Tag: Patriots

Post Draft Thoughts

So much success in the NFL is based on where you play, especially at quarterback. No matter how much talent you have, a terrible organization, coach, and team can derail a career. Now that we know where the top 6 QBs and a couple other top prospects are playing, below I predict how their careers will turn out.

Caleb Williams:

Going to Chicago has historically been where careers go to die for QBs. However, if one QB can buck that trend, it’s Williams. He is so talented and the fact that his pro comparisons are Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes tells you how good he is. Unlike with Justin Fields, the Bears have actually done a great job of surrounding him with amazing weapons and a solid Oline. How great he will be will come down to how well the coaching staff develops him. Regardless, the Bears history of never having a QB throw for 4,000 yards or 30 TDs will end soon.

I think he will be a really good to great QB in the NFL. He will make multiple Pro Bowls and help the Bears compete in a really tough division. My main apprehension with him is he seems like a diva type player. That’s fine with wide receivers like TO and OBJ, but when it comes to quarterback, that type of personality tends to not work out. Look at guys in the league who are star QBs: Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, etc. They are not controversial and outspoken personalities. They always say the right things and are tremendous leaders. I just get the vibe that Caleb will not be a great leader and might causes some issues off the field similar to Kyler Murray and Aaron Rodgers. Once again, I think he’ll be really good to great, but will definitely cause some headaches for the Bears.

Jayden Daniels:

It’s great to see another LSU QB have a massive progression, win the Heisman, and be a top pick in the draft. That shows how great his work ethic is. His athleticism is off the charts and he will be one of the most athletic QBs in the league right away. It’s also reassuring that Daniels put up the numbers he did while playing in the best conference in college. He will be able to make an immediate impact and having an OC like Kliff Kingsbury is also a plus.

My one apprehension with him is that he is not super well built. This is something that can be fixed, but with a terrible Oline and being a guy that runs so much, it could be an issue.

Overall, he has a pretty good group of weapons around him with Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson at WR and Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson Jr at RB. I think he has an average to solid career as a starter, but is not anything special.

Drake Maye:

I have super high hopes for Maye. He was my favorite QB in this draft, so the fact the Pats got him at #3 is a steal in my opinion. He reminds me a lot of Andrew Luck and Justin Herbert in terms of his combination of size, athleticism, and arm talent. He will just have turned 22 at the start of next season and will have time to develop under Jacoby Brissett. He is extremely tough, is a great kid, and played well through some perseverance and tough situations last year.

The biggest question with Maye has nothing to do with him, but the Patriots. First off, they have the worst roster in the league, especially when it comes to Oline and WR. They drafted some wide receivers and offensive lineman after Maye, but they still need to surround him with weapons and guys who can block. Also, how will the coaches develop him? Jerrod Mayo is a defensive coach so it will mainly be the responsibility of Alex Van Pelt, who is relatively unproven.

I believe he will develop into the Patriots franchise quarterback. He has the tools to succeed in New England, with a big frame and big arm that will serve him well in the terrible Foxboro weather. He obviously won’t be Tom Brady, but I think he can be a better version of Drew Bledsoe. He should be a multiple time Pro Bowler and lead the Pats back to contention for years to come.

Michael Penix Jr:

Easily the biggest shocker of the draft. I was initially shocked by what they did, but the Falcons explaining why they did it helped me make more sense of it. I just don’t agree with their reasoning.

Penix is going to be 24 before the season starts and is maybe the most “pro-ready” QB prospect in the draft. But they drafted him to be the developmental, eventual starter. He should have some good weapons around him when he does start, but when will that be?

They owe Kirk Cousins a ton of money and realistically can’t get out of the contact until 2026 when Penix with be 26 himself. Cousins isn’t amazing but he’s a good enough starter who probably won’t play himself out of the position. With all the uncertainty and an odd situation, I think Penix doesn’t end up being a long-term starter in the league.

