I don't ever post but I felt a need to share some angles that aren't driven by numbers:
- One Effect of Deflategate: Distraction. As much as the league wants to downplay the controversy, the distraction is there and the distraction is real and you're not human if you say it wouldn't affect you if you were on the Patriots. Which brings me to:
- Does deflated balls give you a competitive advantage? YES. Easier to throw, catch, run with, hold on to. There is something to that crazy stat about the Patriots not fumbling at a ridiculous rate compared to other teams. So now:
- Balls at SB 49 will be regulation and legit. Could this small little sidenote have the Patriots questioning and doubting themselves and their accomplishments? A Patriots offensive player will be thinking, "It's going to be a little bit more difficult to hang onto the football now if someone tries to strip me". DOUBT causes defeat.
- You think the Patriots are going to be getting the favorable calls on Sunday? Everyone will be watching to see if the Patriots gets or does anything questionable to their benefit. The league knows this and the refs will do their part to make sure the Patriots don't get the benefit of the doubt on a lot of close calls. How would it look if the Patriots won and then 2 weeks later the Ted Wells report comes back that Tom Brady had an understanding with the ball boy to deflate balls after they have been checked? My guess is the league would rather have the Seahawks win as opposed to having fans be skeptical and have doubt about a Patriots SB win. Asterisk will forever be brought up if the Patriots win this one.
- Someone keeps pulling the fire alarm at the Patriots hotel. Do you think getting a good night's sleep is important or not? Can someone make it a trifecta and pull the alarm the night before/day of the Super Bowl?
- New England trick plays? Seattle will be prepared and will know to watch for the trick play on every play. Can you use the element of surprise if your opponent is ready for it?
- The game will not feel like it is being played on a neutral site. You better believe the 12s will be back again and louder than last years SB. Tom Brady and the Patriots are excellent at home. Unfortunately this is going to feel like a road game for them.
- The immeasurable intangible factor. The feeling of a team that is destined to win. I don't get that feeling with the team that has the controversy over their heads. I get it from the team that pulled the miracle against Green Bay with an overcome Russell Wilson at the end thanking God. Like it or not doesn't it just feel like they are again this year's team of destiny?
- Pete Carroll revenge factor. For some reason doesn't it always seem that in big games in all sports that the person that wants revenge against a former team usually gets it?
In closing we have 2 great teams and 2 great coaches who are overall matched fairly even. However one team has and will have things hanging over their heads from now until the end of the game. Distractions and things that are out of their control. Let's be real, there is some bad juju surrounding the Patriots right now.
I'm not absolutely certain on the details but due to the stars aligning in their favor, Seattle becomes back to back Super Bowl Champions on Sunday.