On the eve of Super Bowl LI, the Falcons are looking to Rise Up once again.
Despite the Falcons rolling through the playoffs with a 36-20 win over the Seattle Seahawks and a 44-21 blowout over the Green Bay Packers, ESPN experts are lopsidedly picking the mighty Patriots to win it all on Sunday.
ESPN expert picks are in favor of Bill Belichick’s team, with 44 votes going to New England as opposed to only 23 in favor of Atlanta. Perhaps that is best – as the Falcons tend to thrive as the “underdog.” The Pats have won four Super Bowls in the Belichick/Tom Brady era, and this marks the seventh Super Bowl game during that span for the franchise, which as only lost in the big game twice (both to the NY Giants).
Nevertheless, the Patriots are only favored by the slim spread of three points. While Brady and company are also playing very well, perhaps no one has seen a hotter team (especially offensively) that the Falcons.
QB Matt Ryan has thrown for 4,944 yards this season and 38 TD to seven interceptions. The prime target has been Julio Jones, one of the game’s top playmakers. Jones hauled in 83 catches for 1,409 yards and six touchdowns in the regular season. The run game has been anchored by Devonta Freeman (1,079 yds, 11 TD) and Tevin Coleman (520 yds, 8 TD).
In the playoffs, Ryan has continued to impress, throwing for 338 yds and 3 TD against Seattle and 392 yds, 4 TD vs the Packers. Jones is fresh off a 180-yard, 2 TD performance in the NFC Championship game.
While teams have occasionally been able to stop Jones, Ryan spreads to ball to other pass-catchers Mohamed Sanu (653 yds, 4 TD), Taylor Gabriel and even Freeman and Coleman, who are more than one-dimensional backs.
This makes the Falcons a team that will be extremely difficult to contain. The defense will have its hands full with Brady and RB LeGarrette Blount, but if it comes down to being a high-scoring shootout, you can feel pretty comfortable picking the Falcons to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
The Super Bowl kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on FOX from Houston, TX. Lady Gaga headlines the halftime show.
