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January 27, 2017 at 6:40 pm #64444
znModeratorPatriots’ defense best Falcons have seen this season
Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, the architect behind the NFL’s top-scoring offense, emphasized the tough challenge ahead against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports.
Shanahan was asked about some of the criticism the Patriots have received despite boasting the league’s top scoring defense this season, giving up only 15.6 points per game.
“That blows my mind that people would be doing that,” Shanahan said. “It’s the best defense that we’ve seen in the NFL this year. The numbers show it. And watch the film and you see exactly why their numbers are the way they are. They are extremely tough to score against. That’s why their No. 1 in the NFL. I believe only one game this year someone scored 30 points.
“They have very good players all around: players that are interchangeable that can be pass-rushers, that can be linebackers, that can be corners, that can be safeties. And they have an extremely good scheme. So, it’s by far the biggest challenge we’ve had this year.”
January 30, 2017 at 12:52 am #64536znModeratorNFL Overreactions: There’s no stopping Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons.
http://pro32.ap.org/article/overreactions-theres-no-stopping-matt-ryan-and-falcons
After piling up 540 points in the regular season, the NFL’s highest-scoring offense has been even better in the playoffs. The Falcons scored 36 points against Seattle last week and 44 more against Green Bay in a lopsided NFC championship game.
Next up are the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.
Surely, Matty Ice, Julio Jones and Co. can put 40 on the scoreboard in Houston to bring the city of Atlanta its second championship ever — and first in football.
Not so fast, Dirty Birds fans.
These Patriots (16-2) are more than just Tom Brady. They have a defense that allowed the fewest points in the NFL this season, an average of 15.6 points per game.
Yes, the Falcons (13-5) are rolling. They’ve won six in a row, scoring at least 33 points in each. They scored at least 23 in every game this season except a 24-15 loss at Philadelphia in Week 10.
But we’ve seen this before in the Super Bowl and it usually doesn’t work out well for the team with the best offense.
The last time the NFL’s top-scoring offense played the league’s stingiest defense in the Super Bowl was three year ago when Denver met Seattle.
Peyton Manning and the Broncos set an NFL record with 606 points in 2013 but managed one touchdown in a 43-8 loss to the Seahawks.
Carolina led the league in points last season and lost 24-10 to Denver.
Remember how Brady, Randy Moss and the Patriots fared against the New York Giants after scoring a then-record 589 points in 2007 and steamrolling to an 18-0 record. They lost 17-14 in the Super Bowl.
Of the top 25 scoring offenses in NFL history (average points per game), 13 have reached the Super Bowl. Those teams are 4-9. The 2009 Saints were the last one to win.
Conversely, 13 of the 25 stingiest defenses (average points per game allowed) have reached the Super Bowl. Those teams are 8-5.
Here are other overreactions following Championship Sunday:
Tom Brady of the New England Patriots attempts a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Mass.Maddie Meyer, Getty ImagesTom Brady of the New England Patriots attempts a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Mass.
OVERREACTION: Brady will carve up Atlanta’s secondary. The Falcons allowed the fifth-most points and sixth-most yards passing this season.REALISTIC REACTION: Many of those yards came in garbage time because the Falcons scored a ton of points and were winning so opponents had to pass against them to try to catch up. Brady can pick any defense apart, but Atlanta shut down Aaron Rodgers and nobody was playing better.
Atlanta Falcons’ Julio Jones catches a touchdown pass in front of Green Bay Packers’ Damarious Randall during the second half of the NFL football NFC championship game Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Atlanta.David Goldman, The Associated PressAtlanta Falcons’ Julio Jones catches a touchdown pass in front of Green Bay Packers’ Damarious Randall during the second half of the NFL football NFC championship game Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Atlanta.
OVERREACTION: The Patriots can’t cover Jones. Did you see those nine catches for 180 yards against Green Bay?REALISTIC REACTION: Did you see New England’s secondary led by CB Malcolm Butler and Pro Bowl safety Devin McCourty against Antonio Brown? He had only 77 yards on seven catches.
Chris Hogan of the New England Patriots carries the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the third quarter in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Mass.Maddie Meyer, Getty ImagesChris Hogan of the New England Patriots carries the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the third quarter in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Mass.
OVERREACTION: The Patriots will win because they want to stick it to Roger Goodell and the NFL for the “Deflategate” punishment.REALISTIC REACTION: Coach Bill Belichick is a master at keeping his team focused on the task at hand. Vendettas don’t propel teams to victory; talent does. The Patriots are motivated by winning their fifth Super Bowl title.
