The path to victory for the Patriots won’t be an original idea, but they’ll probably hope their version of the recipe for success works better than previous iterations.
The Miami Dolphins had their “Killer B’s” defense during the 1982 season, which culminated in a Super Bowl XVII loss. The Houston Astros had their own “Killer B’s” — Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell and Lance Berkman — who helped them to a World Series appearance in 2005, where they lost.
And 2016 saw a pair of “Killer B’s.” The Boston Red Sox had young guns Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts and Jackie Bradley Jr., as well as mid-season rookie call-up Andrew Benintendi. We all know how their season ended, which was a quicker postseason exit than the Pittsburgh Steelers, who had the freshest “Killer B’s” in our minds — Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell.
None of those “Killer B’s” won the ultimate prize, but the New England Patriots’ version will be what puts them over the edge.
So without further ado…
1. Bill Belichick. Arguably the greatest coach in NFL history, Belichick’s game plans, specifically on the defensive side of the ball, have been a big part of the equation for the Patriots’ success. You can bet he has come up with another brilliant plan to slow down the Falcons’ top-scoring offense. Expect plenty of attention on Julio Jones. My guess would be Logan Ryan in coverage, with a safety over the top. Then it’s up to the other members of the secondary to keep the Falcons’ other pass-catchers from going all Chris Hogan on the defense.
Belichick will also tirelessly prepare both his players and coaches. That means nothing should surprise the Patriots, and they will be ready to make any necessary adjustments throughout the game.
2. Tom Brady. The other “B,” forever intertwined with Belichick. Brady can also put his name in the running for greatest of all time at his position, and much of that resume has been built in the postseason and the Super Bowl. He’ll need to add to that legacy for the Patriots to win Super Bowl LI. A performance similar to what he put up against the Steelers in the AFC Championship, or against the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX, should be enough. That means at least three touchdown, hopefully less than the two interceptions he threw against the Seahawks, and a general dominance over a young Falcons defense, which is missing its top cornerback in Desmond Trufant. It’ll be up to Brady to find an open receiver (there will always be at least one) before the Atlanta pass rush gets to him.
Oh, and the whole notion that Brady is still ticked off about his Deflategate suspension.
3. Bend-don’t-break defense. Hey, it starts with a “B.” And the Patriots hope it ends with an FG. The Patriots allowed the fewest points during the regular season, even if there were times that they gave up more yards than fans were comfortable with. Belichick’s modern-day defense is built on letting opposing offenses pick up small chunks of yards, but not the big plays. A 5-yard catch for Jones is OK. A 55-yarder is not. Any Falcons drive that ends in a field goal should be considered a win for the Patriots’ defense.
4. They’ve “been there before.” So the Patriots’ “Killer B’s” uses some creative license. So what? Call it an audible. By know you’ve heard that the Patriots have 22 active players who have played in a Super Bowl, which far and away dwarfs the Falcons’ total. It’s actually a surprisingly small number considering the Patriots were in the Super Bowl just two years ago. But the experience that they do have could be valuable. Not only do those players know what it feels like to play on the Super Bowl stage, but they’ve dealt with all the hoopla off the field. And this is isn’t Belichick and Brady’s first (or second, or third, or fourth, etc.) rodeo.
Wild Card. LeGarrette Blount. This one actually does start with a “B,” but the Patriots’ bruising running back not be a major reason for the team winning. The Patriots have shown that they can win without their big runner, instead using the diminutive Dion Lewis and the short passing game. But Blount could be a factor. If the Falcons want to focus all their attention on Brady’s multitude of pass-catchers, then it might be up to Blount to drag the whole defense for 18 yards again, like he did against the Steelers. And the man who led the NFL in rushing touchdowns might mean the difference between seven points or three on a pivotal drive.
Now that you’ve made it through that whole swarm of words, if you’re a Patriots fan you can “B” comfortable knowing that your team has all the right parts to experience that sweet taste of victory.
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