Fox Sports 1 analyst, “Undisputed” co-host and three-time Super Bowl champ Shannon Sharpe tells The Post’s Justin Terranova how the Falcons can upset the Patriots.
Q: Does this Patriots defense present a different challenge than the Falcons previously have faced?
A: Usually when you have the No. 1 defense, you have guys on the defense who can get home. The Patriots don’t have a guy like that; they are 28th in sacks. They do a good job of scheming. Coach [Bill] Belichick has always felt that if he makes you go 12, 13, 14 plays, you’ll make a mistake before you get in the end zone. They are going to make you methodically move the ball down the field.
Q: Does that play into the strength of the Falcons’ offense?
A: They have a very diverse offense. Everyone says “Julio Jones,” but Julio Jones doesn’t have to have a big game to have a major impact. There have been games where he’s caught one or two passes and the Falcons have scored over 40 points. He’s allowing Mohamed Sanu and Taylor Gabriel to get single coverage. then you’re taking a guy out of the box and that opens it up for the running backs. Julio is what makes them so dynamic because he gets defenses out of their comfort zone. They have a very unique offense, but they have to be patient, [and not] get excited.
Q: What will it take for the Falcons to pull the upset?
A: They put the Patriots in position where they are uncomfortable. The Patriots haven’t trailed in two months [at the Jets on Nov. 27]. They have to do what Green Bay did to the Cowboys, jump up early and get them out of their comfort zone. Let’s see what the Patriots can do when they have to be great.
Q: What is your favorite Super Bowl memory as a player?
A: The first one [of three championships] will always be the most special to me, because we were playing against the defending champs [Packers], the three-time MVP [Brett Favre] and a conference that had dominated the Super Bowl for the [prior] 13-14 years. And it gave the Broncos franchise their very first Super Bowl, and we’ll be the only Broncos group that can say that.
Q: How have you adjusted to the debate format at “Undisputed?”
A: It’s going well. I don’t check the ratings or anything like that. A lot of the topics [Skip Bayless and I] talk about, I can speak from experience. Most athletes pretty much have the same thought process that transcends which sport you play in.