Predicting Super Bowl 51: Who win on Sunday?
By Nick Floyd
The New England Patriots
I hate New England. There I said it, we can get this part out of the way. Now I don’t hate them for “cheating” at the game, I hate how good they are. No team in recent memory to me has been as consistently good at the Pats. While some may not like Brady or Belichick, there is no denying that this is a good team.
During the 2016 NFL season, many were not sure what the Pats would be like. Brady was to serve a 4 game suspension leaving the untested Jimmy Garoppolo to take over. Some thought that Jimmy taking over would signal the end of the Brady era in New England, but that was not the case. Tom came back off his suspension to a 3-1 New England and proceeded to play as a man on a mission.
Throwing for over 3,500 yards and 28 touchdowns to only two interceptions, many have him pegged as the MVP of the league again. What’s more impressive is that Brady is 39 years old and playing at his highest level. When you take into account say Peyton Manning at 39 and playing, there is really no comparison between the two.
As for the rest of the Patriots, players like wide receiver Chris Hogan and Julian Edelman have gone off. Throw in LeGarrette Blount, who rushed for over 1,100 yards and scored a New England record 18 touchdowns and you have one of the most efficient offenses in the NFL. Sitting in the top five in most categories, the Pats are ranked third in points per game (27.6), fourth in yards per game (386.2) and fourth in passing yards per game (269.2). This offense is good, and they have the stats to back it up.
The defensive side of the ball for New England has been excellent as well. Sitting alone in points allowed per game (15.6), fourth in rushing yards per game (88.6) and eighth in total yards allowed (326.4). What’s more surprising is they did all this without Jamie Collins who they traded to the Cleveland Browns for a third round draft pick.
Players like Trey Flowers and Jabaal Sheard help anchor the front of the “D,” while Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung and Malcolm Butler hold down the secondary. They may not be flashy, but much like Kansas City they force mistakes on the opposing team, and have a turnover differential of plus 12 on the season.
New England is a team of great opportunities. They seem to find talent where others have not. Even if the Kansas City Chiefs would have went onto the AFC Championship, there is not a lot to stop this Patriot train as it heads for Super Bowl LI.