It's often said that history repeats itself, but when Bill Belichick and Tom Brady began building their legacies as the NFL's greatest coach and quarterback, respectively, with an upset over the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI, not a soul could have predicted what would happen 17 years later. Belichick and Brady captured their sixth championship on Sunday night in Atlanta by vanquishing the same foe they beat to begin their reign all those years ago -- back when Brady was actually an underdog, Belichick was a formerly great defensive coordinator struggling to prove his worth as a coach, and the Patriots were just another ordinary team trying to secure their first Lombardi Trophy.

In their third straight appearance, the Patriots won their second Super Bowl in three years and their sixth championship since the 2001 season with a 13-3 win over the Rams. It's the first time the Patriots have won a Super Bowl by more than one score and the second time they've done so without Brady capturing MVP honors -- that distinction belongs to wideout Julian Edelman, who was the only standout offensive player in a defensive struggle.

It's fitting. Though 17 years have come and gone, the game unfolded in similar fashion.

The last time the Patriots beat the Rams in the Super Bowl, they did it with an incredible defensive effort against a previously unstoppable offense and one clutch kick. It wasn't entirely the same this time around -- Brady wasn't forced to engineer a two-minute drill in the dying seconds -- but it felt remarkably similar. Seventeen years after holding Mike Martz, Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt to 17 points (14.4 points fewer than their regular-season average), the Patriots one-upped that defensive performance by holding Sean McVay, Jared Goff, Todd Gurley, Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods to three points (29.9 fewer than their regular-season average).

The Patriots brought down Rams quarterback Jared Goff four times. They held him to 229 yards and a 57.9 passer rating, picking him off once late in the fourth quarter. The Patriots also limited the Rams' ground game to 3.4 yards per carry. And they didn't allow a touchdown to one of the NFL's most prolific offenses this season. Even though Edelman won MVP honors thanks to a 141-yard performance, it was New England's defense that almost single-handedly won this game. Stephen Gostkowski didn't make a game-winning field goal like Adam Vinatieri, but he did seal the Patriots' win with a clutch 41-yard field goal with just over a minute remaining in the game to turn a seven-point lead into an insurmountable 10-point advantage.

From the beginning, the game was a defensive slog.

The Patriots came out moving the ball steadily with their ground assault and Edelman's uncanny ability to get open in key situations, but due to a bad Brady interception, a missed field goal, and a failed fourth-down conversion, they only managed to score three points. The Rams fared even worse. They got shutout in the first half, picking up only 57 yards and averaging 2.6 yards per play. All six of their drives ended in punts. Goff was off, Gurley was absent, and the offensive line was getting run over in the trenches by the Patriots' defensive front. At halftime, Rams punter Johnny Hekker had touched the ball six times. Put together, Gurley and Cooks garnered five touches in the first half.

It was the worst offensive first half of the otherwise prolific McVay era, though despite the Patriots' early offensive dominance (195-57 total yards), they led only 3-0. It was the second-lowest scoring first half of a Super Bowl ever, the lowest since Super Bowl IX in 1975.

This is the 2nd-lowest scoring 1st half in Super Bowl history.



The Steelers led the Vikings 2-0 at half in Super Bowl IX. — ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 4, 2019 The #Patriots and #Rams just completed the 2nd-lowest scoring 1st half in Super Bowl history



Only Super Bowl IX, when the Steelers led the Vikings 2-0, had fewer 1st half points than Super Bowl LIII



The Steelers went on to win 16-6 for their 1st Super Bowl in franchise history — NFL Research (@NFLResearch) February 4, 2019 The Patriots are the 3rd team to shut out their opponent in the 1st half of a Conference Championship & Super Bowl.



The other two both won the Super Bowl (1973 Dolphins, 2000 Ravens). — ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 4, 2019

On the other side of the break, the Rams set the record for the most consecutive punts to begin a Super Bowl, per Elias Sports Bureau. Their best offensive play came when Hekker broke the record for the longest punt in a Super Bowl with a 65-yard bomb. L.A. ended up punting on its first eight series. Its ninth third down of the game, with roughly 4 minutes remaining in the third quarter, resulted in its first such conversion. It led to a 53-yard field goal that tied the game (which came after Goff misfired on an easy touchdown and took a bad sack to really test Greg Zuerlein's leg).

The game was tied at 3-3 heading into the fourth quarter. The six combined points were the lowest point total through three quarters of a Super Bowl. Finally, midway through the fourth quarter, the Patriots gained entrance into the end zone. To get there, they turned to a familiar formula, one that has consistently bailed them out during their reign: Brady threw a perfect pass to Gronk, who made an incredible catch to beat tight coverage.

On the next play, Sony Michel plunged into the end zone to give the Patriots a 10-3 lead with 7 minutes to go.

For a moment, it looked like that touchdown would finally awaken the Rams offense. It seemed as if they'd respond with a touchdown of their own. Goff converted a third down to Josh Reynolds. He hit Woods for another first down. From the Pats' 27-yard line, Goff dropped a dime over Cooks' shoulder and into his hands, but New England bothered Cooks enough on the play to force an incompletion. On the next play, Goff went back to the well.

He ended up lofting a duck to Stephon Gilmore, who played brilliantly all night and picked off the pass.

Goff never really got another chance. Though he eventually did step back onto the field, he wasn't allowed to do so until the Rams were trailing by 10 points after their defense failed to stop the Patriots' running game, which carried them from their own 4-yard line to the Rams' 24. And that's where Gostkowski ended the game, but only just barely.

The Rams would go on to miss a field goal in the final seconds, which officially sealed the Patriots' sixth Super Bowl under Belichick and with Brady. The coach and quarterback just won't stop making history together.

