Daily News writers favor Seahawks
Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch is waiting to find out how much he will be fined for his abbreviated media appearances. And Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman and his girlfriend are awaiting the arrival of their baby boy.
But the wait is over for fans: Super Bowl weekend is here. And with it comes predictions from the Daily News. Read on . . .
Ed Barkowitz
Sensing a pattern here.
The Cowboys got away with mauling a Lions wide receiver in the first round. No pass interference, even though a flag was thrown. Cowboys win. Wait, what?
Then the Cowboys were about to score a decisive touchdown to win the following week, except for the arcane rule that Dez Bryant didn't fully complete the crucial catch. Sure looked as if he was diving for the end zone - and the referee who was standing right there, ruled it a catch - but it was called incomplete. Cowboys lose, Packers win. Fans continue to wonder what's going on.
Then Green Bay, for 58 minutes, looked like a Super Bowl team before folding like a lawn chair. Made history like Bill Buckner. Seattle, the best team in the conference the second half of the year, advanced to play New England.
The Patriots, of course, had the most impressive win of any team in these playoffs when they beat the Colts by 38. However, the issue of underinflated footballs cast an ugly shadow on the win, kinda like the Cowboys' pass interference that was ignored or the Bryant catch that never was.
Tom Brady could have been throwing golf balls out there and New England still would have rolled the Colts. But that's not the point.
It's fun when the Patriots are uncomfortable; still love it when Vladimir Putin stole the owner's Super Bowl ring.
As for Sunday, the football gods have cleaned up injustices all throughout these playoffs. Why stop now?
While they're at it, they'll ensure that Marshawn Lynch wins the MVP and has the most wonderful postgame news conference in history.
Seahawks, 23-20
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Les Bowen
I came to Arizona absolutely certain the Seahawks would win Super Bowl XLIX, probably without too much trouble. After spending several days shuttling back and forth between the team hotels, I have expanded my understanding in at least one area: Buses these days actually are pretty nice, with electrical outlets to charge your phone and faux-wooden flooring and stuff.
The teams? Well, I'm finding it harder to consign Tom Brady and Bill Belichick to the dustbin of Super Bowl history than I'd thought. All scandals aside, these guys command the stage. They will have a solid plan. They won't get bum-rushed in the early minutes the way the Broncos were a year ago. They are Hall of Fame figures, and they are overdue to win the whole thing again.
Then I talk to the Seahawks and I realize I'm among the steadiest, most confident group of people I've ever been around. They will have an answer for Rob Gronkowski. They won't get flustered by ineligible guys being eligible and eligible guys being ineligible.
Seattle was the best team in the NFL over the second half of the season, period. It wasn't close. I'm sticking with the Seahawks, but two things give me pause: 1. Brady and Belichick, looking to break their 10-year Lombardi drought, knowing the chances have become extremely finite, and 2. The way Russell Wilson played for three quarters of the NFC Championship Game. If a lollipop of an onside kick hadn't bounced off Brandon Bostick's face, Green Bay would be in this game instead of Seattle, and that is something to keep in mind.
I still don't know why Wilson kept forcing the ball into coverage, but he faced a defense much less impressive than the Pats', and he was dreadful. I saw Ben Roethlisberger play horribly in the Super Bowl and win once (beating Seattle, oddly enough), but nothing like that will happen tomorrow. To beat New England, Wilson must be the guy who picked apart the Eagles in December.
I think he will be. I also think we are in for a fairly boring, low-scoring game.
Seahawks, 20-16
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Bob Cooney
When I don't have a real feel for how a game will play out, no matter the sport, I lean toward the defense.
I don't think Deflategate will play any part in this game whatsoever. I do think that, while it might not be as dominating a performance as last year against Denver, Seattle's defense will be able to curtail Tom Brady and company, even with Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas recovering from "upper-body" injuries.
