Here is what I learned this weekend about the Super Bowl:
I devoured plates of pasta, meatball sliders, chips, and snacks at my friends Ralph and Karyn's house on Super Bowl Sunday. It was an MVP spread. Why am I starting with this item? It's because the food they served was the highlight of Super Bowl 53. Now, on to the game.
Last night was the lowest-scoring game in #SuperBowl history (16 points).Prior to the Patriots, teams to score 13 or fewer points were 0-19 in Super Bowls. pic.twitter.com/ZoeXMPDWq3
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo)
February 4, 2019
While many are bemoaning Super Bowl 53 as a snoozefest (and they are correct), after next week, the only thing that will matter is that the New England Patriots are Super Bowl 53 champions. Will we remember that woeful offense next week, next month, next year, next decade? Not really. The only time we will think about it is when we see a show here and there on NFL Network or when we are thankful to have one less obnoxious chowderhead story about how wicked awesome Tom Brady is. Our attention will soon be on LeBron once he runs off his coach or Opening Day when it rolls around. That's why players receive trophies and rings. Memories fade, hardware lasts forever.
Unprecedented.Watch the full postgame #SuperBowl trophy ceremony with Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick, Tom Brady & @edelman11 @NFLonCBS | #GoPats pic.twitter.com/IkTUXu7P9K
— New England Patriots (@Patriots)
February 4, 2019 Are the Pats clutch or did the Rams choke in Super Bowl 53? Hard to answer, but at first glance, it seems both statements are true. The Patriots had been there before. For the Rams, it was their first time under the glare of the spotlight. The noted, late sports psychologist Ken Rivizza reminded athletes to "be comfortable being uncomfortable," meaning everyone is uncomfortable in a big moment. Those who succeed don't let the moment overwhelm them.
No one plays better in the bottom of the ninth in the World Series than they do in the regular season. The ones we consider clutch are the ones that perform to the exact level of their ability. Those are the ones who we don't consider chokers. It was a defensive battle with neither team being able to get much rhythm for the majority of the game.
Credit the defenders, the poor offensive play calling, and the energy in the stadium, because the fans were excited to eat two dollar hot dogs, or maybe even to see Adam Levine. Any way you slice it, it was a less than stellar offensive performance. The difference maker for New England was a Brady to Gronk toss that they have done hundreds of time over and over again. The difference maker for the Rams was a floater that was picked off to seal the game for New England. It's that simple: the Pats are must see TV bona fide prime time, the Rams are not.
The @Patriots win sixth #SuperBowl thanks to 13-3 victory against @RamsNFL. #SBLIII https://t.co/WqAJZGJkgQ pic.twitter.com/UxV64JRlPK
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports)
February 4, 2019 Gronk on that 3-time #SuperBowl champ vibe. (via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/3Hv4fyLJLK
— ESPN (@espn)
February 4, 2019
The big question for the Rams is what will Jared Goff become after such a disappointing game?
Yes, Todd Gurley should have bought a ticket to this game since he watched most of it, instead of being a factor in it. But Goff will be the one to wear the loss more than anyone else. We have seen hot shot QBs make it to the Super Bowl in a magical year only to have it be their only trip to the Big Game. For every Tom Brady, John Elway and Joe Montana, there are plenty of Jim McMahons, Jim Everetts, and Dan Marinos. Let's face it, Goff played a bad game. He was under duress every time he touched the ball. His passes and timing were off all day long. Maybe he ate something that didn't agree with him, maybe he forgot his lucky socks, or maybe he just had a bad day. Either way, the Rams should be concerned about the young QB they have invested so much in. He either uses this as a learning opportunity or he gets added to long list of hyped up guys that were the darlings of ESPN and, before they knew it, their 15 minutes of fame ended.
#SuperBowl LIII's biggest mystery: What happened to Todd Gurley? -- [from @ByKimberleyA>➡️ https://t.co/M8OwpeL3Oi pic.twitter.com/rTevKDVVZF
— Yahoo Sports NFL (@YahooSportsNFL)
February 4, 2019 WOW.@BumpNrunGilm0re PICKS OFF Jared Goff with 4:17 left in the game. @Patriots leading 10-3.--: #SBLIII on CBS pic.twitter.com/Yv2KXuTkaP
— NFL (@NFL)
February 4, 2019 The commercials were for the most part meh ... except for the Amazon Echo spot with Harrison Ford.
If u missed: My take for @NPR on the #SuperBowl commercials, which were mostly too safe, too unfunny and too awkward (except for Harrison Ford yelling at his dog for Amazon Alexa). Enjoy! https://t.co/OvStR5148y
— Eric Deggans at NPR (@Deggans)
February 4, 2019 The half time show was meh ... except for the cheesecake and velvet cake that Ralph served when Maroon 5 took the stage.
Who wore it better, Adam Levine or this chair? #SuperBowl https://t.co/Wr6oh3IBjT pic.twitter.com/i3KP21pgZ2
— E! News (@enews)
February 4, 2019
My biggest takeaway from Super Bowl 53 is that everyone is spoiled. We expect great games and once in a lifetime moments every year. Maybe I'm spoiled by Instagram filters that make every photo I take look like it belongs in a museum. Life isn't like that. Sometimes games are duds. No one promised you a David Tyree catch every year. That's what makes his catch so memorable - it doesn't happen every year.
11 years ago today, Eli Manning and David Tyree did the impossible. pic.twitter.com/iwPqF5MPEI
— SNY (@SNYtv)
February 3, 2019 But what I do expect to happen every year is for Ralph and Karyn to invite me back to their Super Bowl party.
2019 Super Bowl food: 15 popular snacks worth having at your party, ranked from worst to first https://t.co/dxlsxhtA2P pic.twitter.com/4m2iLpKho5
— CBS News (@CBSNews)
February 3, 2019
