Super Bowl Prediction Thread [Archive] - Page 2 - Commanders Post at The Warpath

Shane

01-31-2005, 12:15 PM

The Sporting News War Room - analysis of Super Bowl matchup http://warroom.sportingnews.com/get_access.html

Why To Watch

It's the Super Bowl -- and this year, with a marquee matchup of highly successful teams, the attention and focus of watching the game should be on the game itself, and not on any halftime-show controversy. With all due respect to Sir Paul McCartney, the most anticipated performance in Jacksonville's Alltel Stadium on Feb. 6 will be NFL football, not that of a former Beatle. . . .

The AFC champion Patriots, looking for their third Super Bowl victory in four years, have looked unbeatable in the playoffs. Two-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback Tom Brady is 8-0 in postseason games, and for the first time in the big game has a dominant feature back in Corey Dillon to complement him.

While the Patriots' offense has found a new stride with Brady, Dillon and a completely healthy and explosive Deion Branch, the veteran defense continues to excel at executing coach Bill Belichick's complex schemes and making big plays in the clutch. That combination has pundits ready to put the dynasty tag on the Patriots and the lifetime genius label on Belichick. ...

The NFC champion Eagles finally cleared the hurdle of the conference title game for the first time in four consecutive tries.

Quarterback Donovan McNabb is playing with great composure and confidence, and their offense hasn't missed much of a beat without Terrell Owens because of solid contributions from the team's running backs, wide receivers and tight ends. There is a slim chance that T.O. will play in the Super Bowl, which would give both the on-field action and off-field celebrations more potential for excitement. ...

The Eagles have a fine coaching staff in their own right, so it will be interesting to see how Andy Reid, Brad Childress and Jim Johnson match wits with Belichick, Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis. Crennel (Cleveland Browns) and Weis (Notre Dame) have head-coaching jobs awaiting them but will be focused on the present. ...

Childress, who also has been rumored for outside jobs, and Reid will have a big challenge in preparing McNabb to handle everything that Belichick and Crennel can throw at quarterbacks in terms of coverages and blitzes. ...

For Johnson, a master of mixing blitzes himself, he will need to find a way to thwart Brady and Weis' quick-strike passing game. Johnson's run defense has been much improved with the presence of middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter. In Dillon, Trotter faces a big load to stop. ...

With the talent both on the field and on the sidelines, this should be one of the most well-played, most well-coached Super Bowls in history.

Patriots' Keys for Success

1. Take away the underneath passing game. Without Owens, the Eagles' passing game has been performing without its main deep threat and has relied heavily on short-to-midrange routes. Running back Brian Westbrook, who can line up all over the field, has reemerged as their main receiving threat in the playoffs. Expect the Patriots to bump Philadelphia's wide receivers at the line of scrimmage with their corners and use their safeties to squeeze down the middle. They will try to make McNabb beat them deep with shots to Greg Lewis. If Owens somehow plays and is at adequate speed, it will change the whole face of the game.

2. Get big plays from Brady and the passing game. The Eagles’ one defensive weakness this season was seen against power running games, but thanks to physical middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, that has been shored up in the playoffs. Expect the Patriots to pound the ball with Dillon, but the key to their success will be the same as in their two Super Bowl wins -- Brady making big plays. When the Eagles blitz, Brady and the Patriots must take advantage of the one-on-one matchups they see against Philadelphia's three-Pro Bowler-deep secondary. Corners Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown are both good cover men, so wide receivers Deion Branch and David Givens must also run good underneath routes and try to make big plays after the catch.

3. Win the turnover battle. The Patriots have consistently won the turnover battle in the playoffs during their three Super Bowl runs. New England's defense has had a knack for creating turnovers, and more importantly, its offense has converted them into points. Last week against the Steelers, the Patriots scored 17 points off turnovers.

Eagles' Keys for Success

1. Make Westbrook the focal point of the passing game. Westbrook has replaced Owens as McNabb's go-to-guy and become one of the NFL's toughest individual matchups. The Patriots' linebackers are quick and disciplined, but they will have trouble with Westbrook's speed in downfield coverage. That means New England will need hard-hitting strong safety Rodney Harrison to shadow Westbrook, which often will leave one of the Eagles’ wideouts open deep.

2. McNabb must make plays with his feet. McNabb has matured this season and has become one of the league’s best passers by showing more patience in the pocket. But playing against the aggressive Patriots' defense, he will be forced out of the pocket often. He must mix in some of his old impatient self and occasionally move the chains with his scrambling ability.