J.J. McCarthy:

I like McCarthy, but easily think he was the most overrated player this draft. Compared to the other 5 QBs taken, I think he easily was the worst prospect and was benefited by his team more than any of them. With that being said, he is going to basically the perfect situation. He has a really good offensive coach in Kevin O’Connell, the best WR in the league in Justin Jefferson, a top 3 TE in TJ Hockenson, one of the best young WRs in the league in Jordan Addison, and new RB Aaron Jones. They even have a good offensive line. Furthermore, McCarthy can develop behind Sam Darnold if needed.

I think McCarthy will have a career similar to the man he is replacing – Kirk Cousins. His situation is just too good to be a complete bust. I see him putting up solid numbers but not being a guy who can win his team big games and take them far in the playoffs.

Bo Nix:

Nix lands in a spot with a good head coach, but a team that really lacks weapons. He’s accurate and has a ton of experience, but I just don’t think he has that high of a ceiling. Sean Payton has also been very impatient and critical of his QB and team since taking over and I don’t think that’s a great situation for any rookie QB. I think Nix ends up playing a good bit as a rookie, but I don’t think his career will mount to much and he won’t be a long-term starter.

Marvin Harrison Jr.

I think he is the best player in this class and the most exciting by far. Getting to play for a good QB in Kyler is also huge for him. He’ll be a Day 1 starter and should be an absolute stud for years to come.

Brock Bowers:

I think Bowers fits into the Raiders mold well. The biggest question is who is gonna be the QB throwing him the ball and how good will they be. However, he’s so talented that he should make an immediate impact and he has other weapons around him so defenses can’t just key in on him. He should be a long-term starter and make a handful of Pro Bowls.

Other Quick Points

With 6 QBs taken in the first round and all these other amazing offensive players at marquee positions like WR and OT, I think this draft will go down in history as one of the best ever.

The fact that round 1 of the NFL draft had a higher average viewership than last year’s NBA finals once again shows why football is the king of sports in the US.

Xavier Worthy should be a great pick for Chiefs. He fits in so well with Mahomes and that offense. The Chiefs have rebuilt their WR corps into one of the better ones in the league in just one year, showing why they are the dynasty that they are.

It’s still so early, but the Bears – Panthers trade from last year might go down as the worst trade in NFL history. If Bryce Young ends up being a bust, while Caleb is a stud that’s bad enough. But on top of that, the Bears got one of the best WRs in the league, a starting tackle, a starting CB, and still have another 2nd round pick next year. This is something to keep an eye on.

NFL All-Time Team

Offense

QB: Tom Brady

The Super Bowl wins, the career passing records, the longevity and so much more make Brady the undisputed GOAT.

RB: Barry Sanders

This was a tough decision but if you watch Barry Sanders highlights it’s clear why he’s the best running back ever. He was so shifty and made NFL players look like JV players.

WR: Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Calvin Johnson

Rice is the undisputed GOAT WR and put up mind boggling stats for two decades, maybe none more impressive than having a 1,200 yard season and being an All-Pro at age 40. “Moss” is literally a verb we use to describe an incredible catch by a WR. That tells you everything you need to know about how good Randy was. Johnson is perfectly nicknamed Megatron as he was not human. 6’5” 240 lbs, ran a 4.3 40, could out leap anyone, and dominated despite being on an awful team his whole career.

TE: Rob Gronkowski

He may not have the longevity of other TEs, but when he played, he absolutely dominated. He was unguardable in the passing game, but what really sets his place as the best TE is his willingness and ability to block. Many older TE could block but weren’t great catchers and many modern TEs are just bigger WRs, but Gronk could do it all.

LT: Anthony Muñoz

The 11x All-Pro and Hall of Famer is the epitome of a perfect left tackle.

LG: Randall McDaniel

McDaniel is not super well-known but was a stalwart at left guard for 14 years.

C: Mike Webster 

A star for the Steel Curtain Steelers Dynasty, Webster was part of two All-Decade Teams.

