Super Bowl 51: 5 reasons the New England Patriots will win

Jan 22, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2017 AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 22, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2017 AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 18, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia celebrates with middle linebacker Dont'a Hightower (54) in the second half against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia celebrates with middle linebacker Dont’a Hightower (54) in the second half against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

4) Matt Patricia’s defense is more than a match for the Atlanta Falcons offense

While Kyle Shanahan won assistant of the year, that award could also have quietly gone to New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and nobody would have been completely shocked.

Keeping his head down and toiling away under Bill Belichick, Patricia has quietly put together one of the best defenses to every fly so under the radar. His defense bends but does not break and is incredibly opportunistic. Shanahan may be the one walking away with a head coaching job after this season, but Patricia is deserving of one as well.

The Patriots defense allowed the least points in the league in 2016. They also allowed the eighth least yards. Patricia, like his innovative head coach, wasn’t married to only one thing and employed different strategies to take away the opposition’s best player. He’ll have to do that with more than one player because the Falcons sport Matt Ryan, wide receiver Julio Jones, and running back Devonta Freeman, but he has proven himself capable in the past.

The Patriots allowed just 21 passing touchdowns and only six rushing touchdowns throughout the 2016 season. If they can even slow down the Falcons, it’s likely that the Patriots will either walk away victorious in a tough scrap or completely blow out the competition. Much of the Pats’ hopes and dreams rest on Patricia’s shoulders.