Each week sports reporters Matthew Lambert and Eric Schroeder will face off on a hot topic in sports. The world of sports is changing quickly and constantly, but we want to slow it down and take a better look at the juiciest gossip, scandal, rumor or issue that is making headlines this week. Lambert and Schroeder will take different sides and battle it out, telling you why you they are right.
This week’s topic: Who will win the Super Bowl?
On Feb. 1 the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will compete in Super Bowl XLIX. As both teams are disected and reviewed, opinions on who is the better team are quickly forming. Who will win the title? Let’s talk about it… (Recap by Allison Mueller)
CONTRIBUTED BY ERIC SCHROEDER
It seems rather clear to me that Seattle is poised for a repeat this season. After cruising through most of the regular season, the Seahawks easily took Carolina in the divisional round. When playing Green Bay for the second time this season and trailing for most of the game, quarterback Russell Wilson took control with the help of explosive running back Marshawn Lynch. Seattle took control to outscore Green Bay 21-6 in the fourth quarter and overtime. This dominance is part of what got Seattle to raise the Lombardi trophy a year ago and is what will allow them to do so again this year.
On the offensive side, Seattle has had great balance in the pass and run game making them a nightmare to defend. If Wilson isn’t hitting passes, Lynch can explode on the ground, which is evident as Seattle led the league in rushing with 172 yards a game. In the conference championship alone, Lynch racked up 157 yards on the ground.
On the defensive side the Legion of Boom has been nothing but stunning once again as they lead the league in pass defense and were third in rush defense over the course of the year. When facing Aaron Rodgers, arguably the best quarterback in the NFL, they allowed only one touchdown while picking him off twice.
It is irrelevant who Seattle plays at this point, but they should not have an issue with anyone. If you find that hard to believe, look back to last year when Seattle came in as a 2.5 point underdog and ending up beating Denver 43-8 in a win that shocked the world. Come Feb. 1 another Super Bowl Champion will be crowned, and it will not be a shock this year when Seattle hoists the Lombardi.
CONTRIBUTED BY MATTHEW LAMBERT
Are you not entertained? The Patriots, the team that was written off after a Monday night loss against the Chiefs early in the season, is back in the Super Bowl. Coach Belichick and Tom Brady, as a Coach-QB combo, are set for their sixth Super Bowl appearance in years.
While Seattle may have squeaked out a win against Green Bay, they showed a huge flaw: turnovers. Green Bay’s defense compared to New England’s isn’t even comparable. That’s why the defense is what will make them Super Bowl champions.
We can talk about the unflappable demeanor of Tom Brady and his top tier offense but stars on the defense such as Darrelle Revis, Jamie Collins, Brandon Browner and Rob Ninkovich will be the reason why they win.
When the Patriots won the Super Bowl in 2001, 2003 and 2004, they were in the top 10 for defenses. They ranked sixth in 2001, seventh in 2003 and ninth in 2004. When they played their last Super Bowl in 2012, they ranked 25th in the league. This season they ranked 13th in the league, while it isn’t top 10, it still isn’t far off.
While a lot of people will argue how that was over a decade ago, I will argue the players they have now are better. They are going up against a Seattle team that could likely crumble under pressure and duress. The biggest reason why the Seahawks won was keeping Aaron Rodgers off the field. As long as the Patriots can control the tempo of the game, force turnovers and put a lot of pressure on Russell Wilson, there is no reason why Belichick and Brady won’t ride off into the sunset with the Lombardi Trophy close by.
