Offensive lines key in Super Bowl for both Rams and Patriots

ATLANTA — The Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots are bringing two of the top scoring offenses in the NFL to the Super Bowl.

The reason they’ve both played so well has a lot to do with the big guys playing up front.

Los Angeles had the same offensive line starters for all 16 games and both playoff contests. Their consistency has been key to everything Rams coach Sean McVay does with a team that averaged 32.9 points per game, ranked second in the league.

A line that has nobody who has ever played in a Super Bowl is being rewarded.

“Having that consistency is big in everything we do,” left tackle Andrew Whitworth said. “We know each other very well at this point, and that’s something that you can rely on when you’re in a tight game, when you need to execute at an important time in the game.”

The line has been just as dependable for the Patriots.

Tom Brady has not been sacked in either of New England’s two playoff wins, with defenses getting only three quarterback hits while chasing an offense that is part of a team averaging 27.3 points per game, ranked fourth in the NFL.

It hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Patriots’ 41-year-old quarterback.

In the days after their AFC championship game victory over Kansas City, Brady posted a picture on Instagram of his spotless jersey. He tagged each of his offensive linemen in the post, writing, “Not even 1 grass stain!”

The last time Brady wasn’t sacked through two playoff games was the 2003 season, when he wasn’t sacked at all during the Patriots’ three wins, including their Super Bowl victory over Carolina.

“I think they’ve performed incredible all year really,” Brady said. “We really haven’t had many sacks this year and I think they’ve done such a great job protecting, and the run game, I think that speaks for itself. That was just an incredible effort last week and we’re going to need it again because this group is obviously exceptional at (the defensive line).


“The D-line is certainly a great strength of theirs. We’ll be challenged. All those guys will be challenged.”

The 37-year-old Whitworth is the cornerstone of the Rams’ offensive turnaround, providing brilliant blocking and steady leadership ever since he left Cincinnati to join McVay on the West Coast two years ago. He has started every game except one in the past two seasons — and so have left guard Rodger Saffold, center John Sullivan and right tackle Rob Havenstein.

The Rams’ continuity on the line is remarkable in the modern NFL. Their only change from 2017 to 2018 was made at right guard, where Austin Blythe replaced the suspended Jamon Brown for the first two games of this season and played so well he never relinquished the spot.

The Rams’ offensive line is a reliable barometer for the success of their powerful offense. When the linemen are playing well, as they did through the first 10 weeks of the season, quarterback Jared Goff operates smoothly behind his protection and Todd Gurley finds gaping holes in their opponents’ defensive fronts.

When the line struggles, as it appeared to do at Detroit and Chicago in December, the offense stalls. Goff was pressured 51 times in a four-game stretch late in the regular season after getting pressured just 78 times in the first 10 games, directly leading to the Rams’ losses to the Bears and the Philadelphia Eagles.

“Everybody knows how much I love those guys,” Gurley said. “They’re responsible for everything. We’ve got the best line in the game, in my opinion, and they show it on the field every week.”

New England lost two starters on its offensive line in the offseason when tackles Nate Solder and Cam Fleming left in free agency. But with Marcus Cannon and Trent Brown taking their spots, joining center David Andrews and guards Shaq Mason and Joe Thuney, Brady was sacked 21 times during the regular season, compared with 35 times last season.

New England knows it will take a similar effort against a Rams’ defensive line that also features All-Pro Aaron Donald, Dante Fowler and Ndamukong Suh.

Andrews said one of the things they are so good at is changing up things, with Suh sometimes playing nose guard, and lining up on the edge other times.

“Obviously they’re both dynamic players,” Andrews said. “Aaron Donald is the best defensive football player in the league, there’s no doubt about that. So it’s going to be a big challenge. We’re going to have to do a lot of things well.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Familiar issues, but no panic for Patriots after 1-2 start

BOSTON — Two weeks, two head-shaking losses by the New England Patriots.

In Week 2, the Patriots’ defense was deficient in a 31-20 loss to Jacksonville in which the Patriots were victimized on third down.


There were problems all over the field in Sunday’s stunning 26-10 loss at Detroit, though it was Tom Brady and the Patriots offense that struggled the most against a defense coached by former Patriots defensive coordinator and new Lions head coach Matt Patricia.

It’s left New England at 1-2 for the first time since 2012. Things won’t get any easier as the Patriots prepare to open their division schedule against 3-0 Miami.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick said he sees problems everywhere on the field right now.

