Patriots-Falcons scouting report

The Falcons do not have an elite defense, but the unit looked like one in the NFC championship game against Green Bay. With head coach Dan Quinn, they have built a speedy unit that flies around the field. They use four rookies who fit that image, with safety Keanu Neal and linebacker Deion Jones turning into top players. Vic Beasley has emerged as one of the NFL's best pass rushers, and the Falcons are getting steady play from their cornerbacks even after losing Desmond Trufant. They allowed 371.2 yards per game and 25.4 points per game during the regular season – both were near the bottom of the NFL's rankings – but they've kept opponents to 338 yards and 20.5 points in the postseason. Both of those games were at home, though, and this is at a neutral site. Working in their favor is playing on artificial turf, where their speed is accentuated.

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Falcons edge rusher Vic Beasley vs. Patriots right tackle Marcus Cannon

Beasley led the NFL with 15.5 sacks this season, making him a tough assignment. Cannon, in his sixth NFL season, has kept Brady clean this season. But Beasley's speed – he ran a 4.53-second 40-yard dash at the 2015 combine – makes him a difference-maker. Tom Brady is as good as there is in the NFL at sensing pressure, stepping up in the pocket, and releasing the ball quickly. But pressure has been a problem in his two Super Bowl losses, and the Patriots cannot let that happen Sunday. Nobody else on the Falcons has more than 4.5 sacks this season.

Big number

5 - That's the number of Super Bowl wins Tom Brady will have if he wins Sunday, giving him the NFL record. Brady's four victories are tied with Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana for the most by a starting quarterback in the Super Bowl. Brady is 4-2 in six Super Bowl appearances. He has completed 164 of 247 passes for 1,605 yards, 13 touchdowns, and four interceptions. His best passer rating (110.2) came in 2004 against the Eagles, when he was 23 of 33 for 236 yards and two touchdowns.

Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, the next coach of the 49ers, is outstanding at scheming ways to get his players open. Quarterback Matt Ryan leads Atlanta's offense, and he has a wealth of options in the passing game that include No. 1 receiver Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu, and Taylor Gabriel. Thirteen players caught touchdown passes from Ryan in the regular season. He threw 38 touchdown passes and averaged 294 yards per game. His offensive line provided good protection – especially center Alex Mack, who is going to play through an ankle injury. For as much attention as the passing game receives, it's the running back combination of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman that makes the offense even more dangerous. They combined for 1,599 yards (4.6 yards per carry) and 12 touchdowns, and they can also catch out of the backfield.

New England's defense has two Pro Bowlers (safety Devin McCourty and linebacker Dont'a Hightower), but the Patriots' strength is the way they play as a unit. Malcolm Butler is the top cornerback, and Berlin, N.J., native Logan Ryan has had a strong season. They also rely on former Eagles Eric Rowe and Patrick Chung in the secondary. Defensive end Trey Flowers led the Patriots with seven sacks, and defensive tackle Alan Branch has been stout in the middle of the line.

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Julio Jones vs. Malcolm Butler

Jones might be the NFL's best receiver, and he has played like it during the postseason with 15 catches for 247 yards and three touchdowns in two games. He'll be challenged by Butler, who became a household name with a game-winning interception in the Super Bowl two years ago. Butler could shadow Jones like he did Antonio Brown in the AFC championship game. Coach Bill Belichick is known to try to take away the opposing team's best offensive threat, and that's Jones. But even if the Patriots focus on Jones, don't count the Falcons out. The Falcons were 4-0 when Jones had fewer than 40 receiving yards this season, and they lost against the Eagles when he was targeted a season-high 16 times.

Big number

7:0 - The postseason can no longer be held against Matt Ryan, who has thrown seven touchdown passes and does not have an interception in two games this postseason. The Penn Charter alumnus entered the playoffs with nine touchdown passes and seven interceptions in five previous playoff games. So "Matty Ice" is scorching entering the Super Bowl, while living up to his nickname. In the six Super Bowls the Patriots have made under Belichick, they have seven interceptions. Three of those came against the Eagles in 2004.

The bottom line

Zach Berman: Patriots 30, Falcons 28

Jeff McLane: Falcons 34, Patriots 31