Super Bowl LI in Houston offers us one of the most compelling matchups in years, as the New England Patriots take on the Atlanta Falcons, and like most great unions, it will start with something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.
What’s new is the Atlanta Falcons, in just two seasons becoming clearly the best team in the NFC.
Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Devonta Freeman are the names you know, but general manager Thomas Dimitroff and Co. put together one of the NFL’s best draft classes in 2015
They selected outside linebacker Vic Beasley, Jr. (first round), cornerback Jalen Collins (second), running back Tevin Coleman (third) and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (fifth) and, along with 2014 fifth-round pick safety Ricardo Allen, all have become starters and key contributors this year.
Their 2016 rookie crop is as good or better with safety Keanu Neal (first), linebacker Deion Jones (second), tight end Austin Hooper (third), outside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell (fourth) and nickel corner Brian Poole (undrafted free agent) all starting as rookies and making huge plays.
When team owner Arthur Blank decided to jettison head coach Mike Smith after 4-12 and 6-10 seasons following a 56-24 start in his first five, there were numerous reports that Dimitroff was in trouble, too.
Not only did Blank keep faith with his GM, while the Broncos, Bears, 49ers, Raiders, Jets and Bills all rushed to hire Gary Kubiak, John Fox, Jim Tomsula, Jack Del Rio, Todd Bowles and Rex Ryan, respectively, only the Falcons’ brain trust waited patiently for Dan Quinn to wrap up coaching the Seattle Seahawks’ defense in the Super Bowl.
Quinn knew before taking the job he would make Kyle Shanahan his offensive coordinator, and with the addition this year of free agents Alex Mack and Mohamed Sanu and another outstanding rookie crop, Atlanta never looked back.
The Falcons were 11-5 and the NFC’s No. 2 seed, but 3 of those losses were 26-24 at Seattle, marred by a blown official’s call against them in the final minute that probably cost them the game, a 3-point overtime loss to San Diego the next week and a 29-28 loss at Kansas City in which the final score of the game was a 99-yard Chiefs interception return on a Falcons 2-point attempt after a late touchdown gave them the lead.
The Falcons have been the best team in the NFC since their Week 11 bye but still sneaked up on many as all of their rookie and second-year starters/stars were emerging.
What’s old, of course, is the Patriots atop the AFC, and Bill Belichick and Tom Brady in their 17th season together in New England coming off their 207th win, 14th playoff appearance overall and eighth straight, 10th AFC title game and heading to their seventh Super Bowl — four of which they’ve already won.
Their act is so old New England just played in its sixth straight AFC title game.
The only thing not old is 30 of these 53 Patriots weren’t on the roster two years ago for their Super Bowl win.
Something blue is of course the blue blood running through the Patriots’ veins, their classic blue uniforms and the Falcons’ mood in the knowledge offensive whiz Shanahan likely will bolt for San Francisco straight from Houston.
Borrowed would be Dimitroff and assistant GM Scott Pioli, both getting their starts 25 years ago with Belichick in Cleveland, and growing into their current posts working for him in New England.
The Pats, as usual, have borrowed half their roster from other clubs, including key castoffs LeGarrette Blount, Martellus Bennett, Chris Hogan, Danny Amendola, Chris Long, Alan Branch, Shea McClellin, Jabaal Sheard, etc., etc.
Wow.
This Super Bowl promises the two best offenses in the game and two bend-but-don’t-break defenses each loaded with playmakers and speed.
And now we’ve got two weeks to ponder whether the Falcons’ new No. 1 fan Roger Goodell will end this season happy, or will it come full circle with him presenting Super Bowl and MVP trophies to the Patriots and Tom Brady?
• Hub Arkush, the executive editor of Pro Football Weekly, can be reached at harkush@profootballweekly.com or on Twitter @Hub_Arkush.