“We’re not making enough plays in any phase of the game, so we’ve just got to perform better,” he said. “I think the energy and the effort and all of that — we’re trying. Everybody’s trying hard. We’re just not getting it done, which is all that matters.”

One of the most surprising things in Sunday’s loss to the Lions was how ineffective Detroit managed to render quarterback Tom Brady.

The reigning regular-season MVP completed just 14 of 26 passes for 133 yards with one touchdown. He also had a costly interception midway through the fourth quarter that helped the Lions seal the victory.

The 133 passing yards for Brady were his fewest in a game since he went 8 of 16 for 80 yards against Buffalo on Dec. 28, 2014.

What’s more troubling, though, is an offense that over the past two weeks has gone 6 of 21 on third down.

“We’re not scoring enough points. We’re not executing well enough on a down-by-down basis. Certainly, at a high level, we should have our expectations set in,” Brady said.


“The process has been the same, there’s been a lot of talk about it in practice, and we’re going through it and watching the film and correcting stuff, it’s just not getting done on the field. And we have to get it corrected soon.”

One common theme in the way the Jaguars and Lions succeeded in limiting the Patriots offensively, was keying on tight end Rob Gronkowski. One of Brady’s favorite options, Gronk has just 13 catches for 189 yards and a touchdown this season.

He hasn’t scored in either of the two losses, hauling in only six total receptions.

But Gronkowski said no one inside the Patriots’ locker room is panicking about starting 1-2.

“I mean, it’s early, it’s football and it’s the NFL,” he said. “Some crazy things happen every single week and we’ve just got to bounce back. We can’t put our heads down, we have to keep them up. We’ve got to keep on fighting and there’s another week next week.”

“We’ve got a big division game next week versus Miami. We’ve just got to keep on fighting. It’s a long season, I know we’re 1-2 right now, but we’ve got to keep on fighting and keep on going. There’s no other way to do it.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Super Bowl winner Kubiak steps down as Broncos coach

An emotional Gary Kubiak stepped down as coach of the Denver Broncos on Monday because of health concerns, less than a year after he led the team to a Super Bowl crown.

The 55-year-old fought back tears as he told reporters he was “retiring from coaching” at a farewell press conference in Denver, hours after the club confirmed his departure in a statement.

“This decision is strictly my decision, based on what I’ve been through this year and how I’m feeling,” Kubiak said.

“I just feel like it’s time for me to do something different. Now, I’m retiring from coaching, I’m getting out of coaching, but I’ve got a lot to give and I’m going to find something else to do… but it’s time for me to step away from the coaching field.”

Kubiak said it wasn’t a specific medical problem that prompted his decision but rather a feeling that he couldn’t meet the demands of the job as he would like.

“I’ve always taken a lot of pride that I could coach the football team, be there for the players, be there for the coaches, be there for the organization, do a game plan, call some plays on Sunday.

“I’ve always taken a lot of pride in the fact I could do all those things, but this year I haven’t been able to do that.

“It’s been tough and for the first time I’ve had to tell myself, ‘Hey, you can’t do that anymore.'”

Kubiak was hospitalized briefly in October and missed coaching one game with what doctors called a “complex migraine condition” characterized by extreme fatigue and weakness.

In 2013 while Kubiak was head coach of the Houston Texans he collapsed during a game with what was diagnosed as a “mini stroke.”

Kubiak had told players and staff after Sunday’s season-ending 24-6 victory over the playoff-bound Oakland Raiders that he was giving up the job after two years with the team.

“Although we fell short of our goals this year, I’m proud of our teams these past two seasons. Helping to bring Mr. (Pat) Bowlen, his family and this organization its third Super Bowl is something that will always be very special to me,” Kubiak said in a statement.

Super Bowl triumph

John Elway, a former Broncos star quarterback and now executive vice president of football operations/general manager, was expected to begin searching for a replacement immediately.

Elway hired Kubiak — his backup in their playing days — as the 15th head coach in franchise history on January 19, 2015 and Kubiak helped the Broncos to the second-most wins in the NFL in his two seasons with a 24-11 (.686) record.

During the 2015 season Kubiak became only the fourth head coach in NFL history to lead a team to a Super Bowl victory in his first year, the Broncos beating the Carolina Panthers 24-10 in Super Bowl 50 in February 2016.

Elway called Kubiak’s management of the team over that season “one of the best coaching jobs I’ve ever seen.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Jordan Norwood sets Super Bowl record

It didn’t take long for Denver Broncos wide receiver Jordan Norwood to have his Super Bowl moment.

