The Rams quest to give Los Angeles its first NFL championship since the 1983 season ended with them being held to a Super Bowl record-low equaling three points in a 13-3 loss to the New England Patriots Sunday in Super Bowl LIII.
Rookie Sony Michel ran two yards for the game’s lone touchdown with seven minutes to play in the lowest-scoring Super Bowl. The touchdown came one play after Tom Brady’s 29-yard pass to Rob Gronkowski.
The Rams ensuing drive ended when Jared Goff’s pass was intercepted by Stephon Gilmore at New England’s 4-yard line with 4:17 left.
The Patriots then sealed the victory on Stephen Gostkowski’s 41-yard field goal with 1:12 remaining to cap a nine-play drive that consumed 3:05.
The Rams tied the score, 3-3, on Greg Zuerlein’s 53-yard field goal with 2:11 left in the third quarter. The field goal came three plays after Goff’s pass intended for Brandin Cooks in the back of the end zone was broken up by Jason McCourty.
The Rams were outgained, 407 yards to 260, trailed 22-14 in first downs and 33:10-26:50 in time of possession.
The previous low was 21 points in Super Bowl VII in 1973 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. That game was best remembered for Miami Dolphins kicker Garo Yepremian’s fumble after a blocked kicked, that was recovered by Washington cornerback Mike Bass and returned 49 yards for a touchdown in the Dolphins 14-7 victory.
The Dolphins were held to three points in their 24-3 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl VI in 1972.
The Rams were the first team to punt on each of their first eight possessions in a Super Bowl, according to ESPN Stats & Info. On the eighth punt, Johnny Hekker punted for 65 yards, the longest in Super Bowl history. It was 1 yard longer than the previous record set by New England’s Ryan Allen in Super Bowl XLIX in 2015.