UPER BOWL LI: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS VS. ATLANTA FALCONS
Dos equipos. Un partido. Todo queda reducido a este choque.
El domingo 5 de febrero, los New England Patriots y los Atlanta Falcons se encontrarán en el Super Bowl LI (6:30 PM, hora de New York, FOX) en el NRG Stadium de Houston, Texas.
“Es un honor tener que salir y jugar este partido”, dice el receptor de los Patriots JULIAN EDELMAN, líder de la franquicia en postemporada tanto en recepciones (84) como en yardas recibiendo (937). “Para esto es que peleas. Para esto es que entrenas. Es tener una oportunidad de jugar este partido.”
El Super Bowl LI tendrá al equipo más anotador de la NFL –Atlanta (540 puntos, 33.8 por juego)– contra el club que permitió la menor cantidad de puntos en la liga –New England (250 puntos, 15.6 por juego). Marca la sexta vez desde la fusión de 1970 que el Super Bowl es protagonizado por el equipo que lideró la NFL en puntos anotados contra el club que permitió la menor cantidad de puntos.
“Este es un equipo realmente especial”, dice el corredor de fuerza de los Falcons PATRICK DI MARCO. “Tenemos tantos jugadores que hacen jugadas en ofensiva, defensiva y cuadros especiales. Este es un momento especial para esta organización. Estoy muy orgulloso y emocionado por estar jugando en Houston. El objetivo principal es ganar el Super Bowl –no simplemente alcanzarlo– y aún tenemos un partido por delante de nosotros. Todavía tenemos un partido más que ganar.”
New England clasificó a su noveno Super Bowl, una marca de la NFL, por haber derrotado a Pittsburgh 36-17. Atlanta venció a Green Bay 44-21 para conseguir el segundo viaje al Super Bowl de su historia.
El entrenador en jefe de los Patriots BILL BELICHICK y el mariscal de campo TOM BRADY estarán realizando su séptima aparición en el Super Bowl juntos, la mayor cantidad de partidos por el título de la NFL para cualquier pareja de entrenador en jefe y mariscal de campo titular en la historia de la liga. Belichick y Brady ganaron cuatro Super Bowls juntos, empatando con el entrenador en jefe de Pittsburgh CHUCK NOLL y el mariscal de campo TERRY BRADSHAW en la mayor cantidad por una comnbinación de entrenador en jefe y mariscal de campo titular.
“Estoy orgulloso de este equipo”, dice Belichick. “Todos se merecen esto. Es un grupo bueno y muy trabajador.”
Belichick está empatado con el miembro del Salón de la Fama Noll en la mayor cantidad de victorias en el Super Bowl conseguidas por un entrenador en jefe, con cuatro. Brady, que está realizando la séptima titularidad de su carrera en el Super Bowl, una marca de la NFL, está empatado con los miembros del Salón de la Fama Bradshaw y JOE MONTANAen la mayor cantidad de victorias en el Super Bowl por un mariscal de campo titular, con cuatro.
“Nunca sabes si tendrás estas oportunidades en la vida y afortunadamente este equipo la tuvo”, dice Brady acerca de clasificar al Super Bowl. “Ahora tenemos que hacer algo y tratar de tomar ventaja de ello.”
Brady y Montana son los únicos jugadores en la historia de la NFL en ser nombrados Jugador más valioso del Super Bowl (MVP, por sus siglas en inglés) tres veces. Brady, MVP de los Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII y XLIX, puede convertirse en el primer jugador en la historia en ganar el premio de Jugador más valioso del Super Bowl cuatro veces.
Brady ingresa al Super Bowl LI ya ostentando numerosas marcas de pase en el Super Bowl, incluyendo de intentos (247), pases completos (164), yardas (1,605) y pases anotadores (13).
“Es el mejor mariscal de campo en la historia del juego”, dice el corredor de los Patriots LE GARRETTE BLOUNT acerca de Brady. “Es, obviamente en mi opinión, el mejor en la historia.”
Los Patriots ganaron nueve partidos consecutivos y clasificaron al Super Bowl con una victoria 36-17 sobre Pittsburgh en el Juego de Campeonato de la AFC disputado en el en Gillette Stadium. En ese duelo, Brady lanzó 384 yardas y tres anotaciones, incluyendo dos al receptor CHRIS HOGAN. Hogan terminó el partido con nueve recepciones para 180 yardas, una marca de franquicia en postemporada, y dos anotaciones.
“Estoy simplemente feliz de aprovechar esta oportunidad y ser parte de este equipo”, dice Hogan. “Este equipo ha trabajado tan duro desde abril, en los primeros entrenamientos informales. Nos hemos esforzado a lo largo de todo el año. Para esto es que trabajamos y acá es dónde queríamos llegar.”
