BIG GAME 2017 | HOW THEY GOT HERE
© JACK NEWTON/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
New England Patriots
W
hile the Atlanta Falcons look to secure their first league championship in
team history, the New England Patriots are trying to add one for the thumb.
The Pats are in their ninth Super
Bowl, the most by any franchise.
(Dallas, Denver and Pittsburgh have
been to eight.) With the win, New
England will earn its fifth title, which
would tie Dallas and San Francisco for
second all-time. The Steelers are first
with six Super Bowl titles.
their next championship.
Where would a fifth win rank the
duo all-time? Belichick would move
ahead of Chuck Noll and Brady ahead
of Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw for
most Super Bowl wins ever.
SHORT-HANDED YET SUCCESSFUL
The Patriots have been without tight
end Rob Gronkowski for half the sea-
Coach Bill Belichick and quarterback son. Generally losing a player of
Gronk’s caliber leads to simplifying the
Tom Brady have catalyzed all the
playbook and offensive philosophies.
Patriots’ Super Bowl wins. They won
Not in New England.
their first three in a four-year span
(2002-05) but had to wait 10 years for
Brady has benefited from a deep
COACH AND QB POWERHOUSE
England’s defense have anything to say
about it, fans can look for solid play
from the Patriots’ secondary. Butler
saved Super Bowl XLIX for the Patriots
with his goal-line interception against
the Seahawks and will likely draw the
tough assignment of covering Falcons
wide receiver Julio Jones.
This could give fans one of the best
matchups to watch on Super Bowl
DEFENSE OPTIONAL?
Many expect the Falcons-Patriots to Sunday. Butler is helped by solid
be a high-scoring affair — and for good defensive line and linebacker play, as
well as an offense that can certainly
reason. The game will feature two of
the most potent offenses in the league. play from behind should the Falcons
jump out to an early lead.
But if Malcolm Butler and New
wide receiver and tight end position
that has included consistent play from
Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, Malcolm
Mitchell, Danny Amendola and
Martellus Bennett. Running backs
Dion Lewis and James White also have
helped the Pats succeed offensively in
lieu of Gronk.
2017 BIG GAME pg 7