Super Bowl 2015: Patriots vs. Seahawks Schedule, Odds and Early Preview

The Seattle Seahawks will take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX after a wild Championship Game Weekend that featured the former team completing a mind-blowing, 28-22 comeback victory in overtime against the Green Bay Packers and the latter dominating in a 45-7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

Seattle won a game in which it was completely outplayed for roughly 55 minutes of action. Russell Wilson threw four interceptions (two to rookie safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix), Doug Baldwin lost a fumble, Richard Sherman was slowed by injury and the Packers were just good enough on offense with a hobbled Aaron Rodgers to take a 19-7 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Seattle was not outcoached, however, and Packers head man Mike McCarthy could face questions and criticism of his conservative play-calling for quite some time. That 19-7 lead could've been greater, but it doesn't excuse the Packers from falling apart at the end of the game like they had undergone some sort of mass tranquilization and allowing the Seahawks to see overtime with the score 22-22. 

Wilson ended the game on a beautiful 35-yard touchdown lob to Jermaine Kearse. ESPN's Cary Chow noted the unlikely nature of that play: 

The Seahawks now have a chance to become the first back-to-back NFL champs since—guess who?—the Patriots won it all in 2004 and 2005.

Speaking of the Patriots, well, SB Nation summed up the AFC Championship throttling perfectly:

Here is a look at the Super Bowl schedule and odds, followed by an early preview of the upcoming contest.

2015 Super Bowl Schedule, Odds

Date: Sunday, Feb. 1

Time (ET): 6:30 p.m.

Location: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

TV: NBC

Matchup w/ Spread: Seattle Seahawks (-2) vs. New England Patriots

Moneyline: Seahawks 100/143, Patriots 129/100 

Over/Under: 48.5

Note: Odds courtesy of Odds Shark and updated as of Jan. 19, 2015 at 1 a.m. ET.

Early Preview

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

Here's the big question: Can Wilson rebound to become just the second quarterback after Eli Manning to beat the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick combo in a Super Bowl? 

Wilson had a horrid day throwing the football against the Packers, finishing with a 44.3 quarterback rating and looking generally lost for much of the contest. Wilson was so ineffective that the Seahawks' first passing touchdown actually came from punter Jon Ryan, who lofted the ball to pass-eligible offensive tackle Garry Gilliam on a devilish fake field goal in the third quarter.

Wilson should have his legs to carry him through tough stretches—he managed just 25 yards on the ground against Green Bay but did score a rushing touchdown—which could be crucial if he struggles again through the air. 

Brady had no trouble picking apart the Colts' pass defense on Sunday, completing 23 of 35 passes for 226 yards, three TDs and one pick. His name is synonymous with playoff excellence.

It's up to the Seahawks' pass rush to harass Brady a la the New York Giants in 2008 and 2012 and try to keep the game in hand, considering the Legion of Boom could still be banged up come February.

That could be a tall order; the Seahawks notched just 37 sacks during the regular season and could only bring down a one-legged Rodgers once on Sunday. Brady's been sacked just three times in two playoff games this year, and the offensive line allowed just 26 sacks during the regular season, the fourth-best mark in the league.

Much of the discussion will surround the clutch chops of Brady and Wilson, not to mention the paths both teams took to get to this game. The Patriots were magisterial on Sunday, but football fans shouldn't forget that the 22 points the Packers scrounged together were the most the Seahawks allowed since they gave up 24 to the Kansas City Chiefs in a Week 11 loss.

It's the end of a long season, but it can be easy to forget to take the long view sometimes, especially after all the drama from Saturday.

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

The weaponry at both teams' disposal is decidedly similar. Both teams feature a premier cover corner—Sherman and the Patriots' Darrelle Revis—both teams have sub-optimal wide receiver corps (Pats do have the edge here) and both squads will likely utilize tone-setting power backs in Lynch and LeGarrette Blount, who gutted the Colts defense for 138 rushing yards and two touchdowns on Sunday.

The "likely" qualifier is only thrown in there because of Belichick, who could just as easily hand the ball 20 times to Shane Vereen in the Super Bowl. Lynch has the longer track record of dominance, and Blount faces a tougher run defense, but the run game could be a wash if the Patriots execute like they did against Indianapolis.

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

Sherman, who notched his second interception of this postseason against Rodgers, will be a player to keep an eye on in the coming weeks, as it seemed he played much of the NFC Championship Game with one usable arm. NFL.com's Ian Rapoport passed along this update on the injury after the game:

Sherman, perhaps unsurprisingly, has already guaranteed he will be playing in the Super Bowl, per Fox Sports' Alex Marvez: 

Rapoport also noted Seahawks safety Earl Thomas missed time during the AFC Championship Game:

If there is any hint that Sherman will be playing with a damaged wing on Feb. 1, don't be surprised if Brady and Belichick test him on some deep throws and see if he can fight for jump balls.

Elsa/Getty Images

One area in which the Patriots have an obvious advantage is tight end. Limiting the havoc wrought by Rob Gronkowski will be key to the Seahawks' success in the Super Bowl. Gronk caught three passes for 28 yards and a score on Sunday, which should give Seattle some hope.

If there is any group that can contain Gronk, it's the Legion of Boom. The matchup between the league's premier tight end and Seattle safety Kam Chancellor will be one to watch in this contest. 

This contest is an excellent one on paper and will hopefully deliver on its promise as a titanic clash. It pits the Seahawks' emerging dynasty against the Patriots' potentially dying one. Brady and Belichick's days are numbered, and a win in the 2015 Super Bowl would cap a long, windy stretch of dominance by this franchise.

Should Seattle take this contest, Wilson and head coach Pete Carroll could set themselves up as the next great quarterback-head coach duo.