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Super Bowl XLIX: Neil Reynolds looks at six big talking points that could decide Super Bowl XLIX

Seattle head coach Pete Carroll and  Russell Wilson

It will soon be time for the talking to stop and for the action on the field to take centre stage as the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots clash in Super Bowl XLIX.

The player media availability is done for the week and the focus is turning to how this big game will be won and lost. We’ll be live on Sky Sports 1 and 3 from 10pm on Sunday and these are six storylines to follow in the final NFL game of the 2014 season.

The quarterbacks

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A look at how the New England Patriots made it to Super Bowl XLIX

What is not to love about the match-up between Tom Brady and Russell Wilson? Either way, we are going to see history made on Sunday night.

The 37-year-old Brady is playing in a record sixth Super Bowl and is chasing down a fourth Super Bowl win which would put him level with the great Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw. Despite having already played in five of these big games, Brady remains as focused and as hungry as ever – which is probably why he seems to return to this event year after year.

Wilson has the chance to become the youngest quarterback in NFL history to win his second Super Bowl. He is just 26 years old and like his opponent on Sunday, Wilson is hungry and determined to keep piling up the victories.

They do it different ways, with Brady operating out of the pocket and Wilson being more of a mobile threat, but they are very similar in how hard they prepare, how much they love the game and how keen they will be to write their name in the history books on Sunday.

The Gronk v The Legion of Boom

Live NFL - Super Bowl XLIX

This must be a good match-up because both subjects have nicknames. Rob Gronkowski is the best tight end in the NFL and there is a school of thought around the league that the only way to attack Seattle’s top-ranked defence is at that position.

More from Super Bowl Xlix

The battle between Gronkowski, who posted wide receiver-type numbers in the regular season with 82 catches for 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns, and Seattle’s pounding safety Kam Chancellor, could be a Super Bowl decider. But you can also add in fast and athletic linebackers in Bobby Wagner and KJ Wright as they will also cover The Gronk at times.

Gronkowski knows Seattle intimidated Denver’s receivers over the middle of the field in last year’s Super Bowl. But I cannot see him shying away from such contact and this could be enthralling viewing. Get your popcorn ready!

The ‘other’ receivers

Julian Edelman of the New England Patriots returns a kick for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Denver Broncos
Image: Julian Edelman: Big role to play

There are some other receivers in this game outside of Rob Gronkowski and while they may not be the over-riding factors in the outcome, they do have big roles to play.

The Patriots like to get the ball out of Tom Brady’s hand quickly and then have shifty receivers run after the catch. That means Julian Edelman could have a big role to play. Over the past two seasons, Edelman has caught 197 passes (third-most in the league) and will be a challenge on Sunday, even against the best secondary in the league.

Seattle’s passing game is ranked 27th out of 32 teams but don’t be fooled into thinking their receivers are poor. Doug Baldwin is one of the most efficient in the game but is under-used as Seattle base their attack on running the football. Jermaine Kearse is inconsistent but can produce match-winning catches, as he did against Green Bay in the NFC title game.

The running backs

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A look at how the Seattle Seahawks made it to Super Bowl XLIX

After a week of being hounded by the world’s media and – frankly – not handling himself very well during that process, Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch is ready to inflict some pain on the Patriots. I heard a great description of Lynch on American TV this week when a commentator said he doesn’t run downfield, he rumbles.

That is correct and if Seattle’s offensive star and emotional spark plug can get into ‘Beast Mode’ on Sunday, it could turn into a very tough Super Bowl for New England. Lynch led the NFL with 17 touchdowns this season and is a complete power back who forced defenders into a league-leading 88 missed tackles in 2014.

If Lynch is being viewed as a controversial figure by the media, the same can be said of New England’s LeGarrette Blount. He was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers in mid-season for walking off the field before the end of a loss. Pittsburgh’s loss was New England’s gain as he brings physicality to the ground attack.

Seattle’s four losses this season have come when the opposition have run the ball well – a fact New England will have duly noted. One final point on these guys – both are big and physical but they move so well for big men and can dance around would-be tacklers if necessary. They just prefer to run over them!

The secondaries

Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks looks on
Image: Richard Sherman: Reportedly struggling with a shoulder injury

Two of the best sets of defensive backs in the NFL will be on display on Super Bowl Sunday and that could make this game relatively low-scoring.

We know all about Seattle’s Legion of Boom featuring cornerbacks Richard Sherman and Byron Maxwell and safeties Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas. They talk the talk but they back it up on the field. The only concern might be the injuries suffered by Sherman and Thomas in the NFC Championship Game. Will they be fully healthy and how will they cope when it comes to making the tough tackles?

New England are not short on defensive back talent, either. Darrelle Revis has long been one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL and Brandon Browner will be keen to exact revenge on his old team. At safety, Devin McCourty is much more comfortable and Kyle Arrington and Patrick Chung round out a very good pass defence in New England.

Coaching

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The New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks will battle it out in the Super Bowl on Sunday

This is the first Super Bowl to feature two coaches over 60 years of age as New England’s Bill Belichick (62) faces off against Pete Carroll (63). They have very different demeanours in the media but both are winners.

Interestingly, both coaches showed a willingness to use trick plays and deception if necessary during the play-offs. Don’t expect this game to go the distance without one of these innovative and aggressive, play-to-win coaches pulling something from up his sleeve.

Carroll is going for a second straight Super Bowl win, while Belichick – who has the most play-off wins in NFL history with 21 – is looking to tie the great Chuck Noll with a fourth Super Bowl victory.

It should be quite a game in the desert. I picked Seattle to win 27-21 about 10 days ago and don’t see any reason to change that right now. But I do have the feeling this is going to be a classic showdown.

Watch Seattle Seahawks v New England Patriots live on Sky Sports 1 & 3 on Sunday from 10pm

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