Who Can Rival Tom Brady And The New England Patriots?

On Sunday 5th February 2017, with the Atlanta Falcons 28-3 up at half-time over the New England Patriots, I very almost turned off my TV thinking that this year’s Super Bowl was done and dusted.

What happened next will forever go down in history as one of the greatest NFL comebacks of all time, with the Pats’ quarterback Tom Brady – probably the greatest quarterback ever – leading his team to a fifth Super Bowl victory, winning 34-28 in overtime.

Now the 2017 – 18 NFL season is almost upon us.

The Patriots, lead by head coach Bill Belichick, have done what many championship-winning teams fail to do and improve the face value of their roster, resigning the likes of linebacker Dont’a Hightower, bringing in wider receiver Brandin Cooks, and drafting defensive ends Deatrich Wise and Derek Rivers.

They are the bookies favourite across the board to repeat last season, bringing Brady a sixth Super Bowl ring.

But which franchises could realistically stop Massachusetts’ juggernauts?

Green Bay Packers

The Packers won their fourth and last Super Bowl title in 2010. They have made the playoffs every year since but have come up short, including some agonising losses at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks and Atlanta Falcons in their respective NFC Championship Games.

The 2017 off-season saw them lose key playmakers Jared Cook and Micah Hyde at tight end and safety respectively, but with quarterback Aaron Rodgers at the helm, the Green and Gold are almost guaranteed a run at another Super Bowl ring.

Rodgers is said by many to be playing the position of quarterback at a level previously unseen, possessing a career passer rating of 104.1 – the highest in NFL history.

His unorthodox scrambling inside and outside the pocket to pull off jaw dropping plays is happening on a weekly basis, so much so that 60 minutes of Rodgers can possess highlights that most quarterbacks would be happy with as a career highlights reel.

With Packers general manager Ted Thompson acting shrewdly in the off-season, drafting on defense and signing former Patriot Martellus Bennet, the team’s heavy imbalance may finally be solved.

If the defence can help out Rodgers, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and company on offense, the Pack may finally bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Lambeau Field.

Oakland Raiders

There was a huge sigh of disappointment when Raiders’ quarterback Derek Carr broke his fibula in the team’s penultimate regular season game of the 2016/17 season.

The young QB and a hugely talented roster were on a hot streak until the injury, derailing all their good work in making the play-offs for the first time since 2002/03.

With Carr declaring that he’s “ready to rock”, the Men in Black can get back to business.

The addition of former Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch – who came out of retirement to play for his hometown franchise – and former Packer Jared Cook, Oakland have been sensible in addressing minor team issues.

The defense speaks for itself. Last year it was the second highest rated in the NFL, boasting the likes of current Defensive Player of the Year, Khalil Mack. Mack recorded 11 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, and one interception touchdown.

Carr, like Rodgers, is the fuel that ignites their team’s engine. If he stays fit, the Raiders can push for a fourth Super Bowl title.

Atlanta Falcons

They say revenge is a dish best served cold, but Atlanta could think of nowhere better than under the scalding hot floodlights of the U.S. Bank Stadium, the venue of Super Bowl 52.

Former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has moved to San Francisco to take over as the 49ers new head coach, with former Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian taking over one of the NFL’s all-time great offenses.

This will be Sarkisian’s first play calling job in the professional game – so expectations should be slightly lower – but the likes of Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, and Mohamed Sanu will still be expected to rank high in the NFL’s list of top offenses.

February’s devastating loss to the Patriots is sure to still sting both fan and returning players, and could well be the impetus needed to return back to the title-deciding game. New surroundings in a move to the brand new Mercedes Benz Stadium could also act as a catalyst in taking last year’s story that one vital step further.