We analyzed the Super Bowl matchup between the Patriots and Rams, and the better team is clear

• The Super Bowl 2019 matchup between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams appears to be a close one.
• Both teams are talented and well-coached, and each side has some unique advantages over the other.
• Perhaps the key matchup will be Tom Brady versus Aaron Donald, and whether the Rams' talented pass-rush can bother the 41-year-old.
• The Rams scheme better than almost anyone on offense, but there are some question marks heading into the game.
• Ultimately, the Patriots' experience and flexibility give them the edge.
• Check out all of INSIDER's Super Bowl coverage here.

The Super Bowl matchup between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams has the potential to be a classic.

It pits the old-timers versus the newcomers. Tom Brady, the GOAT, versus Jared Goff, the rising 2016 No. 1 pick. Bill Belichick, perhaps the greatest coach ever, versus Sean McVay, the coach everyone wants.

The Rams spent big to build a star-studded team. The Patriots mine the fringes for useful players and adapt them to their system.

Both teams are smart, talented, and efficient. Who will be the winner? We're not so sure it's clear. But by breaking down some key matchups, storylines, and factors, we have a pick.

Check out the key matchups into deciding who will take home the Lombardi trophy:

The key matchup is Tom Brady versus Aaron Donald.

What a matchup! The greatest quarterback of all time versus the best defender in the NFL and possibly the most impactful player in the league.

The goal of every defense is to throw off Brady by pressuring him. No quarterback likes being pressured, least of all Brady, who, at 41, tries to avoid contact when possible and isn't a threat with his legs.

According to The Ringer's Kevin Clark, when Brady was pressured up the middle, he posted a passer rating below 65. That's ... not good. Where does Aaron Donald do his work? From the inside. The man registered 20.5 sacks in 2018 by attacking the most fortified part of an offensive line. He's more impactful at getting to the quarterback than edge rushers who face less resistance.

A good thing for Brady and the Patriots: Their offensive line hasn't let up a sack in the playoffs. Will they be up to the task against the best of the best?

The Patriots want to get the ball out quickly ... is that a good thing?

ESPN's Bill Barnwell made an interesting note in his preview about the competing dynamics of the Patriots offense and the Rams defense.

Brady gets the ball out of his hands quicker than most quarterbacks. Brady passed the ball within 2.6 seconds in the regular season and had released it an average of 2.4 seconds in the postseason, according to Barnwell.

That's good news for the Patriots. With Donald fighting up the middle, it's only a matter of time until he breaks through. Brady will want to get the ball out quickly to avoid sacks and knockdowns.

Or is it good? According to Barnwell, the Rams defensive backs posted the seventh-best passer rating when quarterbacks threw the ball in 2.5 seconds or less. That allows the Rams to disguise their coverage, fool offenses, and shut down opportunities. But when quarterbacks threw the ball after 2.5 seconds, the Rams' passer rating fell to 29th in the league. The more time offenses took to digest the coverage, the better they were.

So, will Brady get the ball out quickly to avoid Donald and the Rams' pass rush, or will he buy enough time to carve up the Rams defensive backs? If Brady throws the ball quickly, he will have to be precise (and this has been one of his least accurate seasons). If he holds onto the ball longer, the Rams secondary will have to hang in there.

James White could become a matchup nightmare.

White has become one of Tom Brady's favorite weapons over the years. He had three touchdowns in their Super Bowl win over the Falcons two years ago. He has 25 touches in the postseason so far.

The Patriots might be able to use White like the Saints used Alvin Kamara in the NFC Championship. Kamara and White aren't the best traditional runners (Kamara is much better, but struggled running against the Rams), but both players are excellent receivers.

The Rams are strongest in their pass rush and the secondary. The linebackers can be exploited. White might have success lining up in the slot, creating mismatches with the linebackers, and breaking free for runs. Kind of like Kamara did here:

There's an opportunity for Brady to dink and dump to White, gaining chunks at a time and moving up the field.