New England
Plenty of attention was on Foxbourgh, Mass before the 2016 season began. The NFL suspended the greatest quarterback of all time for four games, which meant that it was time for little Jimmy Garopollo to fly. Jimmy G did just that, winning his first two starts at QB, and looking pretty good while doing so. However, the party was over for Jim Jim after week two, as he suffered an injury. Jacoby Brissett was next in line, and he went 1-1. So, after four games, New England sat at 3-1, and the king was back.
Brady made his return on October 9th in Cleveland, and amazingly, the Browns lost. Next up was the Cincinnati Bengals, and New England dispatched of them by a score of 35-17. The turkey of AFC North affairs concluded with a victory over Landry Jones and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Next up was a rematch with the Buffalo Bills, who shut out the Pats when Tom Terrific was MIA. This time, New England rolled 41-25, but the big news was that this contest involved a sex object thrown onto the field by an American hero.
Week 9 was a bye week, and the Pats were back in Week 10, hosting Pete Carrol's Seahawks on a Sunday Night in Foxborough. New England brought out the best in Seattle, as the Seahawks squeaked out a 31-24 win. That would be the last blemish New England would suffer to date.
The Pats won their next seven games by an average of 16 points, as they cruised to the #1 seed in the American Football Conference.
Their first playoff bout was with the Houston Texans, who do not have a quarterback. The Texans fought, but the Pats pulled away for a 34-16 win.
New England beat my Steelers, and that's how they got to the dance.
Atlanta Falcons
Before the season, not a lot of people expected the Atlanta Falcons to be in the position. Well, here they are.
It all started in Week 1, and not in a positive manner. Atlanta hosted division rival Tampa Bay to open the campaign, and they fell by a score of 31-24. Next up was a visit to the black hole, where 396 passing yards from Matt Ryan as well as 106 receiving yards from Julio Jones negated a poor defensive performance, and the birds escaped with a 35-28 win. The next two games were whacky, as the Falcons averaged 46.5 points in victories over New Orleans and Carolina. On October 9th, Atlanta set a tone for the rest of the Denver Broncos season, as they handed Denver their first loss.
The Falcons came back down to earth the next two weeks, with a respectable two-point loss at Seattle, followed by an embarrassing 33-30 loss at home to the hapless Chargers. Atlanta got back on track the next two weeks, however, as they averaged 38 points in wins over Green Bay, as well as a revenge W at Tampa. The roller coaster ride would continue on November 13th in Philly, as the Falcons potent offense sputtered in an ugly 24-15 loss to the Eagles. Atlanta rode two Taylor Gabriel touchdown receptions to a 38-19 victory over Arizona the next week but continued their erratic ways with a loss to Kansas City on December 4th. That would be the last contest the Falcons would drop to date.
Over the rest of the regular season, the Falcons averaged a staggering 38.5 PPG en route to the NFC South title. The playoffs saw more destruction, as with the NFC's #2 seed, Atlanta dispatched of Seattle and Green Bay, and embarssed both of those franchises as well. So, here we are.
Now, here are three keys to victory for each team.
New England
Key #1: Cover Julio Jones
Two years ago, Malcolm Butler made the biggest play of his young career. Today, he has the toughest assignment of his young career, as he will be checking possibly the best receiver in the National Football League. If the Patriots can shut down Jones, it does not mean that they are out of the woods, as Atlanta still has a plethora of other options. However, the less #11 is a factor; the better off New England will be.
Key #2: Short passes
It's what the Pats do better than any team, maybe in NFL history. If New England can perfect the "dink and dunk" game as they did two weeks ago, then Atlanta will be in big, big trouble.
Key #3: Be the Patriots
These guys are the gold standard of the NFL, and make no mistake; they are supposed to win this game. They are more experienced, and they are the better team, with all due respect to the Falcons. Simply put, if the Pats can do what they do and play their game, they won't be defeated.
Atlanta
Key #1: Get everybody involved
Matt Ryan set an NFL record this season by throwing touchdown passes to 13 difference receivers. So, needless to say, the Falcons got some depth. It is very likely that the Patriots have a unique plan to shut down Julio Jones, and it is also likely that they will execute that plan. So, the Falcons need to open it up and spread the ball around. Mohamed Sanu, Tyler Gabriel, and running back Devonta Freeman all have to spread their wings in this the biggest day of their lives.
Key #2: Limit the short pass
If they take away the "dink and dunk" game, then Atlanta will have success against New England's offense. Good luck doing that, tho. It won't be easy.
Key #3: Have some fun
Not only is Atlanta the underdog, which puts less pressure on them than New England, but because of how most of America feels about the Patriots, most people outside of the northeast are pulling for the Falcons today. If the Falcons play like a team that has nothing to lose, and, moreover treats the Super Bowl like it's a blast, then they will be more loose, and more dangerous.
Final Prediction
I love what Atlanta has done this season. However, the New England Patriots are hard to beat. They are great when the pressure is on. They are great when they have two weeks to prepare for one opponent. They are just fantastic in general, and I can't see how they don't get the job done today.
Pats 31, Falcons 20
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