Patriots quickly turn attention to Super Bowl showdown with Rams

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Looks like Julian Edelman won’t be selling too many #BetAgainstUs shirts over the next two weeks.

While the Rams opened as slight favorites in the wake of Sunday’s dramatic AFC title contest, the line quickly swung in the Patriots’ favor, as New England was a narrow favorite as of late Sunday night/Monday morning.

It’ll be a unique challenge for this New England team, which last faced the Rams near the end of the 2016 season. That woeful group, led by Jeff Fisher and Jared Goff (who was a rookie that season) was steamrolled by the Patriots, 26-10. Remember this display by Fisher?





That group is a far cry from this year's model, a sleek, high-octane group that also pulled off an overtime road win on Sunday to advance to Super Bowl LIII.

“We’re excited for the challenge — the Rams are pretty good,” said linebacker Kyle Van Noy. “They won an away game in overtime too (Sunday). They’re a really good team.”

Regardless of what Vegas thinks or history might say, there are a handful of Patriots who still have last year’s loss to the Eagles still scalded into their cerebral cortex. They appear ready for a shot a redemption this time around.

“I don’t want to feel like that again,” cornerback Stephon Gilmore said when asked about last year’s near miss against Philly. “To go that far and come up short. … I want to win.”

For the veteran cornerback and others on the roster who got their first taste of the Super Bowl last year, it’s one thing. But for rookies and other newcomers, it’s still a bit of a surreal feeling.

“No, it hasn’t sunk in yet,” said running back Sony Michel, who will be trying to notch his third straight 100-yard playoff game in two weeks against Los Angeles. “It’s a surreal feeling – an amazing feeling right now. Sooner or later, it’s going to sink in.”