The National Football League uses Roman numerals for its Super Bowls; the one on Sunday is LIII. To go along with that naming convention, the league should adopt a Latin slogan: Sic transit gloria mundi (thus passes the glory of the world). Nothing better illustrates that truism than the waxing and waning fortunes of the teams that will clash on Sunday.
This is the second Super Bowl to feature the Patriots vs. the Rams. The first one - in the XXXVI championship game - occurred 17 years ago. Back then, the St. Louis Rams were the reigning dynasty, and the New England Patriots were the plucky palookas of whom little was expected.