El corredor de los Patriots Blount, que lideró la NFL con 18 acarreos anotadores (una marca de club), agregó un acarreo anotador contra los Steelers en el Juego de Campeonato de la AFC. Incluyendo la postemporada, los 19 acarreos anotadores de Blount están empatados con el miembro del Salón de la Fama CURTIS MARTIN (1996) en la mayor cantidad por un jugador de los Patriots en una sola temporada.
Los Falcons llegaron hasta el Super Bowl por segunda ocasión en la historia de la franquicia (Super Bowl XXXIII, temporada 1998) con un triunfo 44-21 sobre Green Bay en el último partido disputado en el Georgia Dome, que será demolido.
Atlanta, que lideró la NFL con 540 puntos anotados, ganó seis partidos consecutivos y está promediando 39.0 puntos por juego sobre ese lapso. El de los Falcons es el primer equipo en la historia en clasificar al Super Bowl tras anotar al menos 30 puntos en cada uno de los últimos seis partidos del club.
“Estoy feliz por todos en nuestra organización”, dice el mariscal de campo de los Falcons MATT RYAN. “Hemos trabajado duro para llegar a este punto pero el desafío está aún frente a nosotros. El objetivo que nos planteamos todavía está delante de nosotros. Es realmente difícil llegar a este punto, y disfrutaremos del proceso que nos lleva a él, pero nuestro último objetivo está aún frente a nosotros.”
El entrenador en jefe de los Falcons DAN QUINN, que está en su segundo año con el equipo, estará realizando su tercera aparición en el Super Bowl en las últimas cuatro temporadas. Quinn fue el coordinador defensivo de Seattle en los Super Bowls XLVIII (temporada 2013) y XLIX (2014).
“Estoy emocionado por esta oportunidad, pero más importante es que estoy emocionado por estos jugadores”, dice Quinn. “Será un gran desafío.”
El mariscal de campo de Atlanta Ryan, que lideró la liga con índice de pasador de 117.1 (una marca de franquicia), continuó su juego estelar en la postemporada con un índice de pasador de 132.6. A lo largo de la racha ganadora del equipo, de seis juegos, Ryan lanzó 18 pases anotadores y ninguna intercepción, para un índice de pasador de 133.3.
“Jugador más valioso”, dice el receptor de los Falcons JULIO JONES cuando le preguntaron cómo describiría a Ryan. “Es un gran jugador. Es un gran líder de este equipo y es mi hermano.”
Ryan lanzó al menos tres pases anotadores en cuatro partidos de postemporada consecutivos, el primer jugador en la historia de la NFL en lograr tal hazaña. En la postemporada de este año, Ryan tiene siete pases anotadores y ninguna intercepción.
Los Falcons han distribuido bien el balón, ya que Ryan lanzó un pase de anotación a 13 jugadores diferentes en la temporada regular, la mayor cantidad en la historia en una temporada en la historia de la liga. Entre sus blanco favoritos estuvo Jones, que esta temporada lideró la NFL promediando 100.6 yardas recibiendo por juego (1,409 yardas en 14 partidos).
“Es una bestia”, dice Ryan acerca de Jones. “Es una fiera absoluta. He sido muy afortunado de jugar con él tanto tiempo como lo he hecho.”
Jones tuvo nueve recepciones para 180 yardas y dos anotaciones en el Juego de Campeonato de la NFC contra los Packers. Marcó el segundo partido de postemporada de su carrera con al menos 180 yardas recibiendo y dos anotaciones y es el único jugador en la historia de la liga en lograr tal hazaña en más de un partido de postemporada. En los cinco juegos de postemporada en su carrera, Jones tiene 552 yardas recibiendo y cinco recepciones anotadoras. Su promedio, de 110.4 yardas recibiendo por juego, es el más alto en la historia de la postemporada de la NFL (mínimo de cinco juegos).
Defensivamente, los Falcons están disfrutando de VIC BEASLEY JR., que lideró la NFL en capturas (15.5), y también por un cuarteto de novatos: el profundo KEANU NEAL, el esquinero BRIAN POOLE y los apoyadores DEION JONES y DE’VONDRE CAMPBELL. Los cuatro novatos titularizaron en el Juego de Campeonato de la NFC y Atlanta puede convertirse en el primer equipo en la historia en hacer titularizar a cuatro novatos en defensiva en el Super Bowl. Jones (106) y Neal (105) esta temporada lideraron a todos los novatos de la NFL en tacleadas.