RG: Bruce Matthews

The 10x All-Pro was extremely versatile and could play all over the offensive line.

RT: Joe Thomas

He was a left tackle, but the extremely durable 8x All-Pro played 10,363 snaps in a row and excelled for bad Cleveland teams his whole career.

Defense

Interior DLine: Aaron Donald, JJ Watt

Donald is still active in the league but is still already in the conversation as the greatest defensive player of all time. He has won three DPOY awards and has been wreaking havoc his whole career. Injuries may have cut his prime short, but Watt could make plays from any position on the D-Line and also won three DPOY awards.

Edge Rushers: Lawrence Taylor, Bruce Smith

Lawrence Taylor still lays claim to being the defensive GOAT and is the last defensive player to win MVP. Bruce Smith dominated for two decades and holds the record for most sacks in a career. 

Linebackers: Ray Lewis, Mike Singletary, Jack Lambert 

As much as I don’t like Lewis, he is the epitome of what a MLB should be and was the heart of a physical Ravens defense his whole career. Mike Singletary was the man in the middle for the greatest defense in NFL history and won two DPOY awards. Jack Lambert was one of the stars of the Steel Curtain Defense that won four Super Bowls in the 70s.

CB: Rod Woodson, Deion Sanders 

With 7th All-Pros and 11 Pro Bowls, Rod Woodson is one of the greatest defensive players ever. Prime Time was as flashy as he was dominant and this team wouldn’t be complete without his swagger and skill.

Safeties: Ronnie Lott, Ed Reed

The heart of the defense for those great 1980s 49ers teams could make plays all over the field. Ed Reed was the ultimate centerfielder and was always a threat to produce a takeaway and take one back to the house.

Special Teams

Kicker: Justin Tucker

With more First Team All-Pro selections than any other kicker and the highest field goal percentage of all time, Tucker is a clear choice.

Returner: Devin Hester

The Windy City Flyer had more return touchdowns than any player in NFL history and could take a kick or punt back to the end zone at any point.

NFL All-Time Team

Offense

QB: Tom Brady

The Super Bowl wins, the career passing records, the longevity and so much more make Brady the undisputed GOAT.

RB: Barry Sander

This was a tough decision but if you watch Barry Sanders highlights it’s clear why he’s the best running back ever. He was so shifty and made NFL players look like JV players.

WR: Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Calvin Johnson

Rice is the undisputed GOAT WR and put up mind boggling stats for two decades, maybe none more impressive than having a 1,200 yard season and being an All-Pro at age 40. “Moss” is literally a verb we use to describe an incredible catch by a WR. That tells you everything you need to know about how good Randy was. Johnson is perfectly nicknamed Megatron as he was not human. 6’5” 240 lbs, ran a 4.3 40, could out leap anyone, and dominated despite being on an awful team his whole career.

TE: Rob Gronkowski

He may not have the longevity of other TEs, but when he played, he absolutely dominated. He was unguardable in the passing game, but what really sets his place as the best TE is his willingness and ability to block too. Many older TE could block but weren’t great catchers and many modern TEs are just bigger WRs, but Gronk could do it all.

LT: Anthony Muñoz

The 11x All-Pro and Hall of Famer is the epitome of a perfect left tackle.

LG: Randall McDaniel

McDaniel is not super well-known but was a stalwart at left guard for 14 years.

C: Mike Webster 

A star for the Steel Curtain Steelers Dynasty, Webster was part of two All-Decade Teams.

RG: Bruce Matthews

The 10x All-Pro was extremely versatile and could play all over the offensive line.

RT: Joe Thomas

He was a left tackle, but the extremely durable 8x All-Pro played 10,363 snaps in a row and excelled for bad Cleveland teams his whole career.

Defense

Interior DLine: Aaron Donald, JJ Watt

Donald is still active in the league but is still already in the conversation as the greatest defensive player of all time. He has won three DPOY awards and has been wreaking havoc his whole career. Injuries may have cut his prime short, but Watt could make plays from any position on the D-Line and also won three DPOY awards.

