25 Bold Predictions About Super Bowl XLV
It's time for the NFL playoffs pretty soon.
That can only mean one thing...it's time for 25 bold predictions about Super Bowl XLV.
You didn't think we at Bleacher Report would let you down, did you?
As Tom Brady nuzzles up to Gisele Bundchen next to the fire on New Year's Eve, here are some predictions to nuzzle up to next to the warmth of your humming computers.
You will laugh, you will cry, you will sing, you will frown.
All the emotions, right here, encapsulated in 25 Bold Predictions.
Happy New Year's, you goofballs.
25. The Patriots Will Play The Saints
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That's right, you heard it here first, the New England Patriots will face the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl XLV.
With the way the Saints humbled the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16, I am officially a firm believer they will make a second consecutive appearance in the Super Bowl.
The Philadelphia Eagles have faltered lately and I don't see them making it all the way.
The Patriots, well c'mon, this is not really a shock, is it?
They are the only team with a 13-2 record and home-field advantage at the moment.
They are really good, to put it simply.
24. At Least 10,000 Fans Will Be Real Cowboys
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Cowboys Stadium, home of Super Bowl XLV, has a capacity of 80,000.
Being in Texas, I'm guessing at least 10,000 real cowboys will be in attendance.
Calm down Texans, it's just a joke.
23. Patriots Secondary Will Give Drew Brees Trouble
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As young and inexperienced as the Patriots defense looked early on in the season, they have sure developed.
They are playing very solid ball right now and have held three of their last four opponents to seven points or less.
Cornerback Devin McCourty is developing into a dependable player, and the collective secondary appears to be on the same page.
With Brees' recent woes (which I'll get to later), I could see the Patriots secondary giving him trouble.
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22. The Saints Will Give Tom Brady Trouble
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In case you haven't noticed, the Saints give up the second fewest passing yards per game at 191.3.
They are a good defense that has had its ups and downs, but appears to have resolved some issues after limiting the high-powered Falcons to just 14 points in Week 16.
I'm not saying the Saints will shut down Brady, but I think he's going to have a little trouble dissecting the defense.
21. Brees Will Throw For Less Than 275 Yards
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As of Week 16, Drew Brees is averaging 294 yards per game passing.
He generally gets a lot of passing attempts per game, and he's good enough to capitalize on them.
But with the Patriots secondary limiting him, I could see him passing for around 250 yards or so.
20. Brees Will Throw Less Than Three TDs
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On top of passing for 294 yards per game, Brees also has thrown 32 touchdowns this season.
But the secondary will limit him to two touchdowns, and we will all scratch our heads collectively.
19. Brady Will Throw For Less Than 225 Yards
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You know Tom Brady only throws for 246 yards per game?
Not Carolina Panthers territory, but certainly not what I expected given his pinpoint accuracy.
But he doesn't get as many attempts as a lot of QBs, and that won't change in Super Bowl XLV.
The Saints will also give him some trouble, so I see him passing for a little over 200 yards.
18. Brady Will Throw For Two TDs
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With 34 touchdown passes on the year, it's easy to see Tom Brady throwing three or four in his comfort zone, the Super Bowl.
But the Saints won't be so giving in the new year.
And he will have to be happy with two touchdown throws.
17. Chris Ivory Will Have a Good Game
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Saints running back Chris Ivory had some big games in Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush's absences.
I still think he will figure into the Saints' plans come the Super Bowl, as his 5.3 yards per carry is a hard stat to ignore.
Ivory showed explosiveness this season and could get more carries than Thomas.
The Patriots defense is beatable, giving up 4.3 yards per carry.
16. BenJarvus Green-Ellis Will Score
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Trusty Patriots running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis is having quite the year, with 928 yards and 12 touchdowns as the Patriots' featured back.
Not bad for an undrafted player.
The Saints are giving up a middle of the pack 4.3 yards per carry and 13 rushing touchdowns this season.
Green-Ellis has done well against far greater opponents.
15. Reggie Bush Will Score
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Saints running back Reggie Bush is starting to get into the swing of things and it's only a matter of time before Brees starts dumping more balls out to him in the flat.
I expect Bush to score on a screen pass inside the red zone.
14. Will Smith Will Sack Tom Brady
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Truly one of my favorite headlines of the year. If only I was talking about the actor.