“Cada día, estamos simplemente intentando ser un uno por ciento mejor para el compañero a nuestro lado”, dice Poole. “Cada jugada, vamos a dejar todo lo que tenemos y no dejaremos que nuestros compañeros de equipo decaigan. Estaremos allí tratando de jugar y hacerle saber a la gente que lo nuestro va en serio.”
Beasley, que está en su segundo año, tuvo un pico de carrera con las 15.5 capturas que registró y es el primer jugador de los Falcons en encabezar la liga en capturas. Durante la racha ganadora actual del equipo, de seis partidos, Atlanta permitió apenas 19.3 puntos por juego (27.6 puntos por partido en los primeros 12 del equipo).
SUPER BOWL LI: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS VS. ATLANTA FALCONS
Two teams. One game. It all comes down to this.
On Sunday, February 5, the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons will meet in Super Bowl LI (6:30 PM ET, FOX) at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
“It’s an honor to get to go and play in this game,” says Patriots wide receiver JULIAN EDELMAN, who is the franchise postseason leader in both catches (84) and receiving yards (937). “This is what you fight for. This is what you train for. It’s to get an opportunity to play in this game.”
Super Bowl LI will feature the NFL’s top-scoring team – Atlanta (540 points, 33.8 points per game) – against the club which allowed the fewest points in the league – New England (250 points, 15.6 points per game). It marks the sixth time since the 1970 merger that the Super Bowl showcases the team that led the NFL in scoring against the club that allowed the fewest points.
“This is a really special team,” says Falcons fullback PATRICK DI MARCO. “We have so many playmakers on offense, defense and special teams. This is a special time for this organization. I am super proud and super excited we are going to be playing in Houston. The ultimate goal is to win the Super Bowl – not just get there – and we still have a game ahead of us. We still have one more game to win.”
New England advanced to its NFL-record ninth Super Bowl by defeating Pittsburgh 36-17. Atlanta defeated Green Bay 44-21 to earn its second ever trip to the Super Bowl.
Patriots head coach BILL BELICHICK and quarterback TOM BRADY will be making their seventh Super Bowl appearance together, the most NFL title games for any head coach and starting quarterback duo in league history. Belichick and Brady have won four Super Bowls together, tied with Pittsburgh head coach CHUCK NOLL and quarterback TERRY BRADSHAW for the most by a head coach and starting quarterback combination.
“I’m proud of this team,” says Belichick. “They all deserve this. It’s a good, hard-working group.”
Belichick is tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer Noll for the most Super Bowl victories by a head coach with four. Brady, who is making his NFL-record seventh career Super Bowl start, is tied with Pro Football Hall of Famers Bradshaw and JOE MONTANA for the most Super Bowl wins by a starting quarterback with four.
“You never know if you’ll get these opportunities in life and fortunately this team has got the opportunity,” says Brady about advancing to the Super Bowl. “Now we’ve got to do something and go try and take advantage of it.”
Brady and Montana are the only players in NFL history to be named Super Bowl MVP three times. Brady, who was the MVP of Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII and XLIX, can become the first player ever to win Super Bowl MVP honors four times.
Brady enters Super Bowl LI already holding numerous Super Bowl passing records, including attempts (247), completions (164), yards (1,605) and touchdown passes (13).
“He’s the best quarterback to ever play the game,” says Patriots running back LE GARRETTE BLOUNTabout Brady. “He’s obviously, in my opinion, the best ever.”
The Patriots have won nine consecutive games and advanced to the Super Bowl with a 36-17 victory over Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium. In that contest, Brady passed for 384 yards and three touchdowns, including two scoring strikes to wide receiver CHRIS HOGAN. Hogan finished the game with nine catches for a franchise postseason-record 180 yards and two touchdowns.
“I’m just happy to take advantage of this opportunity and be a part of this team,” says Hogan. “This whole team has worked so hard starting in April in OTAs. We’ve grinded through this entire year. This is what we worked for and this is what we wanted to get to.”
Patriots running back Blount, who led the NFL with a club-record 18 rushing touchdowns, added a rushing TD against the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game. Including the postseason, Blount’s 19 rushing touchdowns are tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer CURTIS MARTIN (1996) for the most by a Patriots player in a single season.
The Falcons advanced to the Super Bowl for the second time in franchise history (Super Bowl XXXIII, 1998 season) with a 44-21 win over Green Bay in the final game at the Georgia Dome.
Atlanta, which led the NFL with 540 points scored, has won six consecutive games and is averaging 39.0 points per game over that span. The Falcons are the first team ever to advance to the Super Bowl by scoring at least 30 points in each of the club’s previous six games.
