The Los Angeles Rams will face the New England Patriots Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta in Super Bowl 53.
The Rams will be playing in their fourth Super Bowl, the Patriots will be playing in their third straight title game. The matchup of two of the league’s top-rated offenses pits two former star Georgia running backs — Todd Gurley of the Rams and the Patriots’ Sony Michel.
Here are five things to know about the Rams and the matchup:
• Rams head coach Sean McVay — the youngest coach in the NFL at 32 — grew up in Atlanta. He won a state high school football title as the quarterback of the Marist School. He played college football at Miami University of Ohio. New England coach Bill Belichick is 66. Their age differences is the largest in Super Bowl history.
• The Rams’ offense, behind quarterback Jared Goff and running back Tood Gurley, has been prolific this season. The team tied a franchise record with 12, 30-point games. The team won 13 games for the third time in franchise history — the two other times they won 13 games (1999, 2001), they also reached the Super Bowl.
» Read: AJC's complete coverage of the Super Bowl in Atlanta
• Until 2002, the Los Angeles Rams and Atlanta Falcons played in the same division — the NFC West. The Falcons have won their last five meetings, including a 26-13 wild card win in last season playoffs. The Rams lead the all-time series 47-30-2.
• The Rams and Patriots have faced off before in the Super Bowl — 17 years to the day of this year’s matchup in Atlanta. The Patriots defeated the then-St. Louis Rams on a 48-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri as time expired at the Louisiana Superdome. It was Tom Brady's first Super Bowl title. Brady is now 41. Los Angeles quarterback Jared Goff is 24. Their age difference is the largest in Super Bowl history.
• The Rams franchise has won a Super Bowl in Atlanta before. Rams linebacker Mike Jones tackled Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kevin Dyson one yard short of the goal line to prevent a potential game-tying touchdown in the 2000 championship game at the Georgia Dome. The St. Louis Rams defeated the Titans, 23-16.
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