The Los Angeles Rams won the coin toss to begin the game (congrats to Tails bettors) and deferred until the second half, making a somewhat curious decision to hand Tom Brady and the Patriots offense the football to start the game.
Brady had led two long touchdown drives to open both of New England’s playoff games prior to the Super Bowl, and early on it looked like they were on their way to another score, as they were gashing the Rams defense with Sony Michel and the rushing attack. The Patriots marched into L.A. territory before Brady attempted his first pass.
The future Hall of Fame inductee tried to find Chris Hogan on a hitch route, but Nickell Robey-Coleman strafed over to tip the ball in the air and Cory Littleton made a diving interception at the 26 to force the first turnover of the game.
Tipped and PICKED.@RamsNFL D with the early takeaway!
📺: #SBLIII on CBS pic.twitter.com/5ptrKyiE9q
— NFL (@NFL) February 3, 2019
As for how rare this is, well, extremely. Both for Brady and a quarterback in the Super Bowl to throw a first pass interception — and anyone that bet it got paid very handsomely.
Tom Brady is the 3rd starting quarterback to throw an interception on his first pass of the Super Bowl. He joins Jim Kelly (XXVI) and Ron Jaworski (XV).
It's the first time all season Brady has thrown an interception on the Patriots' opening drive.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 3, 2019
New England 1st pass is an interception…
That paid 70-1!
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) February 3, 2019
The Rams offense didn’t fare well on their first drive, as they went 3-and-out behind a short run from Todd Gurley and a pair of incompletions from Jared Goff, so the pick didn’t cause any real issues for the Pats, but it certainly had to make the Rams defense feel better and settle them down some.