H-S sports writers Super Bowl picks
The 无毛视频-Standard staff and Steelers correspondent Jim Wexell give their predictions for Super Bowl 53:
Rob Burchianti, H-S 无毛视频 Editor
Can a veteran team like the Patriots still learn from experience? I think they无毛视频檒l be even more prepared and determined to get that sixth Super Bowl ring to match the Steelers after the Eagles无毛视频� loss. Nick Foles fooled me last year in that he didn无毛视频檛 fold on the big stage. It won无毛视频檛 be that way today for the Rams with third-year QB Jared Goff. Too green, not enough playoff experience to handle two weeks of planning from Bill Belichick. It无毛视频檒l be great to see Pitt无毛视频檚 Aaron Donald of the Rams in the Super Bowl as long as he doesn无毛视频檛 get frustrated into one of his notorious meltdowns. Take New England (-2.5) and the under (56.5). Patriots 41, Rams 13. Since they have proven to be better than me at this, I无毛视频檒l allow my sons to have their say. Colton, 14, says Pats 23-17. Westley, 13, says Pats, 31-18.
Jim Downey, H-S 无毛视频 Writer
My nephew Brian Lohr correctly picked the St. Louis Rams to defeat the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIII in his first prediction. Out of respect to his dad无毛视频檚 allegiance to the Rams (无毛视频淚 can无毛视频檛 break his heart无毛视频�), Brian无毛视频檚 going with Rams, 30-17. 无毛视频� His brother Jason is going with the Rams, too, 31-27 无毛视频� Great-nephew Collin Downey says the Patriots, 45-35 (boo). 无毛视频� As for Uncle Jim, if the Rams can draw at least two offensive holding penalties (and have them flagged) and hit the GOAT twice (without getting mysteriously flagged), Los Angeles wins, 30-26. Otherwise, it无毛视频檚 the Patriots again in the final five minutes by two points. But, I无毛视频檓 going LAR for the win!
Jonathan Guth, H-S 无毛视频 Writer
I am usually very bad at these, so don无毛视频檛 listen to me when you head to Rivers Casino and put a few dollars down, but here goes nothing. New England wins, 28-24. Tom Brady named MVP. Now for some prop bets that they are throwing in at the North Shore casino. Will the game go into overtime: I would go with no. A safety to be scored: Take no. Total yards of longest touchdown (over/under 46.5): Take under. Player to have most passing yards: Brady. First team to score: New England.
Jim Wexell, H-S Steelers Correspondent
The Steelers were the last team to beat the New England Patriots, and if you would无毛视频檝e told me then they were going to make it this far I wouldn无毛视频檛 have believed it. Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman were shells of their former selves, and their defense had (has) no playmakers. The two wideouts they had picked up off the scrapheap were either cut for drugs (Josh Gordon) or can无毛视频檛 catch (Cordarrelle Patterson). But, after losing to the Steelers, the Pats went back to the comfort of perennially the weakest division in football and won two easy home games, got a weak off to heal Gronk and Edelman, and buzzed through the AFC playoffs.
Sigh.
And now here they are.
I was looking to pick against them. Tom Brady is 5-3 in Super Bowls but the last two wins were gifted by horrendous coaching decisions. The Rams also have karma going their way since the Pats illegally filmed the Rams无毛视频� walk-through the day before the Pats无毛视频� first Super Bowl win in 2002. But I broke down the stats of common opponents between these teams this year, and those six games tell me everything无毛视频檚 even except for the hole in the Rams无毛视频� pass defense. That doesn无毛视频檛 make me want to pick against Brady. Not with another week off and presumably a healthy Gronk and Edelman. Patriots, 33-30.