Bold Prediction: Super Bowl Rematch

[FourierSeries]

We were very fortunate to win that game. Atlanta's defense bet the whole game on cover one. They nearly shut us out in the first half and they got a key pick six out of it.

We really won because our offense was able to manage drives better and keep getting plays off even when we weren't scoring to the point where we finally tired them out. By the end of the fourth they were dead. But even still we were so fortunate. Two two point tries, a strip sack, the Edelman catch, Ryan getting sacked and the holding call. We needed everything to do what we did.

I'm not as afraid of current Atlanta, but they did have something for everyone last year.

Atlanta was fortunate to get out to such a huge lead. It was a fluke and something that you will never see against the Patriots in the SB again for as long as Brady is still a Patriot.

 

[Raymond]

I think NBC would love to get a Pat's - Philly rematch. But it would be nice to give another new team like Carolina a SB loss.
Can't get enough teams around the country butt hurt IMO.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

Funny things happen to young, inexperienced teams in the playoffs and the Iggles are just that.

Cinderella's limo turns into a pumpkin.

 

[lancerman]

Atlanta was fortunate to get out to such a huge lead. It was a fluke and something that you will never see again for as long as Brady is still a Patriot.

Fairplay but a lot of people will say it was a fluke that so much went right for us at the end of the game. Statistically a team jumping out to a big lead isn't as rare as what we did to make the comback.

 

[FourierSeries]

Fairplay but a lot of people will say it was a fluke that so much went right for us at the end of the game. Statistically a team jumping out to a big lead isn't as rare as what we did to make the comback.

Against the Patriots, it definitely is.

 

[brdmaverick]

Between the Rams, Panthers, Eagles, Falcons, there is a big chance we face one of our prior Super Bowl opponents. There's even an outside chance for the Seahawks to get in.

Would be kind of funny since a team we played in three AFC Championship games is likely our main competition in the AFC side of the playoffs.

Great point, I guess I have to root for the Vikings or Saints in order for us to have a different opponent.

 

[Ring 6]

Atlanta was a zone team. Dan Quinn has a history of employing a zone heavy defense. The Patriots spent 2 weeks watching film of a team playing primarily zone, and studying their players and their tendencies while in zone coverage, and therefore devised their game plan based on that. If you think that adjusting on the fly, when the opponent is giving you entirely different looks than what they've done the entire season, is something that takes a drive or two, then you're clearly wrong.

No, it wasn't too much for the GOAT to figure out, since he shredded them to the tune of 240+ yards in the 4th quarter alone.

Its a ridiculous excuse. Belichick does not build gameplans that are so rigid you fall behind 28-3 if they do something different.

Of course it takes a drive or 2. Maybe not even that. The Patriots run many plays that change with the coverage. That is why there is always some sort of motion to identify man or zone.
Brady is capable of attacking man or zone regardless of what he thought he was going to get.

To blame 28-3 on OMG they tricked us by playing zone is insane.

 

[The Brandon Five]

I think NBC would love to get a Pat's - Philly rematch. But it would be nice to give another new team like Carolina a SB loss.
Can't get enough teams around the country butt hurt IMO.

Carolina would be a rematch.

 

[FourierSeries]

Its a ridiculous excuse. Belichick does not build gameplans that are so rigid you fall behind 28-3 if they do something different.

Of course it takes a drive or 2. Maybe not even that. The Patriots run many plays that change with the coverage. That is why there is always some sort of motion to identify man or zone.
Brady is capable of attacking man or zone regardless of what he thought he was going to get.

To blame 28-3 on OMG they tricked us by playing zone is insane.

Again, you're free to question every player who spoke about this after the game, but that doesn't seem very wise to me.

There were other things Atlanta did on defense, specifically from man coverage, that threw the Patriots off. For example, when Edelman ran crossing routes, Alford would pass him on to the robber, and Alford would become the new robber. Brady nearly threw an INT when first presented with this look, and then threw an INT that was returned for 6 the second time. They also had Jones over the center and then drop back into coverage to double Edelman, instead of a RB, which is what he had done for most of the season.

Throwing new things at NE was their only hope to contain them. It worked for a while, but they were eventually shredded nevertheless.

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

Quinn took over the defensive play calling down the stretch last year. Wouldn't shock me if he does it again this year, although if I'm a DC I think twice about working for him. I don't think Quinn cares, though...good for him.

If last year is any indication, Quinn will leave the offensive play calling completely to the OC. So it's Sarkisian or bust. I don't think this team reaches the offensive heights they reached under Shanihan last postseason despite recent improvements in offensive play.

I think it is a bold prediction, but not insanely bold by any stretch.