Over the past 17 seasons, the Rams have gone from Martz to Vitt to Linehan to Haslett to Spagnuolo to Fisher to Fassel to McVay; from Warner to Bulger to Bradford to Davis to Foles to Keenum to Goff; from St. Louis to Los Angeles; from Super Bowl-caliber to "7-9 bulls--t" to Super Bowl worthy again. And yet, the same final boss was there to deny them a championship. The Patriots have swapped out countless players and assistant coaches since their dynasty began, but their coach and quarterback have somehow remained in place. They've survived a devastating injury, two juicy scandals, one suspension, the emergence and departure of a potential quarterback heir, reported tension between the coach and quarterback, and turnover and changes all around them. Through it all, Belichick and Brady have endured.

This won't be the last we'll see of them. Brady already ended any talk of retirement before the whispers could begin. Patriots owner Robert Kraft is confident Belichick won't retire this year. Even if Gronkowski does walk away from the sport (it could happen), even after losing yet another top defensive lieutenant (this time, Brian Flores to the Dolphins), the Patriots will probably be back here again next year. At this point, it's entirely pointless to predict the downfall of the greatest empire the NFL has ever known until the downfall actually comes.

It's certainly not here yet.

Brady just bested Goff, who is so young he doesn't even remember watching Super Bowl XXXVI. Belichick just out-classed McVay, the league's chief wunderkind, becoming the oldest coach at 66 to win a Super Bowl and tying the record for the most championships by an NFL coach. After the game, McVay admitted that Belichick "out-coached" him while Belichick got ready for the night ahead.

Bill Belichick to a friend in the locker room 10 seconds ago: "It's time to party, man." — Andy Benoit (@Andy_Benoit) February 4, 2019

Seventeen years after the Patriots shocked the world as 14-point underdogs to begin a dynasty nobody ever saw coming, they cemented the greatest run in NFL history with yet another championship.

1. Tom Brady makes history despite poor outing: Brady is now the oldest starting quarterback (41) in NFL history to win a Super Bowl, breaking the record a 39-year-old Peyton Manning set a few seasons ago. Brady also set the record for the most Super Bowl wins by any single NFL player, breaking a tie with Charles Haley.

He wasn't at his best for most of the game. He finished 21 of 35 for 262 yards passing, no touchdowns, one interception, and a 71.4 passer rating. But he made the biggest throw of the game in the fourth quarter to Gronk, which preceded the game-winning touchdown. Otherwise, it was mostly a struggle for the greatest quarterback of all time.

Brady was picked off on his first pass of the game after a good kick return and four straight running plays took them to the Rams' 34-yard line. Brady appeared to misread the coverage and threw an ill-advised pass toward Chris Hogan, who was blanketed by Nickell Robey-Coleman. He didn't come down with the pick, but his deflection did allow Cory Littleton to snag a takeaway.

Later in the first quarter, Brady had an eternity to throw the ball away but took a bad strip sack (recovered by his teammate) that stalled their third series.

A few plays earlier, Brady was lucky to avoid an interception on another pass intended for Hogan. Once again, Brady was getting off to a slow start in the Super Bowl. In nine Super Bowls with Brady and Belichick, the Patriots have never scored a touchdown in the first quarter. The most points they've mustered in the opening 15 minutes of a Super Bowl is three. The Pats eventually got on the board with a field goal in the second quarter, but Brady's struggles persisted throughout the evening. This game was really more about their defensive effort than the offensive performance. But once again, Brady came up with a big throw at the end that most people will remember.

Twenty years from now, nobody will really remember his interception just like how nobody remembers his poor performance in the first half of the Super Bowl against the Falcons two years ago, which set the stage for an epic comeback. It all evens out. A year ago, Brady played out of his mind but fell short against the Eagles. This year, Brady didn't play well, but his teammates picked up the slack and carried him the way he's carried them so many times over the years.

2. Julian Edelman's MVP performance: Since an entire defensive unit can't win MVP, the award went to Edelman, who was pretty much the only offensive player who consistently performed at the top of his game. At halftime, Edelman had more yards (93) than the Rams' offense (57). He finished with 12 targets, 10 catches, 141 yards, and countless third-down conversions. Edelman has always been a clutch postseason performer. He's second all time to Jerry Rice in both postseason receptions and receiving yards. On Sunday, he brought home an award that'll ensure nobody forgets how dang good he is come January and February. Edelman's season started with a four-game suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing drugs policy. It ended with a Super Bowl MVP.

3. Goff's nightmare: Goff is so young he doesn't remember watching the Patriots beat the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI 17 years ago. He'll wish he could forget all about Super Bowl LIII, which he called the "toughest loss I've ever had." He added: "It kills. It's terrible."

The Rams' offense -- Goff especially -- was terrible. They killed any hope that L.A. had of winning. The Rams scored three points, averaged 4.3 yards per play, went 3-of-13 on third down and failed to reach the red zone. It wasn't just Goff who struggled. The offensive line failed to protect him adequately. The running game failed to get going. And Goff failed to hit passes with any sort of consistency. He finished 19 of 38 for 229 yards passing with no touchdowns, one pick and a 57.9 passer rating. Before the Rams' rather pointless final series in the waning minute when they trailed by 10 points, he was 16 of 33 for 174 yards passing and a 51.8 passer rating.

Like Brady, Goff came out cold. On the Rams' second series, Goff jammed a pass into the wrong target (he had another man open) and saw it broken up by Patrick Chung. On the Rams' third series, Goff's third down pass was deflected at the line of scrimmage, which was a positive outcome for Goff since it looked like it would've been a pick-six had it not been tipped. On the first play of the second half, Goff threw the ball directly to Dont'a Hightower, but Hightower dropped the gimme pick. Goff finally converted his first third down with roughly 4 minutes remaining in the third quarter with a dart to Woods -- easily his best throw of the day to that point.

But he followed that up by ruining a touchdown to a wide open Cooks with a late and wobbly throw that gave Jason McCourty the time he needed to recover and break up the pass.

And then he took a sack to force his kicker to drill a 53-yard field goal.

In the fourth quarter, he missed an open man across the middle, which led to a punt and subsequently to the Patriots' game-winning touchdown.

