:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52971999/usa-today-9839163.0.jpg)
TEAM TALK
- Andy Hart and Paul Perillo debate which Atlanta weapon should the Patriots defense focus on stopping on Super Bowl Sunday.
- Paul Perillo reports Thomas Dimitroff is proud of his time in New England and has tried to build the Falcons in the Patriots mold.
- Angelique Fiske notes Dante Scarnnecchia and son Steve will be on opposite sides of the field next week.
- Coffee with the Coach: Scott Zolak sits down with Bill Belichick to discuss the victory over the Steelers and prepping for the Falcons. (video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Mike Reiss offers some quick-hit weekend thoughts: Tom Brady's son had Falcons RB Devonta Freeman on his fantasy team
- Ben Volin Sunday Football Notes: Antoine Walker cautions NFL draftees on perils of prosperity.
- Christopher Price tells us 10 things we have to know about the Falcons: Atlanta brings great offense, mediocre defense into Super Bowl LI.
- Nora Princiotti writes that for first-time Patriots, going to the Super Bowl is a dream come true.
- Stephen Hewitt reports Martellus Bennett is heading home to Houston for the Super Bowl.
- Christopher Price says that in a season with no "on to Cincinnati" moment, there are 12 days that defined the 2016 Patriots.
- Kevin Dillon reminds us of how Tom Brady has had a clock in his home gym counting down to the Super Bowl since last year.
- Jeff Howe writes, the Legion of Boom laid it.The No Fly Zone grounded it. The Patriots defensive backfield? "Silent Killers."
- Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Dont'a Hightower loves being face of Patriots' Super Bowl defense.
- Chris Mason hears from Eric Rowe on going from being buried on the Philadelphia Eagles depth chart to playing in a Super Bowl.
- Ryan Hannable hears Eric Rowe on Atlanta: 'This is a huge challenge to slow these dudes down."
- Tom E. Curran notes that film study has only confirmed the greatness of Julio Jones.
- Christopher Gasper explores whether the Patriots are the greatest dynasty of them all.
- Matt Dolloff suggests Devonta Freeman just gave the Patriots defense a week's worth of bulletin board material, "We can do whatever we want ... We’ve had the game plan. The game plan doesn’t change."
- Kevin Dillon hears from Rowe, Flowers and Ninkovich preparing for 'explosive' Falcons offense.
- Tom E. Curran notes Bill Belichick has been scheming to stop Shanahan offenses for more than 30 years, but in the Super Bowl he’ll face Mike Shanahan’s son, Kyle, the Falcons offensive coordinator.
- Jeff Howe Patriots Notebook: After years of futility, defensive end Chris Long basking in run to Super Bowl.
- Mark Farinella Patriots Notebook: Longs will share the big stage for a change.
- Doug Kyed notes that turns out Chris Hogan is more than just "deceptively fast," and there are statistics to prove it.
- Darren Hartwell posts a picture of a billboard blunder at the Super Bowl village in Houston that transforms Brady and Belichick into Falcons.
- Danny Picard focuses on how Tom Brady and Bill Belichick continue to drive their critics nuts.
- Ryan Hannable notes that after being drafted, Tom Brady didn't even know where the Patriots played.
- Tom E. Curran takes a deep dive back to that evening iwhen Bill Belichick was unveiled as the Patriots new head coach.
- CBS Boston reports there exists a Kingston resident named Brady Goodell (no relation to the commissioner) whose name causes heads to turn when he introduces himself.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Devonta Freeman: "Pick your poison" when defending our offense.
- Andrew Lynch (Fox Sports) Cris Carter explains why the Patriots’ receivers are way better than ‘manure’.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Falcons, Patriots’ final bye week injury reports paint different pictures.
- Graphic (FiveThirtyEight) 2016 NFL Predictions: Pats have 61% chance to win the Super Bowl.
- Adam Kilgore (Washington Post) In a cap-free NFL, Tom Brady could probably double his salary.
- Jim Sannes (NumberFire) How well has the Patriots' offense performed without Rob Gronkowski?
- Jim Sannes (NumberFire) The New England Patriots' defense isn't as good as it may seem.
- Aaron Wilson (Houston Chronicle) Patriots bullish on hard-hitting rookie Elandon Roberts.
- Jason McIntyre (TheBigLead) Tom Brady's career has now eclipsed Michael Jordan's as the greatest in modern team sports.
- Bill Barnwell (ESPN) Offseason stability guide: Who's in, who's out on 2016 playoff teams.
- Staff (Ranker.com) The best quarterbacks in the NFL right now.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Shocker: Money drives NFL, NFLPA views on Thursday night football.
VIEW FROM ATLANTA
- Mark Bradley (AJC.com) Nightmare scenario sees the Falcons blown out.
- Matt Winkeljohn (AJC.com) Falcons ready to play guessing game with Patriots.
- Matt Winkeljohn (AJC.com) Julio Jones dips toe into practice.
DEFLATEGATE, DUMPSTER DIVE
- Mark Carpenter (KRON) Father of New England Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady rips NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell over ‘Deflategate’ investigation.
- Adam Kurkjian notes Tom Brady's dad blasts Roger Goodell for the 'witch hunt' against his son, in an exclusive interview with Bay Area TV station KRON.
- Tom E. Curran spoke with Tom Brady Sr. on Monday night about the AFC Championship Game and more.
- Rob Bradford says sorry Roger, Boston fans are the world's best grudge holders.
- Joy Manning (BostonSportsChick) How the Patriots have been "cheating" the rest of the NFL.
- Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Tom Brady remains unflappable despite epic Deflategate question.
- Rich Thompson finds that Tom Brady chooses to remain positive and not dwell on his suspension or Roger Goodell.
- Zac Jackson (ProFootballTalk) NFL will look into Steelers’ handling of Bell’s injury.
- Marcus DiNitto (Sporting News) Aqib Talib shot himself in leg, lawyer confirms.
- Sheilla Dingus (Advocacy for Fairness in Sports) Recent court ruling in DeCarlo wrongful death lawsuit may prove beneficial to other CTE cases.