5 Quick Takeaways from Super Bowl LIII

5 Quick Takeaways from Super Bowl LIII

Michael Raupp, Sports Editor

It may not have been pretty, but once again, New England reigns supreme over the entire NFL landscape. For the sixth time in 18 seasons, the Patriots add another Lombardi Trophy to their collection, which is tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most in the league.

Here are five quick takeaways from last night’s 13-3 defensive showdown.

  1. In a modern NFL system where offense has dominated games, it was unexpected to witness two prolific play-callers and offenses struggle to amass points. As a matter of fact, Super Bowl LIII was the lowest scoring Super Bowl and second-lowest scoring first half, just trailing the Steelers 2-0 lead over the Vikings in Super Bowl IX.
  2. With a victory last night, Tom Brady now has the most Super Bowl wins by an NFL player with six. He had been tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer Charles Haley as the only players to win five, but now stands alone in football immortality.
  3. Los Angeles becomes only the second team ever to not score a touchdown in the Super Bowl era, accompanied by Don Shula’s 1971 Miami Dolphins team who lost to Dallas 24-3 in Super Bowl VI.
  4. The Los Angeles Rams were the first team ever in the Super Bowl era to punt on their first seven offensive possessions.
  5. Rams’ punter Johnny Hekker, who was an undrafted free agent in 2012 and is a four-time First Team All-Pro, recorded a 65 yard punt in the third quarter, the longest in Super Bowl history. Although the Rams’ offense was unquestionably absent all game, Hekker was one of the lone bright-spots for Los Angeles. He kept the Patriots in less than ideal field position time and time again throughout the course of the game.