Jared Goff is going to wish he had this one back. pic.twitter.com/yTdp4qjpBP — NFLonCBS (@NFLonCBS) February 4, 2019

His nightmare ended with a horrific interception that Patriots linebacker Kyle Van Noy described as a "buttercup pick."

We probably shouldn't be surprised by Goff's performance. He's been playing poorly since November. In his first 11 games this season, Goff completed 67.7 percent of his passes, averaged 9.3 yards per attempt and threw 26 touchdowns and six interceptions. In the seven games since (not including Sunday), he completed 58.9 percent of his passes, averaged 6.5 yards per attempt and threw seven touchdowns and seven interceptions.

He was even worse on Sunday. Give plenty of credit to Belichick and the Patriots defense. They were outstanding -- from Hightower and his two sacks to Gilmore and his outstanding coverage downfield -- and they deserve acclaim. They took advantage of a quarterback who hasn't been playing well for a few months now.

4. Todd Gurley remains M.I.A.: Goff didn't get much help because his running game completely stalled, picking up 62 yards on 18 carries (3.4 yards per carry). Once again, after seldom seeing the field two weeks ago in the NFC Championship Game, Gurley was almost nowhere to be found. Though the Rams spent the past two weeks talking about how they were going to get him involved, he wasn't involved.

In the first half, he touched the ball three times for 10 yards. He broke free a couple times in the second half, but he finished with only 35 yards on 10 carries and one catch for a loss of one yard. After the game, Gurley, who dealt with a knee injury at the beginning and end of the regular season, maintained that he's healthy. It's been bizarre to see the Rams turn away from Gurley, who signed a monster extension in the offseason. And it'll be a story worth monitoring in the offseason.

5. Patriots ran over the Rams to ice the game: The Rams didn't run the ball effectively, but the Patriots did. The Pats' ground game has been a theme of their postseason run, extinguishing the Chargers and Chiefs with their dominant power rushing attack. It continued on Sunday when they ran the ball for 154 yards on 32 carries for an average of 4.8 yards per carry.

Rookie Sony Michel shined, again. He led the way with 94 yards on 18 carries, scoring the game's only touchdown, which ended up being the game-winning score. Plus, he also helped salt the game away with a huge run against a Rams defense that was desperate to get a stop late in the fourth quarter after Goff's interception.

But it was Rex Burkhead who broke free for the biggest run of the game, which took the Patriots into field-goal range later on the series. Burkhead rumbled for 43 yards on only seven carries, none of which were more important than his 26-yarder with under three to go.

It's pretty remarkable. While the rest of the league has adopted exotic passing offenses that set the league on fire in the regular season, the Patriots won the Super Bowl by lining up with a fullback and running the ball up the gut.

Super Bowl 2019 quarter-by-quarter recap

First quarter | Patriots 0, Rams 0: A whole lot of action, not many points. The Patriots moved Rams territory on each of their first two possessions but could not punch the ball in. The opening drive ended suddenly when Tom Brady's first pass of the game was picked off by Corey Littleton on a tipped ball by Nickell Robey-Coleman, who had himself a busy first quarter with a controversial unnecessary roughness call. (Coincidentally, Robey-Coleman found himself in the middle of a controversy at the end of the NFC title game when he committed an obvious pass interference that went uncalled.) After a quick three-and-out from the Rams, New England drove the ball right back into Los Angeles' end of the field. Facing a third-and-8, though, the Patriots elected to call a running play, which didn't come close to achieving a first down. Stephen Gostkowski then missed his fourth kick in the last three Super Bowls, preserving the scoreless tie.

The Rams finally got some movement on their second possession of the game, but their drive ultimately ended when Patrick Chung made a great play on a third-and-4 in Patriots territory. L.A. tried to shift out of punt formation to draw a penalty on the Pats but ended up being called for one themselves. After a short punt from Johnny Hekker, the Patriots moved down the field again, but their drive ultimately stalled out.

Second quarter | Patriots 3, Rams 0: The first score came on New England's opening drive of the second quarter. Gostkowski atoned for his early-game miss by nailing a 42-yard field goal to put New England up 3-0, which where the score remained entering halftime. The Rams appeared like they might get some momentum on the ensuing drive after they got away with a toe-tapping sideline catch by Robert Woods by hurrying to the line for the next snap before the Pats could challenge the play, but that drive stalled out before coach Sean McVay's bunch could get into scoring position. L.A.'s biggest break came on a late-quarter fourth down attempt from the Pats. Corey Littleton tipped a pass intended for Rob Gronkowski over the middle, and John Johnson III had excellent coverage on the play to force an incompletion. But even then, the Rams failed to take advantage and ended up punting once again.

Just about the only player making any plays of note during the second quarter was Julian Edelman (seven catches, 93 yards at halftime). The Rams continued to struggle moving the ball, punting on all four of their second quarter drives, while the Patriots did not get much of anything going except when Brady was targeting Edelman, whether to the perimeter or down the middle of the field. As the half unfolded, most of the drama surrounded the Rams' usage of Todd Gurley. The Rams' star running back carried the ball on the team's first snap of the game but spent most of the rest of the half on the sideline and went into halftime with only three total touches.

Third quarter | Patriots 3, Rams 3: If you thought the second half would bring a whole new ballgame, think again. Each team continued to struggling moving the ball thanks to the combination of hounding opposing pass rushers and quality coverage in the defensive backfield. Things were so bleak offensively that the punters (Ryan Allen and Johnny Hekker) looked like the best players on the field for much of the running time.

The lone score of the quarter was a 53-yard field goal by the Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein. It was the first field goal to beyond 50 yards in a Super Bowl in 15 years, and it was only that long thanks to a timely sack of Jared Goff by the Patriots' Dont'a Hightower. Prior to that sack, Goff had completed his first third-down pass of the game, putting the Rams in scoring range with his best throw of the night, an 18-yard strike to Robert Woods over the middle of the field. Goff also missed on a throw to Brandin Cooks in the end zone, floating the ball just high enough in the air for Jason McCourty to knock it away just before it landed in Cooks' arms.

