Super Bowl 49 is a good matchup in its own right -- the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots were both No. 1 seeds in their respective conferences -- but two weeks of drama, from DeflateGate to fretting about what Marshawn Lynch does with his hand after touchdowns, have added a thick layer of intrigue. The whinging is almost over: The two teams will kickoff Sunday in Glendale, Ariz., at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Tom Brady and Bill Belichick will appear in their sixth Super Bowl together with the Patriots. The two have been the biggest constant on perhaps the NFL's most consistent franchise since the turn of the century. Brady is once again quarterbacking one of the league's best offenses. New England averaged 40 points scored in its two postseason wins after finishing the regular season fourth in scoring at 29.3 points per game.
Seattle's defense is more than capable to its task, however. It was first in the league in total defense and points per game relinquished during the regular season. The defending Super Bowl champions seemingly ratcheted up their play in the postseason, holding the Carolina Panthers to 17 points and the Green Bay Packers to 22 points in an overtime thriller. Star cornerback Richard Sherman may be playing with one arm, but that won't keep the Legion of Boom from potentially wreaking havoc.
Sunday's Super Bowl will be third to take place in the state of Arizona, and the second ever in Glendale. The state pulled out every stop to put its best face forward. The game will be the loud, commercialized over-production it is every year, and of course you're going to watch. Here's how:
How to Watch
Date: Sunday, Feb. 1
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Location: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
TV: NBC
Announcers: Al Michaels (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (analyst), Michele Tafoya (sideline)