Brady’s shot at history
SUPERSTAR QUARTERBACK EYES UNPRECEDENTED FIFTH TITLE Falcons’ Matt Ryan will be out to spoil the party in Houston.
Tom Brady and the New England Patriots will bid to write another gilded chapter in their 15-year golden era tomorrow by subduing the offensive juggernaut of the Atlanta Falcons to claim a fifth Super Bowl title.
More than 100 million households across the United States and millions more worldwide will tune in for the biggest event of the American sporting calendar, which could see Brady become the most decorated quarterback in history.
The 39-year-old superstar will become the first quarterback to win five Super Bowl crowns if he manages to guide the Patriots to victory over the Falcons before a 72 000-crowd at Houston’s NRG Stadium.
A win would come 15 years after Brady and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick’s first triumph together in the National Football League showpiece, against the St Louis Rams in 2002.
It would also represent a satisfying last laugh for Brady following his long-running battle with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Brady was forced to miss the first four games of the season after losing a legal battle against the NFL over the 2015 Deflategate scandal, which saw the Patriots superstar accused of cheating by attempting to alter the pressure of balls to his advantage during a key championship game.
It has led to the delicious prospect of Goodell having to possibly hand over the Vince Lombardi Trophy to Brady and his teammates tomorrow.
Goodell for his part has attempted to damp down any possibility of an awkward trophy presentation.
“Tom Brady is one of the alltime greats. He has been for several years,” Goodell said.
“He’s an extraordinary player, great performer, and a sure-fire Hall of Famer.”
Brady, too, has done his best to play down the popular narrative of revenge and redemption.
“I’ve moved on,” Brady said this week. “I focus on positive things in my life.”
But even Brady’s stats pale into comparison with his opposite number Matt Ryan, who has hardly put a foot wrong while leading the most potent offence in the league, averaging more than 365 yards a game in the post-season, and just over 300 yards during the regular season.
Ryan, 31, reached the Super Bowl this season after four unsuccessful previous appearances in the play-offs, a record that led some critics to question whether he had the temperament.
There was not the slightest hint of nerves en route to Houston, though, when the Falcons crushed the Green Bay Packers 44-21 in the Georgia Dome to reach the Super Bowl for only the second time.
Ryan has an array of weapons at his disposal, which includes arguably the best receiver in the league, Julio Jones, ably supported by the talented Mohamed Sanu and the speedy Taylor Gabriel.
“As a quarterback, when you’re surrounded by really good players, it makes your job a lot easier,” Ryan said.
Whether the Patriots are able to clip the Falcons’ offensive wings may hold the key to the Super Bowl – and Brady’s hopes of a place in history. – AFP
Field goal
A field goal is worth three points and is scored when the ball is place kicked or drop kicked through the uprights and over the crossbar of the defence’s goalposts.
Safety
A safety is scored when the ball carrier is tackled in his own end zone and is worth two points, which are awarded to the defence.