The two biggest developments of the third quarter were a record-setting punt by Hekker (65 yards, the longest in Super Bowl history by 1 yard) and an injury to Patriots safety Patrick Chung, who appeared to suffer a broken arm while making a tackle early in the third quarter and was declared out for the game after having the arm placed in an air cast.

Fourth quarter | Patriots 13, Rams 3: In a game that the defenses dominated all night long, the outcome turned when the Patriots went to an empty-backfield set on three consecutive plays, inviting the Los Angeles pass rush to come after Brady -- trusting that he would make the right reads to get the ball out in time. And on three consecutive plays, that's exactly what he did. Brady first found Edelman over the middle of the field on an option route, then hit Rex Burkhead on a quick hitch to the perimeter, and finally, he lofted the ball down the left sideline to his monster-sized tight end Rob Gronkowski, who went up over the top of Littleton and came down with the football. That set the Patriots up with first and goal from the 1-yard line; on the very next play, Sony Michel scored the first and only touchdown of the night.

The Rams, who struggled offensively throughout the game, finally caught a rhythm on their next drive. Goff was nearly intercepted on a screen pass to open the possession, but instead, Brandin Cooks nabbed it and gained 19 yards. Goff made back-to-back huge throws to Josh Reynolds and Robert Woods later in the drive to move into scoring territory, but the Rams would never reach the end zone. A perfectly-placed pass to Cooks near the goal line was broken up at the last second by Stephon Gilmore and Duron Harmon (who entered the game after Chung's third quarter injury). The Rams took another shot down the field on the next snap, but the Pats sent an all-out blitz, Goff had to let the ball go off his back foot, and it ultimately fell into the waiting arms of Gilmore before Cooks could even locate the ball.

The Patriots got the ball back with 4:17 left to play, and after marching down the field into Rams territory behind the powerful running of Michel and Burkhead, officially sealed their victory with a 41-yard field goal by Gostkowski as Zuerlein missed an attempt to make it a one-score game with 5 seconds remaining. And so, the Patriots' dynasty, which started 17 years ago with a shocking Super Bowl victory over the then-St. Louis Rams, officially came full circle on this night with a 13-3 win that gave Bill Belichick and Tom Brady their sixth Lombardi Trophy.

CBS Sports was with you the entire way updating this story with the latest scoring information, analysis and highlights from Super Bowl LIII. If you are unable to view the updates below, please click here.

Thanks for stopping by.</s>New England Patriots defeat Los Angeles Rams 13-3 in a defensive struggle to win franchise's sixth Super Bowl

ATLANTA (AP) — New England Patriots defeat Los Angeles Rams 13-3 in a defensive struggle to win franchise's sixth Super Bowl.</s>ATLANTA, Ga. — The New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams are squaring off in Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta, Georgia. Check out some images from the game in our gallery below.</s>The Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots meet in the Super Bowl at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Here’s a look at matchups for the game.

Who: Los Angeles Rams vs. New England Patriots

Outlook: So about that part of only becoming aware of our age at exceptional moments … this would qualify for the main Super Bowl characters. Bill Belichick is 66 and Tom Brady 41, the coach and quarterback of the Patriots making their ninth appearance in the season’s final game with the franchise and seeking a sixth ring together. Sean McVay is 33 and Jared Goff 24, counterparts with the Rams and owners of zero Super Bowl trips and jewelry. Countless other supporting actors will play parts on both sides in the NFL’s most fan-friendly stadium. Here’s how A Game for the Ages just might play out …

When the Rams have the ball: Brian Billick was the coach in Baltimore for nine seasons, won a Super Bowl in his time with the Ravens and was pretty clear on his thinking when it came to which team might prevail Sunday: “Mark my words,” he said, “if Monday morning comes and we are talking about the Rams being Super Bowl champions, Todd Gurley had a huge game.” It might seem simple — the most talented running back in the game having an impact on its outcome — but given Gurley hasn’t been 100 percent and was passed over for C.J. Anderson in the NFC championship game, nothing is certain. You figure Belichick in two weeks of preparation will have found something to disrupt the play-action preference of the Rams and Goff, which means Gurley at his best — he led the NFL with 17 rushing touchdowns this season and was third in yards at 1,251 — could prove Billick correct. Nobody in the league run blocks better than the Rams, and they need another such effort to win this one.

When the Patriots have the ball: Those surrounding Brady might not have the overall skill of past Super Bowl offenses for the Patriots, but never underestimate the importance of having been here, done that, lots of bling for the guy making throws. Few quarterbacks get the ball out of their hands quicker than Brady, which could be a good thing to avoid the potent rush of the Rams and a not-so-good thing if Los Angeles defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is on his game when disguising coverages. Rob Gronkowski might be headed for retirement after the game, but for now the Patriots tight end appears as healthy and capable as he has been in some time. Julien Edelman must solve the coverage of Nickell Robey-Coleman, which means Edelman better duck if running an out pattern late in the game and New England trying to secure a win. The Patriots do as good a job as any other team attacking an opponent’s weaknesses, and Brady, Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels have had ample time to discover where those lie with the Rams.

Key matchup: Patriots offensive line vs. Rams defensive line. This is it. This is where someone will win or lose the Super Bowl. If the talented front of Aaron Donald, Ndamukong Suh and Michael Brockers can’t apply enough pressure on Brady and force him into third-and-long and perhaps a few costly throws, another ring for the greatest of all quarterbacks becomes a far more likely conclusion. Hard part for the Rams is, New England counters with one of the NFL’s finest offensive lines. Brady has yet to be sacked these playoffs. By the way — the Rams are 18-0 when Donald records a sack. When he doesn’t, they usually lose.

Possible unsung hero for Patriots: James White. It’s true rookie running back Sony Michel has been a pleasant surprise and will see his share of carries, but consider: White is second on the team with 751 yards receiving, had three touchdowns in a Super Bowl win against the Falcons two years ago and the Rams have been known to struggle covering guys out of the backfield (see Alvin Kamara in the NFC championship game). Brady loves involving those who have proven their worth in the biggest games. White is such an option.

