Aussie Gotsis backs Eagles’ defence to tip scales
AUSTRALIA’S own NFL powerhouse Adam Gotsis knows the awesome offensive force of Super Bowl combatants Philadelphia and New England after seeing them at close range this season.
But the giant 130kg Denver Broncos defensive end, who hails from Melbourne, believes it will be a big defensive play that defines today’s result.
Denver only won six games this season but were still ranked the third best defensive unit as Gotsis and his “d-line” mates did their best to make up for the lack of cohesion on offence.
Gotsis, 25, was lauded for his own efforts in just his second full season with the Broncos, making 41 tackles in his 16 games, including the first two sacks of his career.
But his Broncos were overwhelmed in clashes with the Eagles and Patriots, conceding 51 and 41 points respectively to the NFL’s best two teams in November.
Gotsis said he got a “good hit” on Patriots star quarterback Tom Brady, who is gunning for a record sixth Super Bowl win, and conceded the New England outfit was elite.
But the lad from Altona was putting all his eggs in the Eagles’ basket, backing in his defensive compatriots from Philadelphia to do the job.
“I’m going to go with Philly by four points. I think their defence is going to show up big,” Gotsis said.
“I like the way they play, they are physical, they are fast and I think they believe in each other a lot.
“On the other side you have Tom Brady, and he has that cool, calmness about it.”