Super Bowl LI 02/05/2017

[Yankee Traveler]

Am I the only one that thinks if it's a close game a few calls are gonna go in Atlanta's favor?

I was thinking the same. That said I was AMAZED last weekend at the lack of flags thrown.
This from the officiating crew that has habitually thrown the second most. Go figure.

 

[SDGuy73]

Am I the only one that thinks if it's a close game a few calls are gonna go in Atlanta's favor?

Stop being paranoid

 

[CreepCreep2014]

The NFL will not let the Refs become the center of attention this game. Everyone will notice, and it won't matter if you're a Pats fan or not. Gonna be a fun game!!

 

[sharkymcwrath]

Stop being paranoid

Pats fans have no reason to be paranoid?

 

[BigKen]

OFFICITING CREW

Referee Carl Cheffers will lead the seven-person crew of game officials selected to work Super Bowl LI on Sunday, February 5 at NRG Stadium, the NFL announced Wednesday.

The other members of the Super Bowl LI officiating crew are Dan Ferrell (umpire), Kent Payne (head linesman), Jeff Seeman (line judge), Doug Rosenbaum (field judge), Dyrol Prioleau (side judge), and Todd Prukop (back judge). Collectively, the Super Bowl LI officiating crew has 93 years of NFL officiating experience and 64 combined playoff game assignments.

Cheffers, in his 17th season as an NFL game official, entered the league in 2000 as a side judge and was promoted to referee in 2008. He has officiated 10 playoff games, including two conference championships. He was the alternate referee for Super Bowl XLIX and an alternate official for Super Bowl XLII.

Under the NFL officiating program's evaluation system, officials must be rated in the top tier at their position to be eligible for the Super Bowl. They must have at least five years of NFL experience and previous playoff assignments.

Tom Sifferman is the replay official.

Cheffers, Ferrell, Prioleau, and Prukop are officiating in their first Super Bowl. Payne and Rosenbaum worked Super Bowl XLV and Seeman officiated Super Bowl XLIV.

 

[BigKen]

Facts and stats seem to be the order of the day because everyone is bored stiff waiting two weeks for the Super Bowl. Most of the Boston stations have already sent teams to Houston for this up coming week of glitz, glamor and gumballs.

As far as the teams go, the Patriots are not leaving Foxboro until Monday. Belichick told CSNNE that there is no good reason for the team to get to the Super Bowl city until they absolutely have to be there. Then he made a little side remark that if it was left to him, the Patriots wouldn't be in Houston until Friday afternoon. He told them that the Patriots need more work on the 'gameplan' installation and since they have to be in Houston for all of the league garbage on Tuesday, they will have to finish their work at practices in Houston. When asked, one of the players said that the gameplan was not in a notebook that was shoved under the door with a label that says "Atlanta Falcons Super Bowl Gameplan". He told CSN that every player has been taken aside by his position coach and given specific wrinkles that will be called during the game.

The Patriots will have three full team practices, all closed to the press and the public this coming week at an unknown location. Eveyone is guessing that it will be at the University of Houston, but a few think it will be outdoors at a local high school where they can more easily keep the practice secure.

The Patriots acknowledged that they have 23 players with Super Bowl experience, but 30 players have been added to the roster since the win against the Seahawks two years ago. Interestingly, the Pats have 5 guys who have 4 or more years in the NFL and have never been to the playoffs until they came to this team.

Leave it tosay that as this week gets closer to game time, there will stuff coming out of Houston that will keep this forum going.

 

[BigKen]

I was reading a little article about Belichick and the changes he's made since the Patriots won the Super Bowl two years ago. It's surprising that in just two years, the Patriots have flipped nearly the entire roster.

(from CBS) It is that constant culling of the waiver wire and lesser commodities that continues to fortify this franchise. Comparing the flip chart from Super Bowl XLIX, when New England beat Seattle in the dying seconds, to the Patriots' current starters on their depth chart is almost like two different teams. The only players in the same starting spots on this depth chart as that one are Brady, receiver Julian Edelman, left tackle Nate Solder, linebackers Rob Ninkovich and Dont'a Hightower, and safeties Patrick Chung and Devin McCourty.

That's it. Three starters on offense (including an almost completely reshuffled offensive line). Four starters on defense. This doesn't happen by accident.

Players that are gone, include Vince Wilfork, Darrell Revis, Brandon Browner, Chandler Jones, Jamie Collins and lesser knowns like Johnathan Cassalis and Akeem Ayers. On offense, Tim Wright, Brandon LaFell and Shane Vareen. Yet the Patriots have 23 players on the current roster with Super Bowl experience. How many teams could have a 30-35 player turnover two years after winning a Super Bowl and be back on the doorstep the following year and back in the Game in two years? And people in New England can't understand why 95% of football fans hate the Patriots? Jealousy? Yes, but the anger is more pointed at their own teams more than they want to admit because the Patriots constantly find treasure in everyone elses' trash.

 

[NEhomer]

Always appreciate your informative posts Ken.

...and cheers to your recovery.

 

[BigKen]

Thanks.......

Some of the threads in here really make the valve work.......8^)

 

[SDGuy73]

Atlanta's D has 4 rookies that will be facing Brady's offense.

 

[BigKen]

Atlanta's D has 7 players with less than 1-1/2 years NFL experience.

Listening to ESPN Radio and they were trying not to show any favoritism. Like listening to someone
read the Gettysburg Address.

