, the fewest in Super Bowl history, but a fourth-quarter rushing touchdown from Sony Michel was the difference as the New England Patriots beat the Los Angeles Rams, 13-3. This is the sixth Super Bowl for Tom Brady who has the most rings in NFL history, breaking the tie with Charles Haley. Brady didn’t have his best game, completing 21-of-35 passes for 262 yards, no touchdowns and an interception.

Julian Edelman was vital to the Patriots offensive attack, reeling in 10 of his 12 targets for 141 yards and was named Super Bowl MVP in what was an otherwise defensive and punting showcase.

Super Bowl 53 got off to an inauspicious start for the Patriots vs. the Rams. Brady threw an interception on his first pass attempt of the game, becoming the third quarterback in Super Bowl history to do so. It didn’t cost the Patriots as the Rams were unable to take advantage of their miscues, which also included a missed 46-yard field goal attempt by Stephen Gostkowski. After one quarter, it was scoreless, which was the ninth time in Super Bowl history there were no points scored in the opening stanza, the Patriots were involved in five of them, winning four.

The Patriots got the scoring started in the second quarter with a 42-yard field goal from Gostkowski. That would be all the scoring for the first half, however, as Super Bowl 53 marked the second-lowest scoring first half in history. Only Super Bowl IX when the Steelers had a 2-0 lead over the Vikings saw less offense than what happened at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

After Maroon 5 performed at halftime to the consternation of many, there was little in the way of halftime adjustments as the offenses continued to sputter against the stout defenses. The Rams were able to get on the board with a 53-yard field goal, the second-longest in Super Bowl history to tie the game at 3-3 heading to the fourth quarter. The six combined points is a record for the fewest points after three quarters.

Two catches for 47 yards, including a 29-yarder to bring the Pats to the 2-yard line set up Michel to score the first touchdown of the game and give the Pats a 10-3 lead with 7:00 remaining. He joins Jamal Lewis as the only rookies in the last 30 years to have a rushing touchdown in the Super Bowl. Michel also extended his own rookie record with his sixth postseason touchdown, the most since Terrell Davis scored eight times in 1997. Michel finished with a game-high 94 yards and a touchdown.

On the ensuing possession, Goff threw an interception on a poorly thrown ball down the deep right sideline that was intercepted by Stephon Gilmore at the New England 4, effectively ending the game.

First quarter highlights

Brady’s first pass of the game is intercepted by Cory Littleton after it was deflected by Nickell Robey-Coleman. The Rams had to punt on the ensuing possession.

The Patriots had the first scoring opportunity with 5:35 remaining in the first quarter but Stephen Gostkowski missed a 46-yard field goal attempt.

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Second quarter highlights

A pair of receptions by Edelman and Gronkowski gave Gostkowski another chance to get the Patriots on the board. Gostkowski connected on his 42-yard try to give the Pats the first score of the game with 10:29 left in the first half. Teams scoring first have won seven of the last eight Super Bowls.

The Rams faced a 3rd-and-2 at the NE 47 but Kyle Van Noy came up with a clutch sack and a loss of 14 yards to force a Rams punt.

The second lowest-scoring first half in Super Bowl history sees the Pats leading the Rams 3-0. Super Bowl IX when the Steelers led the Vikings, 2-0 must have been really entertaining, huh?

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Halftime: Patriots 3, Rams 0

Third quarter highlights

The second half saw Edelman top the 100-yard mark for the sixth time in his postseason career, tying Michael Irvin for the second-most such games in playoff history.

Super Bowl 53 saw a record fall when Johnny Hekker had a 65-yard punt. That’s how exciting this game has been. A punt is one of the biggest plays of the game thus far. The Rams also became the first team in Super Bowl history to punt on their first seven possessions.

After a nine-yard sack, the Rams were pushed back to the New England 35 where Greg Zuerlein attempted a 53-yard field goal, and he drilled it to get the Rams on the board and tie the game at 3-3 with 2:11 left in the third quarter. The 53-yard field goal was the second-longest in Super Bowl history.

Fourth quarter highlights

Gronkowski’s 29-yard reception set up Michel’s 2-yard touchdown run to give the Pats a 10-3 lead.

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The Rams tried to respond as the clock ticked down on their season but Goff chucked up a duck that was picked off by Gilmore to end the threat and the game.

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Gostkowski delivered the final dagger with a 41-yard field goal with 72 seconds left.