The Seattle Seahawks stumbled out of the gate this season, struggling to a 3-3 record while allowing 23.5 points per game. In a dozen games since, playoffs included, they kicked it into high gear and surpassed everyone, allowing only 12.7 points per game while winning 11 games, the NFC West, the conference’s top seed and, ultimately, the conference itself en route to Super Bowl XLIX.
Their path to the Super Bowl was a bit different than it was last season. The Seahawks were the best team in the NFL from the word go in 2013, and they showed it week-in and week-out, dismantling foes at home and away, east coast, west coast—it didn’t make any difference.
This season, they had to work at it. They fought and clawed while dealing with injury issues on both sides of the ball, and now that they’re healthy, they again appear unbeatable.
Here are five keys to watch for the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX.
1. Attack Kyle Arrington
For the simple fact that Doug Baldwin is essentially a slot receiver, the Seahawks have to challenge Patriots nickel cornerback Kyle Arrington early and often. Their outside corners—Darrelle Revis and former Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner—are big and physical, and Seattle does not have a receiver with enough size or talent to beat either of them consistently.
This season, Baldwin ran 57.6 percent of his routes from the slot, had 41 receptions for 480 yards and two touchdowns and was sixth in yards per route run from the inside (1.67), according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Arrington is not a bad cornerback. He’s one of the NFL’s better nickelbacks, in fact. He does match up particularly well with Baldwin, but the receiver and his quarterback, Russell Wilson, should have an advantage on deep routes from the slot.
Wilson should look Baldwin’s way when covered by Arrington plenty in this game.
2. Limit Rob Gronkowski
Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is on fire of late, catching a touchdown pass in five straight games in which he’s played. He has made defenses look foolish in the red zone all throughout his career, and he will look to do the same this Sunday.
Including the playoffs, New England is 36-6 when Gronk finds the end zone and 33-15 when he does not.
He’s a playmaker, obviously, but Seattle has the personnel to limit him. It had the personnel to limit him the last time these teams met back in 2012. He had six receptions for 61 yards on eight targets, but he did not score.
Safeties Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas seem to be the most likely candidates to cover Gronkowski. Depending on field position, you’ll see one or the other on him most of the time. Thomas will have tight end responsibility with a lot of field behind him, and Chancellor will take over in the red zone.
Keeping Gronk out of the end zone is imperative. The Seahawks cannot let him beat them.
3. Unleash Beast Mode
Marshawn Lynch was the star of Super Bowl media day on Tuesday (aside: Does anyone know why he was there?), but where he really needs to shine is on the field Sunday night.
He was somewhat limited against the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Divisional round, but in the conference title game, he crushed the Green Bay Packers by carrying 25 times for 157 yards and a touchdown that momentarily gave Seattle the lead with 85 seconds left in regulation.
Lynch leads all backs in the postseason with 21 broken tackles on 39 carries in two games. That’s remarkable.
Seattle has to give New England a large dose of the Skittles-infused running back.
4. Take Care of the Football
It was uncharacteristic of Wilson and the Seahawks offense to turn the ball over five times against the Packers. The fact they won that game was historic. Seattle became the eighth team to turn the ball over five times in a playoff game and win—since 1940, teams are 10-82 (.109) in postseason play when turning the ball over five-plus times.
Bill Belichick-led Patriots teams are 15-0 with an average score of 34-12 when creating five-plus turnovers on defense. You can’t expect to turn the ball over and beat Tom Brady. He’ll destroy you.
Even turning the ball over three times in Belichick’s tenure is a near no-win situation, as New England is 36-3 (.923) with an average score of 30-17 when generating exactly three turnovers.
Wilson is not likely to duplicate his four-interception performance from the Green Bay game this Sunday. But if he does, you can hand Brady his fourth Lombardi Trophy.
Photo: USA Today