Possible unsung hero for Rams: Goff. How can a starting quarterback in the Super Bowl be considered unsung? When it’s this quarterback. His coach might believe in him, but it doesn’t appear many others outside the Rams’ locker room do, still perhaps seeing more of the No. 1 overall pick who went 0-7 as a starter his rookie year instead of the one who led clutch fourth-quarter comebacks in the latter stages of this season. Is he merely a system quarterback reliant on McVay’s skill as a coach to succeed, or is there more to Goff? If it means winning Sunday, we’re not sure he cares all that much.

Key stat: 58. The combined number of turnovers the Rams (30) and Patriots (28) forced this season, ranking third and fifth among NFL teams. But both teams have taken care of the ball during the playoffs, with the Rams committing one turnover and New England two.

Did you know?: Brady and Goff have managed just three touchdown passes between them in these playoffs, the first Super Bowl since 1971 in which the quarterbacks have entered the game with fewer than a combined four.

Something to watch: If the Rams are leading after three quarters, some in-game wagering might be a smart call. They are 21-0 under McVay when leading after 45 minutes. Of course, New England is 16-0 when leading after one quarter since the start of 2017, so you could be making bets both ways all afternoon.

Quotable: “Playing in (the Super Bowl), you have the two best teams, and you fight it out and just one team wins and there’s no do-overs. There isn’t any retakes or Hollywood scripts or anything. This is live bullets, and we’ve got to go out there and get the job done under pressure.” — Brady.</s>Defenses dominated what was supposed to be a super shootout until Tom Brady led one classic drive to win the New England Patriots their record-tying sixth Super Bowl.

Brady threw two perfect passes to Rob Gronkowski to set up rookie Sony Michel's 2-yard score — the only touchdown in the lowest-scoring Super Bowl ever. That put New England up 10-3. A late field goal clinched the win over the Rams 13-3.

In a season in which all sorts of offensive records were set, this Super Bowl rewrote the defensive record book.

"Finally got a touchdown and the defense played the best game of the year," Brady said.

No Super Bowl had gone into the fourth quarter without a touchdown. This one did, tied 3-3 — even though these teams combined to average over 60 points a game.

When the Patriots needed a score, Brady, the oldest winning quarterback in a Super Bowl at 41, completed four straight passes, including a pair covering 47 yards to Gronkowski. The second, on which the star tight end beat two defenders, ended at the Los Angeles 2, the only time either team was inside the 20-yard line. Michel ran off left tackle for his sixth postseason touchdown.

"He knows to trust in me and throw that ball," Gronkowski said, "and I'm going to grab it."

Julian Edelman, who missed the 2017 season with a knee injury, was the game's MVP with 10 receptions for 141 yards.

With 4:17 left, All-Pro Stephon Gilmore picked off an ill-advised pass by Rams quarterback Jared Goff, who seemed overwhelmed by the big stage all night, at the New England 2.

Stephen Gostkowski made a 41-yard field goal with 1:12 remaining, completing a 72-yard march that took more than three minutes off the clock and included 26-yard runs by Michel and Rex Burkhead.

It was a workmanlike conclusion for the Patriots (14-5), whose losses all came away from New England. They beat the top two offenses in the Chiefs and Rams (15-4) in the postseason, and tied Pittsburgh for most Super Bowl titles.

The Patriots were terrific all game on defense, allowing the fewest points in a Super Bowl (tied with Dallas in 1972 against Miami).

"We're a relentless team," linebacker Dont'a Hightower said. "We didn't give up. A lot was thrown at us. When we play like we did tonight, we can't be beat."

The Rams, who reached the NFL championship game with the aid of a major officiating error in the conference title victory at New Orleans, never really threatened to reach the end zone.

At 66, Bill Belichick became the oldest winning Super Bowl coach. The Patriots beat the Rams, then representing St. Louis, to begin their dynastic run in the 2002 game. They also have beaten Carolina and Philadelphia (2004 and '05, the last repeater); the Seahawks in 2015; and the Falcons in 2017 in the only overtime in Super Bowl history.

They have lost three times, including to Philadelphia a year ago. New England is the first team since the 1972 Dolphins to win a Super Bowl the year after losing one.

How the Patriots accomplished it was atypical. The 10-point margin was their biggest in winning a championship.

Brady, who has won four Super Bowl MVP trophies, wasn't particularly sharp — except when throwing to Edelman.

"It just matters that we won," Edelman said. "It was a crazy year. We had a resilient bunch of guys."

Brady passed Charles Haley to become the only player with six Super Bowl titles.

All those suspicions about the Patriots declining this season became moot as the defense made the 24-year-old Goff look awful and turned All-Pro running back Todd Gurley into a nonfactor.

While it was anything but odd to see New England celebrate a championship, the manner it earned this one was startling. The 2 1/2-point favorite Patriots moved the ball well, ran down the clock, but made uncharacteristic gaffes on offense. Goff and the Rams made more.

L.A.'s second-ranked offense managed just 57 total yards for the half. The Rams were completely overmatched on the line and were particularly unable to handle the elusive Edelman, who had seven receptions for 93 yards.

Coach Sean McVay, whose Rams never had been blanked in a first half, let out a long, deep sigh just before halftime, recognizing how badly his team was manhandled, even though it trailed just 3-0.

It was the lowest score at halftime since Super Bowl 9, which Pittsburgh led 2-0 over Minnesota.

McVay, the youngest Super Bowl coach at 34, admitted he was outcoached. He had no answers as Gurley, coming off knee issues, managed 35 yards rushing, Goff went 19 for 38 for 229 yards and was sacked four times. Brandin Cooks, a Patriots receiver last season, did have eight receptions for 120 yards.

Tom Brady sacked for first time in postseason

New England's Tom Brady was sacked in the playoffs for the first time this postseason, going down when Los Angeles' John-Franklin Myers knocked the ball out of the quarterback's hands late in the first quarter of the Super Bowl.

Patriots center David Andrews recovered the fumble and New England maintained possession.

