If the Patriots win, how does it all play out?
COMMENTARYWelcome to Boston.com’s Sports Q, our daily conversation, initiated by you and moderated by Chad Finn, about a compelling topic in Boston sports. Here’s how it works: You submit questions to Chad through Twitter, Facebook, email, his Friday chat, and any other outlet you prefer. He’ll pick one each day (except for Saturday) to answer, then we’ll take the discussion to the comments, where the mission is to have a sports conversation with occasional controversy, but without condescension or contrarianism. Chad will stop by the comments section several times per day to navigate. But you drive the conversation.I think most Patriots fans are confident that they’ll beat the Falcons big-time. But I’m not counting the trophy as ours until Tom Brady raises it above his head and maybe drops it on Goodell’s head. So I’ll frame the question this way so it won’t seem cocky (not a jinx person). If the Patriots win, how does it happen? How does the game play out? – Alex M.
I like this one. Sort of laid out what I thought in the Unconventional Preview. I think it comes down to a Gostkowski field goal, and I think he makes it, though with more a Tim Wakefield movement on it than either of Vinatieri’s winning darts against the Rams and Panthers.
I almost see it playing out like Super Bowl XXXVIII against the Panthers. The teams will feel each other out early — the Patriots, strangely, have never scored in the first quarter of a Super Bowl during the Brady/Belichick era — but it will turn into a shootout before halftime. Then we spend the second half chomping our nails, muttering, “I shouldn’t have underestimated the Falcons,’’ and completely stressing about the final minutes.
It will end well. Brady will win the MVP, Dion Lewis will become a national name, and we’ll have even greater respect for Stephen Gostkowski. But history doesn’t come easy.
How do you see it going? Hit me with the fundamental play-by-play and a final score in the comments, and I’ll tell you whether your crystal ball is functional or not.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com