Finally, the biggest day in North American sports has arrived.
The teams are in place. The commercials have been shot, edited and placed securely in the can. A bazillion cameras are in place at NRG Stadium in Houston, and across America the beer and wine are chilling, the chips and dips all laid out and party RSVPs signed, sealed and delivered.
Super Bowl LI is upon us.
And fret not, Los Angeles.
Yes, it’s been 33 years since one of our teams actually played in the Big Game. But progress is being made. Now that the Rams and Chargers are in place — ending our long 21-year nightmare without an NFL team to call our own — at least we have a chance to be represented at the NFL’s annual bash.
For those of you howling in laughter right about now, no, I didn’t just take a laser beam to the head courtesy of a Philip Rivers fastball.
I’m well aware the Rams and Chargers combined to win a whopping nine games this season.
I said we have a chance.
I didn’t say it would happen anytime soon.
Besides, even if the Rams and Chargers don’t get things turned around, L.A. is still back in the Super Bowl business. The Big Game is coming our way in 2021.
Fun times indeed.
But back to real time.
If you’re the fan of the obscure, the awkward and high-octane offense, then Super Bowl LI is for you.
The New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons are among the top three scoring offenses in the league, and quarterbacks Tom Brady and Matt Ryan both had MVP caliber seasons. There is explosive athletic ability all over the field, punishing running backs and creative game plans and playbooks that, barring a complete surprise, will deliver a rollicking show.
But if the two weeks between the Conference Championship games and the Super Bowl weren’t enough to brush up on story lines, here are some things to keep an eye on.
IF YOU LIKE AWKWARD MOMENTS, ROOT FOR THE PATRIOTS
Remember a couple years ago when Tom Brady and the Patriots were accused of messing with the game balls before the AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts? That resulted in a long, drawn-out investigation, NFL commissioner Rodger Goodell hammering Brady with a four-game suspension, an incensed Brady taking the NFL to court — and ultimately getting the suspension nullified — only for the suspension to be reinstated upon an equally incensed NFL dragging Brady back to court on an appeal.
Yes, that all really happened by the way. And in the process, the friendship between Goodell and Patriots owner Robert Kraft, among the strongest in the league, was frayed forever and precious little love is now lost between the ultra-competitive Brady and Goodell.
Anyway, as luck (for all us) would have it, the very season Brady finally served the suspension he returns to guide the Patriots back to the Super Bowl. And should the Patriots win, Goodell will have to suck it up and present Kraft, Brady and the Patriots with the Vince Lombardi Super Bowl Championship Trophy right there on national TV.
Fake forced smile and all.
SERIOUSLY, THE FALCONS?
Nothing against the good people of Atlanta, but a few weeks ago we were contemplating a Patriots Super Bowl against the Dallas Cowboys or Green Bay Packers. You know, teams with history and charisma and track records of greatness.
Aside from one shining moment in 1999, not to mention Minnesota Vikings kicker Gary Anderson choking on a field goal that would have sent the Vikings, not the Falcons, to Super Bowl XXIII, there’s really nothing THERE there when it comes to the Falcons, who historically have just been necessary Sunday fodder for the real NFL powers.
But dubious history aside, nobody brought it offensively like the Falcons did this season. And if you can set aside the “Who the hell are these guys?” questions for three or four hours today, just sit back and enjoy the show with Matt Ryan throwing to dazzling wide receiver Julio Jones.
The Falcons are averaging 39 points per game over their current six-game wining streak, and they are pummeling opponents on the ground and through the air.
ONE VS. ONE
The Falcons were the highest-scoring offense in the NFL this year, averaging 33.8 points per game. But the Patriots surrendered a league-low 15.6 points per game.
Something’s got to give, right?
Don’t be surprised if it’s the Patriots, who benefited from playing an extraordinarily easy schedule this season that featured precious few big-time offensive threats. In fact, over their current nine-game winning streak, eight of the quarterbacks they faced were Colin Kaepernick, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jared Goff, Joe Flacco, Trevor Siemian, Bryce Petty, Matt Moore, and Brock Osweiler.
Going back all season, they haven’t faced anything even close to the offense Ryan and the Falcons will confront them with today.
PREDICTION TIME
You can paint any picture you want with the available numbers out there, and while Ryan and the Falcons present issues for the Patriots they simply haven’t dealt with this year, there’s a stat that simply can’t be overlooked.
Over the illustrious years Brady and Patriots coach Bill Belichick have toyed with the NFL while claiming four Super Bowl championships, they are 12-0 in the postseason playing opponents they didn’t face in the regular season. Meanwhile, they are 12-9 in rematches.
The Patriots didn’t face the Falcons during the 2016 season.
That’s a pretty telling stat.
My pick: Patriots 34, Falcons 29
Our editors found this article on this site using Google and regenerated it for our readers.