NE has 23 players with Super Bowl experience. 21 have Super Bowl Rings.
Atlanta has 2 players with Super Bowl experience. 1 Ring (Freeny)

The biggest difference between the Patriots and any other team in the NFL is that Bill Belichick does not subscribe to the "We are who we are" coaches creedo. He makes his Coordinators and assistants game plan every week for each opponent. He doesn't let them repeat for division rivals like the Jets, Bills Dolphins. Every game must be drawn up every week.

I don't know if anyone has seen the new bright RED Patriots jersey.


Flying Elvis Patriots Logo. Below it doesn't say PATRIOTS

It says PATRICIA and the entire defense was wearing it after practice yesterday. I gotta get me one.

 

[Yankee Traveler]

Atlanta's D has 7 players with less than 1-1/2 years NFL experience.

Listening to ESPN Radio and they were trying not to show any favoritism. Like listening to someone
read the Gettysburg Address.

NE has 23 players with Super Bowl experience. 21 have Super Bowl Rings.
Atlanta has 2 players with Super Bowl experience. 1 Ring (Freeny)

The biggest difference between the Patriots and any other team in the NFL is that Bill Belichick does not subscribe to the "We are who we are" coaches creedo. He makes his Coordinators and assistants game plan every week for each opponent. He doesn't let them repeat for division rivals like the Jets, Bills Dolphins. Every game must be drawn up every week.

I don't know if anyone has seen the new bright RED Patriots jersey.


Flying Elvis Patriots Logo. Below it doesn't say PATRIOTS

It says PATRICIA and the entire defense was wearing it after practice yesterday. I gotta get me one.

Does Elvis have a beard?

 

[CreepCreep2014]

Why bother watching...according to 90% of Atl fans they have this SB wrapped up, and wrapped up in a BIG way!! No way NE Defense can stop this offense. I've seen them: destroying, blowing out, humiliating, embarrassing, this Patriots defense...fuck it, it's over....Let's get ready for FA and the draft....fuck this, I'm out....

 

[NEhomer]

Why bother watching...according to 90% of Atl fans they have this SB wrapped up, and wrapped up in a BIG way!! No way NE Defense can stop this offense. I've seen them: destroying, blowing out, humiliating, embarrassing, this Patriots defense...fuck it, it's over....Let's get ready for FA and the draft....fuck this, I'm out....

My favorite is them pondering at what point they'll be able to take the foot off the gas pedal.

 

[Voltaire26]

Throw all the stats out the window. Once the first kickoff happens, they mean nothing. The team that is best prepared (I can't see a Bill Belichick team being unprepared) and the team having a "good" day (mistake free and no illnesses or nagging injuries) will stand victorious at the end of the day. Luck also plays into the equation.

I am hoping for a dominate victory for the Pats and for Tom Brady to be the MVP. The punishment for "deflategate" was unwarranted. The officials placed the football in play on every play and they were unable to determine if the football was under-inflated. The NFL was punishing success. I am a Detroit Lions fan, so you would think I would be in favor of punishing success, but I am also an American and I think we should celebrate success and attempt to emulate it.

Enough of my rant. I am putting my money where my mouth is:

Pats -3 and Over/Under 59

I am laying the points and betting under (in a parlay and separate)

GO PATS!!!

 

[redseat]

Am I the only one that thinks if it's a close game a few calls are gonna go in Atlanta's favor?

Don't care about the calls... It will be a close game regardless

 

[BigKen]

From the mouth of one Tom Brady at Media Night last night.........

"I have played in 6 Super Bowls. 'WE' have won 4 and lost 2. None of them have been decided by more
than 4 points. I'm not expecting this one to be any different. Playing under the extreme pressure of win/lose
in the final minute of the Super Bowl and winning is the greatest feeling ever. Losing the game is pain that
can never be erased."

Me thinks Tom just added a little bit of doubt and pressure to one Matt Ryan.

 

[BigKen]

Interesting facts.....

Matt Ryan has started two games against the Patriots

In two career starts against a Bill Belichick-coached defense, Ryan went 51 of 82 (62.2 percent) for 620 yards (7.56 YPA), two touchdowns, one interception, and an 88.5 passer rating. The Falcons lost both games.

Tom Brady has started four games against the Falcons

In four career starts against the Falcons, Brady went 88 of 131 (67.2 percent) for 1,193 yards (9.11 YPA), nine touchdowns, one pick, and a 115.7 passer rating. The Patriots won all four games.

 

[BigKen]

 

[BigKen]

More interesting facts.................

Tom Brady's Super Bowl records

Brady already owns the following Super Bowl records:

• Appearances: 7 (counting this year)
• Pass attempts: 247
• Completions: 164
• Passing yards: 1,605
• Passing touchdowns: 13
• Consecutive completions: 16 in 2011
• Tied for first in quarterback wins: 4
• Tied for first in Super Bowl MVPs: 2001, 2003, 2014

So, if the Patriots win, he'll have won the most Super Bowls by a quarterback and likely the most MVP awards.

The Brady-Belichick combination is unstoppable

As SBNation's Geoff Schwartz pointed out, "14 percent of all Super Bowls have seen Brady start and have been coached by Belichick."

Incredible.

Matt Ryan has defeated 29 of 32 NFL teams

The only teams Ryan has not beaten?

1. The Falcons (duh)
2. The Steelers
3. The Patriots (of course)

The Patriots are undefeated with Dion Lewis

He's healthy.

Since losing Gronk, the Patriots are unbeaten

This team is incredible.

Brady needed to use a map to find Foxborough when the Patriots drafted him

"When they picked me I had to look on a map to see where the New England Patriots played, because I had never been this far east," Brady said at a press conference. "It was a magical day in my life. ... He's been a great coach, a great leader for our team. We've had a good run, we've got to keep it going."

And now he's starting his seventh Super Bowl for them.