3 reasons why the Patriots will win Super Bowl XLIX
This season marks the eighth Super Bowl appearance for the New England Patriots, which is tied for the most in NFL history. It also marks the team's return to Glendale, Ariz., where it was defeated in dramatic fashion by the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII.
New England will be hoping for a much different outcome this time around, and while the Seattle Seahawks will be a difficult beast to tame, the Patriots look poised to take home their long-awaited fourth Lombardi Trophy.
Here are three reasons why the Patriots will win Super Bowl XLIX:
The Gronk Factor
The last time the Patriots advanced to the Super Bowl, tight end Rob Gronkowski was dealing with an ankle injury. In that game, which the Giants won 21-17, Gronkowski was held to two catches for 26 yards.
Having a healthy Gronkowski in the lineup is beneficial not only from an individual standpoint (he led the Patriots with 1,124 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns during the regular season), but from a team standpoint as well.
"Man, it's a big difference," teammate Brandon LaFell told Christopher Price of WEEI.com following the regular-season finale. "You know that the middle of the field is not so much open when you go across and Gronk is not there. It's a lot of double-teams, a lot of sitting back in zone trying to wait and catch us instead of a guy or two over the top of Gronk or Gronk getting double-teamed. It's a big difference."
The Seahawks' secondary is banged up
One of the biggest questions entering the Super Bowl is the health of Pro Bowl defensive backs Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas.
Both players were injured during the NFC Championship game (Sherman suffered a sprained elbow and Thomas dislocated his shoulder) and while they insisted afterwards that they'll be ready, they may not be as effective as the Seahawks would like.
Sherman was in visible pain after colliding with teammate Kam Chancellor and was unable to move his left arm much. He had two weeks to recover, but you can bet the Patriots have spent that time figuring out how best to exploit him.
They have a secret weapon in Jamie Collins
Jamie Collins has emerged as one of the centerpieces of the Patriots' defense and could be the X-factor of Super Bowl XLIX. Just ask Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who faced the second-year linebacker twice this season:
"I think he's the most underrated player in the NFL," Luck told Pete Prisco of CBS Sports. "He can do so many things in that defense."
That versatility will be key against Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who has a knack for extending plays and is as much of a threat in the passing game as the running game.
Many expect New England to use a spy against Wilson, and Collins makes the most sense for that role. He's athletic, can line up on the inside and outside, and has been effective as a pass rusher and in coverage.