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Patriots players hand deliver Valentines to children
On Feb. 10, Geneo Grissom and Dion Lewis got in the holiday spirit by delivering Valentine's Day gifts to children and their families at Boston Children's Hospital.





Devonta Freeman/Tevin Coleman - Atlanta fields one of the better running back duos in the NFL. Freeman is the lead dog averaging 4.5 per carry while also scoring five touchdowns, but Coleman is dangerous with is 5.6 yard average and another score. Both gave the Patriots problems in Super Bowl LI and present a major test for a run defense that's coming off by far its best performance of the season last Sunday in New York.

Devonta Freeman/Tevin Coleman - Atlanta fields one of the better running back duos in the NFL. Freeman is the lead dog averaging 4.5 per carry while also scoring five touchdowns, but Coleman is dangerous with is 5.6 yard average and another score. Both gave the Patriots problems in Super Bowl LI and present a major test for a run defense that's coming off by far its best performance of the season last Sunday in New York.


Rob Gronkowski - The big tight end didn't get to face the Falcons last February, but he's healthy and rolling heading into this Sunday night affair. Gronkowski has at least 80 yards and four combined touchdowns in the last four games he's played.

Malcolm Butler - With Stephon Gilmore and Eric Rowe both battling injuries, the longest-tenured Patriots cornerback has a lot to shoulder in the back end these days. He made key plays for turnovers twice in New York to key the win and may need to keep the big play momentum rolling for New England to deal with Matt Ryan and the Falcons passing attack.

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 10: New England Patriot's Geneo Grissom (C) and Dion Lewis visit Ella, brother Matt, Mom and Dad at Boston Children's Hospital February 10, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images for Boston Children's Hospital)

Tom Brady - TB12 was removed from the injury report this week, so the injury that reportedly dates back to the Week 4 loss to the Panthers is apparently no longer an issue. Brady is the key to it all in the middle of the Patriots offense that's actually been slowed down a bit in recent weeks heading into what could be a shootout against Atlanta.

Alan Branch - The big veteran defensive tackle bounced back from being a healthy scratch to help key New England's impressive run defense in New York. Coming off their best game, Branch and the rest of the front must build on the performance heading into this battle with Atlanta's dangerous two-headed ground attack of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman.

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 10: New England Patriot's Dion Lewis (L), Geneo Grissom, and wife Haley visit Camryn at Boston Children's Hospital February 10, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images for Boston Children's Hospital)

Brandin Cooks - New England's speedy new receiver has put up solid numbers, ranking fifth in the NFL with 472 receiving yards while averaging 19.7 yards a catch. People seem to want even more, but this may not be a great matchup given Cooks' history against a former division foe that's seen him average a mere 24 yards per game in his last four games against the Falcons, with zero touchdowns.

Matt Ryan -The reigning NFL MVP is not off to a great start in 2017, notably throwing six interceptions in his first five games of the year to explain his very average 87.3 rating. But, Ryan will be looking to be the seventh straight opponent to throw for 300-plus yards against the Patriots.

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 10: New England Patriot's Geneo Grissom and Dion Lewis spent the day visiting kids and autographing signs at Boston Children's Hospital February 10, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images for Boston Children's Hospital)

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 10: New England Patriot's.visit Geneo Grissom visits kids at Boston Children's Hospital February 10, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images for Boston Children's Hospital)

Vic Beasley Jr. - The reigning NFL sack king has battled a hamstring injury that's cost him two-plus games this season and limited him to just two sacks. But Beasley is working back to full health and remains a scary challenge for a Patriots offensive line that's trying to be more consistent in its pass protection.

Julio Jones - Jones has been just OK to open the year with a Falcons-best 25 catches for 367 yards, though he's yet to reach the end zone. Atlanta coach Dan Quinn wants to get Jones more touches, more touchdowns and more big plays and will likely try to make that happen against the Patriots NFL-worst pass defense.

Grady Jarrett - The Patriots had no answer for Atlanta's athletic defensive tackle last February when Jarrett recorded three sacks and four QB hits on Tom Brady in the Super Bowl. The big man can be a big disruption for an opposing offense and New England must deal with him in both the passing game and in trying to get the ground game going.

Grady Jarrett - The Patriots had no answer for Atlanta's athletic defensive tackle last February when Jarrett recorded three sacks and four QB hits on Tom Brady in the Super Bowl. The big man can be a big disruption for an opposing offense and New England must deal with him in both the passing game and in trying to get the ground game going.