Super Bowl Tale of the Tape

Super Bowl Tale of the Tape 

Quarterback-

Russell Wilson or Tom Brady? Pick your poison, both Quarterbacks are great in different ways. The three year pro versus the 15 year veteran. In many ways you can compare Brady to Russell in the early stages of their respective careers. Wilson in his third year has a chance to do something no QB has done this Sunday, become the youngest starting Qb to ever win two Super Bowls. Many will say Russell is a game manager at best and is only where he is because of the Seattle defense, you can argue and say the same about Brady early in his career. This will be Brady's 6th SB appearance and Wilson's 2nd. No team has repeated since the 2004 Patriots did so. When the game is on the line I'd take Brady over anyone else in the game, he's proven it this year again. Wilson does have one quality Brady has never possessed, the ability to create plays and extend plays with his feet.

With everything Brady has done in his career up until this point I'd give the the Patriots the advantage and a forth ring would argue Brady as the Greatest of all time.

Advantage- Patriots 

Running Back- 

When you look at the match up between Seattle and New England most people would tend to favor one side. If you really look at it, it's a lot closer than you think due to New England's depth at the position. When looking at Seattle, you know whats coming. Beast mode all the way, Lynch is a great running back and is on pace for most consecutive seasons with double digit touchdowns and at least  1200 yards. He's fast powerful and carries the Seahawks.

New England on the other hand has really no standout but great depth. You don't know what your getting every week. It could be Blount, Vareen, Gray or Boldin. Blount though stands out the most out of all backs, he actually since 2010 leads the NFL in yards after contact with 2.57 yards. Vareen posses a great receiving threat out of the backfield while Bolden and Gray hold their own when asked to.

Advantage- Seahawks

Wide Receiver- 

Unlike many other teams in the NFL neither NE or SEA has a true number one weapon that teams must keep an eye on. Seattle posses Jermaine Kearse and Doug Baldwin and Ricardo Lockette being their best options. NE on the other hand has players like Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell and Danny Amendola. Edelman and Lafell combined for just around 2000 Yards receiving with 11 touchdowns. Edelman shows great route running in the slot along with Danny Amendola. LaFell gives the Patriots their first true outside X receiver since Randy Moss. Seattle does a great job with what they have. Neither Baldwin nor Kearse do anything special. They are solid receivers though and get the job done. Baldwin caught 60+ balls this season to go along with 800+ yards while Kearse although not very fast provided some kind of deep threat.

Advantage- Push

Tight End- 

Don't get me wrong Luke Wilson is an upcoming star and has had a great sleeper post season but Rob Gronkowski is beast among men at the Tight End position. Coming off ACL surgery many thought he would not be the same player anymore he proved doubters wrong catching 82 balls for 1100+ yards and 12 Touchdowns. Gronk is a match up nightmare and it will be interesting to see how the Seattle defense plans to assign to him.

Advantage- Patriots 

Offensive Line- 

Both New England and Seattle hold not great but very solid offensive lines. Max Unger center of Seattle is the mainstay in the running game for Seattle. Nate Solder and Sebastian Vollmer anchor the Patriots offensive line at the tackle spots respectively. Seattles run offense did rank 1st in the NFL this year but they will face a tough challenge as New England ranked 9th against the run. Meanwhile NE's front 5 will have a huge job maintaining seattle's front 4 pass rush.

Advantage- Push 

Defensive line- 

Both teams have great depth up front but I'd lean towards Seattle's front 4 over New England. Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett, Kevin Williams so on and so forth. Their very deep and could bring huge problems for NE.

New England doesn't have a standout pass rusher, Chandler Jones is the biggest name and he didn't even lead the Pats in sacks. Rob Nikovinch, Vince Wilfork, Alan Branch aren't household hold names but they still are very productive in their respective roles 

Advantage- Seahawks 

Linebackers- 

The Seattle linebackers are great at what they do. Whether it's Bobby Wagner, Malcom Smith, KJ Wright or Bruce Irvin each plays at a high level and all are very young. 

NE is missing a huge part of their linebacker  core in Jerod Mayo and if he was playing it could lean towards the Patriots. Aside from that Jamie Collins and Donte Hightower have developed into two of youngest stars across the league at the position. Outside of them you have Akeem Ayers and Jonathan Casallias both who play their roles well but aren't a KJ Wright or Malcom Smith. 

Advantage- Seahawks 

Secondary- 

Tough one here, each team posses a great secondary. Seattle is known for their Cover 3 Scheme in which Richard Sherman plays the right side while Maxwell plays the left. Jeremy Lane the nickle corner will have a huge challenge this game. Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor are great safeties and arguably the best at their positions. 

New England has great depth and could do a variety of things well. Darelle Revis can take away your best receiver anywhere on the field and Brandon Browner is a big physical corner. Devin McCourty's range in the secondary is unbelievable while Pat Chung is one of the best run support safeties across the league. Kyle Arrington and Logan Ryan were once starters and provide great depth while Arrington is a top slot corner in the league. I'n terms of versatility and what New England can do whether it is Man or Zone they do it well.

Advantage- Push

Special Teams- 

Both teams have great kickers and punters. The game could come down to a return. Julian Edelman is only second in   NFL  history in yards per return behind Devin Hester. Seattle doesn't hold that kind of threat. Players like Matthew Slater, Chris White and Brandon Bolden are superior special teamers. 

Advantage- Patriots 

Overall- 

Patriots- 3 

Seahawks- 3 

Tie- 3 

Prediction- 

This could very well go down as one of the greatest games to ever be played. I believe a few special team plays will make the difference in this one. 

Patriots win 27-20