Football

Super Bowl LI: Can the Falcons beat the Patriots? Terez Paylor breaks it down

By Terez A. Paylor

February 4, 2017 2:48 PM

New England’s Tom Brady and Atlanta’s Matt Ryan are interviewed during opening night for the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game at Minute Maid Park on Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, in Houston. Charlie Riedel AP

When comes down to predicting The Big Game, you’re always better off going with the team with the best quarterback-head coach combination. And while Matt Ryan has turned in a terrific season, one that is somehow in the same stratosphere as Tom Brady’s, there’s no doubt Bill Belichick has the edge here. The Patriots have had two weeks to prepare for a vulnerable Atlanta defense, and it will probably take some self-inflicted New England wounds — which are rare — for the Falcons to be in position to win.

Pick: New England 31, Atlanta 20

This story was originally published February 4, 2017 at 2:48 PM with the headline "Super Bowl LI: Can the Falcons beat the Patriots? Terez Paylor breaks it down."

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