It was the first time Brady was sacked in a postseason game since last year's Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Brandon Graham ripped the ball out of Brady's hands for a fumble that was recovered by Derek Barnett — sending the Eagles to their first Super Bowl title in franchise history with a 41-33 victory.

The game remained scoreless through the first quarter.

New England, which had the ball for 11 minutes and 47 seconds, still hasn't scored a touchdown in the opening quarter in its past nine Super Bowls. The Patriots have been outscored 24-3 in those games — with the only points coming on a field goal by Stephen Gostkowski last year against Philadelphia.

Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 42-yard field goal to give New England a 3-0 lead over the Los Angeles Rams with 10:29 left in the first half of the Super Bowl.

The Patriots kicker missed a 46-yard attempt late in the opening quarter, but made up for it by capping New England's seven-play, 39-yard drive with the first points of the game.

Julian Edelman, who had two catches for 31 yards on the drive, passed Dallas' Michael Irvin for the second-most receiving yards in NFL postseason history. Only Jerry Rice has more than Edelman.</s>Patriots Are Super Bowl Champions Again, Beat The Rams 13-3

In a testament to the enduring power of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots emerged victorious in Super Bowl LIII for the team's sixth championship victory since 2002.

The Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 in a slow-moving game with the lowest total score in Super Bowl history. That means the oldest quarterback-coach duo in Super Bowl history has defeated the youngest duo, Jared Goff and Sean McVay.

"[The Patriots] played like champions," Belichick said. "Everybody counted us out from the beginning of the season, the mid-season, but we're still here."

Wide receiver Julian Edelmen was named Super Bowl LIII MVP, after a remarkable showing with 149 yards and 10 receptions.

"It was an unbelievable year," Brady said after the game. "We fought through it more so than anything. It's unbelievable to win this game."

For the second time in as many decades, the Super Bowl featured a David versus Goliath clash between the Patriots and the Rams — but this time, the teams had swapped roles. The Rams weren't the big, bad favorites they were back in 2002, the last time they met the Patriots on the NFL's biggest stage. And the Patriots didn't stride onto the field as the lovable underdogs they were when Tom Brady was just a blushing sophomore.

These days, the Rams hail from Los Angeles, Brady's Hall of Fame career is old enough to vote and the question on the minds of everyone outside New England before the big game was some variation on the following: Could the Patriots please quit winning already?

As it turns out, no.

At the outset, pressure from the LA defense looked like it could pose an insurmountable challenge to quarterback Brady. That proved not to be the case.

The Patriots put the first points on the board with a second-quarter field goal, answered in the third-quarter by the Rams. But the teams went the first three quarters of the game without a touchdown — a first in Super Bowl history.

Viewers complained about the low-scoring game, while commentators suggested that Rams kicker Johnny Hekker's record for the longest punt in Super Bowl history – at 65 yards – was the most exciting part of an otherwise incredibly boring night.

And then the Patriots scored the first touchdown of the game. An impressive 29-yard catch by tight end Rob Gronkowski brought the Pats within scoring distance, and running back Sony Michel sealed the deal with a 2-yard touchdown run.

Any hopes for a comeback by the Rams were more or less dashed by a Stephen Gostkowski field goal for the Patriots in the closing minutes of the game.

"Coach Belichick did an outstanding job," said McVay after his team's loss. "There's really no other way to put it. You know, I'm pretty numb right now, but definitely I got out-coached."

The Patriots are now tied for most Super Bowl victories with the Pittsburgh Steelers — six apiece. It's their second victory in three years. And although the game was the lowest scoring in Super Bowl history, it was also the highest margin of victory for New England in any Super Bowl.

We were here, live-blogging it all — read through it all below. Plus, because we're NPR, we also solicited your poetry. You sent us your best Super Bowl haikus – with the hashtag #superbowlhaiku — and they were so great that we forgive you for how many were about how bored you were during the game.

The Patriots have won it again. A fourth-quarter touchdown for the Pats – and a quick field goal in the last few minutes – left the final score at 13-3. The Patriots are now tied for the most Super Bowl titles with the Pittsburgh Steelers at six apiece.

It was the first Super Bowl without a touchdown in the first three quarters, but it won't be the first with no touchdown at all.

Running back Sony Michel scored the first touchdown to give the Patriots a seven-point lead. The play followed an impressive catch by fan-favorite Gronkowski, who deftly avoided defenders to march the Pats far down the field.

That brings the score to 10-3, or a cumulative 13 points, with fewer than 10 minutes remaining on the clock. The lowest-scoring Super Bowl in history was Super Bowl VII, when Miami won 14-7 — that's 21 total points.

And with a 53-yard field goal at the end of the third quarter by LA's Greg Zuerlein, the Rams have tied the game a 3-3.

In a worrying development for the Patriots, strong safety Patrick Chung left the field with an arm injury and will not return.

"Chung [is] one of the unsung players of the latter part of this Patriots dynasty," writes FiveThirtyEight's Neil Payne. "He's fifth on the team in starts this decade."

On the Rams side, Jared Goff has continued to struggle to keep pace with Brady. The LA quarterback has taken an average of 3.20 seconds to throw the ball, compared to Brady's 2.38, according to NextGen Stats.

But Johnny Hekker's eighth punt (more than any he's had in a game this season for the Rams) did set a record for the longest in Super Bowl history, at 65 yards. Commentators say it might be the most exciting part of the game, which, if true, is not a promising sign for viewer numbers.

"Why am I still watching?" asked several fans, who are still watching. And a haiku:

A "professional, tuneful, mildly exciting" halftime show, NPR's Eric Deggans says. "Not enough fireworks, gospel choirs or drumlines in Atlanta to move the needle higher on that one."

Deggans has also been following advertisements, the other highlight of the evening. If you're curious about how companies spent their millions on prime time advertising this year, he's tracked the hits and misses.

All is fair in love and advertisements. More from him on Twitter.

