Super Bowl XLIX

[gettlemanjack]

stats, match-ups, storylines, pics, and anything else interesting about the upcoming Super Bowl

The 49th Super Bowl

Seahawks (14-4) vs Patriots (14-4)

6:30 PM (ET), Sunday

NBC

-this is only the third time in 21 seasons that the number one seed from each conference will meet in the Super Bowl

-this is the Patriots' eighth Super Bowl appearance, tying them for most all-time with the Cowboys and Steelers

Patriots - 1986, 1997, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2015

Steelers - 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1996, 2006, 2009, 2011

Cowboys - 1971, 1972, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1993, 1994, 1996

-in Robert Kraft's 21 years as owner of the Patriots, he has only hired two coaches: Pete Carroll (to replace Bill Parcells) and Belichick (to replace Pete Carroll)

-the only other time the Super Bowl was at the Cardinals' University of Phoenix Stadium was at end of 2006 season when 12-point underdog NY Giants (13-6) beat the undefeated 18-0 Patriots by 17-14.

some other notable games at University of Phoenix Stadium:

-Fiesta Bowl at end of 2006 season when 7.5-point underdogs Boise State beat Oklahoma 43-42 in OT

-BCS National Championship Game at end of 2006 season when 7-point underdogs Florida beat undefeated Ohio State 41-14

-BCS National Championship Game at the end of 2010 season when undefeated Auburn beat undefeated Oregon 22-19

Super Bowl commercial rookies: there will be at least 15 brands running commercials during the big game for the first time, including Skittles, Weight Watchers, smartphone-accessories maker Mophie, glue giant Loctite (Super Glue), cruise line operator Carnival, web development platform Wix.com and Avocados From Mexico, a marketing unit that promotes the produce in the U.S.

-Carl's Jr. will have a naked model: Charlotte McKinney

-Nationwide will have comedian Mindy Kaling sunbath naked in Central Park

-Kia has Pierce Brosnan doing a parody of his 007 role

-Budweiser Clydesdales will tell help a puppy who has lost his way

-T-Mobile has Kim Kardashian making fun of herself

-Mophie has an apocalypse scene

-Wix.com has former NFL stars starting their own, humorous, business endeavors and using Wix.com to get them online.

-Bud Light puts an unsuspecting guy in a life-size Pac-Man game.

-Victoria's Secret, advertising for the first time since 2008, will have an all-new commercial which will run after the fourth quarter 2-minute warning (below is a teaser they released on youtube)

A view from the top of a building in downtown L.A. as filming on Bud Light's Super Bowl commercial commences.

This will be Cris Collinsworth's 2nd Super Bowl as color commentator since replacing John Madden as the color commentator for Al Michaels (the 1st was SB XLVI at the end of the 2011 season when when the 12-7 Giants upset the 15-3 Patriots by 21-17). Collinsworth played in two Super Bowls as WR for the Bengals before graduating law school in 1991:

-SB XVI at the end of the 1981 season. Joe Montana and the 49ers beat the Bengals 26-21. Collinsworth, a rookie coming off a 1,000-yard season, led all receivers in the SB with 107 yards, which he amassed on only 5 catches: an average of 21.4 yards per catch. In the 2nd quarter, on the Bengals' 3rd drive of the game, Collinsworth lost a costly fumble on the 8-yard line while being tackled by 2-time All Pro Eric Wright. And with 5 minutes left in the game, Wright intercepted a pass intended for Collinsworth, which led to a FG for SF. On the Bengals' 2nd TD drive, a Collinsworth catch advanced CIN from the 50 to the 38 for a 1st down. On the Bengals' 3rd TD drive, a Collinsworth catch advanced CIN from the 29 to the 20 for a 1st down. Collinsworth's biggest play was on 3rd and 23 from their own 47, when he caught a 49-yard pass down to the SF 14 yards line. A 49ers goal line stand kept the Bengals from scoring on that drive (CIN had it 1st and goal at 3, then three straight chances from the 1 and came up empty-handed). It was second time in the game the Bengals came up empty on 1st and goal. The previous time, Bengals had it 1st and goal on 5 but threw an INT on 3rd down

-SB XXIII at the end of the 1988 season. Joe Montana and the 49ers beat the Bengals 20-16. It was the final game of Collinsworth's career and Collinsworth led the Bengals in receiving with 3 catches for 40 yards. Two of Collinsworth's catches came on CIN's FG drive at the beginning of the 3rd quarter to put the Bengals up 6-3 (a Collinsworth catch advanced CIN from their own 30 to SF's 47 and another Collinsworth catch advanced CIN from 33 to the 22 to set up the FG to put them in the lead).

the Referee will be Bill Vinovich (whose day job is as a CPA). He officiated the Patriots game three weeks ago when the Ravens traveled to Gillette Stadium for the AFC Divisional Round matchup. His work dealing with the 4-man OLs and ineligible receivers the Patriots used in the game (which he said "obviously caught me off guard" and were "brilliant on Bill Belichick’s part") may be part of the reason why Vinovich has been tabbed to officiate the Super Bowl

http://www.csnne.com/blog/patriots-talk/vinovich-patriots-four-man-lines-caught-me-guard

The National Anthem will be sung by Idina Menzel, who was recently the voice for Elsa the Snow Queen, the lead character in Disney's $150 million film "Frozen" which came out in November 2013. Previously, she was known for her work on TV series "Glee," Disney movie "Enchanted" (2007), Columbia Pictures movie "Rent" (2005), as well as several award-winning musicals on Broadway: Rent (1996), Wicked (2006), If/Then (2014).

