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The matchup for Super Bowl 51 is set: Atlanta Falcons vs. New England Patriots
With their dominant win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon, the Falcons booked the first ticket to Houston for Super Bowl LI (or 51). The offense, led by MVP candidate Matt Ryan and mastermind O-coordinator Kyle Shanahan, has been explosive for most of the entire season, but with their speedy defense beginning to click, they are going to be truly formidable two weeks from now.
Against any other team in the league, the Falcons would likely be favored. But the Patriots are 13-1 with Brady under center this season and just manhandled the Steelers in the AFC Championship.
As such, the Pats have opened as early favorites:
SB LI
at Houston, Texas
Sunday, February 5, 2017
New England Patriots -3
Atlanta Falcons 58
Neither of these teams have met this season, with the last head-to-head matchup coming in 2013.
In the experience department, the Patriots, of course, have a distinct advantage. This will be New England’s seventh Super Bowl appearance–they have four wins–in the Bill Belichick and Tom Brady Era, while the Falcons are making just their second Super Bowl trip in franchise history.
