Super Bowl 2015: Patriots vs. Seahawks Schedule, Start Time, Performers, TV Info

Sunday's conference championships saw the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots advance to Super Bowl XLIX, setting up a tremendous finale for what's been an amazing NFL postseason.

The big game will take place at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, a venue that was established in 2006 and has also served as the site of the Fiesta Bowl.

Warmer weather in the desert will serve as a stark contrast to last year's battle for the Lombardi Trophy at MetLife Stadium, which the Seahawks won with ease 43-8 over Denver.

ESPN's James Walker tweeted a fitting snapshot of what's at stake in the big game this time around:

Seattle will have a shot to lift the Lombardi Trophy yet again after holding home-field advantage successfully in a thrilling overtime win over Green Bay.

That the venue is closer to the "12th Man" fans has to benefit the Seahawks to a degree. As dominant as New England was in crushing the Indianapolis Colts 45-7 on Sunday, though, the Patriots have the look of a championship team as well.

Below is a look at the basic information for Super Bowl XLIX, along with a brief preview of the magnificent matchup on tap.

Date	Matchup	Time (ET)	TV	Halftime Performers
Sunday, February 1	New England Patriots (1) vs. Seattle Seahawks (1)	6:30 p.m.	NBC	Katy Perry, Lenny Kravitz

New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl XLIX Preview

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

The above snapshot was from 2012, when the Seahawks defeated New England 24-23 in Seattle and Richard Sherman let Tom Brady have it after the game.

Sherman hurt his elbow in Sunday's victory, but he indicated on Twitter that he'd be ready to roll come Super Bowl Sunday:

Those hoping for a great Super Bowl can only hope Sherman and the rest of the key players are at full strength in this battle for true NFL superiority.

Chris Sprow of ESPN noticed a common thread between the two Super Bowl participants, who both faced adversity before surging to the finish of the regular season:

"

#Seahawks and #Patriots now a combined 20-2 since losing at Kansas City (One NE loss a Week 17 breather.)

— Chris Sprow (@SprowESPN) January 19, 2015"

NFL Network's Jeff Darlington weighed in on how far both teams have come since Seattle was doubted with records of 3-3 and again at 6-4, while the Pats were written off amid a 2-2 start:

An excerpt from Russell Wilson's postgame comments highlights what has made the Seahawks so tough this year:

Though much attention will be focused on Brady, Patriots coach Bill Belichick and the team's pursuit of a fourth Super Bowl ring in their reign of greatness, the running games for both teams will loom large.

LeGarrette Blount demoralized the Colts with his hard running on Sunday, while Marshawn Lynch's relentless physicality caused the Packers to cave. Lynch is a far more frequent producer, yet New England might consider matching Seattle's violent style of play by deploying its own bruising ball-carrier.

Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com put Blount's performance into context:

The big difference between Brady and his counterpart Russell Wilson is that the latter can extend the play with his legs and make magic happen, while Brady relies more on schemes and in-pocket accuracy.

Wilson has made some history of his own for all of the attention Brady's postseason prowess rightly deserves, per ESPN Stats & Info:

Seattle did a poor job for the most part in pressuring Aaron Rodgers during the NFC Championship Game, so it will be due for a better effort on February 1.

Exceptional press coverage by the Seahawks will also make it harder for Brady to connect on the short, timed passes that picked Indianapolis apart.

The Broncos tried to dink and dunk against Seattle in last year's Super Bowl. That didn't work out so well, even with a dynamic pass-catching tight end in Julius Thomas, whom the Seahawks limited to four catches and 27 yards and should manage to emulate versus Patriots star Rob Gronkowski.

It's going to be a completely different Super Bowl this year, yet there are a lot of strengths Seattle still possesses and deployed to great success that translate to facing the Patriots. Its defensive front is cut out to deny New England's ground game, and a myriad of versatile pass-rushers such as Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril and others have the quickness to give the Pats problems up front in pass protection.

Super Bowl XLIX will fittingly come down to the wire between the two best, most complete teams in football. The explosive runs Lynch can produce in the biggest moments, the improvisational savvy Wilson has and the edge Seattle has defensively will give the Seahawks a second straight Super Bowl.

Prediction: Seahawks 24, Patriots 20