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Super Bowl LI: 5 Things the 49ers Can Learn from the Falcons and Patriots

By Peter Panacy

Jan 31, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; General overall view of NRG Stadium exterior with graphics of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) and Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) prior to Super Bowl LI on Feb 5, 2017. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 31, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; General overall view of NRG Stadium exterior with graphics of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) and Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) prior to Super Bowl LI on Feb 5, 2017. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 25, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks tight end Luke Willson (82) catches a pass as he is tackled by San Francisco 49ers linebacker Tank Carradine (95) and cornerback Tramaine Brock (26) during the second quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks tight end Luke Willson (82) catches a pass as he is tackled by San Francisco 49ers linebacker Tank Carradine (95) and cornerback Tramaine Brock (26) during the second quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 4: Dominate the Division

Consider this — the Falcons went 5-1 in the NFC South (their only divisional loss coming in Week 1 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), and the Patriots also went 5-1 in the AFC East (their only divisional loss coming in Week 4 to the Buffalo Bills).

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Sure, teams can catch fire down the stretch and enter as a wild card, riding that momentum to a Super Bowl win. But winning, heck, dominating one’s own division is another crucial element.

One could make the argument a tougher division makes for a tougher champion, based on the competition alone. Iron sharpens iron, right?

This would have been the case for the 49ers a few years ago. But the NFC West is nothing like it used to be. The Los Angeles Rams aren’t in a much better situation than the Niners. The Seahawks don’t look anywhere near as invincible. And who knows what will happen with veterans Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald, as a downward-trending Arizona Cardinals team tries to regain momentum.

It could be a break for San Francisco moving forward. A road to a divisional championship might be a bit easier now, which should hopefully allow for a team needing to learn how to win.