But Saints right defensive end Will Smith has five sacks on the year, including one against Matt Ryan and the Falcons in Week 16.
He's the greatest threat on the line, and I see him getting to Brady.
13. Brady Will Lose a Strand Of Hair, Go Into Shock
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Those of you who read my article on How to Take Down Tom Brady and the Patriots know that cutting off Tom Brady's hair a la Samson is one way for him to lose his strength.
When Will Smith sacks Tom Brady, I expect him to lose a strand of hair in the process and go into shock as a result.
It won't last long, but it will give the Saints the edge for a minute or two.
12. Gary Guyton Will Sack Drew Brees
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Gary who? Which Guy?
Why, Gary Guyton, of course.
Patriots left inside linebacker Gary Guyton has three sacks on the year, and had a sack against the Buffalo Bills in Week 16.
The Patriots, the epitome of random guys beating you every week, will have Guyton show up in the Super Bowl and proceed to sack Brees.
Not only does Gary Guyton have a cool name, he has cool hair too.
11. Marques Colston Will Score
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Receiver Marques Colston has been "da bomb" this year for the Saints, catching 84 balls for over 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns.
His dominance won't be impeded against the Patriots.
He will score and look good doing it.
10. Lance Moore Will Score
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Saints receiver Lance Moore, the Robin to Drew Brees' Batman, will follow in cohort Marques Colston's footsteps in Super Bowl XLV and score a touchdown.
Saints fans will hold up signs reading, "Score Moore! Score Moore!"
9. Jeremy Shockey Will Showboat
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Haven't heard much from Jeremy Shockey this season...probably because he hasn't done much.
Although I don't see him doing much against the Patriots, I do however see him showboating.
He will catch two balls for 30 yards and showboat after each one.
Shockey loves that spotlight.
8. Deion Branch Will Score Twice
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Deion Branch has picked up right where he left off with the Patriots.
In 11 games with the Patriots this year, Branch has 706 yards receiving and five touchdowns.
I expect him to relive the glory days with Tom Brady, aka Super Bowl XXXIX, in which he caught 11 passes for 133 yards.
I don't expect the yardage in this one, but I do expect the pair's chemistry to translate into two touchdown catches for Branch.
7. Devin McCourty Will Intercept Drew Brees
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Rookie cornerback Devin McCourty, selected to the 2011 Pro Bowl, leads a fast-evolving young Patriots secondary with six picks and a sack on the season.
I expect him to pick off Drew Brees in this one.
Despite 32 touchdowns on the year, Brees also has 21 interceptions, including six in his last four games.
6. McCourty Will Intercept Brees To End Super Bowl XLV
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I expect Drew Brees to be driving for the game-winning touchdown on the final drive of the game against the Patriots.
But after Brees gets into Patriots territory, McCourty will pick off a pass in the end zone, effectively icing the game and making the Patriots Super Bowl XLV champions.
5. The Saints Will Score 27 Points
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A shade over their season average, the Saints will score 27 points but struggle enough not to get into the 30s.
Brees will curse McCourty's name, and then forget about it after realizing he already has a Super Bowl ring.
4. The Patriots Will Score 31 Points
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I'm guessing 31 points for the Patriots; four touchdowns and a field goal.
Branch will score twice, Green-Ellis will score once and Brady will run one in and do a certain celebrated dance...
3. Tom Brady Will Do the
23 of 25Detroit Lions quarterback Drew Stanton tried the "Dougie" dance earlier in the season. It didn't go well for him.
Tom Brady will do the "Dougie" and do it spot-on.
After that, I will agree that there is indeed nothing Tom Brady can't do.
2. Deion Branch Will Earn His Second Super Bowl MVP
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Deion Branch, MVP of Super Bowl XXXIX, will win the award again in his second go-round with Tom Brady and Patriots.
His two touchdowns in the game will earn him the honor.
1. Bill Belichick Will Smile
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Now this is a bold prediction!
As you can see in one of my favorite photos of the year, Patriots coach Bill Belichick finds it hard to smile.
But after a Super Bowl win, he will indeed smile.
His wooden face appears to be learning how to crack a smile in this picture with jokester Tom Brady.
I compare him to Johnny Depp in Edward Scissorhands, when he tries to smile for the first time and it comes out unfamiliar and forced.
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