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Super Bowl scouting report: Seahawks vs. Patriots

The Seahawks defeated the Patriots, 24-23, on Oct. 12, 2012, at CenturyLink Field in Seattle. The series is tied, 8-8.

Recent history: The Seahawks defeated the Patriots, 24-23, on Oct. 14, 2012, at CenturyLink Field in Seattle. The series is tied, 8-8.

When the Seahawks run the ball: Marshawn Lynch is coming off a 157-yard rushing effort in the Seahawks' win over the Packers in the NFC Championship Game. The 5-11, 215-pound Lynch is a big, strong, fast tackle-breaker with incredible balance.

He has rushed for a league-high 5,356 yards and 48 touchdowns over the last four seasons, including 1,306 and 13 TDs this season. He averaged 4.7 yards per carry in the regular season and is averaging 5.5 yards per carry in the playoffs. He is nearly impossible to bring down alone. But he's only one-half of the Seahawks' No. 1-ranked run game. There also is QB Russell Wilson, who finished tied for 16th in the NFL in rushing with 849 yards. Wilson averaged 7.2 yards per carry.

Edge: Seahawks

When the Patriots run the ball: The best thing you can say about the Patriots' ground game during most of the regular season is that they kept teams honest with it. They averaged 27.4 rushing attempts per game, which was the 13th most in the league, but finished 18th in rushing yards per game (107.9) and 22nd in yards per attempt (3.9).

They used four different running backs, none of whom gained more than 412 yards. But the late-season addition of 6-1, 250-pound LeGarrette Blount has given the Patriots' ground game a big boost. Blount played in five November and December games and averaged 4.7 yards per carry. The Seahawks have one of the league's best run defenses. They managed to overcome the Week 10 loss of run-stuffing tackle Brandon Mebane and held opponents to 3.4 yards per carry. Only Detroit had a better rushing average (3.2).

Edge: Seahawks

When the Seahawks pass the ball: Russell Wilson threw four interceptions in the Seahawks' title win over the Packers. But that was out of character for him. He threw just seven picks this season and has only 26 in 1,252 attempts in his first three NFL seasons. That's just one every 48.1 attempts.

The Seahawks are a balanced offense. He averaged just 28.5 throws per game and had more than 35 attempts just twice. His mobility makes him dangerous not only as a runner, but also as a passer because he is able to get outside and extend plays.

Edge: Patriots

When the Patriots pass the ball: Tom Brady has done a terrific job of doing more with less this season. Aside from tight end Rob Gronkowski, who had 1,124 receiving yards and 12 touchdown catches, Brady really doesn't have any elite receivers or legitimate vertical threats to utilize.

Julian Edelman had 92 catches, but essentially is an underneath route-runner who averaged just 10.6 yards per catch and had only four TD catches. Brandon LaFell never caught more than 49 passes with Carolina, but has blossomed as a Brady target, notching career-highs in receptions (74), receiving yards (953) and TDs (7). But Gronkowski is the key.

Edge: Seahawks

The Patriots had one of the league's top special teams this season. Julian Edelman finished second to the Eagles' Darren Sproles in punt returns, averaging 12.0 yards per attempt. Their coverage units were ranked fifth vs. kickoffs (21.2) and 17th vs. punts (9.2). Kicker Stephen Gostkowski had an NFL-high 35 field goals, missing just two of 37 attempts. He was 13-for-14 from beyond 40 yards. Gostkowski was 14th in touchback percentage (54.1). Punter Ryan Allen finished 10th in gross average (46.4) and 12th in net average (39.9). He had 43.9 percent of his punts returned, which was the 16th highest percentage in the league.

Seahawks punter Jon Ryan was ranked 26th in net average (38.3), but had just 17 of 61 punts returned. The Seahawks coverage and return teams weren't nearly as strong this season as they have been in the past. Seattle was 30th in KRs and 25th in PRs. They were ranked 19th in kick coverage (24.1) and 30th in punt coverage (11.5), though thanks to Ryan, there weren't many punt returns. Kicker Steven Hauschka was 18th in the league in FG percentage (83.8).

Edge: Patriots

Hot

Seahawks: RB Marshawn Lynch. Rushed for 157 yards and a TD in NFC Championship Game win vs. Packers

Patriots: RB LeGarrette Blount. Rushed for 148 yards and 3 TDs in New England's AFC title game win over Indianapolis

Not

Seahawks: QB Russell Wilson. Threw career-high four interceptions and completed just 48.3 percent of his attempts vs. Packers

Patriots: WR Danny Amendola. Followed 5-catch, 2-TD game vs. Baltimore with 1 catch for 8 yards vs. Colts.

1. Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski vs. Seahawks SS Kam Chancellor. The 6-3, 232-pound Chancellor is one of the few players with the size and speed to match up against the 6-6, 265-pound Gronkowski.

Advantage: Even

2. Patriots OLBs Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich vs. Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch and QB Russell Wilson. Despite his reputation as a power runner, Lynch is dangerous on the edge. Ninkovich and Jones must do a solid job of wrapping up Lynch and handling Wilson and the zone read.

Advantage: Seahawks

3. Seahawks WRs Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse vs. Patriots CBs Brandon Browner and Darrelle Revis. Browner and Revis are one of the league's top corner tandems, but they're going to need to hold their coverage vs. Baldwin and Kearse when Wilson is able to get outside the pocket and extend plays.

Advantage: Patriots

ESPN Stats & Info points out that Andy Reid's Chiefs this season became the fifth team to beat both Super Bowl clubs during the regular season but fail to make the playoffs.

2014: Chiefs (9-7) vs. Patriots and Seahawks
2000: Redskins (8-8) vs. Ravens and Giants
1993: Dolphins (9-7) vs. Cowboys and Bills
1986: Seahawks (10-6) vs. Giants and Broncos
1981: Browns (5-11) vs. 49ers and Bengals

A look at where the Seahawks and Patriots rank in the postseason