Edge Rushers: Lawrence Taylor, Bruce Smith

Lawrence Taylor still lays claim to being the defensive GOAT and is the last defensive player to win MVP. Bruce Smith dominated for two decades and holds the record for most sacks in a career. 

Linebackers: Ray Lewis, Mike Singletary, Jack Lambert 

As much as I don’t like Lewis, he is the epitome of what a MLB should be and was the heart of a physical Raven’s defense his whole career. Mike Singletary was the man in the middle for the greatest defense in NFL history and won two DPOY awards. Jack Lambert was one of the stars of the Steel Curtain Defense that won four Super Bowls in the 70s.

CB: Rod Woodson, Deion Sanders 

With 7th All-Pros and 11 Pro Bowls, Rod Woodson is one of the greatest defensive players ever. Prime Time was as flashy as he was dominant and this team wouldn’t be complete without his swagger and skill.

Safeties: Ronnie Lott, Ed Reed

The heart of the defense for those great 1980s 49ers teams could make plays all over the field. Ed Reed was the ultimate centerfielder and was always a threat to produce a takeaway and take one back to the house.

Special Teams

Kicker: Justin Tucker

With more First Team All-Pro selections than any other kicker and the highest field goal percentage of all time, Tucker is a clear choice.

Returner: Devin Hester

The Windy City Flyer had more return touchdowns than any player in NFL history and could take a kick or punt back to the end zone at any point.

2023 NFC Predictions (Plus Super Bowl Pick)

NFC East

Philadelphia Eagles: 13-4, 1st in NFC East, 2nd Seed in NFC

Losing both coordinators is tough, but the Eagles still have everything they need to make another run at a Super Bowl title. Jalen Hurts will look to build off an All-Pro season while still having an excellent crop of weapons in AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Godert and the best offensive line in football. Their great defense lost Javon Hargrave but still returns Haason Reddick, Darius Slay, Fletcher Cox, Josh Sweat, and Brandon Graham and adds maybe the best player in the draft in Jalen Carter. Overall, the Eagles may have the best roster in the NFL and should dominate the weaker NFC.

Dallas Cowboys: 10-7, 2nd in NFC East, 5th Seed in NFC

The Cowboys are the definition of the team that always looks good on paper but doesn’t follow through in real life. Dak Prescott is a solid QB, but will never be in that elite tier and Mike McCarthy is a pretty good coach but not great. Tony Pollard, CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, Michael Gallup, and a great O-line will help make up for Dak’s shortcomings. Their defense will likely be great once again led by Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs, Stephon Gilmore, and Demarcus Lawrence and the Cowboys as a whole will be a good team, just not a great one.

Washington Commanders: 7-10, 3rd in NFC East, Miss Playoffs

The Commanders constantly have a talented team but don’t have the QB they deserve. Sam Howell has potential but is extremely inexperienced and their O-line is one of the worst in the league. WRs Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson make up one of the best and most underrated WR duos in the league. As someone who watched Jahan Dotson in college, he is a game breaker and I am extremely high on him. The strength of this team lies in their D-line which is the best in the league. Chase Young, Daron Payne, Jonathon Allen, and Montez Sweat are all capable of playing at Pro Bowl levels when healthy. They will be tough to play against but it may end up being Ron Rivera’s last season as the new ownership might be fed up with losing and looking for a change.

New York Giants: 5-12, 4th in NFC East, Miss Playoffs

The Giants are in for a rough year. Brian Daboll proved he is a great coach but the team does not have the talent to repeat what they did last season. Daniel Jones is a a quarterback making $40 million a year when he should be making more like $20-25 million. He really was not that good last year, having for just 3,205 yards, 15 TDs, and 92.5 rating. With their star offensive weapon Saquon Barkley clearly frustrated with the the team due to his contract situation, Jones will have to be relied on a lot more this year and that doesn’t bode well. The addition of Darren Waller will help if he can stay healthy but outside of him Jones does not have much to work with. Defensively, Dexter Lawrence had a breakout season and young players like Azeez Ojulari and Kayvon Thibodeaux have potential but their defense still is not very good.

