Super Bowl Sunday is fast approaching and football fans everywhere are torn between who they think will win bragging rights for the year and who gets to claim the trophy named after Fordham’s very own legend, Mr. Vince Lombardi. It’s easy to choose a side when your team makes the big game, but how do you decide who you think will win when you’re not really a fan of either team? You look at the stats.
Seattle Seahawks New England Patriots
Record 14-4 14-4
How they made it to the Super Bowl Beat the Carolina Panthers 31-17 in NFC Divisional Round; defeated the Green Bay Packers 28-22 (OT) in NFC Championship Beat the Baltimore Ravens 35-31 in AFC Divisional Round; defeated the Indianapolis Colts 45-7 in AFC Championship
Super Bowls 2006, 2014(won) 1986, 1997, 2002(won), 2004(won), 2005(won), 2008, 2012
Regular Offensive Rankings:
Overall 9th (375.8 yards per game) 11th (365.5 yards per game)
Passing 27th (203.1) 9th (257.6)
Rushing 1st (172.6) 18th (107.9)
Scoring 10th (24.6) 4th (29.2)
Quarterback Russell Wilson 285-452 completions (63.1%) for 3,475 yards, 20 TDs, 7 interceptions, 42 sacks, 95 passer rating Tom Brady 373-582 completions (64.1%) for 4,109 yards, 33 TDs, 9 interceptions, 21 sacks, 97.4 passer rating
Rushing Leaders RB Marshawn Lynch 280 attempts for 1,306 yards and 13 TDs RB Jonas Gray 89 rushes for 412 yards and 5 TDs
QB Russell Wilson 118 attempts for 849 yards and 6 TDs RB Shane Vereen 96 attempts for 391 yards and 2 TDs
Stevan Ridley 94 attempts for 340 yards and 2 TDs
RB LeGarrette Blount, 60 attempts for 281 yards and 3 TDs
Receiving Leaders WR Doug Baldwin 66 catches for 825 yards and 3 TDs WR Julian Edelman 92 catches for 972 yards and 4 TDs
Jermaine Kearse 38 catches for 537 yards and 1 TD TE Rob Gronkowski 82 catches for 1,124 yards and 12 TDs
Marshawn Lynch 37 catches for 367 yards and 4 TDs Brandon LaFell 74 catches for 953 yards and 7 TDs
Regular Defensive Rankings:
Overall 1st (267.1) 13th (344.1)
Passing 1st (185.6) 17th (239.8)
Rushing 3rd (81.5) 9th (104.3)
Scoring 1st (15.9) 8th (19.6)
Tackling Leaders OLB K.J. Wright 107 tackles (73 solo) OLB Jamie Collins 116 tackles (74 solo)
FS Earl Thomas 97 tackles (71 solo) OLB Dont’a Hightower 89 tackles (51 solo)
MLB Bobby Wagner 104 tackles (67 solo) SS Patrick Chung 85 tackles (54 solo)
Sack Leaders DE Michael Bennett (7) DE Rob Ninkovich (8)
OLB Bruce Irvin (6.5) DE Chandler Jones (6)
DT Jordan Hill (5.5) Dont’a Hightower (6)
Interception Leaders CB Richard Sherman (4) OLB Jamie Collins (2)
Bruce Irvin (2) FS Devin McCourty (2)
CB Byron Maxwell (2) CB Darrelle Revis (2)
CB Logan Ryan (2)
Kicking Steven Hauschka, 31-37 FGs; 20-20 inside 40 yards Stephen Gostkowski, 35-37 FGs
Punting Jon Ryan, 61 punts, 44.1-yard average, 28 punts downed inside 20-yard line Ryan Allen, 66 punts, 46.4-yard average, 25 downed inside 20-yard line
Okay so what do these stats really mean anyway? Basically, the Patriots have a really strong offensive squad and quarterback Tom Brady has multiple options when it comes to where and how he wants to move the ball; but the Seahawks defense is an elite and creative squad that’s capable of stopping Patriot offensive attacks. The Patriots are looking to cement their legacy as one of the greatest teams of all time by winning their 4th Super Bowl while the Seahawks are looking to become the first NFL team to win back-to-back Super Bowls since the Patriots in 2004 and 2005.
So will the age old saying that defense wins championships hold true? Find out this Sunday, February 1st on NBC at 6:30PM!