Why the Falcons will beat the Patriots in Super Bowl 51.

It seems like it was only yesterday that I was working on my breakout players posts in the preseason, and yet somehow all we have left of this postseason now is the grand finale on Sunday. Gotta say it kinda snuck up on me. It’s depressing every year when I realize that only one game stands between me and another long, boring offseason. On the bright side, I have to say that after studying the Patriots and Falcons a little more closely on film, I have a feeling that this year's matchup may end up being one of most entertaining that we have ever seen in a Super Bowl.

I say that because most fans just love offense. Hell, so do I, and these two teams get busy on offense. The Falcons, for instance, ended the regular season ranked third in passing yards per game, fifth in rushing yards per game, and lead the league in scoring, averaging an eye-popping 33.8 points per game. Their quarterback Matt Ryan, my pick for MVP, was tops in the NFL for passer rating in 2016 of any player with over 11 attempts with 117.1 and second in the league in passing yards with 4,944, to go with 38 passing touchdowns against just seven interceptions.

The Patriots, on the other hand, weren’t too shabby either as they ended the season fourth in the league in total yards per game, fourth in passing yards per game, and third scoring offense with a more-than-respectable 27.6. Tom Brady didn't waste any time after serving his four-game suspension to start the season and still found a way to end up 20th in the league in passing yards with over 3,500 to go with 28 touchdowns against only two interceptions. It is kinda funny that Brady ended up third in the league in passer rating because the guy who finished second was ... Jimmy Garoppolo.

Styles make fights

It doesn't get much more evenly matched than these two high-powered offenses. As for their defenses, however, they couldn't be more different. The Falcons are a 4-3, and statistically, they were pretty mediocre this season. The Patriots run a 3-4 and were statistically dominant this year.

The Patriots defense finished the regular season with the best scoring defense in the league, giving up only 15.6 points per game. They also ranked third in the league in rush yards allowed per game.

A person might get the impression that the Falcons won't be able to keep up with the Patriots on Sunday. The film tells a somewhat different story.