Robert Kraft, owner and CEO of the New England Patriots, celebrates with the Lamar Hunt Trophy after the New England Patriots defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 36-17 to win the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Mass.Maddie Meyer, Getty ImagesRobert Kraft, owner and CEO of the New England Patriots, celebrates with the Lamar Hunt Trophy after the New England Patriots defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 36-17 to win the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Mass.
OVERREACTION: Goodell handing Belichick, Brady and Patriots owner Robert Kraft the Vince Lombardi Trophy will be the most awkward presentation moment in sports history.REALISTIC REACTION: The “technology and stuff” guy who presented 2014 World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner with a Chevrolet truck will be hard to top.
Lady Gaga arrives at the American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in Los Angeles.Jordan Strauss, Invision/APLady Gaga arrives at the American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in Los Angeles.
OVERREACTION: More people will be talking about Lady Gaga’s hair color than the game because it’ll be another rout.REALISTIC REACTION: Oddsmakers made the Patriots only a 3-point favorite. This should be a tight game like all six of New England’s Super Bowl appearances with Belichick and Brady.
January 31, 2017 at 12:12 am #64580znModeratorPoll: America Wants The Patriots To Lose Super Bowl LI
Poll: America Wants The Patriots To Lose Super Bowl LI
FOXBORO (CBS) – It’s the New England Patriots against the world this Super Bowl Sunday.
A new report from Public Policy Polling found that 53 percent are pulling for the Atlanta Falcons to win in Houston. Only 27 percent of respondents said they are rooting for the Patriots.
The poll also says the Patriots are the most hated team in the league, which has been the case ever since DeflateGate. Two points behind the Patriots are the Cowboys, with 19 percent calling Dallas their least favorite team.
There’s good news and bad news when it comes to Tom Brady. The poll shows 22 percent say Brady is their favorite quarterback, beating Aaron Rodgers by 6 points. On the other hand, he’s also the top answer for least favorite quarterback, with 24 percent compared to Cam Newton’s 15 percent.
There are some numbers here that Patriots fans will like.
Commissioner Roger Goodell is still unpopular, with 37 percent having an unfavorable opinion of him compared to 22 percent who view him favorably.
And then there’s the one stat that matters to New England fans: 52 percent think the Patriots will win the Super Bowl, compared to 36 percent for the Falcons.
February 3, 2017 at 12:29 am #64708znModeratorSuper Bowl Champion Kurt Warner Weighs in on SB51 QBs Tom Brady & Matt Ryan ;-;–
February 5, 2017 at 9:27 am #64906znModeratorPatriots defense gives opponents plenty to look at
http://www.providencejournal.com/sports/20170204/patriots-defense-gives-opponents-plenty-to-look-at
HOUSTON – What Jake Matthews has seen from studying Trey Flowers on film doesn’t surprise him.
The Atlanta left tackle twice tangled with New England’s versatile defensive lineman in the SEC, Matthews’ Texas A&M team beating Flowers and Arkansas both times. Flowers at that time played defensive end, coming after quarterbacks from the outside.
Flowers still does some of that with the Patriots. But he’ll also move inside at times as well, tangling with the center and guards. There’s no way for the Falcons to predict where he’ll line up on any play.
“We’ve seen a ton of film of him working over the center and then coming outside and working over the tackles, too,” Matthews said. “That’s something that sticks out with the whole defense. They can mix it up. Guys aren’t one-dimensional. They’ll play all over. That’s a big asset for them.”
Indeed, one of the hallmarks of New England’s defense is its versatility and unpredictability. The ability of Flowers to play all over the defensive line is just one example. That versatility has allowed Flowers to compile seven sacks in his last 11 games.
“You have to prepare yourself for more,” said Atlanta guard Andy Levitre, who played his first four seasons with the Buffalo Bills. “It’s not like you’re going to be playing against one or two guys. You’re going to be playing against a bunch of different guys because they move them all around.”
Even the Patriots’ defensive scheme can vary from game to game.
The New England defense Levitre remembers from his years in Buffalo was a 3-4 defense, the classic Bill Belichick defense that emphasizes linebacker play. The New England defense he’ll face Sunday tends to deploy just two linebackers in favor of an extra safety or cornerback.
