Super Bowl

[dolphins4life]

I don't think ANYBODY here predicted the Falcons would make it. 

I certainly did not.

I don't seem them giving NE a battle.

If they want to they can start by playing defense, something Pittsburgh did not seem to want to do in the AFCCG. 

Ugh, I can't believe I get to spend two weeks seeing GOAT hashtags on facebook.

It's LOAT.

Anyway on to my prediction:

Patriots: 24 Falcons: 7

[Spider-Dan]

Chris "7-11" Hogan with 180 yards and 2 scores in the AFCCG.

Either Belichick is secretly the god of GMs, or Brady can take literally any set of receivers and turn them into bosses.

[pondwater]

Chris "7-11" Hogan with 180 yards and 2 scores in the AFCCG.

Either Belichick is secretly the god of GMs, or Brady can take literally any set of receivers and turn them into bosses.

I think part of it is Belichick and Brady. I think the other part is that we don't evaluate and develop out players properly. Too many leave us and go on to flourish elsewhere.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Chris "7-11" Hogan with 180 yards and 2 scores in the AFCCG.

Either Belichick is secretly the god of GMs, or Brady can take literally any set of receivers and turn them into bosses.

A bit of both.  Brady's greatest talent is his ability to quickly develop the needed chemistry with any and all receivers.  And BB has been able to take guys that others didn't want and elevate their game.  Leading rusher in the game was cut by the Steelers.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I don't think ANYBODY here predicted the Falcons would make it

Both Pappy and Mac

[CF DolFan]

I don't think Josh McDaniels gets enough credit. I'm willing to bet Brady's best years were under him.

If Atlanta's defensive front plays Brady like they did Rodger's then Atlanta could win. Get to Brady and you win. If you don't it could be a beat down.

[Dave Gray]

I don't think ANYBODY here predicted the Falcons would make it. 

I mean...they WERE favored and at home.

I think that a lot of people just thought the Packers were hot and on a run.  Atlanta is the better overall team.

[EDGECRUSHER]

So:
-The Patriots get homefield throughout because Derek Carr breaks his leg.
-The Raiders are the only team that could stop them realistically and they are done because of the injury.
-Patriots get to face the Texans which is LOL.
-Patriots then face the Steelers without Le'evon Bell due to injury.

Has there ever been an easier path to the Superbowl than this one? The whole conference took a knee. Let's see if Matt Ryan falls into a volcano before the Superbowl.

[Dave Gray]

The Patriots are the best team in football.  It's not about an easy path.  They are surgical and boring.  They hit 7 yard slants.  If you cover the slant, they throw outs.  If you cover both, they go over the top.

They are a well-oiled, boring, methodical machine. 

They are going to do that to almost every team in the league, and have been for years.

[EDGECRUSHER]

I wouldn't disagree with that, but even great teams stumble every now and then when challenged. You don't win every game against a 12-4 team. That's been my problem with them for years, where is the challenge? I know there is nothing you can do about it with the AFC East being a disgrace and no other teams consistently being good, but it's still ridiculous to watch.

[Spider-Dan]

The Patriots have won the Super Bowl one time in the last 12 years and you're asking where the challenge is?

[dolphins4life]

A bit of both.  Brady's greatest talent is his ability to quickly develop the needed chemistry with any and all receivers.  And BB has been able to take guys that others didn't want and elevate their game.  Leading rusher in the game was cut by the Steelers.

From what I saw yesterday, it was nothing special in terms of quarterbacking.  Hogan was usually so wide open that any quarterback could have connected with him.

Brady's most underappreciated talent is his ability to avoid sacks and buy time, though he really had no need for that yesterday.

Also, don't forget how clutch NE's defense has been in the playoffs, as they were yesterday, holding the Steelers out of the end zone on first and goal from the half yard line, and last week against the Texans, twice holding the Texans out of the end zone after turnovers.

Remember with Jimmy G and some other guy, the Patriots were three and one and two of those wins were against playoff teams. 

I think the pressure of playing the Patriots gets into teams' heads.

[Spider-Dan]

For what it's worth, this version of the Patriots is less frustrating (as a Dolphins' fan) than the early-2000s version, who would simply sit around and wait for teams to beat themselves en route to a 17-10 victory.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

So:
-The Patriots get homefield throughout because Derek Carr breaks his leg.
-The Raiders are the only team that could stop them realistically and they are done because of the injury.
-Patriots get to face the Texans which is LOL.
-Patriots then face the Steelers without Le'evon Bell due to injury.

Has there ever been an easier path to the Superbowl than this one? The whole conference took a knee. Let's see if Matt Ryan falls into a volcano before the Superbowl.

Actually the 72 Dolphins hold the record for easiest path to the super bowl in fact the single weakest SOS of any team whatsoever.

[masterfins]

Actually the 72 Dolphins hold the record for easiest path to the super bowl in fact the single weakest SOS of any team whatsoever.

Yeah, but they did it with Earl Morrell doing most of the QB'ing.