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ATLANTA (AP) — The Super Bowls have become a yearly ritual for the New England Patriots under Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.They're back for the third straight year and the ninth time overall despite a taxing season that seemed doomed after Julian Edelman's four-game suspension for performance-enhancers Youth Malcom Brown Jersey , a 1-2 start to the regular season, various injuries and the arrival and abrupt departure of Josh Gordon.Yet, as they prepare for Sunday's matchup with the Los Angeles Rams, it's hard to imagine New England, which is a slight favorite, not walking out of Mercedes-Benz Stadium without their sixth Lombardi Trophy. The reasons begin in the place that matters most: with quarterback Tom Brady.Yes, he's 41 years old. And yes, he showed some slight signs of decline during his 19th season. But he's also coming off two impressive playoff wins, which doesn't bode well for the Rams.He bested Philip Rivers in the divisional round. Then he helped the Patriots overcome their playoff road woes by leading 12th postseason game-winning drive of his career to defeat Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City in the AFC championship game.Brady averaged 267.5 passing yards per game in the postseason before turning 40. Since hitting that milestone, he's thrown for 364.6 yards per game."It's a long season. It's a lot like climbing a mountain," Brady said. "You have some really great moments and you have some disappointing things that happen. You gotta kind of figure out your way as you go. The goal is to reach the top and only one team really reaches it."Linebacker Elandon Roberts said trying to quantify Brady's impact this season is impossible."I can make a list, but I might run out of paper," Roberts saidWhile there have been times during the Patriots' run of championships in which they have been dependent on Brady's arm, this season has been notable for the help he's had and continues to lean on during the postseason.Rookie Sony Michel has reinvigorated the run game, rushing for an NFL rookie record five touchdowns. He's gotten support from Rex Burkhead (three postseason rushing TDs), James White and even fullback James Develin .It's added up to fast starts.The Patriots have been outscored 24-3 in the first quarter of their previous eight Super Bowl appearances. They are poised to change that, having outscored the Chargers and Chiefs 49-7 in the first quarter in their first two victories this postseason.The defense has also stepped up. First-time All-Pro Stephon Gilmore has helped steady a secondary that ranked as low as 27th in the NFL against the pass at midseason.There is also the undeniable experience factor that heavily favors New England.This will be the ninth Super Bowl appearance for Belichick and Brady. But it is the third straight for the Patriots overall. Safeties Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung and kicker Stephen Gostkowski are preparing to play in their fifth Super Bowls. And they have 25 players who have appeared in at least two Super Bowls.By comparison, the Rams have only four players on their entire roster that have played in this game.Brady went on the record this week saying there is "zero chance" that he will retire at the end of this season, adding his plan is still to play until age 45."He works http://www.authenticsnewenglandpatriots.com/cheap-shaq-mason-jersey , plays hard, he probably will," Belichick said.While he isn't thinking about the end anytime soon, Brady said he isn't taking his latest opportunity for granted either."I just love it and I love playing," Brady said. "I think everyone at this point is tired and worn down but at the same time, you have one of the great opportunities in your life. … It's a very difficult game to win. I'm excited for it." DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — When Brian Flores was asked how he celebrated winning the Super Bowl, he paused for several seconds and laughed."I kissed my wife on the field," Flores said.Then it was on to the next challenge, and a big one — fixing the Miami Dolphins. Flores, the New England Patriots‘ linebackers coach and defensive play-caller, was hired Monday as Miami's head coach. He accepted the job hours after helping the Patriots shut down the high-scoring Los Angeles Rams for a 13-3 victory in the title game Sunday night in Atlanta."It has been a whirlwind 24 hours," Flores said with a smile at a news conference that drew two dozen cameras."Looking at this crowd here, you'd think we won the Super Bowl," Miami owner Stephen Ross said. "I've never seen this many people in this room. … To me, you start an organization by signing a great leader. I believe we've found that leader."Flores was the first person the Dolphins interviewed after they fired coach Adam Gase on Dec. 31. They decided on Jan. 11 to offer the job to Flores but had to wait until New England's season ended to complete an agreement."I wasn't in a rush to become a head coach," said Flores, 37. "I had a good job in New England."Flores said the job with the Patriots' longtime AFC East foil was appealing because he shared a vision with general manager Chris Grier on how to build a winner.While preparing for the Super Bowl, Flores also began to hire a Miami staff. The group is expected to include former Colts and Lions head coach Jim Caldwell as assistant head coach Youth Devin McCourty Jersey , Patriots receivers coach Chad O'Shea as offensive coordinator and Packers assistant Patrick Graham as defensive coordinator.The son of Honduran immigrants, Flores grew up in Brooklyn and has spent his entire coaching career with the Patriots. He joined them in 2004 and became their de facto defensive coordinator a year ago after Matt Patricia left to join the Lions as their head coach.Flores is the ninth former assistant to Bill Belichick to become a head coach."I think he'll be awesome," Patriots cornerback Devin McCourty said. "But he's in the division, so I told him he can't win too many games."Flores becomes the NFL's fourth minority head coach for 2019, which is half the total of last season. Diversity advocates have questioned the effectiveness of the Rooney Rule requiring teams to interview at least one minority candidate for any head coach or general manager vacancy.A former Boston College linebacker, Flores also coached offense and special teams with New England. He has a long relationship with Grier, who took charge of football operations in the recent organizational shake-up.Both started as scouts for the Patriots, the Dolphins' longtime nemeses in the AFC East. Flores will report to Grier under the team's new, more streamlined leadership structure.Among those attending the news conference were Flores' wife, Jennifer, their three children and his high school coach. Also on hand was the last quarterback to lead Miami to a Super Bowl, Dan Marino, in 1984, and the last quarterback to help the Dolphins win one, Bob Griese, in 1973.Flores is leaving a team that won its sixth Super Bowl since 2002 to join a franchise that has not won a playoff game since 2000 and plans to rebuild after another dismal season.The Dolphins went 7-9 in 2018 to miss the playoffs for the 15th time in 17 years. They allowed 6,257 yards, the most in franchise history, and the offense was also among the league's worst White Cordarrelle Patterson Jersey , finishing ranked 31st.One win came at home against New England, when the Dolphins scored a miraculous touchdown with a pass and double lateral on the final play. The Patriots had expected a Hail Mary pass, and second-guessers complained that their secondary included lumbering 6-foot-6 Rob Gronkowski."My last memory here wasn't a great one," Flores said with a chuckle.That improbable finish couldn't save Gase. Ross fired him, ordered a roster overhaul and acknowledged it may take several seasons to build a winner. The revamp is likely to include the departure of quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who has been with Miami since 2012 but has never taken a postseason snap.Flores becomes Miami's 10th head coach since 2004, including three interim coaches. Grier noted that two of Flores' predecessors, Gase and Tony Sparano, reached the playoffs in their first season before the team backslid, so Miami will try a more patient approach."We want to build this where it's long term and you can win for many years, instead of trying to go year to year," Grier said.Flores is braced for the frustrations that come with rebuilding."That's part of leadership — dealing with adversity," he said. "There's going to be some pain. There's pain for every team."As for his curtailed Super Bowl celebration, he wasn't complaining."No, this is not getting cheated at all," Flores said. "That was a great experience, but I guess I've always been this way — I look forward."