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For New England to win, they must have a great game tackling. It's funny how after all this time the basics of football still apply. Marshawn Lynch finished the season as the best running back in yards after contact, charging a three-yard gain forward for seven yards simply through his own effort and desire. New England must limit or eliminate his second effort success through the entire game. For New England on offence, they have to anticipate this will be the fastest defence they have seen. The only ways to offset speed on defence is to run straight ahead on dive plays, use misdirection and throw quick passes with precision. Thankfully for New England, all three of those are strengths of Tom Brady's unit.
For Seattle, Russell Wilson's mobility is critical. The deceptively fast Green Bay Packers defence did an excellent job of maintaining pass rush lanes and discipline with pressure on the third-year pro. If Wilson has success outside the pocket, the game will change to reactive football against disciplined defensive football. Reactive and improvisational football is strength of the Seahawks.
The coverage skills of Seattle's defensive backs are well documented but in this game, they will need to use their line of scrimmage bump-and-run skills. Brady can run an entire offense on the line of scrimmage and use 4 to 7 yard passes all the way down the field no matter the starting point. Seattle has to disrupt that flow by physically challenging all receivers early and often.
Both teams are great in the fourth quarter, especially on defence in terms of points allowed. Seattle allowed only 67 fourth-quarter points this season, fourth best in the NFL. Amongst those teams to edge Seattle New England, who allowed 62, second best in the league.
The single most important aspect of football is turnovers; creating them and stopping points off of them are equal in determining who wins in any game. During the regular season Seattle only allowed 38 points after turnovers, the fewest in the entire league. New England was the second best in the NFL when taking a possession off of a turnover, scoring 112 points over 16 regular season games. In the NFC Championship Game, the Green Bay Packers had five turnovers for a possible 35 points - they only scored six points on the Seahawk defence
.
Both quarterbacks are excellent but for Seattle to win, the Seahawks must make Brady move outside of the pocket. They cannot afford to let the two-time Super Bowl MVP stand tall and make his reads down field. Oppositely for New England to win, they can't allow Wilson to move and scramble for yards. When Wilson moves, he is at his best running and throwing, much better than when he is stationary.
Now, the big question: who is going to win? I have no doubt the Patriots have a unique resolve and focus after all the controversy. With Seattle you sense they are extremely confident heading into the big game. Even though they have been here before, what you sense from the Seahawks is a team still hungry and just as enthusiastic as last year at this time. However, I don't believe the Seahawks are as good as last year without Percy Harvin and Wilson coming off a rough NFC Championship.
The key to the game is not Marshawn Lynch for Seattle, but LeGarrette Blount for New England. Blount has a big day
CHIME IN GENTS AND LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON MY PICK -6.5 PATS **GOOD OR GREED**
BET 5K TO WIN $16,250
For New England to win, they must have a great game tackling. It's funny how after all this time the basics of football still apply. Marshawn Lynch finished the season as the best running back in yards after contact, charging a three-yard gain forward for seven yards simply through his own effort and desire. New England must limit or eliminate his second effort success through the entire game. For New England on offence, they have to anticipate this will be the fastest defence they have seen. The only ways to offset speed on defence is to run straight ahead on dive plays, use misdirection and throw quick passes with precision. Thankfully for New England, all three of those are strengths of Tom Brady's unit.
For Seattle, Russell Wilson's mobility is critical. The deceptively fast Green Bay Packers defence did an excellent job of maintaining pass rush lanes and discipline with pressure on the third-year pro. If Wilson has success outside the pocket, the game will change to reactive football against disciplined defensive football. Reactive and improvisational football is strength of the Seahawks.
The coverage skills of Seattle's defensive backs are well documented but in this game, they will need to use their line of scrimmage bump-and-run skills. Brady can run an entire offense on the line of scrimmage and use 4 to 7 yard passes all the way down the field no matter the starting point. Seattle has to disrupt that flow by physically challenging all receivers early and often.
Both teams are great in the fourth quarter, especially on defence in terms of points allowed. Seattle allowed only 67 fourth-quarter points this season, fourth best in the NFL. Amongst those teams to edge Seattle New England, who allowed 62, second best in the league.
The single most important aspect of football is turnovers; creating them and stopping points off of them are equal in determining who wins in any game. During the regular season Seattle only allowed 38 points after turnovers, the fewest in the entire league. New England was the second best in the NFL when taking a possession off of a turnover, scoring 112 points over 16 regular season games. In the NFC Championship Game, the Green Bay Packers had five turnovers for a possible 35 points - they only scored six points on the Seahawk defence
.
Both quarterbacks are excellent but for Seattle to win, the Seahawks must make Brady move outside of the pocket. They cannot afford to let the two-time Super Bowl MVP stand tall and make his reads down field. Oppositely for New England to win, they can't allow Wilson to move and scramble for yards. When Wilson moves, he is at his best running and throwing, much better than when he is stationary.
Now, the big question: who is going to win? I have no doubt the Patriots have a unique resolve and focus after all the controversy. With Seattle you sense they are extremely confident heading into the big game. Even though they have been here before, what you sense from the Seahawks is a team still hungry and just as enthusiastic as last year at this time. However, I don't believe the Seahawks are as good as last year without Percy Harvin and Wilson coming off a rough NFC Championship.
The key to the game is not Marshawn Lynch for Seattle, but LeGarrette Blount for New England. Blount has a big day
CHIME IN GENTS AND LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON MY PICK -6.5 PATS **GOOD OR GREED**