Goff struggles on offense as Rams lose to Patriots 13-3

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots hugs Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams after the Patriots defeat the Rams 13-3 during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots hugs Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams after the Patriots defeat the Rams 13-3 during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Rams lose Super Bowl LIII 13-3 to the New Orleans Saints.

Fans can take a lot of solace in the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII.

Just two short seasons ago, LA had fired their old head coach, their top pick in the 2016 NFL Draft was a miserable 0-7, and after finishing 4-12 in the team’s first season back in Los Angeles, people would have laughed if you said in 2018, a young upstart head coach would guide the Rams to a 13-3 regular season, two playoff wins, and a trip to the Super Bowl.

As for the game, it was a combination of slow and plodding, missed offensive plays, and a Los Angeles offense that looked confused from the jump.

Super Bowl LIII had a lot of subplots that never really developed. The storylines of old versus young, Goff versus Brady, brash versus tried and true was sidelined when a defensive struggle broke out.

I mean, who knew.

For those who thought, me included, that the game would feature a pretty entertaining offensive show, it never happened. Not for the Rams and not for the Patriots.

Quarterback Jared Goff looked like a deer in the headlights, and in hindsight, it’s understandable. The Rams quarterback would finish 19 of 38 for 229 yards and an interception. Running back Todd Gurley, the subject of injury speculation, finished with 10 carries for 35 yards.

The story for Los Angeles, without fail, was the Rams defense. For a unit that was suspect for the majority of the 2018 season, they were as good as it could get. They harassed Patriots quarterback Tom Brady all night long, keeping a sputtering offense in the game.

This season won’t soon, or ever be forgotten. It solidified that the Rams are a team built for some staying power. Against the Patriots on the biggest stage and biggest night of the NFL season, they can take comfort in losing to an opponent who is anything from generational to once in a lifetime.

Fans can absolutely take solace. The Rams could be down this road again, with some valuable experience to draw from next time.

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