We really wanted to do a serious preview article, as we do with every Steelers game… but since the Steelers aren’t playing in this game, and we’re heavily skewed toward rooting for the Atlanta Falcons, we should just tell you why they’re going to beat the Patriots this Sunday.

New England hasn’t faced a serious offensive threat all season

I’m still planting my flag on this one.

https://twitter.com/steelcityundrgr/status/822067308667568129

The Patriots defense has had their statistics heavily padded by playing bad quarterbacks and avoiding good players.

Yes, it hurts to say this: they played the Steelers.

It feels better to say they played the Steelers without Le’Veon Bell. As much as we want to pretend that DeAngelo Williams is the same player as Bell, the truth is, he’s not. Bell accounted for a majority of the Steelers offense, and the Patriots once again lucked-out by not having to face him for three quarters of the AFC Championship.

Still consider, the Steelers failed to score when in the redzone not once, but twice, in that same game. Add a fumble lost, and an interception, and they practically gifted the game to New England by putting the Patriots in decent scoring position and failing to put up points when given the same.

Atlanta will not have that same problem.

Matt Ryan has thrown touchdown passes to 13 different players this season. Also consider the one decent quarterback the Patriots faced, Russell Wilson, connected with Doug Baldwin three times (yes, three) for touchdowns… in a win at Foxborough.

If Doug Baldwin can do that to New England’s secondary, there’s no reason to think the Falcons offense, which scored the most points in the NFL during the regular season, can’t do it to the Patriots, after putting up 36 on the Seahawks, and 44 on the Packers.

Underdogs and Superstitions

Patriots haven’t won a Super Bowl in the same year that Punxsutawney Phil, the infamous groundhog, sees his shadow.

Bad news for Patriots, who have lost last 2 Super Bowls following Phil seeing his shadow. Also, NFC has won last 4 SBs when shadow appears. https://t.co/mZurSoRa89

— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) February 2, 2017

On a more serious note, no one is giving Atlanta a chance to win.

That’s dangerous.

On a similar note, could the Patriots be too lax, too used to the Super Bowl routine, having done it before? Are they hungry enough?

Brady might be, but this team hasn’t been behind in a game since dinosaurs roamed the Earth… not really, but it’s been so long, I wonder how they might react if they end up down in a game?

Kind of like the Broncos were against the Seahawks a few years ago.

It could happen, and it might rattle the favorite, while giving momentum to the underdog Falcons.

Dan Quinn won’t make the same mistake

Dan Quinn was the defensive coordinator when Seattle played New England in the Super Bowl a couple of seasons ago.

I don’t think he’s going to not give Devonta Freeman the ball from a yard out, and risk losing the football (and the game) the way the Seahawks did when Pete Carroll didn’t hand off to Marshawn Lynch.

Want to know what else they won’t do?

Anything the Steelers did.

Sorry, that hurts me to write that as much as you to read it, but it’s true. Pittsburgh put together a series of things on film that Atlanta has been able to study for the better part of two weeks to prepare for this game.

They will not copy the same battle plan.

That’s why, despite having similar teams, the Falcons will find a way to win the Super Bowl. They won’t give up the ball, they could force turnovers, and ultimately, they’ll be able to put up points on the Patriots (in my opinion) overrated defense.

If I wake up on Monday, and the Patriots have won Lombardi number five, it’s because they duplicated those mistakes, instead of, learning by them.