NFC North

Detroit Lions: 10-7, 1st in NFC North, 3rd seed in NFC

The Lions won eight of their last ten games last season and will look to carry that momentum into this year. Say what you want about Jared Goff, but he is a consistent quarterback and gives me very heavy Kurt Cousins vibes, as in he probably won’t win a Super Bowl but you can constantly make the playoffs with him. New RB Jahmyr Gibbs is a great addition to an offense that includes Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams (after he returns from his 6 game gambling suspension), and a great O-line. DE Aidan Hutchinson should be even better after 9.5 sacks last year for a defense that will be pretty average overall.

Minnesota Vikings: 9-8, 2nd in NFC North, 6th Seed in NFC

Coming off one of the weirdest and most entertaining seasons in NFL history, the Vikings will surely regress. Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson will lead a talented offense that lost Dalvin Cook and Adam Thielen but added Jordan Addison and returns TJ Hockenson. They were not good defensively last year and lost some solid veterans in Eric Kendricks, Patrick Peterson, and Za’Darius Smith so the offense will really need to carry the team again.

Chicago Bears: 8-9, 3rd in NFC North, Miss Playoffs

I have long been a Justin Fields supporter who thinks he will be a great NFL QB and this year is make or break for him. Either he puts together a great year and helps the Bears contend for the playoffs or flounders and shows he isn’t a starting QB in the NFL. I predict the former and think Fields makes his first Pro Bowl while leading the Bears within a game of the 7th seed. DJ Moore, Darnell Mooney, and Chase Claypool are a solid WR trio and the O-line should be improved. The offense must carry as defensively the Bears will likely have a bottom 10 defense in the league.

Green Bay Packers: 6-11, 4th in NFC North, Miss Playoffs

After losing Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams back to back years, the Packers are in for a rude awakening. Jordan Love will likely not perform well as he has been riding the bench for three years. They have a good O-line and a great running back duo in Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon but their strong rushing attack won’t make up for an inexperienced QB and receiving options. They are solid defensively, but will be hurt by Rashan Gary still having to recover from a torn ACL. Matt LaFleur is a good coach but this team will experience growing pains this year.

NFC South

New Orleans Saints: 9-8, 1st in NFC South, 4th Seed in NFC

Despite not having a great coach in Dennis Allen, the Saints have the best roster and quarterback in the worst division in football and that should be good enough to win the division. Derek Carr may not be as good as he once was, but is still a capable starter. Alvin Kamara will likely face a suspension but Jamaal Williams should be good enough in relief. At WR Chris Olave and a hopefully healthy Michael Thomas are a good duo that helps mitigate a bad O-line. Their defense is old but talented and should at the very worst not be a detriment to the team.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8-9, 2nd in NFC South, Miss Playoffs

As Patriots fans can tell you, it is never easy to replace the greatest football player of all time at QB, especially when Baker Mayfield is his replacement. WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin will need to continue to be great to help make up for the total lack of running game the Bucs have. Similar to the Saints, the Buccaneers defense is old but talented and should be solid this year.

Carolina Panthers: 5-11, 3rd in NFC South, Miss Playoffs

The Panthers will have a big rebuilding year this year. Bryce Young is talented, but I think he is too small to be the answer as their franchise QB. I don’t see the Miles Sanders and Adam Thielen signings making big impacts and I think the offense will underwhelm. Brian Burns leads a below average defense that won’t be doing Young any favors.

Atlanta Falcons: 4-13, 4th in NFC South, Miss Playoffs

The QB situation is still not great and I don’t think Desmond Ridder is the answer. Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts are an exciting young core of skill players. Pitts is a beast and I see him bouncing back this season in a big way. The young skill players plus a good O-line give Atlanta hope for the future, but not until they get the right QB. Their defense was poor last year and doesn’t appear to be getting any better.

