Super Bowl XLIX: The Opposing Predictions and Preview
By Dan Carney
Top 3 Matchups of Superbowl XLIX:
- Tom Brady vs. Legion of Boom
Brady is going to have to stretch the field through the air and truly test the Legion of Boom.
“LOB”, the term for the secondary of Seattle since 2012 (probably the same year most of the Seahawks “12th man” hoopla started), consists of All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Byron Maxwell, and Earl Thomas. Patriots’ corner Brandon Browner is an original member of the group.
If the outstanding secondary can shut down the aerial attack like they have so often in the past, Seattle will have an excellent opportunity to win this game.
Star cornerback Richard Sherman suffered a sprained elbow late in the NFC Championship game and couldn’t even straighten out his arm, yet he still didn’t come out.
Sherman’s Legion of Boom counter partner, Earl Thomas, dislocated his shoulder early in the game as well, but still came back out with a shoulder brace on and fought through the pain. Now that’s toughness.
Can Sherman and Thomas bounce back strong from injury? Will the “LOB” eliminate Brady’s options downfield, just like they have for every QB that has stepped in their path?
- Rob Gronkowski vs. Kam Chancellor
Standing at a towering size compared to defensive players around the league, the 6-foot-6, 265 lb. Rob Gronkowski always has a clear mismatch against the opponents that dare stand in his path. After returning from an ACL tear that knocked him out of the 2013 season in early December, Gronk has been nothing less than exceptional, regaining the dominant nature he has shown in his first five seasons with New England.
In 2014, the former 42nd overall selection logged 82 receptions (4th among TE’s), 1,124 yards (1st), and reeled in an impressive 12 TD’s (tie-1st), his third consecutive season with 10+ trips to the end zone. Gronkowski was named to his third career Pro Bowl, but of course as any Super Bowl-bound team does, sat out the boring event (you all know it’s true) in preparation for the biggest game of the year.
In Super Bowl XLIX, Gronk will face a strong safety more powerful than any player with which he has ever matched up: 6-foot-4 Legion of Boom member Kam Chancellor. Chancellor, standing just 2 inches smaller than Gronkowski, will look to use his larger size, though a smaller size advantage than usual, to neutralize the tight end’s ability to bully the defender and create an open slant, often leading to a famous spike. Can Chancellor limit Gronk like no other safety before in XLIX?
- New England’s O-Line vs. Seattle’s D-Line
In a New England victory, time and time again, one of the single most important factors is protecting 3-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady. The former 6th round selection loves taking his time within the pocket to find the greatest pass available, and when he doesn’t have the protection he needs from players like Nate Solder and Brian Stork, you can see a very different “Tom Terrific” scrambling to hit a subpar option.
Number twelve needs his patience, and pressure from a dominating Seattle core that currently has the best pass-defense in the entire NFL.
For Seattle to win, putting pressure on Brady would be one of the most beneficial factors that could lead to a Lombardi trophy. Making the 37-year-old QB uncomfortable hitting his recievers could lead to the possibility of turnovers as well.
Guards like Dan Connolly Sebastian Vollmer will have to protect Brady at all costs and from all angles, keeping a close eye on Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett, who had 7.0 sacks in 2014. Former Purdue standout Cliff Avril and Jordan Hill also pose a threat to New England’s O-line, both posting 5+ sacks during the course of this season.
The matchup between the Seattle d-line and the New England o-line, with what they both have at stake to lead their franchise to hats and t-shirts, make it all the more important for a massive Super Bowl Sunday showdown.
The Patriots Prediction/Preview
By Cameron Dubin
Although the focus in football this week has been the Patriots’ “deflate-gate,” it will be red and blue confetti that pours down in Arizona this upcoming Sunday at the Superbowl, as the Patriots, behind mastermind Bill Belichick celebrate their 4th super bowl in 15 years.
The Patriots offense absolutely dismantled the Colts defense Sunday in the AFC Championship with 397 yards of total offense while putting 45 points on the board.
Seattle has a phenomenal defense. There is no doubt from any football fans that the hard hitting Seahawks’ Legion of Boom defense is much better than the lackluster Colts defense.
Led by a strong secondary with the self proclaimed “best corner in the league” Richard Sherman, Seattle has allowed only 15.9 points per game.
But with the diversity of the Patriots offense, New England will prevail as the winner of the 49th Super Bowl.
New England has had a different leading rusher every month of this season between Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Jonas Gray and Legarrette Blount.
Along with a throwing attack led by future hall of famer Brady, New England has many offensive weapons like monster tight end Rob Gronkowski (12 TDs), first year Patriot Brandon LaFell (7 TDs), and proven slot receiver Julian Edelman (four TDs) to help pull apart the Seattle defensive backs.
Unlike other teams, the Patriots offense is not invested in one weapon, but have multiple, meaning Seattle will be stretched thin, having to worry about the size of Gronk, the allusiveness of Edelman, and the bulldozer running of Blount.
However, the New England defense is no slouch either. With lockdown cornerback Darrelle Revis helping to stifle Seattle’s passing game, the Seahawks will have to rely on their running game, led by “I’m just here so I don’t get fined” Marshawn Lynch.
If the Pats can keep Lynch under control and stretch the Seattle secondary thin, the multiple New England offensive weapons will find a way to win.
Final Score: 24-13 Patriots
The Seahawks Prediction/Preview
By Aidan Sutherland
Some people know them as the reigning world champs, or the seven-time NFC West division champs, or maybe even the two time AFC West champs, but I know them as the team that brought hope back to a town without a good sports team.
The Seahawks are portrayed as this dirty, mean group of punks who has no chance at winning the Super Bowl this year; that is a bunch of lies if you ask me.
Out of any team in the NFL there isn’t one team the Seahawks couldn’t beat.
First, the defense for the Seahawks is incredible. This defensive charge is led by the strong secondary with Richard Sherman and Bobby Wagner.
Just in the playoffs they had two fumble recoveries, four interceptions, and one pick-six. In the regular season they had 18 fumble recoveries, 13 interceptions, and two pick-sixes.
And despite the speculation since the conference championship game, Sherman’s torn elbow will not play a factor in the game; it will be perfectly healthy by kickoff in Arizona.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Seahawks are stupendous. In the playoffs alone the Seahawks had 750+ offensive yards and eight touchdowns, while giving up only three sacks, protecting young quarterback Russell Wilson tremendously.
During the regular season the Seahawks had 43 touchdowns, and had over 6,000 yards of offense as they averaged 24.6 points per game. Marshawn Lynch alone had 1,673 total yards this season as he flattened defenders on his way to the end zone 13 times on the ground throughout the season.
Wilson had 3,475 total passing yards this season with another 849 yards on the ground. And with a 35 yard Touchdown catch in OT to win the NFC Championship, Seattle’s offense has a lot of confidence going in to the game.
I know what you’re thinking. So what? I don’t care what the Seahawks did during the playoffs or the regular season, it’s the final score of the Super Bowl that matters. You would be right in saying that, and I 100% agree that the final score is the only stat that matters.
The Seahawks right now are not favored to win, but that didn’t stop them from raising the hardware in 2014. In Super Bowl XLVIII, last year, the Seahawks beat the Broncos 43-8. Going into the biggest game of the season, the Broncos were the favorite by three points.
Once again, the one point underdog Seahawks will take another Superbowl out of the grasps of Tom Brady.
Final Score: 24-21 Seahawks