The game is halfway done, and the Patriots are still up three. It's been a surprisingly low-scoring game for a couple of the strongest offensive teams in the league, not to mention the second-lowest scoring first half in Super Bowl history.

The Pats so far have a missed field gold, a turnover on downs and a Tom Brady interception — which helps explain the stark difference between their huge lead in yards and small lead in the game.

The official commentators have had their say all night — but you've also been giving us your takes. Here are some of our favorite haikus hitting on everything from the game itself, the snacks and Colin Kaepernick. Keep sending by using the hashtag #SuperBowlHaiku.

The first points of the game went to the Patriots, as Stephen Gostkowski made his second attempt at a field goal, this time from 42 yards. Halfway through the second quarter, the score is now 3-0.

One name making a mark so far this game for a series of sharp plays is Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelmen. Early in the second quarter, the 32-year-old player had 74 yards alone to the Ram's 32 cumulative yards.

It's nothing new for Edelman, who has the second-most postseason receiving yards in NFL history — after Jerry Rice. The site SBNation has even drawn a comparison between Edelman and Rice.

Several notable absences tonight: Cardi B, Jay-Z and Rihanna all turned down the chance to perform at halftime in a show of support for former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who became the first player to take a knee during the national anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality. He has filed a grievance against the NFL, alleging that teams have colluded to keep him out of the league.

Support for Kaepernick has been widespread on social media tonight. #I'mWithKap started trending before the game, with tweets from New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow, rapper Common, comedian Nick Cannon, film director Ava Duvernay and actress Jodie Turner-Smith, among others.

"I will not be a spectator, viewer or supporter of the #SuperBowl today in protest of the @NFL's racist treatment of @Kaepernick7 and its ongoing disregard for the health + well-being of all its players," DuVernay wrote. "To watch the game is to compromise my beliefs. It's not worth it. #ImWithKap"

Basketball stars LeBron James and Kevin Durant were both spotted in No. 7 jerseys — Kaepernick's old number — in support of Kaepenick over the weekend.

The first quarter came to a close with the score tied at 0-0. Stephen Gostkowski missed the Patriot's first field goal attempt of the night, from 46 yards away.

Patriot's tight end Rob Gronkowski, better known as "Gronk," did notch a new record in his belt, according to ESPN Stats and Information, when he made his 18th career catch in a Super Bowl. He now has the most catches by a tight end in Super Bowl history.

The Patriots kept up their streak of never scoring a touchdown in the first quarter of a Super Bowl.

Just minutes into the game, the Rams — who also won the coin toss — made their first interception. Nickell Robey-Coleman jumped high and knocked the ball out of the air — and Cory Littleton slid in to make the catch.

It was a rare interception for Brady, who has twice thrown 48 passes without an interception in a Super Bowl, and a potentially positive sign for the Rams.

Meanwhile on the sidelines, Coach McVay's "get-back guy" is hard at work already, keeping the young coach out of the game's way.

It's over 60 degrees in Atlanta ahead of kickoff – a balmy evening on the heels of the recent polar vortex — but Wade Phillips, defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, strolled into Mercedes-Benz Stadium sporting a heavy sheepskin coat.

Phillips, the 71-year-old veteran working with 33-year-old head coach Sean McVay, paid tribute to his late father with a coat and cowboy hat identical to Oail Andrew "Bum" Phillips' renowned outfit.

Bum was a head coach in the NFL in the 1970's and 80's, first for the dominant Houston Oilers then for the New Orleans Saints. He cut a striking Texan figure as he strolled the sidelines in his unmistakable cowboy hat and boots.

"Bum Phillips was a country cowboy, never met a stranger, was a great player's coach," John McClain, who has covered the NFL for 40 years, told NPR in 2013. "He would stop practice, and he would have an ice cream truck come on the field."

Bum died in 2013, at the age of 90. The younger Phillips — who is currently the second-oldest coordinator in the NFL — has written a book about his father, "Son of Bum: Lessons My Dad Taught Me About Football and Life."</s>New England Patriots take on Los Angeles Rams, who make a return in the Super Bowl LIII after 17 years, on Sunday. The last time the Rams featured in the Super Bowl, it was against the same opponent.

Earlier in the NFC title game, the Rams took advantage of a questionable decision by the referees as they went on to beat New Orleans Saints in overtime. They scored a game-tying field goal with less than two minutes on the clock and then went on to get a turnover in overtime before nailing a long-distance field goal.

Patriots, on the other hand, under Tom Brady and Bill Belichick era would look to secure their sixth Super Bowl title. Despite getting off to a great start against Chiefs in the AFC Championship, the Patriots made a touchdown drive in overtime to secure a berth in the summit clash.

This edition of Super Bowl will feature Maroon 5 during the half-time interval. The three-time Grammy-winning band will be joined by Big Boi, who is from the host city (Atlanta), and Travis Scott, a Grammy nominated rapper, on the stage. Here is all you need to know ahead of the clash.

Super Bowl LIII will take place on Monday, February 4, 2019 – per Indian time zone.

Super Bowl LIII will take place at 5:00 AM IST.

Where will it be played?

The 2019 Super Bowl will take place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

How do I watch the game?

CBS network will broadcast the Super Bowl LIII and the live streaming will be available on the official website of CBS. There will be no live broadcast of the Super Bowl in India. IndianExpress.com will have the post-match coverage.</s>The first touchdown between the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots in Super Bowl 53 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia didn't come until the fourth quarter.

It was 3-3 after three quarters.

After last year's wild, high-scoring Eagles-Patriots Super Bowl, this one was a major letdown, and football fans aren't happy.

Here are some of the best (and funniest) tweets about the most boring Super Bowl ... ever?</s>The Vince Lombardi Trophy is displayed before a news conference for the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

ATLANTA (AP) — Jared Goff and the Los Angeles Rams’ electrifying offense shorted out in the Super Bowl.

Goff’s 19-of-38 performance for 229 yards with a key fourth-quarter interception played a large role in the Rams’ 13-3 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday night.

