Fansided

15 bold predictions for Super Bowl 51

By John Buhler

Sep 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Cardinals 23-21. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Cardinals 23-21. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 27, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant (middle) jogs off of the field after a pregame huddle before the Falcons game against the Arizona Cardinals at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons won 38-19. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant (middle) jogs off of the field after a pregame huddle before the Falcons game against the Arizona Cardinals at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons won 38-19. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

8. A star player gets injured in the second quarter

In the biggest game of the year, people are going to want to see the Falcons and the Patriots as close to full strength as possible. Yes, the Falcons are without cornerback Desmond Trufant and the Patriots are without tight end Rob Gronkowski. That stinks, but one of these teams will end up losing a key player for the game in the second quarter.

Nobody wants this to happen to anybody, but football is a game of injuries. It’s all about the next man up. No, it’s going to be Brady or Ryan that gets carted off the field in devastating fashion, but somebody of note will leave the NRG turf in tears.

Millions of viewers will know this guy is hurt immediately. It’ll be a really sobering moment during what should be an exciting Super Bowl. The sideline that would technically benefit from this injury won’t be happy about it because that team wants to beat its opponent at its best and one of its 10 best players has gone down.

The good news is that it will be a rallying point for the depleted. Whomever comes in as the next man up will make a play that will help galvanize his team in this potential all-timer we might have on our hands.

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