Patriots vs. Seahawks: Super Bowl 2015 TV Coverage Schedule, Matchup Guide
For the final destination of the ultimate team sport, the Super Bowl sure touts a large amount of eyebrow-raising individual matchups.
Observers will gravitate toward Russell Wilson against Tom Brady, as they should.
Look at the rest, though. Marshawn Lynch vs. LeGarrette Blount is great news for everyone except defenders. Kam Chancellor against Rob Gronkowski might decide the game outright. Darrelle Revis and Richard Sherman are the best corners in the game.
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The list goes on, but the truth is that a more evenly matched showdown is impossible to name. Even Bill Belichick and Pete Carroll present a meeting of the minds unlike the NFL has seen in quite some time.
Unlike last year's event, it appears this Super Bowl has it right.
Super Bowl Info and Odds
| Sunday, Feb. 1 | New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks | 6:30 p.m. | NBC | NE -1 | 47.5 | 27-24 SEA |
Betting info via Odds Shark as of Friday, Jan. 30, at 10 p.m. ET.
Matchup Guide
| Quarterback | NE |
| Running back | SEA |
| Wide Receiver | EVEN |
| Tight End | NE |
| Offensive Line | NE |
| Defensive Line | SEA |
| Linebackers | SEA |
| Secondary | SEA |
| Special Teams | NE |
Top Matchups to Watch
Marshawn Lynch vs. LeGarrette Blount
Before last season, the odds this matchup would help headline a Super Bowl were astronomically low.
Remember when the thought process was that the 28-year-old Lynch would be pushed aside for a committee approach thanks to younger talents such as Robert Turbin and Christine Michael?
Yeah, right—Lynch rushed 280 times for 1,306 yards and 13 scores in the regular season before single-handedly placing the team on his back in the NFC Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers with 157 yards and a score.
Remember when most thought Blount would form a strong one-two punch with Le'Veon Bell in Pittsburgh?
One temper tantrum over playing time later, Blount wound up back with the Patriots and bruised his way to 148 yards and three scores in the AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts after spotty usage during the regular season.
The wild path's final stop is a showdown for the ages, as PFTonNBCSN illustrates:
Now, one thing that could ruin this matchup is Belichick's tendency to throw the opposition for a loop with an unpredictable approach.
Who knows, perhaps Blount will take a back seat to Jonas Gray or Shane Vereen?
It seems unlikely, though, especially considering the Seahawks tend to struggle against bigger backs such as Blount.
The attention is on the quarterbacks. Sunday, though, might have a very old-school feel to it thanks to a pair of top-tier running backs.
Russell Wilson vs. Tom Brady
The similarities between Wilson and Brady write themselves.
Brady, a late-round pick, climbed the depth chart and won titles before entering the conversation as one of the best of all time.
It's early, but Wilson, a mid-round pick, climbed the depth chart and won a title.
In all, the trajectory speaks for itself, as the Seahawks capture:
For Wilson, the opportunity someday to be in Brady's cleats is tantalizing, as ESPN.com's Jeff Legwold captures:
"For me, I visualize success every day. I never visualize failure and I visualize being at the top every time. That’s just my mindset. I never waver from that and I think that’s a credit to my parents and, really, how they raised me. They used to teach me the discipline of getting up early in the morning, the discipline of doing things the right way, the discipline of loving the people that you have around you … It’s about surrendering to a bigger cause and focusing on what you really want to focus on, but also surrounding yourself around great people.
"
The record shows that Wilson is well on his way, thanks to a Super Bowl triumph over Peyton Manning last year—even if the Denver Broncos self-destructed and the game was decided by halftime. Wilson's major contributions came after the break.
The task is more difficult this time. An epic comeback against the Packers is great, but now he duels Brady while attempting to avoid Revis.
Don't think Brady has it easy, though. His past few appearances have not been kind. The Seahawks are not the Colts, and his defense just collapsed against Baltimore in the divisional round.
The last time he squared off against Sherman did not go so well, either.
Chatter about legacy and things similar are only natural for such an encounter. The reality is that Brady is on his way out, and Wilson needs to continue to climb the ladder.
As hinted, this encounter hits every dynamic possible.
Under center, most of all.
Stats courtesy of NFL.com. Advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus.
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