SPORTS GROUCH

Going into this year’s Super Bowl, I’ll admit to mixed emotions.

For one, I like that a 66-year-old man such as the New England Patriots’ Bill Belichick can still coach an NFL football team to the Super Bowl and win with 41-year-old Tom Brady quarterbacking his team. Being older than just about anyone in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, I believe old geezers should stick together.

On the other hand, I can’t help but admire 33-year-old Rams’ head coach Sean McVay who can make it to the Super Bowl with 24-year-old Jared Goff at quarterback - and in only his 3rd season as head coach. Would old age and guile overcome youth and inexperience this year?

THE CHESS GAME

The Patriots outplayed the Rams on defense and offense. They held L.A. to a field goal and won 13-3.

It was the lowest scoring Super Bowl game of all 53 and a masterpiece by both defensive coordinators.

It was also surrealistic as both teams are known for their offensive fire power. Not this year. This was a true chess game and Belichick was to the game what reigning world champ Magnus Carlsen is to chess.

The Patriots only led 3-0 at the end of the 1st half. That was incredible. The Rams then tied it up in the 3rd quarter. That was incredible, too, as both teams shut down their respective explosive offenses.

Then old fox Belichick out-foxed the young genius from the Left Coast. It was a performance worthy of a spy movie.

EXPLOIT WEAKNESSES

If you stayed up until 10:10 Sunday night, you watched Belichick magic. On a late 4th quarter drive, Belichick found a defensive weakness and exploited it. He ran the same passing play 3 times with Brady throwing to a different receiver each time.

The last pass went to reliable Rob Gronkowski at the 2-yard line. Then, former Georgia Bulldog running back Sony Michel scored the game’s only TD.

My vote for defensive star of the game is former Gamecock Stephon Gilmore. The Rock Hill native intercepted a potential game-tying pass.

Patriot’s receiver Julian Edelman was named the Most Valuable Player with 10 receptions for 140 yards. He was easily the game’s most effective offensive player.

As for Belichick, he’s the highest paid coach in the NFL at $12.5 million a year and worth every dime of it.

You may recall I predicted last week that the Patriots would win. They did. I didn’t bet a penny on it. Maybe I should have.

The Sports Grouch welcomes readers’ emails at ChronicleSports@yahoo.com .