WHO HAS THE ADVANTAGE?
Breaking down the matchup between the Seahawks and Patriots.
QUARTERBACK
Tom Brady is vying to become the third quarterback to win four Super Bowls. Russell Wilson is attempting to supplant Brady as the youngest quarterback to win two Super Bowls. The two get it done in different styles: Brady is the textbook clinical passer, and Wilson is the new-age dual threat. After an early-season slump that had some wondering if he was nearing the end, the 37-year-old Brady played as well as ever down the stretch. Wilson is coming off one of his worst statistical games but also one of his greatest finishes.
EDGE: PATRIOTS
RUNNING BACK
Marshawn Lynch is at the top of his game, coming off a career-playoff-high 157 yards on 25 carries against the Packers — 120 in the second half. Using a by-committee approach, New England had no one rush for more than 412 yards this season (Jonas Gray). Former Oregon standout LeGarrette Blount, picked up in November, was the star of the AFC Championship Game with 148 yards and three touchdowns, and the Patriots figure to ride his hot hand in the Super Bowl.
EDGE: SEAHAWKS
OFFENSIVE LINE
Seattle should be at full strength after right tackle Justin Britt sat out the NFC Championship because of a sore knee — the first game he missed this season. Most critically, Seattle again will have Max Unger at centre. The Seahawks rushed for at least 100 yards in all eight games Unger started this year, averaging 189. It took a while for the Patriots to settle on a good line combination, one reason for the team’s struggles early. But the grouping of Nate Solder at left tackle, Dan Connolly at left guard, rookie Bryan Stork at centre, Ryan Wendell at right guard and Sebastian Vollmer at right tackle has allowed Brady to be sacked just six times in nine games. Stork missed the AFC Championship Game because of a knee injury, and his status is something to watch. For the season, Brady was sacked 21 times, the second-lowest total of his career.
EDGE: PATRIOTS
RECEIVERS
For all the debate about Seattle’s receiving corps, what can’t be denied is that it comes up with ways to make big plays to win games. Still, the Seattle receivers had their struggles against Green Bay’s man coverage for much of the NFC Championship Game and now face a better secondary in New England’s. The Patriots don’t have quite the same star-studded crew as some during the Brady era, but they have put up decent numbers. Julian Edelman, the team’s leading receiver the past two years (92 catches, 972 yards this season) might be most dangerous out of the slot but lines up all over. Injuries limited Danny Amendola to just 27 catches this season, but he has been good in the playoffs (two TDs against Baltimore). But New England’s most dangerous receiver is tight end Rob Gronkowski, a unanimous All-Pro pick with 1,124 yards this season.
EDGE: PATRIOTS
DEFENSIVE LINE
Seattle’s defensive line will be challenged to get to Brady, who is adept at getting rid of the ball quickly. Getting consistent pressure on Peyton Manning with just four rushers was a key to the Super Bowl win over Denver a year ago, when Cliff Avril had one of his better games as a Seahawk, something the team will need again. End Rob Ninkovich had eight sacks to lead the Patriots this season, and Chandler Jones added six. Tackle Vince Wilfork is the key to New England’s run defence. Wilfork, at 33, might not be quite at the level that got him to five Pro Bowls, but he’s still tough to move.
EDGE: SEAHAWKS
LINEBACKERS
This is a matchup of two groups that despite the success of their teams, still might be a little underrated. Seattle middle linebacker Bobby Wagner has got lots of deserved accolades and now has a chance to bust out on the biggest stage. K.J. Wright will be a key in the team’s defence of Gronkowski. One of the more-underrated players in this game might be New England middle linebacker Jamie Collins, a second-year player who some think has been as good as any defender the past month or so. Outside linebacker Dont’a Hightower added six sacks for the Patriots.
EDGE: SEAHAWKS
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Seattle’s Legion of Boom remains unmatched among secondaries. But when it comes strictly to cornerbacks, New England is pretty close with former Seahawk Brandon Browner and Darrelle Revis. Browner couldn’t play early in the year while still under suspension, but his addition coincided with the Patriots’ midseason resurgence. New England also has got better play out of safeties Patrick Chung and Devin McCourty, two key reasons the Patriots didn’t allow a touchdown in the second half in the last six regular-season games. There will be a lot of questions about how Richard Sherman (elbow) and Earl Thomas (shoulder) will play with their injuries. The guess here is it won’t matter.
EDGE: SEAHAWKS
SPECIAL TEAMS
Seattle’s special teams were dynamite late in the win over Green Bay, but have been spottier than a year ago much of the season, especially the returners. The Patriots returners are solid with Edelman handling punts (average of 19.3 yards in the post-season) and Amendola kickoffs (24.1 for the season). Patriots PK Stephen Gostkowski led the NFL with 156 points. And New England blocked three field-goal attempts and one punt in 2014, the team’s highest total since 2002.
EDGE: PATRIOTS
COACHING
It’s the coach of the 2000s, Bill Belichick, against Pete Carroll, who could be the coach of the 2010s. The two have vastly different personalities but play a style that’s more similar than might often be portrayed. Both have shown an ability to get their teams ready for big games, and both have also shown no reluctance to pull out some tricks in pressure situations.
EDGE: EVEN
INTANGIBLES
It’s “DeflateGate” vs. a team trying to repeat — something no team has done since the Patriots following the 2004 season. Will the Patriots be galvanized by their feeling that the NFL is against them? Will the Seahawks’ new-found togetherness propel them to NFL history? Here’s thinking the Patriots get pretty tired of questions about footballs by week’s end.
EDGE: SEAHAWKS
FINAL PICK
These two were picked by many at the beginning of the season to arrive at this spot, and here they are. New England has Brady and pedigree, but the Seahawks are the more balanced team. The defence and running game that got the Seahawks here will carry them to another Super Bowl title.
PREDICTION: SEATTLE 31, NEW ENGLAND 24