It’s here at last – Super Bowl LIII - (2025)

The Pats and the Rams square off in Atlanta for one of sport’s greatest prizes

Both the Conference Championship finals, unsurprisingly, went to overtime. I can hardly recall a comparable season for edge-of-the-seat drama. It’s been gloriously potty since September, and there’s one fabulous instalment left.

It’s all come to this. Super Bowl LIII (that’s 53 to you and me). On Sunday night, in the magnificent Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia (below), the Vince Lombardi Trophy will be held triumphantly aloft ….. but who will be adding their name to the NFL’s ultimate roll of honour?

New England Patriots v Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, 11.30pm UK time, (in Atlanta)

The Rams thrillingly won the NFC Championship, but it has to be said that New Orleans were poorly served by the most contentious pass interference non-call anyone can remember. Upon such key moments destinies are written and dashed. LA arrive here proudly still, after a superb season of heavy scoring and statement performances.

The Pats sneaked past the Chiefs in another magnificent head-bobber to clinch the AFC, and this chance to win yet another Super Bowl. Three months ago it seemed fanciful to imagine this day – but New England arrive here in prime form, after some uncharacteristically uncertain performances along the way. Momentum is theirs.

Dispatching the Chargers and the Chiefs in successive weeks has been deeply impressive to watch, and they have a definite edge also in terms of experience.

Key offensive players

New England Patriots

Quarterback Tom Brady, 41, is looking for his SIXTH Super Bowl ring. LA must disrupt him, and bring pressure, or he will orchestrate matters pretty much as he has done, very successfully, for the last 17 seasons. He’s a surgeon, with a warrior’s heart.

Here’s a few of Brady’s ‘best bits’ on the way to playoff glory, courtesy of NFL.com

Tight-end Rob Gronkowski (‘Gronk’) is a towering, ‘go-to’ guy for Brady to aim for. He’ll catch, make yards, block; and score vital touchdowns.

Julien Edelman is not the biggest of wide receivers, but he’s all class – nipping and weaving between the lines in midfield, making vital catches, and again is a real touchdown threat.

Running-back Sony Michel is just 23, and arrives at Super Bowl 53 in scintillating form. Shortlist material for any Double Delight/Hat-Trick Heaven First Touchdown Scorer bets, as with the above-mentioned stars – a wager unique to Betfred, and providing fabulous added value.

Double Delight/Hat-Trick Heaven NFL – full details explained here …

Los Angeles Rams

Rams’ signal-caller is a young man by the name of Jared Goff. At just 24, he’s enjoyed a real break-out season after just a couple of years in the NFL. His progress has been spectacular, and relative inexperience on the biggest stage of all is surely the only potential concern.

Running-back is a position the Rams are particularly well-served at – with two elite, deadly weapons they’ll hope to unleash against New England. Todd Gurley ranked 3^rd in the NFL for rushing yards in the regular season, and is as good as it gets in the position. Another DD/HH First Touchdown Scorer staple.

Alongside Gurley as a very viable alternative is CJ Anderson. Oddly, he rather eclipsed his famous team-mate in the Conference Championship win against the Saints, with tales that Gurley was perhaps still feeling a knee injury that had sidelined him towards the end of the regular season.

Either way, if fit and healthy these are two VERY formidable opponents for the Patriots’ ‘D’ to deal with.

Brandin Crooks is a highly-rated wide receiver, and at just 25 still has plenty of time to improve even more. Expect Goff to seek him out on those crucial downs at either end of the field.

Defensive titans on view for both sides include the likes of Rams’ powerhouse defensive tackle Aaron Donald; and his partner-in-pain Ndamukong Suh. If either strolled my way and insisted it was Easter despite Christmas trees being visible in every living room for miles I wouldn’t dream of arguing.

They will be after Mr Brady at every New England snap. How that particular battle goes, and how often they can nail him, will go a long way towards settling the outcome.

For the Pats, safety Patrick Chung is vastly experienced, with 2 Super Bowls under his belt, while linebacker Kyle Van Noy is another key element of the ‘D.’

The contrast between the two head coaches is fascinating – with the Pats boasting peerless trophy-gathering veteran Bill Belichick, pictured above, right, while the Rams field Sean McVay (left), at just 33, is the youngest-ever head coach at a Super Bowl.

McVay’s been a breath of fresh air, and what both these fine sides do most expertly is to find ways to win. Change plans. Innovate. Take chances. This should be one heck of a football match.

The two teams are closely matched in seasonal rankings for virtually every category in offensive and defensive terms, and this will surely be determined by who shows up on the day with their A-game, and executes best. It should be mighty tight – the spread is only around 2.5 – but who will prevail?

And – can we expect a points-fest, or a tense lock-down? It’s time to stick the old neck out for a final time this season – and what a fantastic season it’s been, from first down to last.

First up, the game’s total points. With the offensive weapons on show I’m hoping for plenty of red zone action, so we’ll take ‘over’ 55.5 points, at 10/11.

Offense may just have the edge over defense, and both teams can score at will when fit and firing.

The outcome really does hinge on the battle at quarterback, as most NFL contests do, but none more so than on the biggest stage. Goff might choke. Brady might get hassled, and decked a few times. Not what’s required at 41.

Gurley might play second-fiddle to Anderson again; or he might just explode and be, er, Todd Gurley, force of nature. If that’s the case, the Rams’ chances increase considerably.

Wily campaigners Gronk, Edelman and company have seen it all before, and their calmness in delivering under pressure can be key for the Pats.

If anyone tells you, especially after this magnificent season of twists and turns, that they know exactly what’s going to happen then good luck to them, but I’m just not having it.

Educated guesses are the order of the day, and weighing every last detail and popping them all into the melting pot one just has to come down, narrowly, on the side of New England.

New England -2.5 at 10/11

New England outright on the money line at 8/11

It’s been a blast bringing you the FredZone feature every week of this NFL season, and we hope you have as much fun with this great game as we do.

Enjoy, keep abreast of Betfred’s extensive pre-match and in-play markets for the big one on Sunday night, and we’ll see you all again come September.

Next season will have its work cut out to top this one, but with Mahomes and company illuminating the scene you just never know.

This is a golden age for the game, and two fine sides will advertise that inescapable fact on Sunday night.

If you’re betting on American Football, Betfred