This is it. The NFL season has come down to the two #1 seeds in the AFC and NFC from the regular season as the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks lock horns this Sunday in Super Bowl XLIX. The Seahawks are looking to become the first repeat champions in the NFL since, coincidentally, the Patriots did so in 2003 and 2004.  

The road through the playoffs and to the Super Bowl was comprised of two different paths for these teams.  The Patriots squeaked out a victory against the Baltimore Ravens in the dvisional round and then pounded the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship Game. The Seahawks took a different path, pounding the Carolina Panthers in the divisional round and then pulling off a miracle victory in the final minutes of the NFC Championship.

With two weeks between the conference championships and the Super Bowl, any number of stories are likely to make news. Unfortunately for all involved, most of those headlines have been around “DeflateGate” and the Patriots with Marshawn Lynch’s lack of desire to do press conferences coming in a distant second.  Neither of these news items will have an impact on Super Bowl XLIV unless the league office does something really off the wall in the coming days to show some muscle. (Let’s hope that this doesn’t happen; the NFL and, most specifically, Roger Goodell, needs to get out of their/his own way.)

As we get closer to Sunday and past Media Day, the focus starts to settle on the football field and the game itself. As we make our final approach to Super Bowl XLIV, let us take a look at what to expect when each team has the ball on Sunday.  

When the Seahawks are on offense

There will not be breaking news here. The Seahawks must get a big game from Lynch and his backups. Lynch ran for 157 yards in NFC Championship game, and a similar effort is going to be key for the Seahawks in their quest to repeat. 

With Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner playing cornerback for the Patriots, do not expect the Seahawks wide receivers to get a lot of action in the passing game. The Seahawks will need the running game to succeed and then build off of it with play action. Expect a lot of check-downs from quarterback Russell Wilson to his tight ends and running backs.

The other key for the Seahawks is the health of their starting offensive line. With the extra week of rest, Seattle needs to have center Max Unger and right tackle Justin Britt make it through the game injury-free.  Both have missed time in the playoffs and will be welcomed additions to an offense that has struggled throughout the playoffs.  

Advantage: Patriots

When the Patriots are on offense

Quarterback Tom Brady continues to perform at an incredibly high level. Without much of a running game for most of the season, the Pats were still able to move the ball up and down the field against opposing defenses. The biggest weapon for Brady remains Rob Gronkowski, who grabbed 82 balls for over 1,100 receiving yards during the regular season.  

Late season addition to the Pats roster, running back LeGarrette Blount, ran all over the Colts in the AFC Championship game, totaling 148 yards on 30 attempts. The Seahawks defense finished the regular season third in NFL against the run, allowing 81.5 yard per game. Assuming that strength holds to form for the Seahawks, it will force Brady to throw into Seattle’s Legion of Boom and Linebackers more frequently. 

Seahawks safety Earl Thomas and cornerback Richard Sherman sustained injuries in the Packers game, but they have both sworn to be on the field in the Super Bowl, and fans of both teams should expect as much. The Patriots coaches, Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels, will find a way to get the ball into the hands of the Patriots playmakers and find a way to test Thomas’ shoulder and Sherman’s elbow early in the game.  

Advantage: Seahawks

Special Teams

Seattle’s kick return game is essentially nonexistent at this point. The Seahawks are better off taking a knee for a touchback and/or fair catching the ball on punts and getting out of the way of the rest of the team. While kicker Steven Hauschka and punter Jon Ryan remain as true assets to the team, the Seahawks must avoid mistakes in special teams coverages.

The Patriots finished the regular season ranked #5 in the league in special teams according to DVOA ratings; Seattle finished 19th. If there is one area that is a clear advantage for these two teams, it is in special teams. Despite a fake field goal that was executed to perfection against the Packers, the Seahawks must avoid any and all errors and leave this game to their offense and defense.  

Advantage: Patriots

Final Score Prediction: Seahawks 31, Patriots 27

The Jekyll and Hyde performances of the Seahawks' offense in the past few weeks disappears, and Wilson and Lynch lead the Seahawks' attack against the Patriots' defense. With a chance to pull out the victory towards the end, Brady throws a second interception to Byron Maxwell, who stamps his free agency ticket with a bang in the most-watched television event of the year.