This Sunday, all eyes will be on the University of Phoenix Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona, as the Seattle Seahawks try to defend their title against the New England Patriots. Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch, and the feared Seattle secondary will try to stop the red-hot Patriots led by the great Tom Brady.
New England comes into the game with a regular season record of 12 wins and 4 losses. The road to the Super Bowl for New England started with a 35-31 win over the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round and then a 45-7 thrashing of the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship game. The key to the Patriots success lies greatly on the fact that Brady, who is 37 years old, isn’t playing like his age. Brady continues to be one of the best quarterbacks in the league year in and year out. The success New England has had also is because their all-pro tight end Rob Gronkowski has stayed healthy. The past few years he has torn his ACL and broken his forearm twice. “Gronk” staying healthy has allowed the Patriots to become impossible to stop on offense. The New England defense is no joke either. Corner Darrelle Revis is back to playing as one of the best defensive backs in the league. He has shown the ability to completely shut down the opposing team’s best receiver. The only problem New England faces is the task of slowing down the two-headed running attack of Marshawn Lynch and Russell Wilson. If New England can do this, Brady will win his fourth Super Bowl.
The Seattle Seahawks did not get off to a great start in the regular season. Three wins and three losses isn’t how you expect the defending Super Bowl champion to start the next season, but the Seahawks regrouped. Seattle finished the season with 12 wins and 4 losses. The Seahawks reached the Super Bowl with a 31-17 win over the Carolina Panthers in the Divisional Round and a 28-22 overtime thriller against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship game. Seattle’s defense has been the reason the team has had success, and it starts with the secondary. Richard Sherman, the shutdown corner and vocal trash talker is the key piece of the defense. Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor are two hard hitting safeties who, combined with Sherman, make up the “Legion of Boom.” This nickname was given to this group of players for their ability to make plays in the secondary and put big hits on the receivers. If the “Legion of Boom” can take away Brady and “Gronk,” Seattle will win back to back Super Bowl titles.
When the Seahawks face the Patriots on Sunday in the 49th Super Bowl, it will be only the eleventh time both number one seeds in their respected conferences have made the Super Bowl. Will Brady win his fourth ring, or will Wilson and the “Legion of Boom” repeat as Super Bowl Champions?
Prediction: New England 31 Seattle 28