“They do a little bit of everything, and they do it fairly well,” said Falcons guard Chris Chester, who played with the Baltimore Ravens in his first five seasons in the NFL. “There’s a lot of variety in their attack. A lot of teams try to do one thing and do it well. The Patriots do a lot of things and do them all pretty well.”
To Chester and Levitre, New England has two constants in its defensive front.
One is versatility, the ability of players to line up at a variety of spots on the field like Flowers, and the other is stout run-stuffers such as Alan Branch and Malcom Brown.
That still leaves plenty of space for Flowers and the Patriots to create as much confusion as possible.
“What’s difficult is dealing with the different schemes,” Chester said. “Are they going to be stunting? Are they going to be dropping? How’s our protection going to match up against whatever blitz or pressure they’ve got going? That’s going to be our challenge.”
February 5, 2017 at 9:42 am #64910znModeratorHow crazy will the scoring get at Super Bowl LI?
Atlanta Falcons reporter Vaughn McClure and New England Patriots reporter Mike Reiss take an in-depth look at the Super Bowl LI matchup between the Falcons and Patriots.
ATLANTA FALCONS
Record: 11-5, regular season
First place, NFC South
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan threw touchdown passes to 13 different receivers this season — an NFL first. Erik S. Lesser/EPA
Matt Ryan spoke with a number of Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks before and during the season about the process of achieving the NFL’s ultimate prize. Maybe next season, somebody will be reaching out to him.The 31-year-old, who is the leading MVP candidate, is competing for his first Super Bowl ring as the Falcons and Patriots square off Sunday.
“I think we’ve come a long way,” Ryan said. “We’ve gotten better, and that’s one of the things we focused on in the offseason, trying to find ways to improve as a team, as an offense. I think the addition of some of the players that we picked up — guys like Taylor [Gabriel], Alex Mack, Aldrick Robinson, Mohamed Sanu — just have added to our team and made us a better offense.”
Can the Falcons score enough points to overtake Tom Brady and the mighty Patriots? With both teams averaging better than 35 points a game this postseason, it could make for quite a shootout.
FALCONS’ X FACTOR
Taylor Gabriel. Julio Jones will draw his share of attention, as always. The running back tandem of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman might find it difficult to get the run going against a Patriots defense that hasn’t allowed even a 90-yard rusher in 25 straight games. So, somebody else might have to step to the forefront, and that guy could be speedy wide receiver Gabriel. Jones talked about how safeties can’t cheat anymore with the vertical threat Gabriel presents on the opposite side. Gabriel averaged 42.7 yards on his six receiving touchdowns during the regular season. He also has a 37-yard reception this postseason, so he’s capable of getting behind any defense and creating an explosive play.
WHY THE FALCONS WILL WIN
Matt Ryan. The likely MVP has been on fire during a current six-game winning streak, with 18 touchdowns, no interceptions, an average of 310.2 passing yards and a completion percentage of 72.8. If Ryan continues his torrid pace and continues to spread the ball around — he established an NFL first with touchdown passes to 13 different receivers this season — the Falcons will be on track for another 30-plus-point outing, even against a Patriots defense that surrendered a league-low 15.6 points per game. The Falcons also need Ryan to take care of the ball and need the offense to sustain drives. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Ryan is 20-of-22 on third down this postseason with 15 first downs and three touchdowns. Ryan also has engineered eight consecutive opening-drive touchdowns. That’s winning football.
WHY THE FALCONS WILL LOSE
Inexperience. Although the Falcons have the NFL’s oldest active roster with an average age of 27.5, they have plenty of inexperienced young players set to play on the big stage. The most noticeable are the four rookie starters on defense — strong safety Keanu Neal, linebacker Deion Jones, linebacker De’Vondre Campbell and nickelback Brian Poole. All four players have been very productive this season, but how will they react under the bright lights of the Super Bowl? Not to mention those players will have to contend with Brady, a four-time Super Bowl champ and three-time Super Bowl MVP. In addition, the Falcons have a trio of inexperienced second-year players on defense in NFL sacks leader Vic Beasley Jr., cornerback Jalen Collins and nose tackle Grady Jarrett. Coach Dan Quinn said the youngsters are playing like they’re much older and the older players are playing much younger. We’ll see whether the trend continues Sunday.
