It's that time of year again. Super Bowl 51 will be played this Sunday in Houston, TX. The NFC Champion Atlanta Falcons will take on the AFC Champion New England Patriots. Lady Gaga will provide the halftime entertainment and kickoff is 6:30 p.m. EST.
Spoiler alert: the Falcons will upset the favored Patriots this Sunday.
Atlanta has too much fire power. They averaged 33.8 points per game this season. Quarterback Matt Ryan had a MVP-caliber season this year. They're coming off of two blowout wins in the playoffs over a good defensive team in Seattle and the red-hot Green Bay Packers. Julio Jones is a freak of nature and cannot be covered one-on-one. He might be the best wide receiver in the NFL. Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman are also great and versatile weapons that Ryan will use and has at his disposal.
Atlanta just has more weapons than New England. Obviously, the Patriots have arguably the best quarterback of all-time in Tom Brady. But Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, and Chris Hogan aren't exactly Julio Jones. Martellus Bennett is talented but isn't the smartest player around and is prone to making mistakes. And they don't have much of a running game. But what it comes down to is this; I don't foresee the Patriot defense slowing down Atlanta's potent offense.
However, the main key to Atlanta winning has nothing to do with Matt Ryan or Julio Jones. The number one thing the Falcons have to do is get pressure on Tom Brady. Atlanta has a decent pass rush and a nice young defense. But if they don't get a pass rush it could be a long day for them. In the two Super Bowls that Tom Brady has lost, the Giants had him running for his life. If they allow Brady a clean pocket with time to throw, the Patriots will win. The Falcons also cannot play a soft zone like the Steelers did against the Patriots last week. Brady picked them apart. Pass rush and man coverage is the key for a Falcons win, because we know that the offense will do its part.
It should be a good game between the Patriots, who have been here many times before, and the Falcons, who for the most part are playing in their first Super Bowl. The great Tom Brady will be looking to become the first quarterback ever to win five Super Bowls. Atlanta is looking for their first Super Bowl championship in franchise history. I foresee a shootout between the two best quarterbacks in the NFL this year. I see Atlanta getting just enough pressure on Brady and making enough defensive plays, such as getting off the field on key third downs. I don't see New England slowing down the red hot Atlanta offense. I see Brady putting up points, but not as much as Ryan. Atlanta gets their first Super Bowl in franchise history with a 34-28 win and Matt Ryan wins Super Bowl MVP.
