Super Bowl LIII is here! To say that I was conflicted about my data model results and tossed and turned about it till this morning is a testament to how close these teams are positioned for a win and how little there is to separate between them. A resurgent New England Patriots, replete with confidence that experience is key to success will face an absolutely exciting Los Angeles Rams, who have become the epitome of young power in the 2018-19 season. But there can be only one winner! By the tiniest of margins (and this margin is so low, it is within the margin of error of my data models), the projected winner of Super Bowl LIII is…
The Los Angeles Rams
Tom Brady is one of the greatest QBs of the game, arguably the best. Age has no impact on him as he figuratively and literally stands tall against the opposition and his keen football mind sees plays before anyone can fathom such moves. It is this power that has taken him and his team above any other team on this stage for many, many years. However, there is something different this time.
In the 2018-19 season, one thing stood clearer with every passing game. Brady needs the team as much as his team needs him. His days of pulling his team through by his sheer determination and capabilities are history. He may have 4 more years left in him, but not at the level he has performed in the past. While he has the amazing Gronkowski who can get free anywhere and anytime, the best place kicker in Gostowski, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are coming into some headwind and that is slowing them down a few knots. This year, they are facing the Los Angeles Rams who need just those few knots of slowdown to power through to victory.
There is not one single factor that defines the Los Angeles Rams’ spectacular success this year. They have the greatest Offensive Line this year, Todd Gurley is fantastic, Aaron Donald is unstoppable and Goff is one of the most patient yet resilient young QBs you can ask for, not to mention their greatest asset, Head Coach Sean McVay who makes his debut as the youngest head coach in Super Bowl history. They seem to have everything and lack only one thing…..fear! That lack of fear, even, rather especially, in their Head Coach’s mind, clinches it for them.
The fearless Los Angeles Rams led by McVay, are best positioned to lift the Vince Lombardi trophy and make it their crowning glory for an amazing season!
In many ways, this Super Bowl is a microcosm of the entire season. Youth vs Experience, Foundational thinking vs Creative ideas….and as we step into the big day, this exercise of finding the potential winner of what is almost certainly to be a close game has been fun and painful, at the same time…..but like the prediction, fun wins by a tiny margin!
Go Los Angeles Rams! Thank you New England Patriots!