I admit I had to look this up to see what the Roman numeral means in the Arabic number that our society normally uses, and so it is Super Bowl 49! I am sure you have already had your fill of media day. It’s time to look at the teams and discuss real football.
Great teams begin with outstanding coaching. What a dandy match-up we have in opposing coaches. Bill Belichick and Pete Carroll are completely different in personality, but the overall success they have had in their careers mirrors one another. Belichick, (the grouchy guy), has won three SB’s while losing two. Carroll (the life of the party type) won his first Super Bowl last year, but he also went (2-1) in NCAA football national championships.
(Video Courtesy of CBS sports)
They both know how to prepare great strategy and succeed. Usually they both make the high percentage choices on most plays in the game, but at least one time somewhere in the game they are willing to spin the roulette wheel or shove all the chips in the pot with a trick play. If it’s a critical 4th down they both will go for it. Expect these guys to each do this at least once in this game because they would rather go for the win instead of playing not to lose. Personally I like both of these guys and I think this is an even draw between them and their incredible assistants under them.
When we examine the signal callers, I again think you have a draw. Russell Wilson is a fine young Quarterback with a strong arm and mental toughness like his idol, Drew Brees. He scrambles like John Elway and Roger Staubach, using his feet to keep the chains moving. He also is back in the Super Bowl for a second year and has one ring already. Tom Brady is as good as it gets in the pocket. He is one of the sharpest tools in the shed and great at reading the opposition’s defense with a terrific arm that doesn’t need flat footballs. Plus, when you are not expecting it he will use his (5.3) 40-yard dash “speed” and lower his shoulder, and sneak his way to a first down. I also call this even.
(Video Courtesy of Fox Sports)
In general both teams I believe will try to control the ball, use their special teams for field position, and do what they can to protect the football. The “Legion of Boom” of Seattle is the NFL’s leading defense in all four main categories: points allowed, against the rush, against the pass, and in total yards. The Patriots have the 4th best points per game average on offense. Their passing game uses the entire field, whether it is short slants, check downs to the running backs, deep shots down the edge, and tight ends cruising up the seams , especially Gronk’. They even have a wide receiver, Edelman, who has hurled a touchdown pass this post-season and a Tackle Nate Solder, who has developed into a receiving threat. Tailback LeGarrette Blount dishes out his own kind of boom when he roars through the tackles for juicy gains. That is the most intriguing match-up. Who can impose their will?
When the Seahawks have the ball, they will be taking the field with the League’s 10th best offense with a 24.6 ppg average. The Patriots will face them with a defense that is ranked 8th in the NFL on points allowed. I believe this match-up will be nearly as intriguing. The Seahawks have a great power running game and the Pats are stingy against the run.
Something tells me this Super Bowl might go into overtime, just a hunch. I am really hoping there are no controversial calls that will leave some fans screaming. If the game is called well we might be in for the most exciting Super Bowl ever.
So why will the Seahawks win? They found a way to pull a miracle comeback against Green Bay in the NFC championship. It’s all about the 12th man destiny baby. It’s their time, New England is the past. The Seahawk defense has a chance to make an historical case for themselves not just by winning back to back SB’s, but doing it against Manning and then Brady (two of the very best ever), making their legacy concrete, and ever-lasting along with the Steel Curtain and the 85’ Bears. They won’t let that slip. Russell Wilson will scamper and throw all over the Patriots defense. Pete Carroll will have his defense bring blitzes come from places we have never even imagined. Pete Carroll will outsmart Belichick with a tackle eligible touchdown pass late.
So why the will the Patriots win? The first SB title came with controversy, “the tuck rule” allegedly allowed the Patriots to get past Oakland. That insult seemed to fire up the 2001 Pats’ back then and maybe “deflategate” will fire up this year’s squad. The Patriot offense came alive a few weeks into the season after they got a healthy Gronkowski into the lineup. Karma will catch up to Sherman and he’s going to get burned for a key touchdown that Tom Brady throws of course. Karma kicks the cocky Seattle defense in the behind with a steady diet of LeGarette Blount over and over and over. Bill Belichick saw something in film that no one has ever realized about the Seahawks. He will expose the flaw and outsmart Pete Carroll with a new trick play.
Get ready for a classic.
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