NFC West

San Francisco 49ers: 14-3, 1st in NFC West, 1st Seed in NFC

With Brock Purdy on track to start Week 1, the 49ers are sitting pretty with one of the best coaches in the league and maybe the best roster. Brock Purdy may not be the most dynamic player, but he proved last year that he is the perfect QB for this offense. He doesn’t try to do too much and spreads the ball to their talented skill players Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Sammuel, and George Kittle. They are absolutely stacked defensively with Nick Bosa and Fred Warner leading the charge and making this one of the bets units in the league.

Seattle Seahawks: 9-8, 2nd in NFC West, 7th Seed in NFC

The Seahawks and QB Geno Smith shocked people last year by winning 9 games and making the Playoffs. I don’t think Geno will play as good next year, but they have a great coach in Pete Carroll and really talented skill group in Kenneth Walker, D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Their defense should be improved this year and they are led by one of the best secondaries in football.

Los Angeles Rams: 7-10, 3rd in NFC West, Miss Playoffs

It’s amazing how just one year ago, the Rams were the reigning Super Bowl Champs and now they are probably not even a playoff contender. Sean McVay is still one of the best coaches in the league, but outside of Matt Stafford, Cooper Krupp, and Aaron Donald, this team truly is awful. Their best course of action would be to trade that trio and hope to draft Caleb Williams or Drake May. If they don’t, then McVay is such a good coach, he can likely lead them to more wins the the roster really should produce.

Arizona Cardinals: 3-14, 4th in NFC West, Miss Playoffs

This season will be brutal for the Cardinals, but their future will benefit. QB Kyler Murray will miss some time and his future with the team is unclear. They have some solid skill players offensively, but no one who is a real game breaker. Defensively, their best player Budda Baker wants out of Arizona and their defense really needs an overhaul. 

2023 NFC Playoffs

Wild Card Round

  • 1 SF: Bye
  • 2 PHL vs 7 SEA: 2 PHL Wins
  • 3 DET vs 6 MIN: 6 MIN Wins
  • 4 NO vs 5 DAL: 4 NO Wins

Divisional Round

  • 1 SF vs 6 MIN: 1 SF Wins
  • 2 PHL vs 4 NO: 2 PHL wins

NFC Championship Game

  • 1 SF vs 2 PHL: SF Wins NFC

Final NFC Thoughts: 

The NFC is by far the more inferior conference with only two real contenders in the Eagles and 49ers. Outside of those two teams, anything could happen in terms of other teams making the playoffs, but I feel confident that barring injuries, the 49ers and Eagles will meet in the NFC CG again. 

Super Bowl LVIII

SF vs CIN: CIN wins the Super Bowl

In a great game between 2 teams that have come close to winning recently, I think Joe Burrow and all that offensive talent overcome the loaded 49ers defense and bring Cincinnati their first Super Bowl in franchise history. 

Note: All predictions as of 7/23/2023

Greatest NFL Dynasties of All Time

It’s been a while but I’m back. This time I’m posing the question what makes an NFL team a dynasty in the Superbowl Era? You often hear dynasty talk when it comes to the NBA but not as much with the NFL. To me, there are four clear-cut dynasties (in order from best to worst): 1. 2001-Present Patriots 2. 1981-1994 San Fransisco 49ers 3. 1974-1979 Pittsburgh Steelers 4. 1992-1995 Dallas Cowboys.

My loose criteria for a dynasty is at least 3 Superbowls in a 6-year span, but as long as there is at least some common factor a dynasty can continue past that six-year span. For example, given that Brady and Belichick have been at the helm for all six Superbowls and that the fact that the Patriots have consistently been contenders and made Superbowls (never gone more than 4 yrs w/o making a Superbowl) I consider them a dynasty. In the case of the 49ers they had two different quarterbacks and coaches, but George Seifert took over and won while Montana was still the quarterback and players like Jerry Rice played and won with both coaches and quarterbacks so there’s enough similarity to include that 5th championship in the dynasty. The Steelers and Cowboys make the list because they fit in my original criteria for a dynasty.