Norwood, younger brother of Philippine national basketball team member Gabe, set a Super Bowl record with a 61-yard punt return in the Broncos’ 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers on Monday (Manila time).

As per Eric Edholm of Yahoo Sports’ Shutdown Corner, no one has returned a punt longer than 45 yards in the first 49 Super Bowls.

“On his first return attempt of the game, Norwood caught Brad Nortman‘s punt at his own 25-yard line in traffic, and the Carolina Panthers stood around after as if he had called for a fair catch. Norwood didn’t, and he sidestepped two Panthers — Colin Jones and Teddy Williams — and turned up the right side of the field, sprung by a nice block from teammate Lerentee McCray on tight end Ed Dickson,” Edholm wrote, describing Norwood’s play in the second quarter.

The punt return led to a field goal by Brandon McManus and a 13-7 lead for the Broncos, who went on to win the franchise’s third Super Bowl.

What makes Norwood’s moment more special is that his brother Gabe was there at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California to witness it all.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Lady Gaga to sing at Super Bowl, Grammys

LOS ANGELES, United States—Lady Gaga will perform at two of February’s most-watched events as she sings the national anthem at the Super Bowl and leads a tribute to David Bowie at the Grammys.

The National Football League announced that Lady Gaga would sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl 50 on Sunday in San Francisco, where British rockers Coldplay will be the halftime entertainment.

The Super Bowl is often the most-watched television event each year in the United States, and the league generally seeks out non-controversial performers.

Lady Gaga has increasingly traded her ostentatious stage persona to focus on singing pop classics, performing duets with 89-year-old Tony Bennett.

Lady Gaga turns 30 next month and plans to release an album in 2016.

While the National Football League rarely picks artists known for controversy, their performances can draw intense scrutiny as when Christina Aguilera botched lyrics in the national anthem in 2011.

Lady Gaga was separately announced Tuesday as a performer at the Grammy Awards on February 15 where she will lead a tribute to Bowie.

Gaga will perform “a multisensory testament to the icon’s incredible artistry and a reflection of his limitless creativity,” the Recording Academy said in a statement.

The tribute will be directed by Nile Rodgers of Chic fame, a longtime friend of Bowie who produced his disco-infused 1983 album “Let’s Dance.”

Bowie, one of the most influential figures in pop music history who invented glam rock before experimenting in soul, electronica and jazz, died on January 10 after a previously undisclosed battle with cancer.

Lady Gaga—with her array of glittery costumes and sexual openness—is one of many contemporary stars who claims artistic descent from Bowie.

Despite the wide respect for Bowie in the music world, the British artist won only one Grammy during his half-century career, which was for a video.

Bowie, who lived in New York but enjoyed more commercial success in Britain and other European countries, was also presented a Grammy lifetime achievement award in 2006.

This year’s Grammys, the biggest night in the US-based music industry, will also feature performances by superstar British ballad singer Adele as well as award nominees including rapper Kendrick Lamar, who is in the running in the most categories at 11.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Broncos seal playoff berth with OT win over Bengals

DENVER — Denver clinched a place in the NFL playoffs with a 20-17 overtime win against Cincinnati on Monday, with DeMarcus Ware beating Bengals quarterback A.J. McCarron to a fumbled snap to seal the victory.

The Broncos (11-4) overcame a 14-0 first-half deficit and clinched a fifth consecutive playoff berth, while Cincinnati (11-4) blew a chance to earn a bye in the playoffs.

Denver can earn the top seed in the AFC with a win over San Diego and a loss by New England at Miami in next weekend’s finale of the regular season.

Denver was in danger of becoming the first team since the 1970 football merger to miss the playoffs after starting a season 10-2.

Broncos fans would have feared the worst after kicker Brandon McManus shanked a 45-yard field goal attempt at the end of regulation time, sending the game to overtime.

Denver won the toss and elected to receive in overtime. They drove 60 yards in 13 plays, led by quarterback Brock Osweiler, who was making his sixth straight start in place of the injured Peyton Manning.

McManus then redeemed himself by splitting the uprights from 37 yards out 5 minutes into the extra period.

Cincinnati had a chance to respond, but on second-and-10 from the Bengals 33-yard line, center Russell Bodine’s shotgun snap sailed past McCarron and Ware beat him to the loose football.

source: sports.inquirer.net