Patriots vs. Seahawks: Winner and Score Predictions for Super Bowl 2015

It is only fitting that the team the Seattle Seahawks have to get past if they hope to win back-to-back Super Bowls is the New England Patriots.

After all, Tom Brady and company were the last group to win the Lombardi Trophy in two consecutive seasons when they won three titles in four years between 2001 and 2004. If Seattle is going to build a dynasty of its own, the most recent one has to officially fall in Super Bowl XLIX.

On paper, the critical matchup in this game is the showdown between the future Hall of Fame quarterback in Brady and the strongest defense the league has seen in years. The Seahawks finished first in the league in total defense, first in scoring defense, first against the pass and third against the run and have the personnel to match up with anyone, especially in the secondary.

However, Brady has 20 postseason wins, 49 playoff touchdown passes and the most passing yards in playoff history. If anyone is going to beat Richard Sherman and the rest of the “Legion of Boom” on the sport’s grandest stage, it is Brady.

It will be intriguing to see how Seattle deals with Brady’s top weapon, tight end Rob Gronkowski, considering it was fifth in the league in yards allowed to tight ends. Of course, Gronkowski and his 1,124 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns isn’t a normal tight end, so safety Kam Chancellor and linebacker K.J. Wright will have their hands full.

New England wins plenty of games with its passing attack, but the best way to knock off Seattle is with a strong rushing attack. 

In fact, the Seahawks gave up more than 100 rushing yards in each of their four losses, and Green Bay controlled the NFC Championship Game until the final five minutes with 135 rushing yards on 30 carries.

The Patriots could turn to LeGarrette Blount, who gashed the Indianapolis Colts for 148 rushing yards and three touchdowns. ESPN Stats & Info pointed out why that may not be a bad strategy:

Running against Seattle is still much easier said than done considering it finished third in the league in rushing defense. The fact that finishing third in the league in a category is seen as a way to beat the Seahawks is a testament to how dominant this defense has been this year.

Don’t overlook Seattle’s offense, though.

Quarterback Russell Wilson is a perfect 10-0 against fellow Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks and is a key part of the league’s top-ranked rushing attack. The Seahawks use the read option with Wilson (849 rushing yards and six touchdowns) and Marshawn Lynch (1,306 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns) to set everything up.

Defensive end Michael Bennett said what everyone was thinking when Seattle fell behind against Green Bay Sunday, via Nancy Armour of USA Today: "As long as you've got Marshawn Lynch and Russell Wilson, it's never bad."

The Patriots will counter with a defense that only allowed six rushing touchdowns all year, which was second best in league. They also finished ninth in rushing yards allowed.

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

The thing New England can do that most of Seattle’s opponents can’t is devote more defenders to the box in an effort to stop the run because of its corners. Darrelle Revis and former Seahawk Brandon Browner make up one of the best one-two punches in the league at cornerback and have no problem playing on an island at times.

Seattle’s receiving corps is underrated but doesn’t have anyone who strikes a ton of fear in the opposition’s heart in that type of situation.

While the Patriots are set up to at least contain the Seattle rushing attack, the ultimate difference in this game will be Seattle’s overwhelming defense. It may seem cliche to say defense wins championships, but that is exactly what this Seahawks defense did last year and will do again on Feb. 1.

Chancellor will limit Gronkowski, and the strong front seven will keep Blount in check. That will be enough to win another Super Bowl.

Prediction: Seahawks 24, Patriots 21

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