FALCONS PREDICTION
The Falcons are on a mission not just for themselves but for the entire city of Atlanta. This is a confident group that not only believes it can score on anyone but also believes it has the right mixture of youth and experience on defense to come up with big stops when needed most. Sure, it’s a much tougher challenge going up against Brady, who is aiming for his fifth Super Bowl title and is 4-0 all time against the Falcons. But the Falcons defeated a pair of Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks to get here in Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers. Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has tricked defenses the entire season with his masterful playcalling, which has generated 40 points per game this postseason. Shanahan certainly has more up his sleeve before he exits to become the head coach of the 49ers. Falcons 35, Patriots 28
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Record: 14-2
First place, AFC East
Tom Brady and Bill Belichick expect the Patriots to get off to a quicker start Sunday than they have in other Super Bowls. Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The first quarter has been on Bill Belichick’s mind so much leading up to Super Bowl LI that, by the end of the week, quarterback Tom Brady was sick of hearing about it.“I’d like to score a lot more points than zero, which we’ve done the last six times,” Brady said of the Patriots’ first-quarter scoring output in Super Bowls. “Coach Belichick has reminded me 10 times in the last 10 days.”
A faster start is a necessity for the Patriots, which sparks an intriguing possibility to consider: If New England wins the opening toss, would it take the ball instead of its normal choice of deferring to the second half? The Patriots did decide to take the ball first in the AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Patriots were an exceptional first-quarter team in the regular season, outscoring opponents 130-32. That means they seldom played from behind.
Ditto for the Falcons, who held a 139-68 edge over opponents in the first quarter during the regular season and enter the Super Bowl having scored touchdowns on eight straight opening drives, the longest streak since the 2003 Patriots started five straight games with touchdowns.
As Brady said in the days leading up to the game, the Falcons were usually leading by so many points it was difficult to find “got-to-have-it” situations in which their defense showed a consistent pattern of what it relies on most.
Thus, which team wrests control of the first quarter is one of the more compelling subplots of Super Bowl LI.
PATRIOTS’ X FACTOR
In the high-stakes games in which the Patriots have experienced some of their most painful defeats, such as last year’s AFC Championship Game or the two Super Bowls against the New York Giants, one of the key factors has been offensive line struggles. Their inability to turn to the running game to settle things down made them too one-dimensional, simplifying things for the opposing D.
So it all starts up front for the Patriots with the starting line of left tackle Nate Solder, left guard Joe Thuney, center David Andrews, right guard Shaq Mason and right tackle Marcus Cannon. Each played more than 90 percent of the offensive snaps during the regular season, with line coach Dante Scarnecchia crediting that continuity as critical.
The Falcons, in turn, feel the same way, as they are the only team this season to start the same five offensive linemen in each game.
To sum it up, the Patriots’ ability to create space in the running game, which in turn will open up play-action passing opportunities, will be critical.
WHY THE PATRIOTS WILL WIN
Brady is on a mission, and the Patriots’ physicality on both sides of the line of scrimmage gives them the best chance to control the game. And then it’s all about what happens after the catch on both sides of the ball. Defensively, the Patriots’ fundamental tackling will have to deliver against the big-play Falcons offense. In the regular season, the Patriots led the NFL by allowing an average of just 4.05 yards after the catch and the Falcons’ offense was second in the NFL in averaging 6.18 yards after the catch. Meanwhile, the Patriots’ offense averaged a league-high 6.34 yards after the catch.
WHY THE PATRIOTS WILL LOSE
If they get sloppy with the football. There is arguably no more powerful statistic as it relates to the success of the Patriots in the Belichick-Brady era (2000-present) than turnover differential. When the Patriots win the turnover differential, they have posted a regular-season record of 137-13. When they lose it, their regular-season record is 34-41. When it’s even, they are 30-17. This is why Falcons coach Dan Quinn said that if there is one thing that will decide the outcome, “it’s all about the ball.” The Patriots and Falcons each had a league-low 11 turnovers in the regular season.
PATRIOTS PREDICTION
Texans coach Bill O’Brien previously explained how the Patriots’ diverse offensive backfield stresses opposing defenses because of the diverse skill sets of power back LeGarrette Blount, dual threat Dion Lewis and passing back James White. With the Patriots relying on their foundation from the start of training camp, which has included practicing in full pads once a week into early February, physicality, starting with the running game, will be a trademark stamp of their approach in Super Bowl LI. And, of course, it never hurts to have Brady leading the way. Patriots 37, Falcons 31.
