Patriots Super Bowl LIII News: Sony Michel has chance to truly shine

New England Patriots rookie running back Sony Michel has helped carry the team to the big game, now he has a chance to truly shine.

On a team that features the great Tom Brady, there is always other players who rise to the occasion to help the New England Patriots win big games.  Going up against a stout Los Angeles Rams defense in Super Bowl LIII, rookie running back Sony Michel will really have an opportunity to shine.

Like he did in his college days at the University of Georgia, Michel has produced on the big stage.  Making his NFL playoff debut, the former Bulldogs star has two 100-yard rushing performances and a total of 5 rushing touchdowns in the two games leading up to Super Bowl LIII.

Impressively, the majority of his production in both the divisional round and AFC championship came during the first half of those games to set the tune.  A similar performance will be needed against a defensive front that features Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh.

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The New England Patriots must establish a running game to keep the offense from becoming one dimensional and allowing the Rams to tee off on Tom Brady.  That’s where the patience and savviness of Michel comes in.  He needs to take what is given and find the holes to get positive yards.

Most importantly, he must secure the ball.

Big game performer

So far in his young career he has done just that.  Now, on the biggest stage, he has a rare opportunity to show how much of a big game performer he is.  In playing in the National Championship last season as a senior at Georgia, Sony Michel will be playing in the Super Bowl a year later at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.  It’s pretty much home for the Patriots rookie running back, but he knows his success will be all in how he prepares for yet another big game.

"“This is two different experiences, two different levels and it’s a whole different environment,” Michel told reporters on Thursday, via WEEI.  “But you kind of have to take the same approach about preparing, it is all about your preparation.  It’s pretty cool to be in Georgia but it’s most important that we are in the Super Bowl.  The only thing that matters to me is the football game and there’s nothing outside those lines that matter.”"

Despite starting the season slowed by injury, Michel has proven Bill Belichick a genius for selecting him late in the first round.  Not only has he nearly rushed for 1,000 yards, he has been a major factor in the team’s success thus far in the playoffs.

Now he has the chance to truly shine in the biggest game of his career just a year after losing that National Championship game to Alabama.  The New England Patriots don’t typically rely on rookies, but Sony Michel has proven that he is not just a typical rookie.