BY: Tony LiebertThe 2019 Super Bowl has the potential to be one of the most anticipated ever. Rams V.S. Chiefs, Saints V.S. Patriots, Patriots V.S. Rams, or Chiefs V.S. Saints. Any of those matchups have the potential to be insane, and possibly one of the most hyped super bowls ever. Sunday, January 20th - 2:05 P.M. #2 Los Angeles Rams @ #1 New Orleans Saints The Rams and the Saints met earlier this season in week nine. In that matches the Saints defeated the Rams 45-35. This game was played in New Orleans, similar to this week's NFC championship game. This game was dominated by the Saints passing attack. Drew Brees threw for 346 yards and four touchdowns, along with Michael Thomas having 12 catches for 211 yards and one score. This was really the first game of the season that Todd Gurley struggled to get going, he only finished with 79 total yards and once touchdown. I think that this early season matchup will influence how Sean Payton and Sean McVay game plan this week dramatically. One of the biggest positional matchups of this game will be the Saints run defense against Todd Gurley, C.J. Anderson, and the Rams rushing offense. I think the main reason that Todd Gurley struggled so much earlier in the season was because of the Saints young defensive tackle, Sheldon Rankins. Rankins has been playing at an All-Pro level this season. He is one of the best pass rushing interior lineman in the whole NFL. He had eight sacks on the season from the interior position, which are great numbers from a defensive tackle. Rankins has also shown to be very strong in run defense with 12 tackles for loss, and 47 total tackles. The problem is, that Rankins suffered a torn achilles last week against the Eagles, and is now out for the season. I think this will be a tough loss for the Saints and play a large factor in this game. The other matchup I like in this game is Marcus Peters and the Rams defensive backs against Michael Thomas and the Saints receivers. Peters was torched in the first matchup this season against Thomas, with him going for 12 catches and 211 yards while primarily lining up against Peters. Peters was quoted after the first matchup saying, "Tell Sean Payton to keep talking that shit," he said. "We're going to see him soon, you feel me? Peters later downplayed the quote saying that it wasn't that big of a deal. I do still think that this matchup will be very fun to watch with two All-Pro level talents, Marcus Peters and Michael Thomas going at it all game. I think whoever gets the better end of this matchup will win this game. You have been able to tell that the Saints' offense is not able to run as smoothly if Michael Thomas is not playing well, and if the Saints offense is not playing well, I can't see the Rams losing this game. I think that C.J. Anderson, Todd Gurley, and the Rams' rushing attack will be able to keep their hot streak going, while I expect Marcus Peters to back up his "big mouth" and slow down Michael Thomas. The Los Angeles Rams will defeat the New Orleans Saints and advance to the Super Bowl. Rams: 31 Saints: 24 Sunday, January 20th - 5:40 P.M. #2 New England Patriots @ #1 Kansas City Chiefs Similarly to the Rams and the Saints both of these teams met earlier in the season as well. The Chiefs and the Patriots met in week six on Sunday Night Football. This game was played in Foxborough where the Patriots have shown to be unbeatable. Pat Mahomes was himself throwing for 350 and four touchdowns with Tyreek Hill catching three of them on seven catches and 142 yards. On the Patriots side, this was a breakout game for rookie running back Sony Michel who had 24 carries for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Both of these teams are different at this point of the season, but Andy Reid and Bill Belichick will definitely look back to this game while making their gameplan. I think that both teams rushing attacks will affect who wins this game. In the second half of the season Sony Michel has been running terrific for the Patriots he has went over 100 yards three of the past four weeks. The Patriots also have one of the best pass catching backs in the entire NFL, James White. White is coming off a game where he had the most receptions in a playoff game of all time. White had 15 catches for 97 yards. If White and Michel get going I can't see the Patriots losing this game. The Chiefs running game is a different situation. Kansas City obviously lost Kareem Hunt earlier in the season, who at the time was one of the best running backs in the league. I do think that Damien Williams has stepped into the starting running back role very well, and has been doing what the Chiefs need him to do in the later part of the season. In his last five games, Williams has seven touchdowns to go along with 506 total yards. The Chiefs have shown that their offense is not as powerful without the ability to run the ball. Running the ball for the Chiefs opens up their play action game along with their passing game overall. If Williams is able to get rolling again I think that Chiefs offense will be too much handle for the Patriots. Another large factor in this game will be All-Pro level safety Eric Berry's health. If Berry is able to play in this game it will help the Chiefs defense dramatically. Berry is the leader of the Chiefs defense and they have shown to play much better when he is on the field. In this game I expect the Chiefs defense to show up and slow down the Patriots. The home field advantage of Arrowhead stadium will help the young Patrick Mahomes tremendously. And I think that the Patriots passing game flaws will finally stand out. With Andy Reid and Chiefs finally breaking through and reaching the Super Bowl. Chiefs: 28 Patriots: 24 A rematch of the Rams, Chiefs epic Monday Night Football matchup will be arguably one of the most anticipated Super Bowls of all time...
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May 2020
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