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Patriots have plethora of defensive stars
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Some people said it couldn't be done, but the Patriots managed to come up with a game plan that kept the Rams out of the end zone until the fourth quarter, and then only let them in twice. It was a total team effort in New England's bend-but-don't-break approach. So, we asked our panel of ESPN experts about the players that made it happen.

Who was the Patriots' defensive star?


Chris Mortensen		 Lawyer Milloy was the best defensive player on the field. You don't see it in interceptions, but he was hustling all over the field and running Marshall Faulk down on crossing routes and sweeps. Milloy kept Faulk from some big runs and was the cog in the Pats' defense. A lot of guys stepped up. Nobody gave the Pats enough credit for having this much talent, not to mention being pretty well coached.


Andrea Kremer		 Though he was far from being the only defensive playmaker, Ty Law's interception return for a touchdown set the tone of the game. He made it clear that the Pats' defensive backs would be the defensive stars of the game in terms of the way they were plastering the Rams' wide receivers. If I had a defensive MVP, it would be Bill Belichick. I don't think anybody thought a game plan could be put together to shut the Rams down. And despite the Rams mounting a great comeback, I think they were shut down.


Ed Werder		 Rookie first-rounder Richard Seymour did a great job of pushing the pocket by himself back at Kurt Warner. To be effective, Warner needs to be able to step up. He was denied that opportunity by Seymour.


Sal Paolantonio		 Lawyer Milloy was the No. 1 defensive player. He started hitting people over the middle and got shots into Az-Zahir Hakim and Torry Holt. Isaac Bruce was nullified in this game; his name was hardly even called. Overall, the Pats hit very hard early and took the Rams out of rhythm in their passing game. The team defense and their concept throughout the playoffs were a winning formula, and that's why I picked the Patriots from the beginning. So I'm not shocked. It's the exact formula they've used to put together a nine-game winning streak to finish the season.


Joe Theismann		 Everyone. I can't single out one player. It would be impossible. You could say Ty Law or the four defensive linemen who got in Warner's face, making him uncomfortable enough in the pocket to throw errartically. But everyone played a part. It was a complete team effort.


Sean Salisbury		 Ty Law and Willie McGinest. I thought no one on the planet could shut down the Rams' receivers, but Law did playing mostly single coverage. He set the tempo early when he returned the interception for the Patriots' first touchdown. He did a great job on Isaac Bruce and laid a big hit on him as well. McGinest was outstanding. He controlled the line of scrimmage, applying pressure on Warner and getting a big sack on him late in the fourth quarter. He was an unheralded star.


Trey Wingo		 Bill Belichick. What Belichick did against the Rams reminded me of when he was the Giants' defensive coordinator in Super Bowl XXV. The Bills had all the weapons, but he kept them out of the end zone. Every time the Bills' receivers went over the middle, they got cracked. After the game, they said they'd never been hit so hard in their lives. Several Rams dropped passes over the middle and couldn't complete plays. I have to think they knew they were going to get hit. Whatever schemes Belichik imposed 11 years ago held true Sunday -- hit the receivers and make them pay. In the end, the Patriots' physical attack wore down the Rams' players.



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