I don't ever remember watching a game since the NFL instituted replay where neither coach threw a challenge flag and there were no booth reviews in the last two minutes...not one time did the ref go under the hood...

Biggest call of the game was the holding call on the Rams Center. TG had just ran for 13 yards and what would have been a first down near midfield, then boom it's 1st and 20 back inside to 30. The Rams had back to back first downs and looked decent right then. They just could not overcome that penalty at a key point in the game.

 

I agree that was a big penalty. I also thought it was a very weak call. That is literally a holding call you could call on EVERY play of the game. As a Pats fan, I will take it though.

Drew Brees and the Saints had to be sick watching the Pats win and score only 13 points.

Not a fan of either team, congrats to any and all of the Patriot fans on bgp.

 

I did enjoy watching both teams play excellent defense. I'm probably one of the few on here that loves to see a team win with good defense, running the football and when they throw, go play action and throw the dang thing down field instead of these WR screens, throwing every play. This was good, old school football.

I wasn't complaining about the call, just saying that may have been the biggest call of the game. The Rams couldn't afford to get behind the sticks and that hold killed a first down run and put them way behind the sticks.

I wasn’t necessarily replying to your post. I agree with you, that phantom call was a huge momentum shifter in the game. My post was more about the state of the league officiating as opposed to just this game. Officiating is awful right now. It shouldn’t be this bad. They are under intense pressure to make every call correct, but it can’t be like this.

An extremely boring game to watch. I really would’ve loved to have seen a Brees/Brady Super Bowl.

Is it over yet? I fell asleep.

Best stat I heard while I was awake. Patriots lost 5 games during the season. None of the teams that beat them made the playoffs.

Best stat I heard while I was awake. Patriots lost 5 games during the season. None of the teams that beat them made the playoffs.

 

Wow that is a crazy stat!! Just doesn't matter how many they win, who they lose to, how many players are banged up, come playoff time Patriots figure out a way to get it done nearly each and every time.

Best stat I heard while I was awake. Patriots lost 5 games during the season. None of the teams that beat them made the playoffs.

Subtle shade at Steelers fans. Haha

What a dud ending to a captivating season. My thoughts...

 

1) The whole game was bizarre, especially the crowd situation. New England is universally disliked but they might as well been playing at Gillette Stadium.

2) McVay was able to outcoach his way to the Superbowl with a questionable QB. The Pats made Goff be the player that would have to beat them, and the stage was too big.

3) Someone on the Pats defense deserved MVP. I know unless multiple turnovers or sacks by a defensive player occurs that never happens, which is a same. Edelman was tremendous, but most of his damage led to the Pats scoring three points in the first half.

4) The Rams needed Cooper Kupp.

5) The Todd Gurley injury (?) is perplexing.

6) Always take experience in pro sports. Holds true most times.

I thought the injury to Patrick Chung would have more of an effect on the game.

7) I hate the day after the Superbowl. Football is over and I get to hear my coworkers talk about a game they know nothing about and can name only one player going into the game (Brady). They are happy today because the "bearded Edelman guy won MVP."

I agree that I don't think Edelman was the MVP. It should have been Gilmore first, then Michele, IMO. Both affected the game more than Edelman did.

Biggest call of the game was the holding call on the Rams Center. TG had just ran for 13 yards and what would have been a first down near midfield, then boom it's 1st and 20 back inside to 30. The Rams had back to back first downs and looked decent right then. They just could not overcome that penalty at a key point in the game.

 

Wasn't that a couple of plays after the defensive holding call on 3rd and very long (away from the play) that gave the Rams a first down?