So I suppose the fact that the Atlanta offense faced the second hardest schedule of opposing defenses, and the Patriots D faced the easiest schedule of opposing offenses doesn't make you question how good your D really is? Even just a little?
The Rams (16 years ago, btw) had Bruce, Holt, and Faulk. That was about it. The Bills K-Gun offense was over 25 years ago. Not a single player from either defense is still playing for BB. That was a long time ago. I fail to see the relevance of either in 2017. Dan Quinn's defense with Seattle in 2013 destroyed Peyton Manning's high scoring offense in the Super Bowl. Does that mean his defense will destroy the Pats O this year? But keep bringing up the past, if it makes you feel better about Sunday. Who am I to judge?
While one of your reporters was gushing about Brady throwing a TD to your 3rd string TE, Matt Ryan was throwing one to his 4th and 5th string TE's on the same day (this was the 5th string guy's first pro game ever). He threw an NFL record TD pass to thirteen different receivers.
You keep bringing up garbage time scoring against Atlanta's D as a way to make yourself feel better about the game, but I can promise you that they are much better than you think. Much better. They've certainly faced much better offenses throughout the year. I am just saying, don't be surprised if you only score 13 to 17 up until there is about 4 mins left, and then you add one or two late scores to pull within 7 of the Falcons who by then is playing prevent to close the game.
Atlanta has the best offense I have ever seen. There truly isn't a weakness. No matter what part of the offense you take away, they will exploit the mismatches. They have playmakers from all of the WRs, to all of the TEs, to all of the backs. It is a true pick your poison offense. Ryan became the first QB in history to post 6 straight games with over 120 QB rating.
Having said all of that, I do believe your D is solid, and your offense is as well. Any other year I'm counting this as a loss, but hoping for a win. This year, though, I don't know how to describe it. Everything just feels different. You can see it from the coaches down to the players. The have a swagger to them, a quiet confidence, like they know they can beat anybody, and this moment isn't too big for them. I'll be darned if I don't feel the same way. They may have had some coachable moments throughout the year (like going into prevent way too early, or going for it on 4th down on your side of the field in OT), but after they ironed those issues out during the bye they have straight dominated everyone. Their lone mistake was when Ryan thought Eric Berry was on his team, spotting them 8 points while ST fell for a fake punt. But, you'll doubt them like the rest. You'll see soon enough.
ATL 34
NE 27