“I’m happy for everybody in our organization,” says Falcons quarterback MATT RYAN. “We’ve worked hard to get to this point but the challenge is still in front of us. What we set out to accomplish is still in front of us. It’s really difficult to get to this point, and we will enjoy the process leading into it, but our ultimate goal is still in front of us.”
Falcons head coach DAN QUINN, who is in his second year with the team, will be making his third Super Bowl appearance in the past four seasons. Quinn was Seattle’s defensive coordinator in Super Bowls XLVIII (2013 season) and XLIX (2014).
“I am excited for the opportunity, but more importantly, I’m excited for these players,” says Quinn. “It’ll be a great challenge.”
Atlanta quarterback Ryan, who led the league with a franchise-record 117.1 passer rating, has continued his stellar play in the postseason with a 132.6 passer rating. Over the team’s six-game winning streak, Ryan has thrown 18 touchdown passes and no interceptions for a 133.3 passer rating.
“MVP,” says Falcons wide receiver JULIO JONES when asked how to describe Ryan. “He’s a great player. He’s a great leader on this team and he’s my brother.”
Ryan has thrown at least three touchdown passes in four consecutive postseason games, the first player in NFL history to accomplish the feat. In this year’s playoffs, Ryan has seven touchdown passes and no interceptions.
The Falcons have spread the ball out as Ryan threw a touchdown pass to 13 different players in the regular season, the most ever in a season in league history. Among his favorite targets is Jones, who led the NFL averaging 100.6 receiving yards per game this season (1,409 yards in 14 games).
“He’s a beast,” says Ryan about Jones. “He’s an absolute stud. I’ve been so lucky to play with him as long as I have.”
Jones had nine catches for 180 yards and two touchdowns in the NFC Championship Game against the Packers. It marked his second career postseason game with at least 180 receiving yards and two touchdowns and he is the only player in league history to accomplish that feat in multiple playoff games. In five career postseason games, Jones has 552 receiving yards and five touchdown catches. His average of 110.4 receiving yards per game is the highest in NFL postseason history (minimum five games).
Defensively, the Falcons are powered by VIC BEASLEY JR., who led the NFL in sacks (15.5), and a quartet of rookies – safety KEANU NEAL, cornerback BRIAN POOLE and linebackers DEION JONESand DE’VONDRE CAMPBELL. All four rookies started in the NFC Championship Game and Atlanta can become the first team ever to start four rookies on defense in the Super Bowl. Jones (106) and Neal (105) led all NFL rookies in tackles this season.
“Every day, we are just trying to get one percent better for the guy next to us,” says Poole. “Every play, we are going to give it all we’ve got and not let our teammates down. We’re going out there trying to play ball and let people know that what we’ve got is serious.”
Beasley, who is in his second year, had a career-high 15.5 sacks and is the first Falcons player to lead the league in sacks. During the team’s current six-game winning streak, Atlanta has allowed just 19.3 points per game (27.6 points per game in the team’s first 12 games).
“We feel like we have the potential to be a great defense,” says Beasley. “Early in the season, we weren’t playing as well but we have come a long way and now we’re going to the Super Bowl.”
NFL NAMES RANDY ALLEN OF HIGHLAND PARK HIGH SCHOOL
DON SHULA NFL HIGH SCHOOL COACH OF THE YEAR
The NFL and the Dallas Cowboys announced today, Head Football Coach RANDY ALLEN of Highland Park High School in Dallas, Texas is the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year. The award was created to honor exemplary high school football coaches who demonstrate a commitment to player health and safety, and the integrity, achievement and leadership exemplified by the winningest coach in NFL history, Don Shula.
The announcement was made during the 2017 Pro Bowl on ESPN. For the first time ever, all 32 Don Shula Award nominees were invited and recognized in special ways during the NFL's week-long celebration of football at the Pro Bowl in Orlando.
Nominated by the Dallas Cowboys, Coach Allen was one of two high school football coaches selected as finalists from a group of coaches nominated by NFL teams. As the national Shula Award Winner, Allen will receive $25,000 from the NFL Foundation, $15,000 of which will go to his high school's football program. He will be a guest of the NFL during Super Bowl LI and walk the red carpet at NFL Honors, a two-hour primetime special airing nationally on Feb. 4, the night before Super Bowl LI.
"Randy is someone that I respect and admire greatly. He is a man who understands the fundamental responsibility of being a high school football coach—and that is to build character and shape young lives," said Dallas Cowboys Owner, President and General Manager JERRY JONES. "He teaches integrity and life lessons as well as he does the X's and O's, and he is very successful builder of character."