He got a consoling hug from coach Sean McVay in the final minutes as Los Angeles’ remarkable year ended with a performance that looked nothing like most of the past two seasons. The Super Bowl was the Rams’ lowest-scoring game in McVay’s tenure, and almost certainly the ugliest.

The Rams’ two-year roll came to a weird anticlimax at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with their lowest-scoring performance in their 36 games under their 33-year-old head coach.

Casual football fans who hadn’t watched the Rams during the past two years would have no idea how they got to the Super Bowl after watching this tentative, inconsistent performance.

And though Goff was hardly the only one to blame, Los Angeles’ 24-year-old quarterback had one of the rougher performances in Super Bowl history.

Goff’s ability to execute McVay’s offensive innovations and clever play-calling put the Rams (15-4) back in the Super Bowl for the first time in 17 years. His highs were outstanding, but his lows were disheartening — and this appeared to be among his worst.

Goff was unable to make consistent throws or tough decisions against the Patriots’ famously stingy defense, and his underthrown pick near the New England end zone crushed the Rams’ hopes for a tying touchdown with 4:17 to play. He was sacked four times and finished with a 57.9 passer rating.

McVay’s powerhouse offense has carried this team for long stretches of the past two seasons, but the Patriots (14-5) had an answer for everything McVay could throw at them.

Goff was the fourth-youngest quarterback to start the Super Bowl, and the first No. 1 overall pick to get his team to the game during his first three seasons. He had only nine completions in the first three quarters before getting 10 more in the fourth while the Rams’ rally fell short.

The Rams ranked second in the league with 32.9 points and 421.1 yards per game in the regular season. During McVay’s two seasons, they’ve led the NFL in points per game — only to look nothing like a juggernaut on the biggest stage.

The Rams’ first eight drives in the Super Bowl ended in punts and resulted in only 72 net yards. Johnny Hekker punted for the eighth time early in the third quarter, a new record for punts in a game during McVay’s two seasons.

The Rams didn’t panic: They had a slow first half of offense in the NFC championship game, but recovered with plenty of big plays in their 26-23 overtime victory to earn their first Super Bowl trip in 17 years.

Goff appeared to injure his non-throwing hand during the second half, going over to the sideline at least twice so the Rams’ staff could check on an apparent cut.

Despite their ineptitude, the Rams still could have taken the lead late in the third quarter when Brandin Cooks broke wide open on a post route, but he stood waving in the end zone while Goff saw him too late and uncorked a throw that took far too long to get there, allowing New England to knock it down.

But Goff was in the midst of his best drive right before his interception.

He hit Josh Reynolds in perfect stride for an 11-yard gain and a first down with just over five minutes left, and he found Robert Woods with another beautiful long pass on the next snap.

But under pressure from blitzing Duron Harmon, Goff wound up and flung a high pass in the general direction of Cooks. The ball was underthrown, and Cooks lost a fight for the ball with Stephon Gilmore, who picked it off.</s>For the ninth time in 17 years, the New England Patriots are participating in a Super Bowl.

Super Bowl 53 pits the Patriots against the Los Angeles Rams, a franchise that was on the losing end of New England's first championship triumph in 2002.

Since then, the Patriots added four more championships, with the most recent one coming two years ago in come-from-behind fashion against Atlanta.

The Rams are vying for their second Super Bowl crown in franchise history, and they'll also attempt to hand New England its second straight championship defeat.

The Patriots are looking to become the second franchise in NFL history to win six Super Bowls.

Pittsburgh achieved that feat in 2009, when it knocked off the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII on Santonio Holmes' game-winning touchdown catch with 35 seconds left.

While Pittsburgh's victories were spread out across a few decades, New England's have come in a small cluster.

The Patriots won their first three championships in a four-year span, with all of those victories coming by three points.

After a 10-year break in between titles, the Patriots won their fourth Super Bowl in 2015 and their fifth two years later.

However, the Patriots haven't been perfect in the Super Bowl, as they've lost twice to the New York Giants and once to Philadelphia.

In order to avoid a fourth defeat, the Patriots need to contain the production of Rams running back Todd Gurley, who is expected to be one of the focal points of Sean McVay's game plan.

If the Patriots are able to slow down the Los Angeles ground game, they'll have plenty of opportunities to put Jared Goff under pressure and possibly create a turnover or two.

Offensively, the Patriots have one of the best players to ever step on an NFL field in Tom Brady, who has four Super Bowl Most Valuable Player awards on his resume.

If the game is close in the fourth quarter, there will be a growing sense of inevitability that Brady leads his team on a game-winning drive once again.

After falling to Philadelphia a year ago, Brady and Co. will come into Sunday with plenty of motivation to erase the bad taste created by the Super Bowl 52 defeat.

But if they do lose, the Patriots would be the first team since the Buffalo Bills in the early 1990s to lose back-to-back Super Bowls.

Rams Have the Pieces to Cause Trouble for Patriots

Although the Rams boast a wealth of talent on both sides of the ball, they've been handed the underdog role since the Patriots are lining up across from them.

While public perception might not be working in their favor, the Rams have the potential to put together the perfect winning formula.

It all starts with McVay, who is regarded as one of the top offensive minds in the NFL, as he could put together a game plan similar to the one Doug Pederson produced in Philadelphia's win a year ago.

McVay has to be fearless with his play-calling, and he needs to pick his spots to be aggressive, whether it be on fourth down or by attempting a two-point conversion.

In Gurley and C.J. Anderson, the Rams have a pair of running backs capable of dominating the time of possession and keeping the Patriots off the field.

If Goff is forced to throw the ball, he has a few reliable options in Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods, who are capable of darting down the field for long gains.

While its offense is impressive when firing on all cylinders, Los Angeles' defense is the key to success Sunday.

If Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh are able to put Brady under duress while Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters shut down the New England wide receivers, the Rams will have a legitimate chance to upend the Patriots.

If the Rams pull off the victory, they'd be the first team outside of the NFC East to beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl, and they'd be just the third champion out of the NFC in the last seven years.
In American football, the New England Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII by a score of 13–3.