The entire week has been full of, Pro Bowl festivities, and many other things for the NFL, including the fans getting the pleasure of watching the Pro Bowl and Skills Competition, but it all leads up to the Super Bowl. All week we have all been listening to the experts making their picks for this year’s winner, but this is not just another game because this game can make an ordinary player into a legend. As Coach Herm Edwards stated on Mike and Mike, “If you win you are announced Super Bowl Winner, but if you lose you’re announced Super Bowl Participant.” Super Bowl LI could make Tom Brady arguably the greatest quarterback in the history of the NFL and this could be the year, Tom Brady wins the legendary 5th ring.
So what are the keys to stopping the Patriots?
Well, on one side, the Patriots can beat you with their defense and this year’s defense has been pretty stingy and they are a confident group. The Patriots put the clamps down on Antonio Brown and the Steelers during the AFC Championship Game, but Malcolm Butler and the rest of the defense better be ready because the high-powered Falcons are coming to town, and their best receiver is a little bigger than Brown. Julio Jones is a matchup that will be a nightmare for Butler and the Patriots, so watch for Jones to continue to get his catches and to continue to be a serious threat.Will the Patriots be able to contain Jones? Even if they do contain Jones, can the Patriots contain Matt Ryan, who has hit just about every eligible receiver on his team, this year for a score? We will see tonight!
On the other side of the ball, you have Brady, Edelman, and the Band of Misfit Toys.
Chris Hogan has emerged as a very reliable receiver for Brady. He personally shredded the Pittsburgh defense. It seems that Brady and Hogan have found a real groove as of late and Martellus Bennett, LaGarrette Blount, and company will look to continue doing what they do on a week to week basis and that is dominating.
Most of these guys have been given up on by other teams and the Patriots were there to take them in and make them winners, adding to a very good offense that sadly is missing its biggest weapon, Gronk. However, they didn’t seem to miss a beat without him. The Patriots offense still seems to score at will. The Texans seemed to have had the Patriots number, but eventually, fizzled out and they too were defeated.
Bill Belichick, the mastermind behind the Patriots, is definitely the leader of this group and is able to get most any player to fit into his system. Without coach Belichick would the Patriots be anywhere near as good as they are? Who knows? But I do know is, that Belichick’s system is built on timing, correct route running, and the willingness to take a back seat at times,
Pat’s owner Robert Kraft gives his coach control and that win games for their franchise. He never butts in on Belichick and allows his coach and his players do their thing. Glory has been his prize. Kraft and Belichick have a great relationship and that seems to be a key ingredient to winning football games.
There have been many great players who joined the Patriots just to cap their amazing careers with a Super Bowl ring; Randy Moss and Chad Johnson are two names that stick out. Unfortunately, Moss was robbed by the NY Giants in Super Bowl XLII.
Some people believe that Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback of all time, but you have to wonder if it is Brady or the system he is in? It could be the system, as Matt Cassel, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Jacoby Brissett were successful in a Belichick system
Sunday will help define Belichick and Brady’s legacy and whether you love them or hate them, there is no denying that the Patriots have a winning system, despite deflate-gate and hidden cameras in locker rooms. The Patriots have something special and they have been building on it for more than a decade, but tonight, that could all come crashing down as the Atlanta Falcons are out to prove that Patriots can be defeated.