News: SAEN: Guide to Super Bowl XLIX: Four keys to the game and the two most exciting matchups

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John McClain's keys to Super Bowl XLIX





FOUR KEYS TO THE GAME

1. If the Seahawks get pressure from their front four against Tom Brady as they did in last year’s Super Bowl victory over Denver, they could break down the Patriots’ passing game early. Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril forced Manning to throw before he was ready, and they want to hit Brady as much as possible and disrupt his timing with his receivers. If they apply enough pressure with the linemen, the Seahawks won’t have to blitz, enhancing the coverage.
2. The Patriots must get the same kind of performance from running back LeGarrette Blount that they received in the AFC Championship game victory over Indianapolis. He carried 30 times for 148 yards and three touchdowns. If he comes close to that kind of production, he’ll keep the Seahawks’ pass rushers on their heels rather than their toes. He’ll also help the Patriots control the ball and keep quarterback Russell Wilson and running back Marshawn Lynch on the bench.
3. New England’s defense must keep Russell Wilson from running. Wilson is the smartest-running quarterback in the league. He ran for 849 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 7.2 yards a carry. Man coverage like the Patriots play is ideal for a mobile quarterback because the defensive backs often have their backs to the offense. Working out of the read option, Wilson will fake to Marshawn Lynch, pull back the ball and take off. He always keeps his eyes down the field.
4. Marshawn Lynch is a power runner who breaks tackles, gets a lot of yards after the initial hit and has enough speed to go the distance. The Patriots will try to contain Lynch with seven players in the box. If they’re forced to use eight, New England’s defense is in trouble. Lynch ran for 1,306 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also caught 37 passes, including four for touchdowns. The Seahawks will feed him the ball to keep Tom Brady on the bench.

MATCHUP 1
PATRIOTS QB TOM BRADY VS. SEAHAWKS FS EARL THOMAS

• Brady: The Patriots quarterback likes to spread the ball around to his receivers all over the field. When he breaks the huddle, he’ll be looking for free safety Earl Thomas to try to determine what the coverage is. Brady should expect a lot of physical man coverage. He won’t shy away from cornerback Richard Sherman. Brady will throw to the running backs to move the chains. If he can avoid pressure from the Seahawks’ front four, he’ll have time to find his receivers.
• Thomas: The free safety from the University of Texas is the last line of defense for the Seahawks. He has so much speed, intelligence and athleticism that they can play a single high safety, and he has enough range to cover the entire field. If he’s close to the line of scrimmage, Tom Brady will count on him blitzing. If Thomas is deep and Brady wants to go down the field, he’ll try play-action to get Thomas to bite on the fake.

MATCHUP 2
SEAHAWKS CB RICHARD SHERMAN VS. PATRIOTS WR BRANDON LaFELL

• Sherman: Sherman is the best cornerback in the NFL. He’s 6-3, and he can run. What makes him so effective is because he’s physical, and he has supreme confidence in his ability to provide man coverage. He’s tall enough to match up with any wideout. He can turn and run with fast receivers, and he has tremendous ball skills. Not many receivers are going to take the ball away from him. Sometimes he’ll bite on fakes or get caught looking into the backfield.
• LaFell: LaFell is 6-3 and matches Richard Sherman’s height. In his first season with the Patriots, the Houston native caught 74 passes for 953 yards and seven touchdowns. If Sherman tries to jam him, LaFell will use moves to knock down his hands and get off the ball. He’ll try to fake Sherman into going the wrong direction. When he has a chance to make the catch, LaFell has to produce. Tom Brady may try to test Sherman deep by throwing to LaFell.

PREDICTION

Seahawks 20, Patriots 17. Russell Wilson extends his record against Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks to 11-0 and supplants Tom Brady as the youngest to win two Super Bowls.

Author John McClain has covered the NFL for the Houston Chronicle for more than 30 years. Visit seattlepi.com for more Seattle Seahawks news. Contact sports editor Nick Eaton at 206-448-8125, nickeaton@seattlepi.com or @njeaton.

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