Super Bowl XLIX: 5 things you need to know

The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will face off at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. on Sunday evening in Super Bowl XLIX.

Here are five things you need to know:

Seattle's defense has been dominant

Since the start of Week 12, the Seahawks have limited opponents to 9.8 points per game. To put that in perspective, the unit held opponents to 11.5 points per game over the final eight games of last season's title run.

It's not a coincidence that the team's turnaround on defense coincided with the return of linebacker Bobby Wagner from injury. Following the team's 19-3 Week 12 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll had this to say about Wagner to ESPN's Terry Blount: "It was great to have him out there. I went up to Bobby and said, 'Geez, I didn't realize what a factor you are.' He is one of the heartbeat guys for this club."

Seattle is the 17th team to qualify for the Super Bowl after leading the league in scoring defense. The previous 16 went 13-3 in the Big Game.

Tom Brady knows his way around these parts

On Sunday, 37-year-old Tom Brady will start in his sixth Super Bowl. That will break the NFL record for Super Bowl appearances by a quarterback, and match former Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos defensive tackle Mike Lodish for most Super Bowl appearances all time.

Brady won each of his first three Super Bowls, including back-to-back victories in Super Bowl XXXVIII and Super Bowl XXXIX, but the Patriots have since dropped their last two trips to the Big Game.

On Wednesday, Brady reflected back on his first trip to the title game, which came in his first year as a starter.

"That happened so fast in my life," Brady said, according to Jeff Legwold of ESPN. "I didn't quite understand what was going on in that time. I was just a young guy and then there was only one week from the time we won the AFC Championship Game to the Super Bowl. You've got to appreciate the opportunity we have and whatever we've got to this point."

Russell Wilson is 26 years old

On the day of the Big Game, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson will be 26 years, 64 days old, to be exact. That's significant, because he'll break the league record as the youngest quarterback to start a second Super Bowl. The previous record holder was, of course, Tom Brady.

Brady started, and won, his second Super Bowl at the age of 26, then won his third at the age of 27.

Wilson was asked on Wednesday if he can see himself following in Brady's footsteps.

"I definitely can," Wilson said, according to Jeff Legwold of ESPN. "For me, I visualize success every day. I never visualize failure and I visualize being at the top every time."

Rob Gronkowski is relatively healthy

An ankle injury limited Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski during his first trip to the Super Bowl - a 21-17 loss to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI. He was held to two catches for 26 yards in that one.

Gronkowski is facing no such limitations this time around.

“It feels good not to get any questions asked about my health, no doubt,” Gronkowski said at Super Bowl Media Day on Tuesday, according to Tom Layman of the Boston Herald. “It feels good to be 100 percent healthy and 100 percent ready to roll for this game and not get a million questions like last time about my ankle.”

Only two teams (Chicago Bears, New York Jets) allowed more touchdowns to tight ends than the 11 allowed by the Seahawks during the regular season.

Marshawn Lynch is better than ever

Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch has rushed for 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns in each of four full seasons in Seattle. Since joining the Seahawks, Lynch has led the NFL in rushes (1,346), rushing yards (5,930), and rushing touchdowns (54). And he's only getting better.

Lynch's 17 touchdowns during the regular season are a career high, as is his rate of gaining a first down on 26 percent of his offensive touches.

His play only gets better in the postseason. In nine playoff games, Lynch is averaging 5.0 yards per carry, up from his regular season average of 4.4 yards per tote. He rushed for 157 yards and accounted for 183 scrimmage yards in the NFC Championship Game - both career highs.