After those four, the case can be made for some other teams based off one’s personal criteria.

The 1960-1967 Packers won 5 championships in 8 years and made another in that span. However, only the last two were Superbowls and the other 3 were NFL championships in the pre-Superbowl era so I didn’t include them seeing as they only won 2 Superbowls and that doesn’t fit my criteria.

Some might say the 1971-1973 Dolphins are a dynasty as they won two Superbowls and made three in a 3-year span, but once again they don’t have my three Superbowl requirement. Winning two Superbowls in a short period of time makes you a great team, but not a dynasty.

The team that comes the closest to a dynasty but is just short is the 1976-1983 Oakland Raiders who won three Superbowls in eight years. Had they kept the same coach and/or quarterback throughout all of their titles I would be inclined to put them at number 5 on my list. However, there is too little similarity from their first title to their third title for me to include them.

The last team I definitely considered putting on the list was the 1982-1991 Washington Redskins. They won 3 titles and made another in that 10-year span. They have decent similarities with the same coach and few of the same players on all three teams such as Hall of Fame WR Art Monk. However, the fact that all three were so spread out (5 years between the 1st and 2nd title and 4 years between 2nd and 3rd title), they weren’t dominant throughout the entire run (three straight years finishing third in their division), and that there was a different quarterback on all three title-winning teams is what keeps them off of my list.

Overall, the definition of a dynasty varies from person to person. Regardless of whether or not the teams above are considered dynasties, they were great teams that will go down in history as some of the best ever.

 

Patriots vs. Rams Super Bowl LIII Preview​

From ESPN’s Bill Barnwell (http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/25877288/barnwell-super-bowl-liii-preview-need-know-patriots-rams-2019):

I think we’re going to get a close game, which isn’t exactly going out on a limb when you consider that the point spread is 2.5 points and that each of the Patriots’ eight prior Super Bowl appearances have included a tie or a lead change in the fourth quarter. Even if one of these teams gets up by 10 points in the first half, each has the sort of passing offense capable of catching up quickly.

I lean toward the Patriots, ever so slightly. They’re well-positioned to attack the weakest components of the Rams’ defense with their weapons in the slot, as was the case for the Eagles, who scored 66 points on offense in beating the Rams twice over the past two seasons. There might very well be a scenario like that Seahawks-Broncos game in which Donald makes a big play early and it seems to set the tone for the entire game. It would hardly be shocking if Gurley, healthier after resting for two weeks, punished the Patriots as a receiver. The Rams have tons of top-tier talent.

With Belichick and Brady focused on identifying and exploiting the weaker spots in their lineup, though, I think we see the latter become the first player in NFL history with six Super Bowl rings.

Prediction: Patriots 27, Rams 23

 

My Personal Preview:

Super Bowl LIII has all the makings of a classic Super Bowl matchup. You have two great teams with very different backstories. On one side the Patriots are the greatest dynasty in the history of the NFL. Five Super Bowl wins and nine appearances in 18 years. They are the evil empire that every other fanbase so desperately wants to see fall. On the other side, you have the upstart Rams who just two years ago were one of the bottom feeders in the NFL. Now with a new city, coach, and quarterback, they have the makings of a team that could frequent the Super Bowl for the next 5-7 years. It is also cool that 18 years ago the Patriots were the new kids on the block, while the Rams aka the Greatest Show on Turf were the more established team. Combine that with the fact that both teams are coming off controversial wins and the hype around this Super Bowl is tremendous.

Offensively, both teams were in the top 5 in the league in points and yards per game in the regular season. In the passing game, I have to give the edge to Tom Brady and the Patriots. Neither QB has lit it up this postseason, but in key moments, Brady has been his classic self, making clutch throws and leading his team down the field. Goff has had his moments coming through when needed as well, but when it comes to what QB I’d rather have, it’s definitely Tom Brady.

