Super Bowl 51: New England Patriots vs Atlanta Falcons Winning Predictions
New England Patriots (16–2, 15–3 ATS, 8–10 O/U, 8–0 Away) vs.
Atlanta Falcons (13–5, 12–6 ATS, 15–2–1 O/U, 6–2 Away)
Line: Falcons +3, 58.5
Game Time: Sunday February 5, 6:30pm EST
Last Meeting: 9/29/13 — Patriots 30-Falcons 23
Trends
Patriots are 5–0 ATS vs. a team with a winning record
Patriots are 5–1 ATS in their last 6 playoff games
Falcons are 5–1 ATS in their last 6 games overall
Falcons are 6–2 ATS vs. a team with a winning record
There has been plenty of buildup and anticipation leading up to Super Bowl 51 and there will be plenty of star power. The Patriots have reached the Super Bowl for the 7th time since Tom Brady and Bill Belichick arrived in New England in 2000. If the Patriots win Super Bowl 51 they will have enough rings for an entire hand and they will cement their legacy as one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history. But for the first time in recent memory, the Patriots will face an offense that is perhaps more lethal than their own.
Matt Ryan has lead the Falcons to an NFL-best 33.8 points per game during the regular season which on average was almost a point better than the “Greatest Show on Turf”, the 1999 St. Louis Rams. The Rams won their 1st Super Bowl defeating the Tennessee Titans in 1999, and coincidentally, the Falcons are looking to win their first Super Bowl. In order to be the best you must first beat the best.
In most recent Super Bowl history when the #1 offense faces the #1 defense, the defense usually wins. That would be the Patriots’ defense against the offense tied for the eighth highest-scoring ever. However, it’s safe to say that the Patriots have yet to face an offense this season quite like Falcons with a deep receiving core and two featured running backs.
Atlanta understands that in order to beat Tom Brady they will need to make him feel unrelenting amounts of pressure. It’s rare to see Tom Brady on his back but the Falcons must find a way to pressure Brady and not allow him to sit comfortably in the pocket and pick apart the Falcons secondary. The Patriots always have an edge with Bill Belichick on the sideline scheming mismatches and including players that are not necessarily the players that are spotlighted by opposing defenses. Belichick will find his mismatches and the Falcons defense will simply need to figure out a way to make key 3rd and 4th down stops.
The biggest question mark surrounding the Falcons, and perhaps this Super Bowl, boils down to whether Atlanta will thrive in the moment or wilt under pressure?
King Sports Picks top NFL handicappers have covered every angle of this game between the Patriots and Falcons and if you’re looking for a winning spread or total Super Bowl pick click here.