3. Blitz their most athletic defenders to get pressure on Brady. Much of Brady’s success can be attributed to his offensive line. It is a veteran group that handles the interior pass rush as well as any unit in the league. The Eagles can bring down the passer with their linebackers and defensive backs and must continue to blitz their best playmaking athletes to get past the Patriots' linemen, who will be well occupied by the front four. Expect safeties Michael Lewis and Brian Dawkins to come hard off the corner and get in Brady’s face.

Injuries at a glance

Patriots injuries
Updated Player
Pos. Injury
Status
1/21/05 Ted Johnson LB Flu Probable for AFC title game
1/19/05 Patrick Pass RB Ankle Questionable for 1/23
1/19/05 Ty Law CB Foot surgery Will be 100 percent next season
1/23/05 Richard Seymour DT Knee Status uncertain for 1/23

Eagles injuries
Updated Player
Pos. Injury
Status
1/25/05 Terrell Owens WR Ankle/leg Could be No. 3 receiver for Super Bowl
1/24/05 Chad Lewis TE Foot Out for Super Bowl
1/19/05 L.J. Smith TE Back Probable for 1/23

» Full injury report

The Bottom Line

The Patriots come into this game with all the Super Bowl rings and all the Super Bowl experience. But they will face a Philadelphia team that has finally gotten over the NFC hump and is looking to stop New England from being considered a "dynasty".

The Eagles’ defense has all the components necessary to beat Brady and the Patriots' offense. Look for the Eagles to pull off the upset behind a swarming defense and McNabb’s big-play ability late in the game. The Eagles will end a terrific run by the Patriots, and start one of their own.

