Super Bowl 2017: Kickoff time, TV, radio info and storylines to follow
By Thomas Moore
Super Bowl 51 will take place today between the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons. Here is everything you need to know about the game.
Super Bowl 51 will take place today in Houston as the New England Patriots take on the Atlanta Falcons.
While the Cleveland Browns will not be playing today, naturally, there are still several storylines for fans to pay attention to during the game.
Can New England head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady win their fifth Super Bowl together? If so it will be a record for the Super Bowl era, but let’s stop pretending that the NFL did not exist prior to the Super Bowl.
Related: No winning a bidding war for Jimmy Garoppolo
Belichick and Brady have a chance to tie Green Bay head coach Vince Lombardi and quarterback Bart Starr’s five NFL titles, which still trails the seven titles won by Cleveland head coach Paul Brown and quarterback Otto Graham.
Today may also be the last chance for fans to witness Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s value continue to appreciate while he stands on the sidelines doing nothing. Garoppolo is being touted by the media as the next great thing in backup quarterbacks and a player that teams will fall all over themselves to acquire during the off-season.
Related: Front office ready to move on from current quarterbacks
The Browns are reportedly on that list, as are the San Francisco 49ers, who will hire Atlanta offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan as their head coach as soon as they can. Shanahan reportedly is interested in Garoppolo as well, unless he wants Pick-6 master Matt Schaub as his quarterback.
#49ers starting QB could be in the building today. If Kyle Shanahan doesn't get Kirk Cousins, his targets: Jimmy Garoppolo, then Matt Schaub
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 5, 2017
There are also plenty of ex-Browns who will see action today, including Jabaal Sheard, Barkevious Mingo and Dion Lewis on the Patriots, and Alex Mack and Taylor Gabriel on the Falcons.
Speaking of Mack, he will reportedly play today with a fracture in his left fibula, an injury that would keep lesser players out for six to eight weeks. That should come as no surprise to Browns fans as Mack once played a game with appendicitis, had it removed the following week and never missed a snap.
Here is how to watch or listen to today’s game:
Who: New England Patriots (AFC) vs. Atlanta Falcons (NFC)
When: Sunday February 5, 2017
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m., ET
Where: Houston
Stadium: NRG Stadium
TV: Fox
Announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Erin Andrews
Odds: New England -3
Live Stream: Fox Sports GO. Viewers can use iOS, Android, Windows, and Amazon tablets or through connected devices, including Apple TV, Roku, Android TV, Chromecast, Amazon Fire and Xbox One. NFL Game Pass (available to watch online after midnight)