New England Patriots
““I’m sleeping on them, big time.”
Just one win separates the New England Patriots from a seventh Super Bowl title.
But, New England’s road to Santa Clara has been discounted and undercut by several critics for a variety of reasons.
Be it New England’s lighter regular-season schedule or the various strokes of good fortune that has befallen the Patriots during three playoff matchups, Mike Vrabel’s team is still facing several doubters as they prepare for a showdown with the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX.
Count Stephen A. Smith among those who believe New England’s Cinderella season will be coming to a close in California. While Smith initially agreed with former Patriots defensive back Jason McCourty that New England has been slept on, he doesn’t believe that will change their fortunes against Seattle.
“I’m sleeping on them, big time,” Smith said of the Patriots on ESPN’s “First Take. “Y’all ain’t winning the Super Bowl. I’m telling you to your face right there, as a New England Patriot — you ain’t winning the Super Bowl, okay. You ain’t beating Seattle.
“Right now, the New England Patriots — listen, it was a nice run. It was really, really nice. It’s going to be a competitive Super Bowl, I have no doubt, because the New England Patriots defense is real. I’ve got big time questions about your offense.”
New England’s offense has averaged just 18.0 points per game through three playoff games — although those three games were against opponents who all ranked in the top-five in total defense in the Chargers (No. 5), Texans (No. 1), and Broncos (No. 2).
Still, Smith believes that the Patriots have had several breaks go their way en route to a 14-3 regular-season record and a trip to Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 8.
“Never mind that you had the easiest schedule since the 1999 Rams,” Smith said. “Never mind that you went against a Los Angeles Chargers squad that didn’t have a couple of offensive linemen. Never mind that you went against the Houston Texans team that was anemic offensively to begin with — but then you played the game without Nico Collins and [Dalton] Schultz had to go down.
“Never mind the fact that a blizzard came to your aid in the second half [in Denver]. And by the way, you didn’t have to go up against Bo Nix, who broke his ankle. What was it — the second to last play of the game in overtime [vs. Buffalo]? I mean, you talk about luck.”
Despite Smith’s reservations about how the Patriots will handle themselves against the Seahawks, he did add that New England’s string of good luck could make him eat his words next month.
“Now, I will say this, the reason why you shouldn’t sleep on the New England Patriots is because, clearly, divine intervention is shining down upon him,” Smith said. “I mean, damn. How much luck can you get every single week? … But it ends now.
“I’m telling you right now — I’m snoring. I’m talking about, give me a pillow. Let me take a nap. I’m not worried about y’all winning this Super Bowl at all.”
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