Pick: Eagles 24, Patriots 20


	Commanders Post at The Warpath > Commanders Football > Locker Room Main Forum > Super Bowl Prediction Thread PDA Super Bowl Prediction Thread Pages : 1 [2] 3 4 Shane 01-31-2005, 04:42 AM I like the Eagles to win, 27-21. Someone has to pick the Eagles. It seems like everyone in America is picking the Patriots. x44x 01-31-2005, 07:11 AM Redskins 44 Pats 21 well next year TheMalcolmConnection 01-31-2005, 11:29 AM I'd even pick the Cowboys over the Eagles if that game was possible in the Super Bowl. Shane 01-31-2005, 12:15 PM The Sporting News War Room - analysis of Super Bowl matchup http://warroom.sportingnews.com/get_access.html Why To Watch It's the Super Bowl -- and this year, with a marquee matchup of highly successful teams, the attention and focus of watching the game should be on the game itself, and not on any halftime-show controversy. With all due respect to Sir Paul McCartney, the most anticipated performance in Jacksonville's Alltel Stadium on Feb. 6 will be NFL football, not that of a former Beatle. . . . The AFC champion Patriots, looking for their third Super Bowl victory in four years, have looked unbeatable in the playoffs. Two-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback Tom Brady is 8-0 in postseason games, and for the first time in the big game has a dominant feature back in Corey Dillon to complement him. While the Patriots' offense has found a new stride with Brady, Dillon and a completely healthy and explosive Deion Branch, the veteran defense continues to excel at executing coach Bill Belichick's complex schemes and making big plays in the clutch. That combination has pundits ready to put the dynasty tag on the Patriots and the lifetime genius label on Belichick. ... The NFC champion Eagles finally cleared the hurdle of the conference title game for the first time in four consecutive tries. Quarterback Donovan McNabb is playing with great composure and confidence, and their offense hasn't missed much of a beat without Terrell Owens because of solid contributions from the team's running backs, wide receivers and tight ends. There is a slim chance that T.O. will play in the Super Bowl, which would give both the on-field action and off-field celebrations more potential for excitement. ... The Eagles have a fine coaching staff in their own right, so it will be interesting to see how Andy Reid, Brad Childress and Jim Johnson match wits with Belichick, Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis. Crennel (Cleveland Browns) and Weis (Notre Dame) have head-coaching jobs awaiting them but will be focused on the present. ... Childress, who also has been rumored for outside jobs, and Reid will have a big challenge in preparing McNabb to handle everything that Belichick and Crennel can throw at quarterbacks in terms of coverages and blitzes. ... For Johnson, a master of mixing blitzes himself, he will need to find a way to thwart Brady and Weis' quick-strike passing game. Johnson's run defense has been much improved with the presence of middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter. In Dillon, Trotter faces a big load to stop. ... With the talent both on the field and on the sidelines, this should be one of the most well-played, most well-coached Super Bowls in history. Patriots' Keys for Success 1. Take away the underneath passing game. Without Owens, the Eagles' passing game has been performing without its main deep threat and has relied heavily on short-to-midrange routes. Running back Brian Westbrook, who can line up all over the field, has reemerged as their main receiving threat in the playoffs. Expect the Patriots to bump Philadelphia's wide receivers at the line of scrimmage with their corners and use their safeties to squeeze down the middle. They will try to make McNabb beat them deep with shots to Greg Lewis. If Owens somehow plays and is at adequate speed, it will change the whole face of the game. 2. Get big plays from Brady and the passing game. The Eagles’ one defensive weakness this season was seen against power running games, but thanks to physical middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, that has been shored up in the playoffs. Expect the Patriots to pound the ball with Dillon, but the key to their success will be the same as in their two Super Bowl wins -- Brady making big plays. When the Eagles blitz, Brady and the Patriots must take advantage of the one-on-one matchups they see against Philadelphia's three-Pro Bowler-deep secondary. Corners Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown are both good cover men, so wide receivers Deion Branch and David Givens must also run good underneath routes and try to make big plays after the catch. 3. Win the turnover battle. The Patriots have consistently won the turnover battle in the playoffs during their three Super Bowl runs. New England's defense has had a knack for creating turnovers, and more importantly, its offense has converted them into points. Last week against the Steelers, the Patriots scored 17 points off turnovers. Eagles' Keys for Success 1. Make Westbrook the focal point of the passing game. Westbrook has replaced Owens as McNabb's go-to-guy and become one of the NFL's toughest individual matchups. The Patriots' linebackers are quick and disciplined, but they will have trouble with Westbrook's speed in downfield coverage. That means New England will need hard-hitting strong safety Rodney Harrison to shadow Westbrook, which often will leave one of the Eagles’ wideouts open deep. 2. McNabb must make plays with his feet. McNabb has matured this season and has become one of the league’s best passers by showing more patience in the pocket. But playing against the aggressive Patriots' defense, he will be forced out of the pocket often. He must mix in some of his old impatient self and occasionally move the chains with his scrambling ability. 3. Blitz their most athletic defenders to get pressure on Brady. Much of Brady’s success can be attributed to his offensive line. It is a veteran group that handles the interior pass rush as well as any unit in the league. The Eagles can bring down the passer with their linebackers and defensive backs and must continue to blitz their best playmaking athletes to get past the Patriots' linemen, who will be well occupied by the front four. Expect safeties Michael Lewis and Brian Dawkins to come hard off the corner and get in Brady’s face. Injuries at a glance Patriots injuries Updated Player Pos. Injury Status 1/21/05 Ted Johnson LB Flu Probable for AFC title game 1/19/05 Patrick Pass RB Ankle Questionable for 1/23 1/19/05 Ty Law CB Foot surgery Will be 100 percent next season 1/23/05 Richard Seymour DT Knee Status uncertain for 1/23 Eagles injuries Updated Player Pos. Injury Status 1/25/05 Terrell Owens WR Ankle/leg Could be No. 3 receiver for Super Bowl 1/24/05 Chad Lewis TE Foot Out for Super Bowl 1/19/05 L.J. Smith TE Back Probable for 1/23 » Full injury report The Bottom Line The Patriots come into this game with all the Super Bowl rings and all the Super Bowl experience. But they will face a Philadelphia team that has finally gotten over the NFC hump and is looking to stop New England from being considered a "dynasty". The Eagles’ defense has all the components necessary to beat Brady and the Patriots' offense. Look for the Eagles to pull off the upset behind a swarming defense and McNabb’s big-play ability late in the game. The Eagles will end a terrific run by the Patriots, and start one of their own. Pick: Eagles 24, Patriots 20 TheMalcolmConnection 01-31-2005, 12:53 PM I hate to break it to the Eagles, but they won't be having any runs of their own. EEich 01-31-2005, 02:01 PM I like the Eagles to win, 27-21. Someone has to pick the Eagles. It seems like everyone in America is picking the Patriots. There's a reason for that. irish 01-31-2005, 02:07 PM Pats - 27 Eagles - 10 TheMalcolmConnection 01-31-2005, 02:34 PM I want to see McNabb get sacked like 8 times or more and throw a few picks. SmootSmack 01-31-2005, 02:50 PM I played the game on ESPN NFL 2K5 this weekend. I was the Patriots. Not sure quite how this happened, but the Patriots won 101-0. Dillon ran for 8 touchdowns and 357 yards. Troy Brown returned 2 punts for touchdowns. Somehow I don't think the actual game will turn out this way. Redskins_P 01-31-2005, 02:52 PM I played the game on ESPN NFL 2K5 this weekend. I was the Patriots. Not sure quite how this happened, but the Patriots won 101-0. Dillon ran for 8 touchdowns and 357 yards. Troy Brown returned 2 punts for touchdowns. Somehow I don't think the actual game will turn out this way. Damn Smootsmack! What level were you playing on? yeah 101-0 doesn't sound realistic, but one can only dream...