February 5, 2017 at 9:52 am #64911znModeratorThe MMQB’s Super Bowl Predictions: High Scoring and Close. And the Winner …
Will it be the Patriots’ experience? Or the Falcons’ firepower? Our staffers make their picks for Super Bowl 51, which has makings of a classichttp://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2017/02/04/super-bowl-51-patriots-falcons-prediction
PETER KING: I wonder what Matt Ryan and the other deserving Super Bowl rookies will be feeling in the tunnel in the moments before kickoff. Troy Aikman, the picture of cool, told me he was hyperventilating waiting to go out for his first Super Bowl appearance. No idea how Ryan will feel, but I do know it’s fruitless to ask him now. He and his Super Bowl rookie teammates won’t know till 6:32 p.m. ET at NRG Stadium. As for the game: Bill Belichick’s going to do something—early—to confound a team that doesn’t see the New England defense often. I have no idea what it’ll be. But the Falcons have scored on eight straight first possessions, and my bet is that streak ends in Super Bowl 51. As for the other side of the ball, Belichick has done a good job conserving Dion Lewis all season for just a moment like this. My hunch is Lewis is a big factor in this game. Atlanta could win and it wouldn’t surprise me a bit. But I’m betting on experience and a 39-year-old quarterback with a 33-to-4 touchdown-to-interception differential.
Patriots 27, Falcons 23ALBERT BREER: A lot of times we have that dynamic in the Super Bowl where we think it’s going to be one thing and it becomes the other. This time I think this is going to be exactly what we think it is. The Atlanta offense will be able to go up and down the field on that New England defense, because I trust in Shanahan’s ability to adjust on the fly. But I don’t trust that young Falcons defense yet. I don’t think they’re going to get the stops they need to get in the fourth quarter. And Tom Brady wins his fourth Super Bowl MVP.
Patriots 34, Falcons 31JENNY VRENTAS: The Falcons have one of the most explosive, and deepest, offenses we’ve seen in recent memory. Their speed is a huge threat to the Patriots defense, especially if they spread them out with three wides and both of their versatile RBs in the backfield. But I just can’t pick against the Patriots’ experience. Belichick and Brady have been here six times before and know how to handle everything, right down to the longer halftime cooling off period. Look for the Patriots to put Malcolm Butler on Mohamed Sanu one-on-one and double Julio Jones all game long and slow that Atlanta offense; on offense, Tom Brady will be ready to expose any small mistake by a young Falcons D.
Patriots 31, Falcons 27ROBERT KLEMKO: Too many weapons. It’s so difficult to pick against a Belichick-coached team but these Patriots haven’t faced an offense with this many viable options in some time. This pick is contingent on Atlanta scoring early and maintaining a lead with its run game. If the Patriots can score in the first quarter – something they’ve failed to do in each of their six trips to the Super Bowl – all bets are off.
Falcons 34, Patriots 31ANDY BENOIT: These are two prolific offenses going up against bend-but-don’t-break defenses. That means the scoring drives will be long, which keeps the final score a little lower. This could very well be a “whoever has the ball last”-type game. The Falcons, I believe, are the more dangerous and explosive all-around team, but let’s not forget: The Patriots, who have a great quick-strike passing game, were also third in rushing this season and led the league in 30-plus-yard completions. They can beat you in a lot of ways, too.
Falcons 31, Patriots 28EMILY KAPLAN: It’s well-worn but true: To beat the Patriots, you need to pressure Tom Brady. I’m confident the Falcons, led by Vic Beasley, can sustain enough of a pass-rush to disrupt New England’s quarterback. The key to this game is which defense can do enough to slow the other offense. The Falcons aren’t going to shut the Patriots’ offense down, and I’m not sure anyone can interfere with Atlanta’s firepower. When Kyle Shanahan’s crew is in rhythm—remember, their even-handed rushing attack is as impressive as anything Matt Ryan and Julio Jones can do—they are without equal.
Falcons 31, Patriots 24TIM ROHAN: Give Bill Belichick and Matt Patricia two weeks to prepare for a game, and they can figure out any team, even the Falcons, who have one of the most prolific offenses in NFL history. Give Tom Brady and Josh McDaniels two weeks to prepare for a game, and they’ll find ways to exploit the Falcons’ young defense. Experience wins out this time. Brady wins his fifth title and stares down Goodell as he cradles the trophy.
Patriots, 35, Falcons 28 -
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