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Hub Arkush: Super Bowl LI between Patriots and Falcons one of the more compelling matchups in recent years

Super Bowl LI in Houston offers us one of the most compelling matchups in years, as the New England Patriots take on the Atlanta Falcons, and like most great unions, it will start with something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.

What’s new is the Atlanta Falcons, in just two seasons becoming clearly the best team in the NFC.

Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Devonta Freeman are the names you know, but Thomas Dimitroff and Co. authored one of the NFL’s best draft classes in 2015, selecting OLB Vic Beasley, Jr. (1st round), CB Jalen Collins (2nd), RB Tevin Coleman (3rd) and DT Grady Jarrett (5th), and along with 2014 fifth-round pick, S Ricardo Allen, all have become starters and key contributors this year.