What is the best individual matchup to watch?
I think it's Belichick and Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel against Martz. The last time the Rams and the Patriots played, it was on ESPN Sunday Night Football in Week 10, so I have seen both teams. Marshall Faulk was huge in the Rams' passing game and finished with 153 total yards. Martz will try to get mismatches with Faulk, who will be matched up against Patriots linebackers Roman Phifer or Tedy Bruschi.

Do you expect the game to be much like the first Rams-Patriots meeting?
I think so. The Rams have a little bit of an MO established when they play a good football team. They want to go out and try to put points on the board right away. They want to control the game from the get-go. If the Rams can't do that, they use the first half like a sparring match: "Let's see what they do against this formation. Let's see what happens if we try this." Then the Rams come out in the second half, and then they run basically another game plan. I don't think the Rams will do anything they did in their first meeting, but ultimately the Rams will try to get Faulk one-on-one with somebody. The Rams run similar plays, just from different formations. In the Steelers-Patriots game, it was important for the New England offense to recognize where the Steelers' blitzes were coming from. In the Super Bowl, it will be important for New England's defense to be able to recognize the Rams' personnel packages.

What do the Rams have to do to win?
The Rams will do what the Rams do: score points and play zone defense. They have to score 30 or more points to win. New England comes in a better football team than before, but it will be a question of who the quarterback is. The Rams will not have to change their preparation to face either Brady or Bledsoe. They both throw to the receivers and spread the ball around. Both make the same kind of throws. Neither one is very mobile. So there is not much difference.

What do the Patriots have to do to win?
The tight end has to be big for New England. The Eagles' Chad Lewis had five catches for 53 yards against the Rams. Because St. Louis likes to play with the cornerbacks up, the Patriots have to work the middle of the field. Jermaine Wiggins, who had 10 catches against the Raiders a week earlier, only had two against the Steelers, but he was facing a different style of defense, the Steelers' 3-4. In addition, Antowain Smith should be able to run the football. Remember, Smith had a chance to score against the Rams and give the Patriots control of the game in the first meeting, but he fumbled. Later, Brady turned the ball over at midfield. The Rams will throw from the first to the last snap. Martz wouldn't think twice about throwing 60 times in this game if he thought that was the way to win. So the Patriots need to run, especially if Bledsoe is playing. If Bledsoe has to play, he will have to be a lot better than he was the first two weeks of the season and better than he was Sunday. The problem for New England is how much practice Brady will be able to get in one week. Belichick has a tough decision to make: Does he give Bledsoe most of the work and play Brady if he is healthy? Stay tuned.

A game analyst for ESPN's Sunday Night Football, former NFL QB Joe Theismann won a Super Bowl and a league MVP award. He will contribute a Cup o' Joe for ESPN.com each day during Super Bowl week.