We are just a few days away from kickoff in Arizona and the balls are being inflated to just the right PSI for Super Bowl XLIX.
This is one of the most evenly matched Super Bowls in recent memory and, despite some of the distractions, the game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots should live up to the hype.
We here at the Journal Tribune decided to take a closer look at the big game ”“ and give our reasons as to why each team will win.
Sports Editor Pat McDonald took the side of the Seahawks and Sports Staff Writer Wil Kramlich threw his support behind the Patriots.
Why the Seahawks will win:
The Seattle Seahawks will face one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time in the Super Bowl. Sound familiar?
Last year, the Seahawks faced a legendary quarterback in the Super Bowl and they shut down Peyton Manning and cruised to a 43-8 win over the Denver Broncos.
The reason the Seahawks beat the Broncos last year is the same reason they will topple Tom Brady and the Patriots this year ”“ their defense is one of the best we’ve ever seen.
On the other side of the ball, Seattle coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Russell Wilson just seem to figure out a way to win when the game is on the line.
Wilson is no Tom Brady, but in his three seasons in the league, he has proven he is one of the most clutch signal callers in recent memory.
Now, let’s get to probably the most important player on the Seahawks team: Marshawn Lynch.
The powerful running back has the ability to take over any game ”“ and seems to always provide a spark when the Seahawks need it most.
If the Seahawks are going to celebrate on Sunday night it will be because of the man they call “Beast Mode.”
Why the Patriots will win:
How the Seahawks handled the Broncos in last year’s Super Bowl is alarming, but this year’s Patriots are not last year’s Broncos.
While Manning is regular season great, Brady doesn’t skip a beat in the playoffs. He has three rings and the most playoff wins by a QB in NFL history. Oh, and he has Gronk.
Defensively, the Patriots do have a handful in front of them in Lynch, as well as containing Wilson’s scrambling ability. But the Patriots are downright stingy in the red zone and have shut down opponents in the second half since before Thanksgiving.
The Packers intercepted Wilson four times in the NFC Championship game, and they don’t even have Darrelle Revis. The Patriots do, and he’s just one part of a secondary that can compete with Seattle’s on the field, if not rival it verbally off the field.
It’s hard to predict a winner in this game, because it is evenly matched. So let’s discuss the intangibles.
Belichick is a genius, with or without spying and PSI-ing. You know he has something up his cut-off sleeves.
And as far as motivation, the Patriots have plenty now after “Deflategate.” It’s not fun to face them when they’re feeling disrespected.
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