The Super Bowl: Three Things to Watch

By: Alex Manjerovic

On February 1^st, the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will face off in the 49^th edition of the Super Bowl. The big game is America’s most watched sporting event with over 100 million viewers annually. This year will be no different, as two of the NFL’s most polarizing franchises will take the field in Arizona. The defending champions the Seattle Seahawks narrowly escaped losing the NFC championship game, pulling out a comeback, overtime victory over the Green Bay Packers. The Patriots win was far less climactic; the drama came after the game with the “deflate gate” controversy. Both teams will come into the game with successful pedigrees and big expectations. Between the notoriously cheating Patriots, and the confident, loud-mouthed Seahawks, this year’s game will certainly be a can’t-miss event. Here are three things to watch for in this year’s Super Bowl:

1. The Coaches

Two of the NFL’s best head coaches will be on the sidelines Super Bowl Sunday. Bill Belichick has led the New England Patriots to six of the last fourteen Super Bowls and has been the league’s winningest coach over that period. During his short time as the Seattle Seahawks head coach, Pete Carroll has led franchise to the playoffs in four out of his five seasons, including a victory in last year’s Super Bowl. These two coaches have very different coaching styles, but they are both extremely effective. Belichick is a subdued tactical mastermind with a mental edge on the rest of the league, while Carroll is an energetic leader and a master-motivator. Seeing the league’s two best head coaches face-off will be an intriguing factor off of the field.

2. Tom Brady vs. Seahawks Secondary

On the field, the games’ greatest quarterback vs. the best group of defensive backs in the NFL will be the premier match up in this year’s big game. Tom Brady is a three-time Super Bowl winning quarterback with two NFL MVP awards and two Super Bowl MVP awards on his resume. Brady has had no trouble picking apart defenses this year. However, he will face his toughest task yet on Sunday. The Seahawks defense gave up the fewest yards and points in the NFL this season. This all-star group of defensive backs including Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, and Richard Sherman, has consistently caused havoc for opposing quarterbacks. They allowed just one touchdown to Aaron Rodgers in the NFC Championship game. Scoring will be a tough task for the Patriots, and Brady will have to rise to the challenge in order for the Pats to win.

3. Marshawn Lynch’s Celebrations

Marshawn Lynch is one of the best running backs in the NFL, and he has a special way of celebrating big runs. His patented “crotch grab” has been an iconic move over the course of Lynch’s career. But the NFL has had enough of this celebration, and has informed Lynch that the celebration will induce a fifteen-yard penalty from this point forward. Lynch has already been fined multiple times for the celebration, including most recently a $20,000 fine, and the league has had enough. Will Lynch hurt his team and risk a penalty just to stick it to the league? Tune in on February 1st to find out.