So how do you like our chances?

[moejr]

It is also possible we take a page out of the Giants playbook and hold Atlanta to 14-17 points like NY did to us in 07 and 11

 

[BUSTAMOVE]

Before the playoffs started. I had Atlanta as the 4th best team in the NFC that matched up against us. Seattle, Dallas, GB (Rodgers factor) as the first three.
We are a much more balanced team. Coaching advantage which is huge in the big games.
Forget the hype. Pat's win 34-24

 

[deroc5050]

I honestly have no idea if the Pats run the Ball more, I don't know how real the Falcons 27th pass defense is.. like how much of those stats came at garbage time with Atlanta with a huge lead and forcing teams to pass against them.

But if there pass defense is as bad as the stats say, I can see the Pats spreading and shredding and hope are defense makes a couple key stops.

Its hard to say how good the Atlanta D has played becasue GB was banged up and Seattle has been awful on offense this year at times.

 

[Guts]

I really hope we crush them not because I hate ATL, but because I don't think I can handle another really close Superbowl. For once I hope once it's the 4th quarter we are up by at least 2 TDs

 

[YOUGOTMOSSED]

By now many fans have gotten the chance to learn a good amount about the Falcons. We will learn more in the days to come but we got a lot of information already. How confident are you feeling?

Football Outsiders has us at 58.6% to win compared to Atlanta's 41.4%.

That fits about where I am at. I wold say right now from what I have learned I think the Pats have a 60% chance to win and my score prediction as of now is 34 Pats to 27 Falcons

I don't think Atlanta slows us don't enough. I don't see them stopping us in the red zone . I think our ability to limit their YAC will slow their offense down more than they think and Ryan will have to press and make a mistake or 2 as we run and control the ball. This game will go fast with a good amount of runs and the Pats doing a lot of hurry up to tire out the pass rush which is key. I think after the 1st half the Pats really start to take what will at that point be a very close game over.

I'm feeling pretty confident about this one; perhaps, over confidence.

I'm just getting a "last year's Panthers" kind of vibe from the Falcons. I smell a blowout.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

I really hope we crush them not because I hate ATL, but because I don't think I can handle another really close Superbowl. For once I hope once it's the 4th quarter we are up by at least 2 TDs

6 Super Bowls, 6 nail biters. History strongly suggests by 6pm a week from Sunday you have locked away all firearms, sharp objects and bottles of sedatives.

While I am close to the cautiously optimistic level chances remain abundantly tangible of there being less than 4 minutes with Atl having the ball with a tied score or down less than a score (or even up less than a score with the Patriots absolutely needing a stop).
To feel better I suggest reading the book 'The Zen of Bill Belichick'. Chapter 1: "we're just trying to win a football game". Chapter 2: "it is what it is". Chapter 3: "We're on to <fill in next opponent>".

 

[BKapatsfan]

It'll be a tough game. Atlanta would be less scary without the routes those RBS run very impressive. They'll probably kill a drive or two with a sack.

Still see pats coming up ahead.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Atlanta has been working their tails off for a year to accomplish their ultimate dream. New England has been working their tails off for sixteen years to accomplish theirs. This game will decide whose dream is accomplished.

 

[Jangles]

I envy the confidence of many ITT

Atlanta's offense is great. Matt Ryan has like a 130 QB rating in the playoffs so far. I was highly critical of this defense, and while I came around to it being better than I originally thought, I don't necessarily think we're truly a top defense.

I hope I'm wrong, but Atlanta scares me. I am significantly less confident than I have been in the past. Although I guess I was pretty confident when we faced Rainman Manning. So what do I know

 

[slash83]

I honestly have no idea if the Pats run the Ball more, I don't know how real the Falcons 27th pass defense is.. like how much of those stats came at garbage time with Atlanta with a huge lead and forcing teams to pass against them.

But if there pass defense is as bad as the stats say, I can see the Pats spreading and shredding and hope are defense makes a couple key stops.

