Super Bowl LI Live Blog: New England Patriots Aim for Fifth Championship

After two weeks of preparation, analysis and predictions, the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons are set to square off in Houston, Texas.

Tonight, the New England Patriots will aim for their fifth Super Bowl title as they take on the high-powered Atlanta Falcons. Led by NFL MVP Matt Ryan, the Falcons will present quite the challenge for the Patriots No.1 scoring defense.

New England enters the game as three-point favorites, but much of the country seem to be pulling for the Falcons, who are out to capture their first Super Bowl victory. Led by head coach Dan Quinn, the Falcons are young and don’t have as much experience as the Patriots. Will that be a factor in the game?

Possibly.

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But, with the firepower Atlanta has on the offensive end, if the Matt Patricia and the Patriots’ defense don’t bring it, experience will not matter in this game. Julio Jones, Devonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman, Mohamed Sanu…the list goes on of dynamic playmakers capable of making an explosive play from anywhere on the field.

Shutting down the Falcons

Malcolm Butler and company will have their hands full in the passing game, but if Bill Belichick truly focuses on taking away Mr. Jones, then the defensive line will have to “rise up” and keep Coleman and Freeman in check.

In all, the Patriots defense don’t have to totally shut down the Falcons offensive attack. With Tom Brady on the other side of the football, the Atlanta defense will have their hands full as well. The Patriots not only have a nice set of playmakers in Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan and Martellus Bennett, they also have a trio of running backs who can take over the game just as much as Coleman and Freeman could.

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LeGarrette Blount, who rushed for over 1,000 yards and set a team franchise record in rushing touchdowns, could feast on the undersized defensive line of Atlanta. Dion Lewis and James White provide the lightning to Blount’s thunder. Both backs can cause havoc in the open field as both are good pass catchers out of the backfield.

Prediction: Patriots will get their fifth Super Bowl victory in nine appearances with a 38-24 victory over the Falcons. Overall, Super Bowl LI will be a memorable one!

Inactive for the Patriots:

LaAdrian Waddle, T
D.J. Foster, RB
Jacoby Brissett, QB
Michael Floyd, WR
Cyrus Jones, CB
Justin Coleman, CB
Jordan Richards, S

Next: 5 Unlikely Heroes of Super Bowl LI

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