The New England Patriots are not representing the AFC in Super Bowl LIV, but that doesn’t mean the franchise won’t have an impact on the big game.
The New England Patriots not representing the AFC in the Super Bowl is like Tom Brady not leading a game-winning drive.
It does happen once in a while, but it certainly isn’t often given the Patriots have won the Super Bowl the last two decades more than most teams have even made the playoffs.
Appearing in the last three Super Bowls, winning two of the three, New England Patriots fans won’t know what to do with themselves with the team sitting this one out. It may even put a few more years are some of our lives as the Patriots typically play nail bitters that come down to the last play.
For the rest of the NFL and their fans, they are static not to see the faces of Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and that hated Patriots logo in the big game again.
Enjoy it while it last because both will be back either as a tandem or with Brady leading some other team.
As for this Super Bowl Sunday, former Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will be leading the San Francisco 49ers against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
One team will be looking for its sixth Super Bowl victory, while the other team is appearing in the Super Bowl for the first time in 50 years.
Who to root for?
Well given the recent rivalry between the Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs, the answer for most fans is easy. But, beyond watching Super Bowl LIV to see the Chiefs go down, there will be other things to look to pay attention to in the big game.
Here are five New England Patriots related predictions for the Super Bowl LIV matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs.
5. Over/under on Patriots mentions
How many times will you hear the New England Patriots mentioned during the broadcast of Super Bowl LIV?
The over/under is at least 15-20 times if not more considering all the appearances and the records set by the team.
With both the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers looking to start their own dynasties, the comparison to the current dynasty many has prematurely marked as dead is inevitable.
Both teams have young quarterbacks looking to make their mark on the NFL. One named Patrick Mahomes is already considered by some as one of the greatest to play the game as far as talent goes. A Super Bowl victory will cement his greatness and also begin to put him in the conversation with Tom Brady.
Now, Mahomes will still have quite a way to go before putting him in the same conversation as Brady, but premature comparisons is what fuels NFL ratings.
As for the other quarterback named Jimmy Garoppolo, he will always be connected to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots throughout his career.
That connection along will trigger the Patriots in commentary throughout the evening, especially if Garoppolo is the one hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
4. Mike Pennel will have a big stop
Not predicting the Kansas City Chiefs will win this game, but their defense will come to play with a familiar name making some plays and another familiar name coaching.
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Former New England Patriots assistant coach Brendan Daly has been doing a great job as Kansas City’s running backs/DL coach, especially in the AFC Championship game when his team shut down the dominant post-season running of Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry behind great defensive line play.
That same defensive line play will be put to the test going up against a very good San Francisco 49ers ground attack.
With that being said, a big offseason signing by the Patriots will come up with a key stop or two in the game.
That former player is one Mike Pennel who was surprisingly cut by the Patriots in the preseason.
You know what they say, once closed door opens the opportunity for another, Pennel has been a solid contributor in the middle of the Kansas City Chiefs defensive line and is really getting the last laugh as he joined the Patriots with hopes of playing in the Super Bowl.
Ironically, he actually got to the big game as a member of another team.
No hard feelings, but Mike Pennel must be gleaming inside after being cut loose by Bill Belichick and now having an opportunity to really rub it in playing on the big stage of Super Bowl LIV.
3. QB throws for over 500 yards in a loss
Like most Super Bowl matchups, the first half will be a defensive battle as both teams will try to figure one another out.
With the big play ability of both teams, neither offense will be held down the entire game. In fact, expect an explosion by both teams as this game will be similar to that New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl LII battle that saw both team’s scoring over 30 points.
In that Super Bowl matchup, Tom Brady threw for over 500 yards in defeat. Sorry Kansas City Chiefs fans, but that is where Patrick Mahomes will come in the same conversation as Brady.
Mahomes will pass the ball all over the field, but a couple of key turnovers will swing the game in the 49ers favor and lead to them tying the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers with the most Super Bowl victories with six.
In other words, this will not be as uneventful offensively as that 13-3 Super Bowl LIII win by the Patriots over the Los Angeles fans just last year. In defeat, Patrick Mahomes will prove the only way to really stop him is to force turnovers.
2. Tight ends will dominant Super Bowl LIV
Speaking of Super Bowl LIII, it took a big play by retired New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski to secure the team’s sixth Super Bowl victory.
While the big tight end will be hosting a Super Bowl beach party in Miami, two dominant tight ends will take the field in Super Bowl LIV.
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Patriots fans all know about Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, but San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle will also shine in the spotlight known as the Super Bowl stage.
In asked to choose between Kelce and Kittle during an appearance on “The Lefkoe Show,” the five-time Pro Bowl tight end actually went with the latter due to his similar physical style.
"“I like to go with George Kittle,” Gronkowski said, as transcribed by Bleacher Report. “His game…I just like his game. I said it before: He just kind of reminds me of myself. When he get the gall, man, he just wants to keep going. Just doesn’t care who’s coming at him…just wants to break through all the tackles.”"
Will that be bulletin board material and added motivation for Travis Kelce?
With his talent on the field, he doesn’t need much, but watching his counterpart run through defenders on the other side will spark big plays out of Kelce as well.
Who knows, this may very well be known as the tight end bowl with these two tremendous pass-catching tight ends in the middle of each offense. It will certainly cause the New England Patriots to upgrade the tight end position after watching these two teams utilize theirs.
1. The Jimmy G legacy begins
If I am predicting Patrick Mahomes III will throw for over 500 yards in a loss, that must mean Jimmy Garoppolo will find a way to lead the San Francisco 49ers to victory.
Although the 49ers defense will have a tough time containing Mahomes in the second half of the game, Garoppolo will show that he is very well capable of putting the team on his shoulders by matching Mahomes with touchdown drives to keep San Francisco ahead.
While both young quarterbacks have shown great leadership ability, Jimmy Garoppolo will really feed off his experience with the New England Patriots and watching how Tom Brady takes a team on his shoulders.
Despite reports that Brady wanted Garoppolo gone out of New England, the young QB detailed how the relationship helped him grow early in his career and how it will help him going forward.
"“He was awesome,” Garoppolo told reporters, via WEEI. “Everything he did, I never tried to be too much of a pest and ask too many questions. But just watching him from afar, how he went about his business, how he handled off the field things on the field, whatever it was, he always did it the right way. He gave me a good example when I was young.”"
In all Jimmy Garoppolo’s performance will how much of an influence playing behind Tom Brady was. It will also give New England Patriots fans a glimpse of what could’ve been had Jimmy G stayed as the eventual Brady successor.