Allen has coached the Highland Park High School football team for 18 years and recently led the Scots to a 5A Division 1 Texas State Championship with a 16-7 victory over Temple High School. As one of the most recognized and winningest programs in the history of Texas high school football, this marks the Scots' second state championship under Allen's tenure. Allen previously coached current Detroit Lions quarterback MATTHEW STAFFORD to a state championship in 2005 and currently coaches the grandchildren of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
His success on the field is rivaled by his dedication to building high-character student-athletes, with a focus on leadership and strong moral values. Allen is a teacher who uses his role as a coach to build boys into men and emphasizes the importance of sportsmanship and integrity to his team.
The runner-up was Green Bay Packers nominee and Kimberly High School Head Football Coach STEVE JONES of Kimberly, Wisc. Jones will receive $15,000 from the NFL Foundation, $10,000 of which will go to his high school football program.
All Shula Award nominees are active or retired high school football coaches nominated by NFL teams for their character and integrity, leadership and dedication to the community, commitment to player health and safety and on-field success.
Coach Allen was selected by a panel of distinguished individuals. New to the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award selection panel this year are two-time Super Bowl champion (XLI, 50) and five-time NFL MVP PEYTON MANNING, Super Bowl XLII champion and Good Morning America contributor MICHAEL STRAHAN and Pro Football Hall of Fame President DAVID BAKER.
The selection panel also includes:
- Coach DON SHULA – the winningest coach in NFL history
- Former Dallas Cowboys Personnel Director and NFL.com contributor GIL BRANDT
- 2015 Don Shula NFL Coach of the Year Award Winner MICHAEL BURNETT
- Former Indianapolis Colts Coach and current NBC analyst TONY DUNGY
- Executive Director of USA Football SCOTT HALLENBECK
- Aplington-Parkersburg High School Principal and son of the school's late football coach, Ed Thomas, AARON THOMAS
Below is a full list of the 2016 Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year nominees. For more information on the NFL Foundation, visit nflfoundation.org or follow @NFLFoundation on Twitter.
2016 Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Nominees
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NOMINATING TEAM
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SCHOOL NAME
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COACH
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Arizona Cardinals
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Perry High School
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Preston Jones
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Atlanta Falcons
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Tucker High School
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Bryan Lamar
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Baltimore Ravens
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Walkersville High School
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Joe Polce
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Buffalo Bills
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Dunkirk High School
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Mike Sarratori
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Carolina Panthers
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Hilton Head School
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Russel ‘BJ’ Payne
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Chicago Bears
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Peoria High School
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Tim Thornton
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Cincinnati Bengals
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St. Xavier High School
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Steve Specht
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Cleveland Browns
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Lorain High School
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Dave McFarland
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Dallas Cowboys
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Highland Park High School
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Randy Allen
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Denver Broncos
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Strasburg High School
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Jeff Giger
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Detroit Lions
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Benton Harbor High School
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Elliot Uzelac
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Green Bay Packers
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Kimberly High School
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Steve Jones
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Houston Texans
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Ebbert L. Furr High School
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Matthew Valmore
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Indianapolis Colts
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Westfield High School
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Jake Gilbert
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Jacksonville Jaguars
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Ponte Vedra High School
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Matthew Toblin
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Kansas City Chiefs*
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Grain Valley High School
Blue Valley High School
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David Allie
Eric Driskell
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Los Angeles Rams
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Narbonne High School
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Manuel Douglas
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Miami Dolphins
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Carol City High School
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Aubrey Hill
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Minnesota Vikings
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Minneapolis North High School
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Charles Adams
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New England Patriots
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Millis High School
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Dana Olson
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New Orleans Saints
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Edna Karr High School
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Brice Brown
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New York Giants
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Cardinal Hayes High School
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CJ O’Neill
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New York Jets
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Curtis High School
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Peter Gambardella
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Oakland Raiders
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California School for the Deaf
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Warren Keller
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Philadelphia Eagles
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Perkiomen Valley High School
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Rob Heist
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Pittsburgh Steelers
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Thomas Jefferson High School
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Bill Cherpak
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San Diego Chargers
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Madison High School
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Rick Jackson
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San Francisco 49ers
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Saint Francis High School
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Greg Calcagno
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Seattle Seahawks
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Tumwater High School
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Sid Otton
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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St. Petersburg High School
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Joe Fabrizio
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Tennessee Titans
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Whitehaven High School
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Rodney Saulsberry
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Washington Redskins
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Quantico Middle/High School
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Paul Roy
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*Indicates team has more than one nominee.