Regards,
Chris

 

[SHOWTIME15]

. But it would be nice to give another new team like Carolina a SB loss.
Can't get enough teams around the country butt hurt IMO.

Like SB 38?

 

[Dagg]

No way in hell the Falcons get back not going to happen. Seahwaks cant overcome losing half the legion of boom and likely wont have a home playoff game which means no wins IF they even get in.

As for the rest
Vikings - love Zimmer but at somepoint the clock will strike Midnight on Case Keenum
Saints - Great shot, they seem to still give up alot of points to good offenses (pats, wash, detr) and I expect that to continue this weekend not sold on the defense if this is the case
Carolina - While I think they are least talented Newton is a nightmare for our team for whatever reason. I hope they get knocked out along the way
Philly - Has great balance and I like Jim Schwartz players love him but I can see Wentz pooping his pants in big games.
Rams- Ehh not sold on them they need another year or 2.

I guess my money would be on Philly with home field beating the Saints.

 

[Ring 6]

Again, you're free to question every player who spoke about this after the game, but that doesn't seem very wise to me.

Dont need to because I already know none of them would say Atlanta sucks and the only reason they got dwon 28-3 was because they werent prepared for man coverage and of course when a team does something you didnt expect, its OK to go down 28-3.

There were other things Atlanta did on defense, specifically from man coverage, that threw the Patriots off. For example, when Edelman ran crossing routes, Alford would pass him on to the robber, and Alford would become the new robber. Brady nearly threw an INT when first presented with this look, and then threw an INT that was returned for 6 the second time. They also had Jones over the center and then drop back into coverage to double Edelman, instead of a RB, which is what he had done for most of the season.

That is football. That is not bizarre thing that excuses a 28-3 deficit.

Throwing new things at NE was their only hope to contain them. It worked for a while, but they were eventually shredded nevertheless.

Barely, which is why, as I said it was as tough a game as possible.

 

[sb1]

If we win the AFC the only team I don’t want us to see is MIN. For obvious reasons.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

If we win the AFC the only team I don’t want us to see is MIN. For obvious reasons.

I would love minnesota. Playing in their home stadium won’t help them that much. Pats will just treat it as any other road game.

 

[scott99]

There is really nothing bold about predicting the Patriots to go to the SB at this point. I'd imagine most would put that at 50/50 odds.

But, the Falcons look like a team looming and ready to put it together. Talented teams that underperform early in the season then get it together in November and December are dangerous.
Atlanta's defense is a big step better than it was last year. The offense hasn't really put it together yet, but all the pieces are there and they seem to be figuring it out. When you get to the playoffs, playing like a good offense THEN is much more important that what you played like over the course of an entire season. This offense has clearly been limited by transition and coaching, not talent, and adjusting to a new OC can take time.

They are 2 games behind the Saints and have 2 left with them, and I see a good chance they can sweep them.
They will also face Minnesota and Carolina. They will get battle tested over the next 6 weeks with little room for error and if they come through that they will be playoff ready.

The negative is that they were an 11-5 2 seed last year and the 1 was a fraud.
Getting to the 2 seed may be tough, even if they run the table and at 11-5 again, it seems unlikely.

Honestly, I would root against a rematch if they get from here to the NFCCG because they will be on a huge roll.

I think it’s a possibility. Their season kind of reminds me of the Seahawks 2014 season. Post SB hangover, bad start to 2014, got hot, made it back to the SB.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Their inexperience likely won’t be enough for the saints to win on the road. The saints on offense are too one dimensional, relying heavily on ingram and kamara, while Philly’s run D is excellent. Also, the saints receivers are not great outside of michael thomas.

The Saints are not one dimensional.

The Jaguars are one dimensional.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

The Saints are not one dimensional.

The Jaguars are one dimensional.

I have to disagree. The saints are very one dimensional on offense. Their offense is essentially kamara receiving passes out of the backfield and ingram. Outside of michael thomas, their best wide receiver only has 571 yards (ginn) and after that it’s 288 yards (coleman). Ginn and coleman only have 3 TDs a piece, the most on the team.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I have to disagree. The saints are very one dimensional on offense. Their offense is essentially kamara receiving passes out of the backfield and ingram. Outside of michael thomas, their best wide receiver only has 571 yards (ginn) and after that it’s 288 yards (coleman). Ginn and coleman only have 3 TDs a piece, the most on the team.

We'll have to disagree. That's not one dimensional to me

 

[zoostation]

I agree mostly but Monday night was not a great indicator imo. They got by a depleted Seahawk team by having a couple of Pom Pom Pete dumbass decisions handed to them.

.

LOL @ fake field goal. Also Graham dropped a sure TD. Went right through his hands in the EZ