Today's the day: Patriots, Seahawks set for Super Bowl XLIX

The New England Patriots are very much a results-oriented franchise, a mentality that seeps into all faucets of the team. You even see it in their stats; fairly pedestrian numbers across the board save for the one thing that really counts, points.

Tom Brady shook off some early season worries to finish the year in MVP consideration but still only led New England to the ninth-ranked passing offence at 257.6 yards per game.

The team’s inconsistent running game was even more pedestrian, finishing 18th in the league averaging 107.9 yards per game on the ground.

But when it came to scoring, the Patriots are all of a sudden near the top of the league, finding a way to rack up 29.3 points per game, fourth most in the league.

It’s a similar phenomenon on the defensive side of the ball. New England finished the year 13th in yards allowed per game at 344.1 (17th against the pass and ninth against the run), but eighth in points allowed at just 19.6. The execution may not have been pretty, but the results sure were.

Playoffs

The Patriots carried their strong results into the postseason and head into the Super Bowl first in both points for (40 per game) and points against (19 per game). They've even bucked their own trend from the regular season on offence, leading the way with 409.5 yards per game, but are still just middle of the pack defensively, giving up 318.5 yards per contest.

Once again in 2014, the Seahawks used the old fashioned approach of 'run the ball and play defence.' The Seahawks used the top ranked rushing attack in football to wear out defences and run the clock, while their defence held opponents to a league-low 254 points. 

The Seahawks, who did not have a receiver top 1,000 yards, struggled in the passing game without a star receiver. The team lost of wide receiver Golden Tate, their leading receiver in 2013, to free agency and traded explosive playmaker Percy Harvin in Week 6 due to character issues. 

However, many called pass plays for the Seahawks turned into runs as quarterback Russell Wilson used his legs to gain yards. Wilson finished with the most rushing yards of any quarterback in the league and finished 16th overall.

While Wilson used his legs an impromptu measure to gain yards, Marshawn Lynch powered the dominant ground attack. The elusive 215-pound back rushed for 1,306 yards in the regular season and a league-high 13 touchdowns.

On defence, the Seahawks talented secondary or "Legion of Boom"shut down passing attacks as Seattle held opponents to 20 points or less in 11 of 16 regular season games. Their stingy defence made up for an offence which ranked 14th in points scored.

Playoffs

Defence once again played a major role in the Seahawks reaching the big game, with five turnovers and 39 points allowed over two games. Against the Green Bay in the NFC Championship Game, turnovers by Wilson and the Seattle offence left the Packers with a short field on multiple occasions. The Seahawks defence held the Packers to two field goals inside the five-yard line and one redzone interception to keep the game within reach. Wilson has thrown four touchdowns and four interceptions in two games, while Lynch has rushed for a playoff-high 216 yards.

Tom Brady The 37-year-old had to face questions and doubts this year after a subpar first four games of the season, but answered them with an MVP-type campaign the rest of the way. Now Brady is chasing greatness; already in the conversation as best ever, a fourth Super Bowl would strengthen his case among the likes of Unitas and Montana.

Rob Gronkowski The charismatic playmaker is fully healthy and again the league’s best tight end for the first time since 2011. That also happened to be the last year the Patriots made the Super Bowl however, losing to the New York Giants. Gronk enters this year’s Super Bowl a lot healthier than he did his last.

Julian Edelman If the Patriots hadn’t done the exact same thing with Wes Welker years ago, the (listed as) 5’10 Edelman would be a lot more famous for his performance belying his size. While he’s impractical in the red zone, Edelman has been money in between the 20s as Brady’s favourite target this postseason.

LeGarrette Blount The talented but enigmatic bulldozer of a running back complained his way out of Pittsburgh and into a much better situation in New England. Blount’s past transgressions were forgiven as he pounded the Colts for 148 yards and three touchdowns. At his best, Blount can match up with Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch.

Vince Wilfork It will take a big man to stop Marshawn Lynch and Wilfork is exactly that. The Patriots nose tackle will be the point man for slowing down the Seahawks’ dangerous running game but could be up to the task. Wilfork was rated as one of the top linemen at stopping the run by Pro Football Focus.

Dont’a Hightower Like Wilfork, Hightower finished with an excellent run defence rating according to PFF, and will be relied upon to help in New England’s efforts against Marshawn Lynch. The linebacker will have the added responsibility of containing Russell Wilson to not allow the QB burn the Patriots on the ground as well.

Darrelle Revis Revis’ perch atop the league’s cornerback rankings was long ago taken by Richard Sherman, but that doesn’t mean the 29-year-old can’t still play at a very high level. Revis’ PFF ratings against the pass were akin to the numbers he was putting up on ‘Revis Island’ in New York and actually better than Sherman’s this year. If he can lock down Doug Baldwin, Seahawks QB Russell Wilson may be left deciding between a bunch of 500 yards or less receivers. 

Russell Wilson In just his third NFL season, Wilson has a chance to earn his second Super Bowl title. Wilson was largely overshadowed in last year's championship by the Seahawks' defence and Percy Harvin's play of special teams. With the Patriots likely selling out to stop Lynch and using their secondary to play man coverage, Wilson will have a chance to star - or struggle - on the NFL's biggest stage.

Marshawn Lynch Lynch was the Seahawks regular season MVP and proved his value once again in the NFC Championship game. The Patriots ranked ninth against the run in the regular season and are expected to key-in on Lynch in Glendale. There's  biggest impact may come in his ability to be a decoy on play-action passes and in the passing game as a receiver.