Its hard to say how good the Atlanta D has played becasue GB was banged up and Seattle has been awful on offense this year at times.

GB had corners being forced to cover J.Jones that started the season as 4th and 5th corners.

 

[Username]

If our receivers don't drop as many passes as Green Bays did, we'll be fine. Unless their receivers don't drop as many as Pittsburgh's did....

It'll be close. They always are, win or lose. But I think we'll get it done 34-27

 

[ViperGTS]

I haven't felt this confident in the Super Bowl since 04.

Me neither. It's really, really weird.

And Sanu? He wasn't that productive for them this year. I know, he was on my FF team, on the bench most of the season.

I maybe really wrong, it's just I think their offense is pretty basic and not hard to defend if you have a disciplined team.

 

[Pats1989]

Little nugget: Patriots are 2-2 ( SB 31, 36, 39, 42) in FOX broadcasted SB's. They are 1-2 ( SB 20, 46, 49) in NBC broadcasted Super Bowls. 1-0 ( 38 on CBS. ). The only network not to broadcast a Pats SB? ABC.

Unfortunately we've been apart of some "Giant" felt heartbreaks ( SB 42, 2011 regular season game) with Buck & Aikman broadcasting.

 

[Kontradiction]

Offensively? Very confident. Defensively? Not so much. I'm not sure how they'll match up with that two headed RB tandem in the passing game. I think it will be a shoot out but, gun to my head, I'd say Pats.

 

[Kdo5]

I really like our chances. Atlanta is looking good and may even be well coached but I believe the Pats will develop a solid game plan and the team will be ready to execute it.

Don't discount the impact of the Patriots championship experience in this. Brady & Bill will be playing in this big game atmosphere for the seventh time. Many other Patriots have been here for a long winning stretch and won a ring themselves.

The Falcons have a lot of very young and inexperienced guys playing key roles. Matt Ryan has proved himself well in these past two games but the Patriots are a whole other challenge. We've got a balanced, experienced, excellently coached in team with the GOAT leading the way. Pats have got this.

 

[RobertWeathers]

38-27 Pats

I have forseen this.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Offensively? Very confident. Defensively? Not so much. I'm not sure how they'll match up with that two headed RB tandem in the passing game. I think it will be a shoot out but, gun to my head, I'd say Pats.

I'm actually confident they'll control their run game.

It's their quick passing game that has me concerned.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

This is sort of a WTF reason but every year the Pats have a clunker of a game with turnovers and things going badly and sometimes it is in the playoffs ( first Ravens playoff game with the 80 yard run/Jets playoff loss). Last year it was Philly with the pick 6, blocked punt and punt return. Well I think the Houston playoff game was that clunker this year so they got it out of their system and righted the ship as it were last week..
I am confident but not ****y.... in the range of 65-35. Sure things could go badly ( if Cyrus is returning punts, but I don't we'll be seeing that again this year) or fumbles or fluke plays. Lord knows we've seen enough of those in the Super Bowl, no need to rehash them....
The conventional wisdom is that it will be high scoring which means it will likely be a 17-13 game.... Is it Feb 5th yet???

 

[jah]

Remember the 2013 Panthers game? I don't think either defense played very well, but it still ended just 24-20 because seemingly every drive by either team ate up half a quarter. I think we're going to see a similar pace (but slightly higher scoring) to end something like 31-28.

 

[mosi]

It is also possible we take a page out of the Giants playbook and hold Atlanta to 14-17 points like NY did to us in 07 and 11

That game is a great example of why Super bowls are un-predictable. The Giants had the 14th ranked offense and 21st ranked defense (by scoring) but still held the Pats to 14 and won the game. A Pats team that had 27 first down and close to 400 yards in the first meeting. You just can't tell what is going to happen.

I do think if the Packers have won, they would be riding a wave of momentum and would be even more confident going into the game. Hard to think what Atlanta is thinking.