QB:
Tom Brady
29TD/11INT 4,355yds 97.7RTG
Jared Goff
32TD/12INT 4,688yds 101.1RTG
Now stats wise, you'd think Goff would have the edge, but with the kind of offense that the Rams run (on-top of the weapons he has), you would expect that. When push comes to shove, Brady has the superbowl experience.
Edge: Patriots
RB:
James White
94car/425yds 5TDS 87rec/751yds 7TDs
Sonny Michel
209car/931yds 6TDS 7rec/50yds 1fumble/lost
Todd Gurley
256car/1,251yds 17TDs 59rec/580yds 4TDs 1fumble/lost
C.J Anderson
67car/403yds 2TDs
The Patriots RB corps have been the key to the Patriots offense, especially James White as a receiver. However, if Todd Gurley is back on his game, then him along with the diamond in the rough that they found late in the season with C.J Anderson, the edge here is clear.
Edge: Rams
WR:
Julian Edelman
74rec/850yds/6TDs 1 fumble
Cordarelle Patterson
21rec/247yds/3TDs 42car/228yds 1TD 1 fumble/lost
Chris Hogan
35rec/532yds/3TDs
Brandin Cooks
80rec/1,204yds/5TDs 1 fumble
Robert Woods
86rec/1,219yds/6TDs
What gave Brady the edge at QB was what he was able to do with that he had. With the powerhouse duo that's Cooks and Woods, there's really no contest here.
Edge: Rams
TE:
Rob Gronkowski
47rec/682yds/3TDs 1 fumble/lost
Tyler Higbee
24rec/292yds/2TDs 1 fumble
Even though Gronkowski has regressed from his prior peak form, he's still someone you have to specifically scheme against.
Edge: Patriots
DT:
Lawrence Guy
25tckls/1sck 1FF
Malcom Brown
Ndamukong Suh
54tckls/4.5scks 2FR 4 def
Aaron Donald
41tckls/20.5scks 4FF 1def
I mean, with Aaron Donald alone, this is a mismatch. But when you add Suh (who can disappear at times, granted), its clear who has the edge.
Edge: Rams
DE:
Trey Flowers
32tckls/7.5scks 3FF 2def
Deatrich Wise Jr
15tckls/4.5scks
Michael Brockers
33tckls/1sck
With Flowers' emergence, particularly in the playoffs, the edge goes to New England.
Edge: Patriots
LB:
Dont'a Hightower
24tckls/1sck 1int 1def 1FR
Elandon Roberts
31tckls/1sck 4def
Kyle Van Noy
55tckls/3.5scks 1FF/2FR 1int 2def
Matt Longacre
8tckls 1sck
Samson Ebukam
25tckls/3scks 3FF/2FR 1int 1TD 1def
Cory Littleton
90tckls/4scks 3ints 13def 1TD
Mark Barron
43tckls/1sck 1FF 1def
This would be more or less even if not for Cory Littleton's ability to cover receivers. That puts the Rams over the top
Edge: Rams
CB:
Stephon Gilmore
40tckls/1sck 2FF/1FR 2ints 20def
Jason McCourty
54tckls 1FF 1int 10def
Marcus Peters
33tckls 3ints 8def 1TD
Aqib Talib
23tckls 1FF 1int 5def
Sam Shields
18tckls 1int 4def
Consistency gives this edge to the Patriots. The Rams were without Talib for a large stretch of the regular season, so with their secondary healthy, it does put them right in the thick of this positional matchup.
Edge: Patriots
S:
Patrick Chung
52tckls/0.5sck 1int 3def 1FR
Devin McCourty
59tckls/= 1FF/2FR 1int 4def 1TD
John Johnson III
82tckls 1FF 4int 11def
Lamarcus Joyner
58tckls/1sck 1int 3def 1FR
Johnson puts the Rams over the top at the safety position.
Edge: Rams
K:
Stephen Gostkowski
27/32fg 52lng 84.3%
Greg Zuerlein
27/31fg 56lng 87.1%
This is fairly close, but what puts it over the top for me is the clutch kicking from Zuerlein in the NFC Championship Game.
Edge: Rams
P:
Ryan Allen
64pnts 45yd avg 66lng 21 in 20
Johnny Hekker
43pnts 46yd avg 68lng 21 in 20
Again, a fairly even matchup....but Hekker's fake punt ability gives him the edge
Edge: Rams
I think we're in for a close game here. On one hand, you have Tom Brady with his experience, but Goff with more offensive weapons. The key will be the Rams defensive line featuring Suh and Donald. To get to Brady, you have to get after him. That seems a simple enough concept, but he's been protected well during this playoff run.
I think the x-factor will be Todd Gurley. There were some questions surrounding his health during his lack of production in the NFC Championship (where he was practically benched in favor of Anderson for a majority of the game), Gurley will have a lot to prove, and I think he'll have a big game.
In a close game, I'm picking the Rams (off of another clutch Zuerlein kick).
No comments:
Post a Comment