ATLANTA – The New England Patriots’ dynastic Super Bowl run led by quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick started with a victory over the Rams on Feb. 3, 2002 and officially has come full circle.
On the same date 17 years later, against the same opponent, Brady, Belichick and the Patriots captured their record sixth Super Bowl championship -- putting them in a class by themselves among football’s all-time greats -- with a 13-3 win. How they did it had similarities to their old-school approach, by relying on their defense.
That's because Brady and the offense, which had been sizzling heading into Super Bowl LIII, were outplayed by the Rams' defense led by veteran coordinator Wade Phillips into the fourth quarter.