Both teams also have great weapons in the passing game. On the Patriots side, they have guys like Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, and James White who are proven gamers who come up big in the postseason. Since Edelman’s breakout 2013 campaign, the Pats are 44-10 when both he and Gronk play, including a 6-1 postseason mark. On the Rams side, Brandin Cooks, Todd Gurley, and Robert Woods lead the way. All three are very capable in the passing game. Take it from a Robert Woods fantasy owner, I believe he is the Ram’s X factor this game. No doubt a lot of attention will go to Cooks and Gurley, and Woods is just so consistent- he’s had 5 receptions and/or 70 yards receiving yards in 16 of the Ram’s 18 games- that I believe he’ll have a good game. Similarly, with Gronk and Edelman being players the Rams will focus on slowing down, look to Chris Hogan to be the Pats’ X Factor, as he has proven he can go off in the playoffs. While the Ram’s skill players are certainly talented, they aren’t as proven as the Patriot’s counterparts so I’ll give New England the edge in skill players as well.

In the running game, the Rams have a slight edge. It’s always great to see a guy like C.J. Anderson step up big for his team and I see that continuing. I also just can’t see Gurley having another bad game. On the other side, the Pats will continue to pound the ground game unless the Rams prove they can stop it. Sony Michel and Rex Burkhead have been a great 1-2 punch on the ground and the fact that White takes a lot of snaps as well, ensures that all three stay relatively fresh. That being said, look for the Rams to be the better rushing team on Sunday.

Pro Football Focus ranks the Patriot’s offensive line above the Rams, and I’m inclined to agree. Overall, I’ll give the Patriots the nod for having the advantage offensively.

Defensively, both teams were in the bottom half of the league in yards allowed, but the Patriots have the advantage in points allowed, where they were 7th in the league, while the Rams were 20th. This postseason both defenses have done well defending the run, but not the pass. Without a doubt, the Rams have the best individual defensive player in Aaron Donald, the clear Defensive Player of the Year,  who led the league in sacks with 20.5. Bill Belichick and the Pats do a great job of neutralizing the other teams best defensive player so it might be up to other Rams like Ndamukong Suh and Dante Fowler to put pressure on Brady. It’s well known that the teams who do best against the Pats are the ones who can get pressure on Brady with only four or five rushers. For both defenses, one of the main keys of the game is how well each team shuts down the opposition’s run game. It is more important for the Patriots to do this because one of their goals should be to put the ball in Goff’s hands and make him beat you. Stephon Gilmore is good enough to shut down whoever he is covering, making it that much harder for Goff and Co. Overall, I’d say the Rams have the advantage defensively, a big reason being Donald because he’ll either have a big game or take so much attention and help his teammates to play well.

Special Teams wise, I’ll take the Rams over the Patriots because Johnny Hekker is the best punter in the league and Greg Zuerlein has shown he is clutch and has a powerful leg. The Patriots are very disciplined on special teams and can make key plays that give them an advantage. Stephen Gostkowski is a good kicker, but he has had his struggles in big moments. He’s no Adam Vinatieri, however, I believe if it comes down to it, he’ll come up clutch for the Patriots.

Coaching wise, Sean McVay is obviously amazing. However, Bill Belichick is the greatest coach in NFL history, and the Pats have the advantage in the coaching game. In my opinion, the best part about Belichick is how he makes in-game adjustments at half time, which makes the Pats a dangerous second-half team.

Patriot’s Super Bowls are historically close games, so I’m going to say the Patriots beat the Rams 27-21.

Bonus: In terms of bets, I would take the under (56.5) and Pats -2.5. Some of my favorite prop bets include McVay’s age being mentioned over 1.5 times (-175), Gronk scoring a touchdown (Even), and total passing attempts for Brady over 37.5 (-115).