Help Me Out... If NFC > AFC, then

[Loyal]

Why is it that before the Conference Championships, the Rams were considered an underdog to either the Chiefs or the Patriots?

Yes, the Rams pissed off the pundits because their Brees vs Brady narrative didn't work out. But the last few years, it was said by most of them "the NFC is no joke." or "it's clearly better than the AFC, where the Patriots have an easy ride to win the division because their division sucks."

Now, after the Rams have conquered the best conference and is the Champion, how is it that the Rams are underdogs? It's not just Vegas, it's all of the talking heads (or most) who said the NFC was superior, now say their champion needs to have a perfect game to beat Tommy Perfect and the Cheatriots.
Why?

 

[Da-Rock]

Its the Patriot factor. It happens to be accurate.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

On one of the nfl shows, someone said the line opened with the Rams as 1 point favorites. But, so much action came in on the Patriots that it pushed the line the other way. Vegas adjusts the spread accordingly.

 

[Loyal]

Its the Patriot factor. It happens to be accurate.

The Patriot factor is about to be destroyed by the Aaron Donald factor....

 

[Steve808]

Why is it that before the Conference Championships, the Rams were considered an underdog to either the Chiefs or the Patriots?

This may sound almost retarded but this is some of the chatter I've heard from the talking heads. (By the way, I like being the underdog here).

The talking heads said the Rams gave up 51 points to the chiefs and in a rematch, our defense probably doesn't get 2 scores so the chiefs win. And the Patriots get the trophy before playing because it's Brady's 9th super bowl and Goff is just 24 years old.

I did however, see a clip where it said Wade Phillips is something like 6-3 against Brady and the Patriots.

In my opinion, our D-line makes Brady uncomfortable and collapses his pocket, and we win, or he stands there all day and picks up apart and we lose. It think it's almost that simple. We stop them from scoring and we win. I think the Rams have to hold them to field goals like the Saints game and we can win. Somehow, I don't see a shootout in the SB.

 

[RamsFanCK]

Its simple my man...

 

[Ram65]

The Patsies are healthy and playing well. They have the experience factor in Super Bowls. Heck this is their third one in a row. I'm surprised they aren't a bigger favorite. The betters are taking the Patsies. Good article here about the movement.

https://www.thespread.com/nfl-artic...-for-super-bowl-liii-1-24-19-patriots-vs-rams

 

[snackdaddy]

I don't have a problem with people thinking we won't beat them. Quite a few thought we wouldn't beat the Cowboys. Even more thought we wouldn't beat the Saints. We have a head coach who just turned 33. A quarterbacks who's 24. Its understandable.

What these people don't realize though, is our head coach and quarterback are special. They find a way. Plus, Les Snead went out and acquired high profile, elite caliber defensive players. Guys like Suh, Talib and Peters have the talent to come up big in big games. They came up big twice now in two games. Not to mention we already had the best defensive player in the league with Aaron Donald.

We have a guy coaching the defense who is just as good as Bill Belichek in devising a game plan to stop what people think is a superior opponent. And we have the talent. I ain't scared.

 

[RamWoodie]

OP...if you're not concerned about Bellicheat having two weeks to scheme against the Rams, then you're on another planet.

The Pat's have the experience here bro. The Rams haven't been to this dance since SB 36 while the Pat's have been to a bunch. You should expect them to be favored.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY'LL WIN THOUGH!!!

 

[Farr Be It]

Why is it that before the Conference Championships, the Rams were considered an underdog to either the Chiefs or the Patriots?

Yes, the Rams ticked off the pundits because their Brees vs Brady narrative didn't work out. But the last few years, it was said by most of them "the NFC is no joke." or "it's clearly better than the AFC, where the Patriots have an easy ride to win the division because their division sucks."

Now, after the Rams have conquered the best conference and is the Champion, how is it that the Rams are underdogs? It's not just Vegas, it's all of the talking heads (or most) who said the NFC was superior, now say their champion needs to have a perfect game to beat Tommy Perfect and the Cheatriots.
Why?

Yeah. Everyone is mesmerized by Bilicheat and Brady.

All the sweeter when we beat them.

 

[Da-Rock]

I know I sound negative, but it doesn't mean I won't be cheering like mad for a Rams win. The reality is that the Rams have maybe a 40% chance to win the game.

If we do win it will be because the Rams will play a disciplined game and are hot on both Offense and Defense.

Can they win? Of course they can......it's just going to be a hardcore battle across the board!

 

[RamWoodie]

I know I sound negative, but it doesn't mean I won't be cheering like mad for a Rams win. The reality is that the Rams have maybe a 40% chance to win the game.

If we do win it will be because the Rams will play a disciplined game and are hot on both Offense and Defense.

Can they win? Of course they can......it's just going to be a hardcore battle across the board!

I wouldn't see it that way at all. In my mind this game is 50-50...and I'm not being a homer here.

The unknown factor here is how effective can McVay be against Bellicheat.

 

[Synthetic]

I believe the favorite/underdog of the big game is determined by how overall they played in the conference title games and playoffs in general.

Case point example: the 10-6 Packers were favorites over a 12-4 Steelers team for the 2010 SB. Vegas' reasoning was because the Steelers didn't really look all that great in either of their playoff games that they nearly lost (they had to comeback against Baltimore at home and then vs the Jets in the AFCCG, they nearly blew a 24-0 lead, not scoring again for the rest of the game after going up by that big lead). Green Bay blew a 13-3 team out the water and then outlived the Bears in the NFCCG.

The Rams are only slight underdogs, possibly because they had to overcome a 13 point and later 10 point deficit. Had the Saints won after blowing those 2 leads, I can guarantee you that my team would be major underdogs right now in the SB.

On the other hand, I think the AFC turned out to be better this year than many predicted back during the off season. There were a lot of good teams in the AFC this year, including one wildcard team that had a 12-4 record. Outside of the Rams and Saints, I would pick every other AFC playoff team over the other teams in the NFC who reached the post season.

 

[dang]

Recipe for success against the Pats:
Rams Offense starting like they did against the Cowboys.
Rams Defense playing tough like they have since week 16.
STs continue to be special.

 

[Loyal]

I know I sound negative, but it doesn't mean I won't be cheering like mad for a Rams win. The reality is that the Rams have maybe a 40% chance to win the game.

If we do win it will be because the Rams will play a disciplined game and are hot on both Offense and Defense.

Can they win? Of course they can......it's just going to be a hardcore battle across the board!

BS. Sorry, I don't buy the infallibility of the Patriots. We are more talented as a team than they are, and lets see how good Brady can eat without any freaking teeth, thanks to Donald and Suh.

 

[norcalramfan]

Under McVay, the Rams are 8-0 vs the AFC. Of those teams, the Jaguars and Titans won 3 playoff games last year and this year the Chiefs and Chargers each won one. In our playoffs this year each of our opponents won a game before the Rams ended their seasons. Beating the Patriots will put the exclamation point on the dominance we’ve shown so far and bury the we haven’t beaten anybody once and for all.

 

[rams1fan]

Rams should be underdogs. Patriots like it or not have the experience. They have the history.