Step up to take the Bee Super Bowl Challenge

SANDPOINT — As of Friday night, only 21 Bee readers had entered the free Super Bowl Challenge, and chance to win $100 in cash. With less than a week left before the game, the hype is sure to intensify, as is the pundit pontification.

After piling up 540 points in the regular season, the NFL’s highest-scoring offense has been even better in the playoffs, as the Falcons scored 36 points against Seattle last week and 44 more against Green Bay in a lopsided NFC championship game.

But the Patriots, under defensive-minded coach Bill Belichick, are famous for making teams play what he terms as “left-handed,” meaning take away their strength and make them beat you another way.

Will Matty Ice, Julio Jones and Co. put 40 on the scoreboard in Houston to bring the city of Atlanta its second championship ever — and first in football?

Not if the Patriots defense has any say. These Patriots (16-2) are more than just Tom Brady. They have a defense that allowed the fewest points in the NFL this season, an average of 15.6 points per game.

Yes, the Falcons (13-5) are rolling. They’ve won six in a row, scoring at least 33 points in each. But we’ve seen this before in the Super Bowl and it usually doesn’t work out well for the team with the best offense.

The last time the NFL’s top-scoring offense played the league’s stingiest defense in the Super Bowl was three year ago when Denver met Seattle. Peyton Manning and the Broncos set an NFL record with 606 points in 2013 but managed one touchdown in a 43-8 loss to the Seahawks.

Carolina led the league in points last season and lost 24-10 to Denver in Super Bowl 50.

So does defense win championships, or will offense win the day.

Think you know the answer? Want to win a $100 bill? Then enter the free Bee Super Bowl Challenge.

To enter, email your prediction for the score for each team, as well as a choice for MVP. On Super Bowl Sunday, the Bee will publish a master list to follow along with during the game.