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It’s the most wonderful time of the NFL season, as the Super Bowl is finally here. On Sunday, the New England Patriots will take on the Atlanta Falcons for the most coveted prize in North American sports. With the Vince Lombardi Trophy on the line, let’s take a look at this exciting matchup.
Super Bowl 51 Preview
This will be the Patriots’ ninth Super Bowl appearance, which gives them the most Super Bowl appearances in NFL history. Before they won the AFC Championship, their eight appearances were tied for first with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, and Denver Broncos.
New England has gone 4-4 in Super Bowls up to this point, and if they are able to win their fifth championship, they would move into a tie with the Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers for the second most titles. However, if they lost their fifth Super Bowl, this would tie them with the Broncos for the most Super Bowl losses in NFL history.
The Falcons are still looking for their first Super Bowl victory, as they were beaten by the Broncos 34-19 in their only previous Super Bowl appearance. This was Super Bowl 33, taking place all the way back on January 31, 1999. This was a much simpler time, when Jamal Anderson was known for his “Dirty Bird” touchdown dance and not jerking off in convenience stores.
As for the game itself, be prepared for a shootout. The Falcons lit up the scoreboard with reckless abandon this season, averaging an NFL-best 33.8 points per game. Their 540 points scored was tied for the 7th most in NFL history with the 2000 St. Louis Rams. The Patriots and Tom Brady are obviously no slouches on offense either, as their 27.6 points per game average gave them the 3rd best offense in the NFL.
Super Bowl 51 is set up to be a track meet. So you don’t miss a second of the action, here’s everything you need to know about the kickoff time and FOX’s coverage. In the words of the great Terrell Owens, “Getcha popcorn ready!”
Super Bowl 51 Viewing Details
Date: Sunday, February 5, 2017
Kickoff Time: 6:30 p.m. EST
Location: NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas
TV Channel: FOX
Stream: FOX Sports GO
Spread: Patriots -3
Announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews, and Chris Myers
Halftime Show: Lady Gaga
