Jan’s Super Bowl XLIX Preview

This Sunday, the NFL will be center stage to crown a new league champion. Well I guess I shouldn’t use the term new, as the defending Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks have overcome numerous obstacles to reach Super Bowl XLIX. The Seattle Seahawks are only the 12th team in history to return to the Super Bowl after winning the previous season. They’re the first team since the 03-04 New England Patriots to reach back-to-back Super Bowls.

The Patriots will be playing for their fourth Super Bowl victory, the first since they won back-to-back titles. This is Tom Brady’s sixth trip to the Super Bowl, with a record of 3-2 and two Super Bowl MVPs. The Patriots boast one of the league’s best offenses and Seattle boasts the best defense in the league again this year.

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Here’s everything you need to know for Sunday:

Who: New England Patriots (12-4) vs. Seattle Seahawks (12-4)
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ
When: Kickoff at 6:30 PM ET (4:30 PM MT)
Halftime performer: Katy Perry featuring Lenny Kravitz

I know you like pregame coverage, so I’ve got all your pregame coverage for your pregame coverage. NBC’s coverage begins at 10 A.M. Mountain Time hosted by Bob Costas. He’ll be joined by Dan Patrick, Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison, Peter King, Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya, and Jos Elliott. There will also be an interview with halftime performer, Katy Perry. There will be pretaped interviews with both quarterbacks, Bill Belichick, Pete Carroll, Rob Gronkowski, Doug Baldwin, and Jermaine Kearse. Oh and Tara Lapinski and Johnny Weir will be reporting live from a tailgate party.

Around 2 P.M. Mountain Time, Savannah Guthrie will interview President Barack Obama. Then a bunch of filler stuff, then finally at 4 P.M. MT, Idina Menzel will sing the national anthem, the teams will be introduced, the coin toss will occur, and then at 4:30 P.M. MT the Super Bowl will finally kickoff. Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, and Michele Tafoya will be your crew for the game.

Of course the NFL Network and ESPN will both have their respected game day shows throughout the day and post-Super Bowl coverage will run pretty much through the night on NFL Network.

I have been ignoring all the temptations of watching the Super Bowl Ads before they air, because I’m old school. So I can’t tell you what to expect from the ads but a quick search of the ol’ Google machine could give you an idea.

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Katy Perry will be performing at halftime with Lenny Kravitz. Apparently, the entrance and the exit are things that haven’t been done before. There will be lions and sharks, Lenny Kravitz, a special female guest that will "melt faces", costumes designed by Jeremy Scott, and Perry said that "nothing about my show will be deflated." So use halftime as a bathroom break or enjoy Katy Perry and all her glory.

She’s a firework. / Giphy.com

Match-Ups to Watch:

Rob Gronkowski vs. Kam Chancellor

Many people are claiming that the Seahawks don’t have a chance in this game because of one guy: tight end Rob Gronkowski. Well, I know his name isn’t as recognizable as Gronk but meet Kam Chancellor.

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That’s Vernon Davis. Bam Bam Kam knocked his soul out of his body. Chancellor vs. Gronk is going to be a physical battle. But Gronk is containable. The freaking Jets contained him in Week 16, only allowing him six receptions for 31 yards and his lowest yards-per-catch of the season (5.2). I’m sorry but if the terrible Jets secondary can contain Gronk, the best secondary in the league has a great shot to do so.

Marshawn Lynch vs. Patriots defense

Obvious match-up considering the running back is on the offensive side of the ball and the defense tries to stop the running back from running over them. Whether or not this Patriots defense can actually stop Beast Mode is something that I have doubts about. Have you seen this man run?

Air vs. Footballs

Just kidding.

The team that scores more points than the other team will ultimately hoist the Lombardi trophy. It’s going to be a better, closer game than last year’s Super Bowl. These teams are very similar in their styles of play and talent. It’s going to come down to heart and who wants it more. Those Seahawks are hungry for much, much more.

Jan’s pick: Re-Pete.