Posted on 01/31/2018 5:45:54 PM PST by Impy
Sunday, Feb 4, 2018 (Mountain Time) - Offense vs. Defense Matchups and Analysis
#1 Philadelphia at #1 New England 4:30 pm NBC, U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Philly and N.E. are tied as the two best teams in the NFL based on net scoring strength. You don’t often get the two best teams statistically in the Super bowl and I don’t recall ever seeing the two Super Bowl teams tied for #1 ranking. That adds up to what should be an exciting, well-played game. Both teams basically tie in offense vs. defense scoring. The one area that is not close is N.E.’s defense giving up a lot of yards which gives Philly a big advantage over N.E. in overall yardage averages. That could be the deciding factor.
When Philly has the ball
Overall rank scoring rank ydg rank
#1 Philly Offense #3: 14 Pass 3 Run
#1 N.E Defense #5: 25 Pass 30 Run
Philly’s #3 scoring offense should be able to move the ball and score against N.E.’s #5 scoring defense which gives up a lot of yards – #25 against the pass and #30 against the run. Philly’s offense scored an average of 27 points per game and scored 38 points against the Vikes’ #1 defense, so they are capable of scoring a lot against N.E. Philly’s #3 run offense should be used more than their #14 pass offense. However, this is the Super Bowl, and teams tend to feel the need to pass even if their better strategy is to run. This will be especially true if Philly falls behind.
When N.E. has the ball
Overall rank scoring rank ydg rank
#1 N.E. Offense #2: 3 Pass 11 Run
#1 Philly Defense #4: 3 Pass 6 Run
This should be the best part of the game – Brady’s #2 scoring offense and #3 passing offense versus Philly’s #4 scoring defense and #3 pass defense. Brady’s aerial array will be challenged by Philly’s tough pass defense, even if Gronkowski is healthy. N.E. scores an average of 27 points per game and scored 24 points against the Jags #1 pass defense, so it’s possible they may score over 30 points against Philly. But in doing so, N.E. may allow turnovers and interceptions to Philly’s tough defense favoring more Philly scoring. I doubt N.E.’s #11 running game will be much of a factor against Philly’s #6 run defense.
Summary
The weakest link in this chain is N.E.’s defense and the strongest link is N.E.’s offense under Captain America, QB Tom Brady. But a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Philly’s offense should score more points than Philly’s defense will allow. Look for a well-played, hard-fought, exciting & close game. Winner: Eagles.
Inigo Montoya needs to make another kill... 
for his dear old dead daddy's sake--
Patriots
p.s. Impy, don't take no guff off nobody, goodman.
Onevike, Deweyfrank, Jeremiah Jr, Discoustu, I added little icons for you, they all relate to your names. ;d
=
=
=
=
=
=
= Philadelphia at New England=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
= 
=
= 
=
= Democratic People's Republic of Korea at United States of America= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 
= 
Congratulations, as promised you win this photograph of a fabulous new sports car!!!!!!
No histrionics, no favorites, no hate, no memories of the glories or agonies of past victories or defeats, but rather cold, heartless science and math say...
The Patriots over the Eagles.
I don’t see my little icon but for the record I chose New England.
>>Next year Tom Brady comes back and finally looks old. Pats fail to make Super Bowl. Brady faces reality and retires, is given his gold hall of fame jacket on the field as he walks off the field, no votes required. Patriots team realizes that the QB cupboard is bare because they decided to stroke Brady’s ego and trade all their backups. Pats don’t see the playoffs for years. And the Eagles 50 year dynasty commences!<<
That isn’t a prediction. It is a recap of what happened to SF! (LOL)
Russell Wilson? LOL - so overrated
Now everybody exhale slowly and return to Earf, shall we? Good.
Patriots 26 Eagles 20
Truth be told though, I was going to say "Carson Wentz" in that reference because he was SO good this year but as an Eagles fan I didn't want to make this a homer post. So I may have reached a bit for another example. But that proves the point, who are the "great franchise QBs" in the league? Brees, Brady, Roethlisberger are all at the tail end of their careers. Rodgers is certainly in that group and he's a bit younger. Then you have a guy like Eli Manning who has some weird superpower to make ridiculously lucky plays that change big games in between horrible throws and interceptions. Beneath them are a bunch of guys that put up nice numbers but don't really win when it counts (Philip Rivers, Andy Dalton, Carson Palmer who just retired, Matt Ryan, et cetera). Maybe Flacco belongs in that "just below the best" tier, very debatable but more likely he fits on that third tier with Rivers even though he won a Super Bowl. Then it's a handful of young guys who may reach that top tier (Wentz, Watson on the Texans, Marriota, maybe Goff and Garappolo, perhaps Prescott but I'm not a believer). Then it's pure slop.
It's hard to find a true game changing champion caliber franchise QB. Patriots found one and rode him for fifteen years, give or take. The odds are strong that they will be in the QB wilderness for a while after Brady moves on. Ten years ago that Pats team was awesome and could win without Brady being a superhero. Now they are nowhere near that good. It's mostly Brady. So if QB play drops off, that team will fall off a cliff.
It’s the evil bookies. They want to balance the books.
time yet? Naw, Big-- Don't fret. You know The Puppy Bowl doesn't start until... 
3 p.m. ET on Feb. 4 on Animal Planet--
You know how temperamental... 
them bitches are.
What is a “homer post”?
The Niners’ Head Coach Bill Walsh recruited Joe Montana as a diamond in the rough and COACHED him into one of the greatest QB’s of all time. Trained him. Drilled him. Three-step drop, five-step drop. Soft passes on the numbers. Montana said he got to the point where he could do this stuff in his sleep
I don’t see a whole lot of “coaches” actually training and coaching their QB’s and players to greatness.
IMO, the key in football is the head coach.
Sorry, a “homer” is a home-team fan who isn’t objective, says their team and players are always the best, that sort of thing.
I read that most pro gamblers (by 3 to 1) and most 1 million dollar plus bets are on the Eagles (to beat the spread not necessarily win)
PS. To the troops all over the world, many in harms way, who will be watching the game today on the American Forces Network, thank for your patriotic service. Enjoy the game.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.