After 256 regular season games and 10 playoff matches the Atlanta Falcons will face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
The game for the Vince Lombardi trophy has a myriad of stories, but probably the most important is the one surrounding the New England Patriots’ quest to become the most dominant and successful dynasty in NFL history.
The Patriots
Tom Brady will play his seventh Super Bowl as starting quarterback and Bill Belichick the same number as head coach of the Patriots (he has three others as coordinator).
Despite the four-game Suspension to Tom Brady because of the “Deflategate” scandal the Patriots ended the season as the league’s best team, with a 14-2 record; while the Pats defense was the one with least points allowed and have found a way to frustrate any opposing quarterback that challenges them.
Two years ago they got an NFL title and have played in six Super Bowls since 2002 (four win and two losses), so they are undoubtedly the team that has more experience in this instance, while in front of them they have a completely different franchise that has not played in a Super Bowl since 1998.
The Falcons
At the beginning of the 2016 season, very few people had high expectations for the Falcons. Matt Ryan started the campaign with serious questions about his ability to win consistently and in important games for Atlanta so the outlook was bleak for Dan Quinn’s team.
However, this team earned respect as the weeks went by with key victories led by an offense that was dominant, balanced and explosive that finished the season as the best one in the NFL in points scored, with 33.8 per game.
They Falcons won their division and despite not being the best seed of the National Conference came to the Super Bowl without many complications.
Keys to the Game
The Falcons will try to avoid the fate of the Carolina Panthers from a year ago: entering as the team with the best offense in the league and losing to the team with best defense in the league.
This is a matchup that has already taken place five times in the Super Bowl. So far the defenses have a 4-1 lead, with the only exception being Super Bowl XXIV when the Joe Montana-led 49ers beat John Elway’s Denver Broncos 55-10.
The experience of the Patriots can’t be underestimated, especially since they are not only an efficient offensive machine with Tom Brady at the helm, but also one they own one of the best defensive units that usually bend but doesn’t break as it allows yards and field goals, but rarely concedes a touchdown.
Just to put that in perspective during the 2016 regular season the Patriots allowed 1.7 touchdowns per game while the Falcons allowed 2.9.
The Outcome
The Falcons might be able to keep up with the Patriots for a good part of the game as both teams have outstanding offensive units, but eventually New England’s defense will show up and find a way to be the difference in the game. They will create a turnover or stop a key Falcons offensive drive to give the Patriots their fifth NFL title.
In a high-scoring game the Patriots will end up hoisting the Vince Lombardi trophy one more time making Brady the winningest QB in Super Bowl history and Belichick the winningest coach.
Lines for the Game:
Spread: Patriots -3
Total: 58.5 points
Moneylines:
Patriots -155
Falcons +135
