Super Bowl: Expectations vs. Reality

Staff Sgt/Kristi Machado

The 2009 US Air Force Thunderbirds fly over Superbowl XLIII in Tampa, Fla., Feb. 2. (RELEASED)

Randall Hart, Sports Editor
February 17, 2017

History, as it seems right now, is on a crash course to repeat itself. This year, in Super Bowl LI, we have an NFC south team, the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons have a first time MVP quarterback, Matt Ryan, who is facing a well-proven franchise, the New England Patriots, and a veteran quarterback, Tom Brady. Brady is having a “greatest of all time” campaign this season.
Let’s go back one year ago today. There was an NFC South team, a year ago, high on emotion, the media was falling for. First time MVP at quarterback, his name was Cam [Newton], getting all of the pre-Super Bowl love from the fans[…]They were going to face a historically relevant franchise, that had been to several Super Bowls and had a Mount Rushmore quarterback[…]” said Colin Cowerd, Fox Sports News.
Even if the Falcons manage to be different from their previous NFC south counterparts, they are facing arguably a better quarterback than the Panthers did in Super Bowl 50. Tom Brady seems to be different than most aging quarterbacks of his generation. For the Falcons to win this upcoming game, they will need many things to happen in their favor. Every aspect of the game would have to go in their favor, and yes, that includes quarterback play. Despite the stats saying Matt Ryan was the best quarterback in the NFL this past year, stats don’t tell the entire story. Put yourself in the position of the coaches, who would you pick as your quarterback: Matt Ryan or Tom Brady?
Aftermath
Based of the patriots winning in overtime with a score of 34-28, it can be officially said that the correct quarterback choice with your life on the line is Tom Brady hands down against any other quarterback in NFL history. So don’t feel so bad Falcon Fans you were up against the GOAT (greatest of all time). Also there were many overlaying factors that led to your beloved teams internal breakdown in the second half. The moment got to big for Matt Ryan and the Falcons, it felt like they were taking their victory lap half way through the 3rd quarter. The Falcons ruled out any possible comeback until it was to late for them to react to the fact that it was really happening. Even when the game was signaled to be over when in overtime James White Running Back for the Patriots ran it in for the game winning touchdown, everyone on the Falcons sideline seemed to just be in complete and utter shock and not the type of shock has an emotional reaction to what happened but being in such disbelief of what had just happened. With this most recent Super Bowl win Tom Brady has added to is already amazing stat sheet. now having been honored with four Super Bowl MVP awards (Super Bowl XXXVI, XXXVIII, XLIX, and LI), the most ever by a single player and has now also Won five Super Bowls which now surpasses Any other quarterback in NFL history.