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 All the elements are in place for the game as the two number one
seeds, two brilliant quarterbacks and two coaching masterminds go
helmet-to-helmet, watched by a television audience of over 100
million for American sport's biggest prize.
But the final score may not decide the true winner in many fans
minds with the spotlight of suspicion firmly fixed on the Patriots
as the NFL investigates the Patriots use of illegal under-inflated
footballs during a blowout victory over the Indianapolis Colts that
clinched a Super Bowl berth.
Even after the game is over and the Vince Lombardi Trophy hoisted
the investigation will continue with many fans questioning whether
the Patriots should have been allowed onto the University of Phoenix
Stadium field.
During the Super Bowl buildup both teams have desperately tried to
push the focus back onto the game but the whiff of scandal has
refused to drift away.
"You know, right now, our focus is totally on the Seattle Seahawks
and this game," said New England coach Bill Belichick when asked if
it bothered him that the national perception of the Patriots is "a
bunch of cheaters".
 "We’ll try to prepare our team and compete as well as we can Sunday
afternoon against a great football organisation," Belichick said.
"That’s really what our focus is."
Beyond "deflategate" the game is rich with intriguing subplots,
personalities and no clear-cut favorite with Las Vegas betting odds
shifting from even to the Patriots being a one-point favorite.
The game pits the defending champion Seahawks against the Patriots,
who have been the NFL's gold medal standard for the past 14 years,
reaching the Super Bowl six times and winning three.
It is a standard the Seahawks are trying to match as they bid to
become the first team since the Patriots a decade ago to win
back-to-back Lombardi trophies.
The Seahawks' success revolves around a ferocious defense that is
the first since the 1985-86 Bears to lead the NFL in fewest points
and yards allowed in consecutive seasons.
At the heart of Seattle's top-ranked defense, known as the 'Legion
of Boom' is safety Kam Chancellor and Pro Bowl cornerback Richard
Sherman.
"We’re a confident bunch,” said Sherman. "We believe in what we do.
We believe in our system. We believe in our mentality, our
philosophy, and we expect to go out there and execute."
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While the outspoken Sherman always has something to say, Seattle
running back Marshawn Lynch refuses to talk to the media beyond his
NFL-mandated obligations.
Lynch prefers to do his talking on the field, switching into what
has become known as 'Beast Mode' as he has become one of the NFL's
most productive and punishing runners.
The Patriots have a similar makeup relying heavily on the running of
LeGarrette Blount and a stout defense anchored by cornerbacks
Darrelle Revis and former-Seahawk Brandon Browner.
“There are some similarities," admitted Seattle coach Pete Carroll
who was sacked as head coach in New England and replaced by
Belichick. "Our background is about defense and our programs have
been built on really always having a consistent defense."
The one area of stark contrast for the two teams is at quarterback.
The Patriots' Tom Brady is a classic drop back passer who prefers to
stand tall in the pocket and pick apart opposing secondaries.
Seattle's athletic Russell Wilson can beat you with his passing and
running.
Playing in a record equaling sixth Super Bowl, Brady, who has thrown
more postseason touchdowns than any player, can join childhood hero
Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw as the only quarterbacks with four
championship rings with a win.
“It’s hard to think about those things," said Brady. "To get a
chance to play in the Super Bowl, I never thought I’d play in one.
So it’s pretty unbelievable to be able to play in six."
(Editing by Gene Cherry)
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