Super Bowl week is officially upon us, and next Sunday, the long awaited build-up football fans have been waiting for throughout this long season two great teams will go at it with a lot on the line. The Falcons, on one hand, are trying to solidify themselves as a great team with many players trying to solidify their own legacies onto NFL history, but more importantly to win the franchise’s first Super Bowl ever. While the Patriots are looking not only to avenge Deflate Gate and all Roger Goodell has put them through this and past seasons, but also for their fifth title in the Brady Belicheck era, one that started back in 2000.

The two conference championship games were quite similar. Both teams took control early and let their offense lead the way, so Sunday’s game could be a defensive battle, or an offensive shootout, but I think it’s going to be a tight matchup either way.

The Patriots offense may not be scoring as quickly as the Falcons is, but their talent and depth at all positions when it gets going is nearly unstoppable. Another factor is that Tom Brady has been in this position many times before, so the big stage shouldn’t be a problem Sunday.

The Falcons defense has not been known for stopping teams from scoring and completely halting yardage totals this season (last week the Packers had 387 total yards against them), but what they do a great job of doing is swinging momentum for their red hot offense, and getting timely turnovers by causing havoc for the quarterback. Aaron Rodgers was the hottest QB in the world heading into last Sunday, and the Falcons shut them out in the first half, and the only time the Packers got into the red zone in the first half the Falcons forced a fumble that led directly to a Touchdown.

Brady’s game plan this week should be throw short, quick passes to their receivers, who do a great job of getting open, mainly because the Falcons pass rush is dynamic, and if any quarterback gets pressured their game is changed significantly. One odd thing I’ve noticed about this postseason for the Patriots so far is the little usage of tight end Martellus Bennet; he was supposed to be a major factor and was signed to step up if/when Rob Gronkowski gets hurt, and so far in two postseason games Bennet has been targeted only eight times for seven receptions and forty-two yards. This may be the game where Bennet steps up and creates a huge problem for the middle of the Falcons defense, and if the Patriots want to win, they’re going to have to use him.

The Falcons offense doesn’t need any more explaining; Matt Ryan’s ability to spread the ball to everyone and anyone who is on the field throughout this whole season, and doing it consistently, shows how impressive it is what he’s been doing all year. The Patriots defense thrives at shutting down the best skill position player for each team every week like they were doing it to Leveon Bell last week before he got injured. Shutting down receiver Julio Jones may be the biggest task coming for them next Sunday, and they will probably do a good job containing him with double teams and zone coverage. This will provide opportunities for Taylor Gabriel, Mohammed Sanu, and running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevon Coleman to step up.

I think this will be a historic Super Bowl with a lot of scoring, and whichever quarterback will be able to step up in the biggest moments/whichever quarterback makes the biggest mistake will decide the champion of this year.