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I could do without all the media hooplah leading up to the game as well. Listening to the stories of "my dad's my hero" and we've worked so hard to get here, and the journalists desperately trying to get anything that amounts to a major story out of some of these guys gets so damn tedious.
As for the game itself - I realize the Falcons don't create much of a buzz being from a somewhat underwhelming sports market, but the spread is close and it should be a good game. The underlying storylines of the game itself are interesting (Can Ryan get his first? Who wins the #1 offense vs. #1 defense matchup? How does the best coach in the game contain the best WR in the game? Does Brady win his 5th to further distance himself from everyone else in the GOAT conversation? Does Goodell soil his drawers when he hands the trophy to Brady?)
I can see how non-football fans might think this one is a snoozer (Small market team vs. a team that's been there 7 times in the last 15 years) - but I'd imagine the football fans can get excited for this one.
Thank you. Most true sports fans understand that the Conference Championship Sunday is the better event(s). The Super Bowl is an over-commercialized party for corporate elitists and complete desperation to appeal to "common" fans and women (commercials).
I like Championship Sunday better myself. I like that it's has a true home and away team, with the home team being rewarded for their regular season play - and allows the fans to see their team play. The fractional amount of media buzz and lack of an elongated overblown halftime show are added benefits.
The Super Bowl crowd will probably only be 20% true Patriots/Falcons fans. The vast majority will be corporate sponsors, people who won tickets in various contests, Houston natives with a little extra cash in their pocket, etc. Seems to take away some of the fun that way.
All I'm hoping for is to win some cash. .
As high as it is, I like the over.
Does anyone else really hate this matchup?
As a Panthers fan, it couldn't be worse. Our biggest rival is going to win the Super Bowl or the most self righteous, obnoxious fan base on the face of the planet gets bragging rights. I love New England, but I hate Patriots fans.
Does anyone else really hate this matchup?
I love New England
Look, I'm not a Falcons fan and I'm pulling for the Pats but you keep saying Atlanta is a "small market team" when that's just not true.Ya, the NFL. A small market team with a crappy fan base like the Falcons kinda limits the buzz around the game. Patriots/Cowboys or even Patriots/Packers would have been the ratings bonanza they wanted.
However every one of their SB victories was by 3 or 4 points.Patriots will win big because Patriots.
Saw something on SI website showing where the Pats could easily be 6-0 or 0-6 in the B&B era, IF about two plays per game went differently.However every one of their SB victories was by 3 or 4 points.
Look, I'm not a Falcons fan and I'm pulling for the Pats but you keep saying Atlanta is a "small market team" when that's just not true.
They're in the Top 10 in the NFL in market size. Also, don't be shocked when the Falcons wins dude. It's a really good matchup for the Falcons. If you look at the analytics, New England's defense being ranked #1 isn't nearly what it's cracked up to be, given their level of competition faced.
Don't bring stats into this.However every one of their SB victories was by 3 or 4 points.
Patriots will win big because Patriots.
Their D has looked good in the playoffs. Regular season doesn't mean much.Defense wins championships. The patriots have one, the falcons don't. The end.
Yep, all of y'all are in for a shock in this one.Their D has looked good in the playoffs. Regular season doesn't mean much.
I'll counter that with this:I didn't really watch Atlanta's game against Seattle but versus Green Bay their defense was able to look so good because of 2 plays in the first quarter:
1. Packers first drive they miss a FG.
2. Packers second drive the FB fumbles inside the five yard line.
The game could've easily been tied at 10, and we have the shootout that everyone expected. However, the Falcons drive for another TD to push the lead to 17-0, and now they pin their ears back on D because they know Rodgers has to throw the ball constantly.
The Packers D couldn't stop Atlanta but the Falcons got those two big breaks early which turned the game around. I don't think the Patriots will make those mistakes and Atlanta might find themselves playing from behind. If that's the case, I don't have any faith that Matt Ryan would best Bellicheck.
Interesting. If I was Pats and won the toss, I'd still defer and see if Ryan can get past the early game jitters and drive them to a score.I'll counter that with this:
Atlanta has scored a TD on its opening drive in its last 8 straight games. In New England's six super bowls under Belichick, they've never scored a point in the first quarter.
Which is why he's undefeated in super bowls. Great coaching helps you get to the Super Bowl. Once you are there all bets are off.The Panthers had a supposedly unstoppable offense too right? Look what happened.
Now the Patriots D isn't anywhere on the level of Denver's but what this will boil down to is coaching. Very few people out fox Belichick. Only a handful have done it and I can't see Dan Quinn doing it now.
Saw something on SI website showing where the Pats could easily be 6-0 or 0-6 in the B&B era, IF about two plays per game went differently.
Which is why he's undefeated in super bowls. Great coaching helps you get to the Super Bowl. Once you are there all bets are off.
Yup... David Tyree says hi.He's not undefeated in Super Bowls what do you mean?