Luke Willson With the Patriots likely using Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner to cover Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse, Willson may be the player the Seahawks look for to step up. Willson became a starter in the Seahawks offence due to injuries, but has flourished since. Willson was a key contributor in the Seahawks' Divisional Round win over the Panthers and caught a two-point conversion against the Packers, which led to overtime.

Earl Thomas Thomas suffered a shoulder injury against the Packers and, though he returned to the game after a trip to the locker room, may not be at 100 per cent against Patriots. The safeties for the Seahawks will likely be tasked with limiting the Patriots' biggest weapon: Rob Gronkowski. Thomas is playmaker on the back-end of the secondary but the 5-foot-10 free safety could struggle against the monstrous 6-foot-6 tight end.

Kam Chancellor From his jumping over the line on field goals to his interception return for a touchdown, Chancellor starred in the Seahawks win over the Panthers. One week later against the Packers, the strong safety had a much quieter day. Like Thomas, Chancellor will likely see a lot of Gronkowski in Arizona and, at 6-foot-3, he presents the Seahawks best option from a physical standpoint against the Patriots' star. Shutting down Gronkowski will likely top the Seahawks priorities on defence.

Michael Bennett The Seahawks pass rush was almost completely shut down by the Packers, giving Aaron Rodgers plenty of time inside - and outside, when he could limp there, - the pocket. If Tom Brady has the opportunity to sit back and work through his reads, he will be able to find openings in the Seahawks defence. Bennett led the team in sacks during the regular season and will need to provide pressure in the title game.

Richard Sherman The star corner injured his elbow against the Packers but is expected to play in the Super Bowl. Though he doesn't typically match up on specific receivers, the Seahawks may make an exception to glue Sherman on Julian Edelman. If Sherman was assigned to line up on whoever comes his way, he could be taken out of the formula by the Patriots.

Pete Carroll vs Bill Belichick Belichick was Carroll's successor in New England after the latter lasted just three seasons with a 27-21 record from 1997-1999. Since taking over, Belichick has entered into the debate of the greatest coaches in NFL history and led the Patriots to five (now, six) Super Bowls, with three wins.

Carroll joined the college ranks as head coach of USC after his stint with Patriots. He remained with the Trojans for nine years before trying his hand at the pro-level once again with the Seahawks. Overseeing a massive roster overhaul, Carroll rebounded from back-to-back sub.500 campaigns with an 11-5 record in 2012. In 2013, he coached his first Super Bowl and picked up his first ring.

Carroll and Belichick are both coaches willing to take risks to win - see the Seahawks fake field goal vs. Packers, Patriots four offensive linemen vs. Ravens - and both rank amongst the NFL's top current coaches. In demeanor, however, the two could not be more different.

The energetic and animated Carroll is never afraid to show emotion and celebrate with his players. Belichick, known for his stoic nature, seems to never tip his hand, no matter the game or score.

With a win on Sunday, Carroll can join Belichick as the only coaches to win back-to-back Super Bowls in the 21st century. For the Patriots, Belichick will be out to avenge losses in his last two Super Bowl appearences and add to his already impressive legacy.

Tom Brady vs Richard Sherman As exciting as the on field chess match the two could engage in might be the trash talking. We all know Sherman talk the talk, but according to the charismatic cornerback, so too can the not-so-clean-cut Brady.

The war of words apparently goes back to 2012, when Sherman and the Seahawks were relative unknowns, and is best remembered by Sherman’s infamous Twitter post.

On the field it will be interesting to see how much Brady goes after Sherman, and how much shifty receiver Julian Edelman is lined up against Sherman, who has struggled with smaller receivers in the past.

Sherman could enter the game with the disadvantage because of his elbow injury, however Brady will have to work with properly inflated balls on Sunday.

Rob Gronkowski vs Seahawks safeties The Seahawks safeties have built a reputation for pushing people around, but Rob Gronkowski isn’t one to get pushed around. Despite nickel corner Jeremy Lane’s claims that Gronkowski “isn’t that good,” the 6-foot-6, 265 athletic freak should pose major matchup problems for the Seahawks’ defence.

While Pro Bowler Chancellor should line up opposite Gronk more than any other player, covering the tight end will likely be a team effort for the Seahawks top-ranked pass defence, with Earl Thomas, KJ Wright, and even Sherman if his wonky elbow proves up to the task, all chipping in.

Marshawn Lynch vs Vince Wilfork The Seahawks’ run game is a huge part of their offence and one of the best in the league, if not the best. Stopping Marshawn Lynch is a big challenge but Vince Wilfork may just be big enough for the job. Wilfork graded well against the run all season long according to Pro Football Focus, if he can generate a push from the interior line, other strong run defenders like Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins.

That said, as good as Wilfork’s PFF rating against the run this season is, Lynch’s rush rating is even better. The 28-year-old is having his second best season statistically and continues to be a regular feature on highlight reels with his “Beast Mode” antics.

Lynch was held to just 39 yards in last year’s Super Bowl but that game was over early. In a close affair, expect the Lynch-Wilfork battle to be a significant one.

The following is a side by side look at the 53-man rosters of both the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. The starters, according team depth charts, are bolded. Players expected to be among the seven not on the 46-man active gameday roster are italicized. To see how the Patriots' and Seahawks' current rosters compare to last Super Bowl team, click here.