New England Patriots will win Super Bowl LII with special teams

The New England Patriots are looking to win their 6th Lombardi Trophy on Sunday. They can earn it with their play on special teams.

The New England Patriots offense and the Philadelphia Eagles defense will be fairly evenly matched. The Eagles offense and Patriots defense could be the same story.

New England has a clear edge on special teams though.

Super Bowl LII may be won or lost when the special teams units are on the field. If that ends up being the case, the Patriots will have no problem winning this game. From the kicker to the punter and the returners, the Patriots have an all-around edge.

The biggest factor on special teams could be New England’s coverage units. Players like Matthew Slater and Brandon Bolden are standouts on those units for the Patriots, and either one could come up with a game-changing play. A forced fumble, a recovery, or the ability to pin the Eagles deep within their own territory could win this game for New England.

Last season, fans got to see just how much of a factor special teams can be. In the Divisional Round against the Houston Texans, New England forced two fumbles and recovered both on a punt return and a kick return. Dion Lewis also had a kick return for a touchdown. Those are game-changing plays, and when two teams are so evenly matched they end up being the biggest factor on the biggest stage.

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Look for Lewis or Danny Amendola to break loose on a kick or punt return in Super Bowl LII, either for a score or setting New England up in Philadelphia territory.

Punter Ryan Allen also has the ability to pin the Eagles deep in their own territory, perhaps even inside their own 5-yard line.

And lastly, if it comes down to a field goal in the final seconds, kicker Stephen Gostkowski has what it takes to lead the Patriots to victory. Like Adam Vinatieri, he could become a true New England legend with a game-winner.

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Super Bowl LII is set to kick off at 6:30 PM EST in Minneapolis, Minn. The Patriots are looking to win their 3rd Super Bowl in the last 4 seasons, and their 6th title overall. The Eagles are looking for their first NFL title since 1960, and they lost their last Super Bowl appearance in 2004 against these Patriots. This is going to be a battle.

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