I see this as sort of low scoring, perhaps a couple of turnovers playing big into the outcome. Marshawn Lynch lets his play speak on way to MVP honors.
Seahawks, 24-20
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Paul Domowitch
Since the Seahawks got linebacker Bobby Wagner and safety Kam Chancellor back from injury in mid-November, their defense has been imposing.
Seattle has given up only 78 points in its last eight games. In the NFC Championship Game against the Packers, the Seahawks held Aaron Rodgers to a 55.8 passer rating and Eddie Lacy to 3.5 yards per carry.
The Patriots have the fourth-best scoring offense in the league, but the Seahawks have answers for everything, including stopping running back LeGarrette Blount and neutralizing tight end Rob Gronkowski. Richard Sherman/Byron Maxwell vs. Julian Edelman/Brandon LaFell is not a matchup I see the Patriots winning, either.
The Patriots have one of their best defenses in years. They are capable of neutralizing Marshawn Lynch. But I'm not sure they can stop Lynch and also take away Russell Wilson's zone-read runs. We're talking about a QB who rushed for 849 yards and averaged 7.2 yards per carry this season.
The Patriots have outstanding cornerbacks. But if Wilson can get outside and extend plays, Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse will get open enough to do some damage.
I think the Seahawks will win this game and I think Wilson will throw/run for 300 yards and three touchdowns, win the MVP and set himself up nicely for a hefty, new contract.
Seahawks, 24-17
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Marcus Hayes
What will the difference be?
In difficult conditions, take the Patriots, deflation issues notwithstanding. In pristine conditions . . . who?
Without his NFC title game meltdown, you would take Russell Wilson and the Seahawks, but he did melt down. Expect Patriots coach Bill Belichick to exploit what worked for Green Bay.
The Seahawks consider runner Marshawn Lynch their engine, but he can run fine and the team might get nothing.
Give this one to wily Bill and Teflon Tom, so all of their titles carry asterisks.
Patriots, 24-17
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Stan Hochman
I worry about Earl Thomas' gimpy shoulder and Richard Sherman's achy elbow, but they have had 2 weeks to recover, and that gives Seattle the edge in the ever-popular debate over whether an outstanding defense can muffle a quirky but productive offense led by a Hall of Fame quarterback.
You thought you learned the answer last year when Seattle crushed Denver. It won't be as lopsided this time, but Russell Wilson got the "clunker" out of his system against Green Bay, and Marshawn Lynch is primed to bulldoze his way to 160 yards rushing against a Patriots defense that includes Patrick Chung. Patrick Chung?
Tom Brady would have to be Superman to withstand the pressure and resist the distractions he faces tomorrow. Superman doesn't need to drain air out of the football to grip it properly. I see Seattle with the win and Lynch grabbing the MVP trophy silently.
Seahawks, 24-14
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John Smallwood
Fortunately, we no longer have to worry about deflated footballs and Marshawn Lynch's crotch, and Seattle and New England can decide the important things on the field.
Tom Brady is arguably the greatest quarterback of his generation, but Seattle won the Super Bowl last season by shutting down the other quarterback in that argument - Peyton Manning. I don't think the Seahawks defense will overwhelm Brady and the Patriots the way it did Manning and the Denver Broncos, but it will do enough to keep Brady out of rhythm.
Russell Wilson does not get enough credit for what he does for the Seattle. His ability to extend plays and run if necessary makes Lynch all that much more dangerous. Lynch's ability to pound and pound wears a defense down late in games.
Considering New England has won each of its three Super Bowls by three points, it seems odd to go with Seattle in a close game, but the Seahawks are set up to play and win low-scoring games.
Seahawks, 20-16
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Vegas Vic
For all of the talk about Tom Brady set to join Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana on Mount Rushmore with four Supe rings, let's not forget that Russell Wilson also is building a solid legacy for himself - and he's only been in the league for 3 years.
Like Seattle to win a close one, but my top play is the game going over 48 points.
Seahawks, 31-27