Super Bowl Sunday isn't a nationally recognized holiday, but it may as well be. It has the main characteristic -- an ability to bring together friends and family around a gross display of food -- and is only really missing a requisite day off work. This year, Super Bowl 49 will feature the New England Patriots against the Seattle Seahawks, ensuring that fans can look forward to a good game in addition to good cheer.
Super Bowl 2015 start time and kickoff for Patriots vs. Seahawks
Will Super Bowl 49 live up to the hype? Impossible to say, but there is every reason to expect the best.
The Super Bowl actually garnered a reputation for being an uninteresting game in the 90s, but recently (and last year's blowout notwithstanding) the game has been much higher quality. Five of the last seven Super Bowl have been decided by six points or fewer. The Seahawks' demolition of the Denver Broncos ended a three-year streak of classic matchups, with the Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants and Green Bay Packers all winning championships in dramatic fashion from 2011 to 2013.
This year’s Super Bowl matchup should encourage fans who were turned off by last year’s game. The Seahawks feature the best defense in the NFL by points and yards allowed per game. The Patriots offense has proven wily the last two weeks, however, and with two weeks to prepare head coach Bill Belichick should have a few tricks to throw at Pete Carroll and the Legion of Boom.
The Seahawks offense, and in particular quarterback Russell Wilson, hopes to put a poor performance against the Green Bay Packers behind it. The Seahawks managed just seven points until it scored in a flurry at the end of regulation and into overtime to complete a spectacular comeback. Wilson threw four interceptions before waking up to score on a rushing touchdown with 2:09 remaining in regulation, and throw a game-winning pass to Jermaine Kearse in OT.
The Patriots defense allowed just seven points to the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship, albeit in sloppy conditions. Whether the Seahawks offense can gain traction early in the game or the Patriots defense maintains its momentum could swing the outcome. Here's everything you need to tune in:
How to Watch
Date: Sunday, Feb. 1
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET kickoff
Location: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
TV: NBC
Announcers: Al Michaels (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (analyst), Michele Tafoya (sideline)
Streaming: The game will stream off the NBC Sports website and on the NBC Sports Live Extra mobile app for tablet and phones. No cable or satellite subscription required.
Radio: XM 225 & 85 | Seattle: KIRO-FM (97.3) & KIRO (710 AM) | New England: WBZ-FM (98.5)
See More:
