Super Bowl XLIX

"Are you ready for some football!!!"

Today is the big day: Super Bowl Sunday! People from all over the country will flock to bars, friends' houses, restaurants, and wherever a television may be in site in order to watch the biggest football game of the year take place with some of the best commercials, movie trailers, and halftime show stunts we will see. This year is Super Bowl XLIX (49 in regular numbers) and we will witness the matchup of last year's defending champions Seattle Seahawks go head-to-head against the New England Patriots. So I guess it is time that I throw in my own ideas and thoughts on what today's big game will bring for us.

-Excited, but not "Over The Moon"

Deflate gate really took all the air out of the Super Bowl

This may be a bit confusing to understand because while I am excited to see the Super Bowl today, I get the feeling that this year's Super Bowl just does not seem to have the buzz and atmosphere that I have experienced in other seasons in the past. One reason, and it's probably the biggest one, is the whole thing about the New England Patriots and their latest scandal known as Deflategate, in which the NFL discovered that the New England Patriots had used footballs that were deflated by about 2 PSI under the minimum requirement of 12.5 PSI during the AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts. Because the scandal had come about before the Super Bowl, the media instantly turned most of it's focus on the scandal rather than the big game because it is the more interesting of the two stories. Even I can not deny that I was drawn to finding out more about the story (which is why my Super Bowl piece is coming out on the day of the game).

Another reason for the loss of interest in the game is what I call "prediction syndrome". This may or may not make sense, but hear me out on this. You see, we all know that the Seattle Seahawks won the Super Bowl last season with amazing play from the defense and the team overall, so our expectations are that they will repeat again next season. The New England Patriots and their QB Tom Brady have been here five times before and won three of them, so we expect to Patriots to always find a way to be able to compete for the AFC Championship and possibly make it to the Super Bowl. So honestly, the reason that I feel this game does not have an edge to it like others in the past is because their really isn't any surprise here; most people I spoke with or read had prediction like Seattle and Denver or Seattle and New England. They were choosing the most likely and predictable, which I can not blame them seeing as these two teams played so well. I think it would been much more talked about had we been looking at a Green Bay vs New England game when you consider the talent of the two teams as far as the QB play that would go on between Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady.

-Ground Game + Pass Defense = Win Factor

Marshawn Lynch has been amazing for Seattle since his arrival,
but can the Patriots shut him down and out of beast mode?

So far, all the talk has been about the two teams ability to run the ball being their main source of success. I one way, I will agree that it holds true for the Seahawks when you consider the playing ability of running back Marshawn Lynch. The Patriots, however, have never been one to lean too much on the run. And why should they? After all, it's not like Tom Brady is hurting or going to be out of the game today. Also, the Patriots are not exactly "stacked" with talent at the running back position. There's LaGarrette Blount, who had a decent game in the AFC Championship, but must work on getting a lot quicker on his cuts. Then Shane Vereen is in the mix as the speedy back that shows promise, but has problems with staying healthy. Brandon Bolden is an quite a talent, but also a problem with only so-so speed to go along with a lack of carries. Now those are just about half of the running backs. In total (including those on the IR list), the Patriots have gone through six running backs to try and control the ground game. Out of all of them, the best I feel is Steven Ridley. However, Ridley is the one sitting on the IR list.

Tom Brady is all about being calm, cool, and so very good, but now
comes time to see how good Seattle's Legion of Boom really is

But besides the run, both teams must be at their best in the pass defense in order to win this game as well. The Seahawks have some of the NFL's best defensive backs with Richard Sherman, Byron Maxwell, Earl Thomas, and Kam Chancellor. They will have to try and do their best against Tom Brady, especially if it comes down to the last two minutes or so of the game (Brady has proven successful there before). As for the Patriots, their secondary of Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner (with Seattle last season), Patrick Chung, and Devin McCourty will have to deal with Russell Wilson. While Wilson is not seen as an established passer like Tom Brady, he still has a unique ability to finds man when needed in those clutch situations that coincides with his leadership skills on the field (two similarities Wilson shares with Brady). Basically, whoever can sustain a consistent and steady ground game offensively while the passing defense contains the offense to at least one passing touchdown all game, that will be the team who wins it.

-Whose is the MVP?
It's always a question that gets thrown around with the same similar answers that go with it: who will the Super Bowl MVP? And usually, the answers tend to be the team's best performers off the regular season/post season.

-New England

Rob Gronkowski has the skill and talent to be Super Bowl MVP,
but can once again come through to actually win this one?

First, we'll talk about the candidates of the New England Patriots since they are favored to win the Super Bowl today. Offensively, the Patriots' MVP will be either quarterback Tom Brady, tight end Rob Gronkowski, or wide receiver Julian Edelman. Brady makes sense because, well he's the quarterback whose won it before (Super Bowl & Super Bowl MVP) and could be primed for a big game of around 300 passing yards and possibly three touchdowns. For Gronkowski, he's always proven to be one of the the NFL's top performers that can make those clutch catches when needed which is why I see Gronk winning MVP if he is able to hall in two TDs in the game with 100+ receiving yards. Then there's Julian Edelman, whose surprised so many be making a giant leap in his ability to play as a wide out. Edelman may be a shocker if he can hall in two touchdowns or have one receiving TD to go with scoring a TD on a punt or kick return.

Whether you no him or not,
whether he plays defensive end or linebacker,
Rob Ninkovich will have some type of impact in this game

Defensively, I give it to either cornerback Darrelle Revis or defensive end/ linebacker Rob Ninkovich. If Revis, being the talented DB that he is, can get two interceptions and take one back for a touchdown while helping to shut down the Seahawks' passing game, I think he earns MVP. As for Ninkovich, many forget that he is such a talented and intelligent player for the Patriots' defense. If he can record two sacks, a forced fumble, maybe even a fumble recovery or INT back for a touchdown, I could see him winning the award.


-Seattle

Jermaine Kearse may not seem like Super Bowl MVP,
but he has the skills to shine through in this game today

Now we move on to the Seattle Seahawks and who their possible candidates for MVP could possibly be. Offensively, the Seahawks have MVP possibilities in quarterback Russell Wilson, running back Marshawn Lynch, and wide receiver Jermaine Kearse. Wilson makes sense because he is the quarterback and will always find a way to make big plays. I will consider him so long at he can get two touchdowns (passing or running) and about 220+ passing yards. Lynch is one of the clear-cut notables to win MVP according to most analysts. Considering how dominant a player he is and how important he will be in this game for the Seahawks, I could see Lynch win MVP so long as he can get 120+ total yards with two touchdowns (passing or rushing). The reason I pick Jermaine Kearse is not [just] for the big catch that he had to win in OT over Green Bay, but because he is viable piece to the passing game in complimenting fellow wide out Doug Baldwin and tight end Luke Willson. Kearse can earn the honor of MVP if he can grab to clutch touchdowns when the Seahawks need them the most.

Kam Chancellor (left), Richard Sherman (center), and
Earl Thomas(right) could all be MVP of the game, but
which one will get their chance to shine first

On the defensive side the ball, I could see cornerback Richard Sherman, safety Earl Thomas, safety Kam Chancellor, and linebacker K.J. Wright. Sherman is many peoples' "obvious" pick because of what he can do against any QB in the NFL. Even though last year he was not able to make through the entire game, if he stays healthy and grab two INTs with one of them back for a touchdown, he'll get MVP. Then you have Thomas, who is one of the best safeties in the NFL right now. His hard hits and ability to track the ball in the air are what make me think that he could be the Super Bowl MVP, but will only happen if he can lead the team in tackles in the game, force a fumble or two along with maybe an INT or two. My favorite defensively right now is Chancellor. He;s the size of a linebacker, playing safety, and is arguably one of the toughest in the league. Despite being injured and listed as probable, I think Chancellor will play and lead the team in tackles while also getting an INT and a forced fumble to win MVP. Finally, there's Wright. he was last year's MVP of the Super Bowl and he is such an amazing performing that I feel he can come through again. So long as he leads in tackles and has himself a combo or INTs and/or fumble recoveries, he could be a two-time MVP.

-Who wins Super Bowl XLIX?
All in all, there is not too much more I can really say about the Super Bowl because it's here now and it's time to start shifting over to what we can expect to see out of this game. So who wins this game? Whose MVP? Well, I my opinion I see the Seattle Seahawks repeating as Super Bowl Champions 37-31. In my head, I would say that Tom Brady will be able to get three touchdowns with two to Gronkowski and one to LaFell, but then will be intercepted by either Chancellor or Thomas which will shift the Momentum to the Seahawks where Wilson will throw two touchdowns of his own with one to Willson and one to Kearse. Then Lynch will do the ground work for Seattle and run for little over 100 yards and score twice (once from the redone and the other going for 30+ yards). With Seattle crowned champions, I would say that Marshawn Lynch then wins Super Bowl MVP.

Happy Super Bowl Sunday to You All!