Super Bowl 53: What are the keys to a Patriots victory?

2. Maintain stellar O-line play against Donald, Suh, etc.

Never in their wildest dreams could the Patriots have imagined just how well this offensive line would gel in 2018.

Veteran left tackle Nate Solder, who had been protecting Brady’s blind side since Moses walked the earth, departed for a hefty payday in New York. The guy drafted to be his replacement, Isaiah Wynn out of Georgia, tore his Achilles tendon during an exhibition game and ended up missing the season.

Finally it fell to Trent Brown, formerly of the 49ers, to take up the left tackle mantle… and boy, has he ever. Along with fellow tackle Marcus Cannon, center David Andrews, and guards Joe Thuney and Shaq Mason, Brown has absolutely dominated the opposition. As a unit, the Patriots offensive line finished the regular season ranked in the Top Five for both pass protection and run-blocking.

They’ve been even better in the playoffs. So far, Brady hasn’t been sacked a single time, despite facing the Chargers’ premier duo of Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa, as well as the Kansas City Chiefs, who led the entire NFL in sacks. And as for run-blocking, they’ve paved the way for the talented Patriots running backs to amass 331 yards and 8 touchdowns in just two games.

Those are eye-popping numbers and stats, no doubt about it. This is an experienced and cohesive group of men at the line of scrimmage, and Patriots fans should feel confident with who they have in the trenches.

The Rams’ defensive line, though, might be the most disruptive and dangerous group the team will face all year. Brady himself called it the “best D-line in the league,” and that’s not just the traditional Patriots lip-service paid to an upcoming opponent. Ndamukong Suh, Aaron Donald, and the other pass-rushers getting in the face of New England’s offensive linemen are absolute monsters.

Tom Coughlin’s New York Giants provided the blueprint for beating Tom Brady and the Patriots in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI: force pressure right up the gut and collapse the pocket from the inside-out. Brady’s a good enough quarterback at getting the ball out fast when he feels pressure coming from the edges, but at this age, he’s lost a step when that same pressure comes up close and personal right in front of his face.