The NFL Roundup: Super Bowl LI

Written by John Edward Betancourt

The brutal heat of summertime, is something that stays with a professional football player. Because baking under the sun at training camp, signals the beginning of a long journey. One that will lead to a grueling preseason and a long regular season filled to the brim with aches and pains and the agony of defeat...all in the hopes of reaching the playoffs for an opportunity to raise the Lombardi Trophy and be crowned as a Champion along with their teammates, and reaching the top, being able to see the confetti fall from the sky, allows for that unbearable heat to serve as a reminder, that only the best understand sacrifice, because the wonder of a Super Bowl Championship makes every tough moment worthwhile.

There is no greater honor for a football player, because being a Champion in the NFL, means you are the indisputable best. No one can take that title away from a team, and no one can ever rob them of the wonder and the glory of knowing that they are truly the finest to play the game and today...that long and winding journey will come to an end. But who will win it all? Will it be the New England Patriots? Do they get to hoist the Lombardi Trophy for a fifth time? Or will the Atlanta Falcons finally bring home the hardware for the first time in franchise history? We will find out later today, but before the festivities get underway, let's take an in depth look at both teams and what they will need to accomplish, to win Super Bowl LI.

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SUPER BOWL LI
NRG Stadium - 6:30 p.m. EST - FOX
The AFC Champion New England Patriots vs. The NFC Champion Atlanta Falcons

THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS - STRENGTHS 
Sure, the Pats have accomplished plenty in the Bill Belichick era, and we can talk all day long about 'The Patriot Way' or how they consistently find players that fit their system...but let's be honest. There's one reason, and one reason alone that New England has experienced this kind of wild success, Quarterback Tom Brady. Love him or hate him, the man is simply a wonder to watch on the field. It doesn't matter if his top weapons are playing or not, he finds a way to move his offense down the field and put points on the board, and that's precisely what we can expect in this game, a heavy dose of #12 and the Patriots unique style of offense where they use the pass, to set up the run.

(Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS - WEAKNESSES
Oddly enough, New England's greatest strength, is also their greatest weakness. Because despite Tom Brady's prowess on the field, he is a creature of habit and routine and if a defense finds a way to disrupt the Patriots passing game, or if they find ways to hit him or sack him...Brady has a tendency to let frustration settle in and make costly mental mistakes.

​​THE ATLANTA FALCONS - STRENGTHS
It's all about the offense in Atlanta, and that powerhouse O has led them to the biggest game in all the land. Creative play calling and game planning is a staple for this team since they have a knack for finding their opponent's weaknesses and exploiting them to the fullest by air and by land and we can expect more of the same for this game. Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan has no doubt prepared Matt Ryan and the boys for everything that New England will throw at them...and he's most certainly found holes in the Patriots D that Atlanta can take full advantage of.

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(David J. Phillip/Associated Press)

THE ATLANTA FALCONS - WEAKNESSES
Regardless of the fact that Atlanta can essentially score at will on offense, their defense is one that remains suspect. They operate on a 'bend, don't break' mentality and that has at times cost the team the win or put them in close shootouts, which means that the Falcons defense will have to find a way to remain stout against a quarterback that is looking for any opportunity or window to make a play.

KEYS TO SUPER BOWL LI
If the New England Patriots want to win this game, then they have to accomplish two key things. On offense, they have to attack the Atlanta defense all day long and wear them down mentally and on defense, they will need to learn to adjust on the fly. That means in game, or in series adjustments to try and answer and neutralize what Matt Ryan is throwing their way and if they can do that, and make the Atlanta Falcons a one dimensional team on offense and shred that defense and wear them down then the New England Patriots will be Super Bowl Champions once again.

As for the Atlanta Falcons, the keys to this game are simple. First and foremost, they need to play their game on offense and execute on every play. The Patriots defense will do their best to get in their heads and try to control the tempo of the game, but as long as the Falcons stay cool and collect and take what opportunities come their way, they'll score plenty of points. As for the defense, they have to take a page from the New York Giants Super Bowl Playbook...and attack Tom Brady all night long. They have to get into that backfield and hit him, drop him or sack him to rattle him, and they absolutely have to blanket the receiving corps and keep them from getting open. If they can do all that, then the Atlanta Falcons will be Super Bowl Champions for the first time in franchise history.

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