January 27, 2015 at 6:12 p.m.
Debate continues on verge of Super Bowl
Rays of Insight
It’s five days away.
The Super Bowl is right around the corner. And as the game approaches, it’s time to put the nonsense of the last week behind us and talk about the game.
This year, I’ll be reprising the Super Bowl debate column Steve Garbacz and I introduced in 2012. (I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that my argument in favor of the New York Giants turned out to be spot on.)
But with Garbacz gone to Greenwood, a new opponent was needed.
Drew Huffman, a Jay County High School junior, won a Twitter contest a couple of weeks ago. His prize, negotiated after his victory, was that if his New England Patriots made it to the big game, he would get to debate me in this very column.
I’ll take the first word so Drew, no matter how wrong he obviously is going to be, can have the last.
RC: I’m not a fan of Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, but I’m also in no position to ignore the obvious facts that are staring me in the face. Seattle is clearly the best team.
The Seahawks led the NFL this season in total defense by more than 500 yards and scoring defense by allowing just 15.9 points per game. It had the No. 1 rushing offense by more than 25 yards per game.
And haven’t we seen this situation — defensive-minded Seattle against aging superstar quarterback — before. I seem to recall Seattle clobbering Denver last season, and New England’s fate isn’t likely to be much different.
DH: I would be hesitant to compare Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, given their drastically different postseason resumes. That being added to a much better coaching staff, and I think we can anticipate a much better Super Bowl than last year.
The issue with arguing for New England is that it doesn’t necessarily create glaring statistics. Rather, it does whatever is necessary to win. It has a distinct ability to adapt and change its identity to any given opposition.
Assuming the Super Bowl footballs are inflated to the correct air pressure, the Seattle Seahawks may stand a chance in this game. But all jokes and ridiculous “cheating” accusations aside, we have a great match-up on our hands.
RC: It’s true, Bill Belichick’s goal is always to take away the opposition’s strength and make it play left-handed, so to speak.
But that’s not what the Patriots have done this postseason.
Instead, they counted on trickery to rally against Baltimore and then took advantage of the Colts’ consistently terrible run defense.
Seattle will not be tricked, and its defense will certainly not be bulldozed by a guy who keeps getting cut.
Meanwhile, if any team has a secondary that can negate Rob Gronkowski, New England’s clear strength, it’s the Seahawks. And once he’s been eliminated, no one else is scary.
DH: The Legion of Boom, as Seattle’s defensive secondary is nicknamed, is arguably the most qualified group to stop Gronk. However, it must simultaneously account for Julian Edelman and Brandon LaFell, as well as LeGarrette Blount on the ground.
As far as Seattle’s one-dimensional offense, Belichick and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia should have little to no problem stopping it. New England’s strong secondary can handle Seattle’s wide receivers with no help — and with ease. That leaves the front seven with an ability to focus on Marshawn Lynch.
It is evident that New England can and will dominate its match-ups against the Seahawks in the big game.
RC: I can almost hear Russell Wilson giggling at the thought that the Seahawks’ offense is one-dimensional. He’s just the type of unflappable quarterback who wins multiple Super Bowl titles.
Wilson’s poor game, until overtime, against Green Bay was an aberration. He ranked in the top 10 in passer rating this season despite facing a grueling list of defenses, and ran for 70 or more yards six times.
The Patriots should be much more scared of him than Seattle should be of two run-of-the-mill wide receivers and LeGarrette Blount.
DH: Russell Wilson doesn’t make his offense one-dimensional — his sub-par receiving corps does. Wilson will find himself scrambling for his life when he realizes his receivers don’t stand a chance against Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner.
As far as New England’s receivers, you may be correct. Outside of Gronk, there aren’t many weapons. Despite that fact, Tom Brady managed to finish fourth in total QBR this season (74.3 out of 100).
Russell Wilson may have a Super Bowl ring thanks to his defense, but he doesn’t stand much of a chance of out-dueling the league’s all-time greatest postseason quarterback ever: Tom Brady.
RC: I suppose if anyone on the New England squad scares me, it would have to be Brady. Then again, it’s been 11 years since he won a Super Bowl and in his last two appearances he got outplayed by little brother Manning.
Earlier, you used the word “dominant”.
The Seattle Seahawks ranked:
•No. 1 in total defense
•No. 1 in scoring defense
•No. 1 in rushing yards
•No. 1 in passing defense
•No. 3 in rush defense
•No. 4 in turnover differential
That is dominance.
They have also won eight straight games, the first seven of those by double figures.
Green Bay only had a chance because of turnovers. The Patriots won’t have one at all.
DH: The New England Patriots live to play big games. In fact, when playing teams that finished first in their division, they won by an average of 27.3 points. That is dominance, and Seattle will be no exception.
New England boasts a top 10 defense in points allowed and a top five offense in points scored. Since you mentioned turnover differential, the Patriots happened to be second in the league.
In the end, the Patriot defense will find a way to minimize the Seattle offense, and the Patriot offense will show the Legion of Boom the best performance they have seen all year. Before we know it, Brady and Belichick will have a handful of Super Bowl rings.
