Day 154

Fresh Start_154: Super Bowl 51 is set
The next 50 years of Super Bowl’s starts with an old face and brand new one squaring off. Tom “Terrific” who looked like a magician waving his magic wand around his palace, while the defense made one of the most talented offensive teams look like a practice squad. “Matty Ice” on the other hand was masterful in his own right. In the last game in the Georgia Dome, the dirty birds flew off into the sunset. Ryan has just a master at work carving up the Packers defense—putting holes into the cheese heads.

Ryan’s performance was expected, and almost a foreseen conclusion with the amount of injuries that the Packers had on that side of the ball. There is a reason that the Falcons were the best offense in football and why Matt Ryan is going to be the MVP of the league. Ryan had 5 total touchdowns with 392 yards passing while going 27/38. The double headed monster of Coleman and Freeman did more damage in the passing game than on the ground. The duo had 71 yards on the ground—while having 77 yards receiving (with Freeman catching a touchdown). This will be a key matchup in the Super Bowl; the Falcons running backs vs the Patriots rush defense. This matchup will be the deciding factor in who takes the Lombardi Trophy back to their city. Julio Jones can’t be forgotten having an incredible Sunday. Jones caught 9 balls for 180 yards and 2 scores. Jones is regarded as one of the best in the league and showed why, giving the Packers fits in every aspect of the passing game. His night can be explained in one play. That play was a 23 yard catch by Jones over the middle where he got flipped by 2 Green Bay defenders and still came down with the ball resulting in a touchdown just 6 plays later (Freeman’s score).

We all know what Brady can do on offense and that is not really the question. Brady will make someone you never heard of a contender for Super Bowl MVP and will make that man a lot of money this upcoming offseason. This is something that Brady has been doing his entire career and it to be expected. In the Conference Championship game, it has Chris Hogan. Hogan had 9 catches for 180 yards and 2 touchdowns (seem familiar?). Along with Hogan having a career day, Brady had 384 yards passing on 32/42 and 3 touchdowns. Julian Edelman also chipped in 118 yards catching 8 balls including Brady’s other touchdowns pass. The running back trio of the Pats didn’t get off the ground only having 58 yards on the ground, highlighted by Blount’s 1-yard power touchdown. The Patriot defense forced 2 turnovers; one being a Roethlisberger interception by Eric Rowe, and the other a fumble by Eli Rodgers forced by Kyle Van Noy. New England also didn’t sack Roethlisberger one time, which will need to change with Ryan and the Falcons in the Super Bowl.

The Patriot defense will have their hands full with the as for mentioned Julio Jones and the duo dirty birds out of the back field. The receiving threat of Coleman and Freeman at the running back position is something the Pats didn’t have to deal with in the Conference Championship game with Bell getting injured early. The Patriot defense did a great job of taking away Antonio Brown only allowing him to catch 7 balls for 77 yards—keeping him out of the endzone. That secondary will have 2 weeks to prepare to do the same thing with Jones, which is easier said than done. I would personal put Logan Ryan on Jones with an over the top safety help, leaving Malcolm Butler on an island against Mohamed Sanu, who only had 5 catches for 52 yards (but did get in for a score).

This Falcon offense is extremely hard to stop because even if you find some way to stop the rushing attack, keep Jones intact, and isolate Sanu keeping him out of the game, Matt Ryan still has plenty of weapons that he can utilize. The guy I am keeping my eye on is Taylor Gabriel matching up with the nickel corner of New England. I cannot determine who I think has the upper hand at the moment, just due to the fact that the situation is still thawing and is too raw. It will be a good Super Bowl, a classic matchup of good offense and good defense. Grab your popcorn now.
*Hey Bill Simmons, I’m done with roman numerals for Super Bowls as well, it’s 2017*
Sources:(nfl.com)

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