Editor's note: This is the first of a two-part series analyzing the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks ahead of their Super Bowl 49 meeting. Be sure to check out "In Defense of Tom Brady & the Patriots: 5 Reasons Why the Patriots Have a Date with Super Bowl History" by following the link at the bottom of this story.
Russell Wilson is on the cusp of accomplishing something Joe Namath couldn't. Neither could Joe Montana, or even Super Bowl 49 opponent Tom Brady.
Seattle's 26-year-old savior is one victory away from becoming the youngest quarterback to win two Super Bowl championships. Third-round NFL draft picks aren't supposed to get this far, especially when a couple of guys named Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III came before Wilson.
Surprising naysayers been a part of the Seahawks' mantra since Wilson, Marshawn Lynch, and head coach Pete Carroll transformed the former laughing stock into the league's winningest team over the last three years. Their slogan is simple: Leave No Doubt. In three with Wilson behind center, they haven't.
Let's take a look at five ways Seattle can upset the favored New England Patriots.
Marshawn Lynch shifting into "Beast Mode"
There isn't much to say about Lynch that hasn't been said. He's outspoken. Arrogant. A showman on the field; blithe with reporters afterward. A magnet for NFL fines, as innocuous as the crimes was, until he turned the tables the last two Super Bowl media days with internet meme-ready phrases "I'm about that action" and "I'm here so I don't get fined."
Above all, Lynch is indispensable. He is the linchpin of Carroll's run-heavy game plan. Aside from torching the New York Giants for four-touchdown and 140 rush yards in November, Lynch made the NFC West's potent defensive lines ineffective. He reached the end zone twice on 113 yards against Arizona on Dec. 21. San Francisco's docile defensive line gave up 195 yards on 4.8 yards per rush.
The Patriots will be aggressive on shooting gaps and bringing run blitzes. They've played man coverage very well, after all, with Jaime Collins leading an improved linebacker core. But will that be enough to stop Lynch, a violent runner who gained 829 of his 1,306 rushing yards this season after contact?
Russell Wilson's knack for heroics
On Jan. 19, 2014, Wilson hit Jermaine Kearse for a fourth-quarter, 35-yard touchdown that gave the Seahawks their first lead of the NFC championship against the 49ers. Nearly one year to the day, the duo connected for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Packers. Again it was for 35 yards and, again, it gave Seattle their first lead.
Wilson's abysmal showing against Green Bay two weeks ago - he threw four interceptions - didn't exploit his weaknesses as much as it displayed his resiliency. Aaron Rodgers performed like the MVP candidate his is, only Wilson one-upped him with the game on the line.
Such has been the story for Wilson, who has tailored 10 fourth-quarter comebacks in his career. Two came this season; the NFC championship and a Week 3 meeting with Denver where the Seahawks scored on overtime's first possession.
New England's defense is more suited to deal with Wilson's ambidextrous skillset. They match up far better than Green Bay did, anyway. The biggest concern is how they handle Wilson's read-option. He averaged 8.4 yards per carry and 7.7 yards per pass not counting kneel-downs.
A healthy Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas
If Seattle's secondary isn't the best ever, they sure have a seat at the table. They allowed just 200.2 yards per game this season. The 3,204 total receiving yards allowed was 301 fewer second-ranked Kansas City.
The Seahawks essentially played a whole game without giving up a pass yard. But they couldn't have done it without Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas. Aside from Sherman's girlfriend possibly giving birth, both are bound to make a significant impact on Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's game plan.
It's not like they haven't faced hall of fame-caliber talent before. Rodgers was held to 171 pass yards in the NFC championship. While Peyton Manning did compile 333 yards in the air against the Seahawks this season, he was humbled to the tune of 279 in last year's Super Bowl. Then there's the nearly dozen quarterbacks that couldn't even hit the 200-yard mark.
Sherman and Thomas come into Sunday's title game nursing arm injuries, though they'll never admit to it. In fact, Sherman's called the Patriots' quarterback out, recently saying "people get a skewed view of Tom Brady. That he's just a clean-cut guy that does everything right and never says a bad word to anyone."
The secondary duo don't need trash talk to get in Brady's head. After what they did to Rodgers last week, Brady is well aware of their impact.
Stopping Rob Gronkowski
To be fair, few can stop Rob Gronkowski. All the Seahawks can do is hope to contain him.
He's a beast of a tight end that caught 54 touchdowns over 65 career games, including 12 in 2014-15. "Gronk" averaged 13.7 yards per reception this season while the defending champs allowed 13.6 to opposing tight ends. The problem is Seattle doesn't have anyone that physically matches up.
Sherman and Kam Chancellor can wear Gronkowski down over the course of the game, but that depends on how New England's receiver line up. Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman can run shallow cross routes all day taking attention away from Gronkowski.
The Seahawks allowed a league-high 11 touchdowns to tight ends this season. Gronkowski owns the red zone. Put two and two together and all Seattle can do is pray Brady misses his targets.
Shutting down the running game
It's not necessarily what LeGarrette Blount does on the ground that the Seahawks should be worried about. What Shane Vereen does in the open field, however, can be cause for concern.
Seattle's run defense starts and ends with interior linemen Kevin Williams and Bobby Wagner, a duo that contributed to a stifling front line that allowed just 3.4 yards per rush. The efficiency doesn't translate when a back gets out of the backfield. They gave up more than 700 receiving yards to running backs (10th most in the league).
Two Sundays ago, Green Bay created holes by overloading lanes with guards and tackles, producing 135 yards on the ground. The difference between the Packers and Patriots, however, is that Brady loves the short-pass game, as does Vereen.
The key is discipline. Discipline on Blount's cutbacks and discipline on Brady's play-action fakes, many which could target Vereen.
Read part two "5 Reason Tom Brady and the New England Patriots Have a Date with Super Bowl History."
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