Final predictions
RC: Seattle 30, New England 13
DH: New England 27, Seattle 20
The Super Bowl is right around the corner. And as the game approaches, it’s time to put the nonsense of the last week behind us and talk about the game.
This year, I’ll be reprising the Super Bowl debate column Steve Garbacz and I introduced in 2012. (I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that my argument in favor of the New York Giants turned out to be spot on.)
But with Garbacz gone to Greenwood, a new opponent was needed.
Drew Huffman, a Jay County High School junior, won a Twitter contest a couple of weeks ago. His prize, negotiated after his victory, was that if his New England Patriots made it to the big game, he would get to debate me in this very column.
I’ll take the first word so Drew, no matter how wrong he obviously is going to be, can have the last.
RC: I’m not a fan of Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, but I’m also in no position to ignore the obvious facts that are staring me in the face. Seattle is clearly the best team.
The Seahawks led the NFL this season in total defense by more than 500 yards and scoring defense by allowing just 15.9 points per game. It had the No. 1 rushing offense by more than 25 yards per game.
And haven’t we seen this situation — defensive-minded Seattle against aging superstar quarterback — before. I seem to recall Seattle clobbering Denver last season, and New England’s fate isn’t likely to be much different.
DH: I would be hesitant to compare Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, given their drastically different postseason resumes. That being added to a much better coaching staff, and I think we can anticipate a much better Super Bowl than last year.
The issue with arguing for New England is that it doesn’t necessarily create glaring statistics. Rather, it does whatever is necessary to win. It has a distinct ability to adapt and change its identity to any given opposition.
Assuming the Super Bowl footballs are inflated to the correct air pressure, the Seattle Seahawks may stand a chance in this game. But all jokes and ridiculous “cheating” accusations aside, we have a great match-up on our hands.
RC: It’s true, Bill Belichick’s goal is always to take away the opposition’s strength and make it play left-handed, so to speak.
But that’s not what the Patriots have done this postseason.
Instead, they counted on trickery to rally against Baltimore and then took advantage of the Colts’ consistently terrible run defense.
Seattle will not be tricked, and its defense will certainly not be bulldozed by a guy who keeps getting cut.
Meanwhile, if any team has a secondary that can negate Rob Gronkowski, New England’s clear strength, it’s the Seahawks. And once he’s been eliminated, no one else is scary.
DH: The Legion of Boom, as Seattle’s defensive secondary is nicknamed, is arguably the most qualified group to stop Gronk. However, it must simultaneously account for Julian Edelman and Brandon LaFell, as well as LeGarrette Blount on the ground.
As far as Seattle’s one-dimensional offense, Belichick and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia should have little to no problem stopping it. New England’s strong secondary can handle Seattle’s wide receivers with no help — and with ease. That leaves the front seven with an ability to focus on Marshawn Lynch.
It is evident that New England can and will dominate its match-ups against the Seahawks in the big game.
RC: I can almost hear Russell Wilson giggling at the thought that the Seahawks’ offense is one-dimensional. He’s just the type of unflappable quarterback who wins multiple Super Bowl titles.
Wilson’s poor game, until overtime, against Green Bay was an aberration. He ranked in the top 10 in passer rating this season despite facing a grueling list of defenses, and ran for 70 or more yards six times.
The Patriots should be much more scared of him than Seattle should be of two run-of-the-mill wide receivers and LeGarrette Blount.
DH: Russell Wilson doesn’t make his offense one-dimensional — his sub-par receiving corps does. Wilson will find himself scrambling for his life when he realizes his receivers don’t stand a chance against Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner.
As far as New England’s receivers, you may be correct. Outside of Gronk, there aren’t many weapons. Despite that fact, Tom Brady managed to finish fourth in total QBR this season (74.3 out of 100).
Russell Wilson may have a Super Bowl ring thanks to his defense, but he doesn’t stand much of a chance of out-dueling the league’s all-time greatest postseason quarterback ever: Tom Brady.
RC: I suppose if anyone on the New England squad scares me, it would have to be Brady. Then again, it’s been 11 years since he won a Super Bowl and in his last two appearances he got outplayed by little brother Manning.
Earlier, you used the word “dominant”.
The Seattle Seahawks ranked:
•No. 1 in total defense
•No. 1 in scoring defense
•No. 1 in rushing yards
•No. 1 in passing defense
•No. 3 in rush defense
•No. 4 in turnover differential
That is dominance.
They have also won eight straight games, the first seven of those by double figures.
Green Bay only had a chance because of turnovers. The Patriots won’t have one at all.
DH: The New England Patriots live to play big games. In fact, when playing teams that finished first in their division, they won by an average of 27.3 points. That is dominance, and Seattle will be no exception.
New England boasts a top 10 defense in points allowed and a top five offense in points scored. Since you mentioned turnover differential, the Patriots happened to be second in the league.
In the end, the Patriot defense will find a way to minimize the Seattle offense, and the Patriot offense will show the Legion of Boom the best performance they have seen all year. Before we know it, Brady and Belichick will have a handful of Super Bowl rings.
Final predictions
RC: Seattle 30, New England 13
DH: New England 27, Seattle 20
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