She was invited to perform "Let It Go" (from the movie "Frozen") at the 86th Academy Awards in March 2014, where the song won the Oscar for Best Original Song . When John Travolta announced her before she sang the song, he incorrectly introduced her as 'Adele Dazeem', which is fun to make fun of John Travolta for:

Travoltify Your Name

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/low_concept/2014/03/john_travolta_called_idina_menzel_adele_dazeem_what_s_your_travolta_name.html

[gettlemanjack]

Who has the best secondary? From PFF's SB Observations:

PATRIOTS

Since Week 11, safety Devin McCourty has two interceptions and four passes defended compared to just eight passes allowed for Zero touchdowns.

Since Week 12, Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner and Logan Ryan have each been thrown at 34 times. Revis and Ryan have both allowed 15 catches each for a catch rate of 44.1% which are both among the Top 10 among cornerbacks over that time. Browner has allowed 19 catches for a low catch rate of 55.9%.

Safety Duron Harmon comes in for 3rd-and-long situations. In the 224 coverage snaps he’s played in the regular and postseason this year, he has been targeted once, has no catches allowed, and has two interceptions. No other safety has played more than 30 snaps this year without allowing a catch.

Safety Patrick Chung has 22 run stops on the year which led to a 6.7 Run Stop Percentage. Both numbers were among the Top 10 for all safeties in the league.

SEAHAWKS

In Richard Sherman’s seven playoff games in his career, he has seven interceptions compared to just eight catches allowed.

Cornerback Byron Maxwell is one of five cornerbacks to be thrown at more than 50 times since Week 5 and not allow a single touchdown.

Cornerback Jeremy Lane has allowed 8.0 yards per catch, which is tied with Chris Harris for the lowest in the league for those who have been thrown at 30 or more times.

Going back to last year’s Super Bowl, Earl Thomas has gone 19 straight games allowing two or fewer catches.

Safety Kam Chancellor had a Run Stop Percentage of 8.7% which was the best single season mark for safeties in the eight years we’ve been grading games.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/01/29/sb-xlix-32-observations/

[gettlemanjack]

When Tom Brady throws to Brandon LaFell , he has a Passer Rating of 104.2, and when he throws to Julian Edelman he has a Passer Rating of 103.9. They are both in the Top 15 among the 50 wide receivers with the most targets.

Since Week 6, Doug Baldwin has 61 catches and just one drop. His drop rate of 1.61 since Week 6 is third best for those with at least 36 catchable passes.

For the second straight year, the wide receiver to lead Seattle in Yards Per Route Run is Ricardo Lockette at 2.02. He will likely be the Seahawks’ third wide receiver in the Super Bowl.

Patriots RT Sebastian Vollmer has a Pass Blocking Efficiency of 96.2 which was the third-best for all right tackles.

Seattle Center Max Unger in his 248 pass blocks in the regular and postseason has yet to allow a sack or hit, and has only allowed six pressures. His Pass Blocking Efficiency of 98.2% is fourth- best among centers.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/01/29/sb-xlix-32-observations/

[gettlemanjack]

As a Patriot, LeGarrette Blount has averaged 3.2 yards after contact per carry including the playoffs, which leads the league for all backs above 60 carries.

Patriots fullback James Develin has a +3.9 Blocking Rating this year, which is fourth-best among all fullbacks.

Patriots RG Ryan Wendell has a Run Block Rating of +9.9 which is fifth best among right guards.

On play action passes, Tom Brady has completed 101 of 151 passes for 1366 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions (104.9 passer rating). The 1366 yards led all quarterbacks on play action passes.

There are only two linebackers in 4-3 or 3-4 fronts with a rating of +1.0 or better in run defense, pass rush, coverage and penalty. Those two are Seattle's K.J. Wright and Bobby Wagner

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/01/29/sb-xlix-32-observations/

[gettlemanjack]

From Week 1 to Week 5, Patriots DE Chandler Jones was averaging 0.6 sacks/hits per game. From Week 6 on, he has averaged 2.1 sacks/hits per game.

Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins has four sacks, six hits and 16 hurries on 81 pass rushes. He has the highest Pass Rushing Productivity (25.3) of all defensive players regardless of position with at least 30 pass rushes.

There were three 4-3 defensive ends with at least 60 pressures from the left side this year, including two Seahawks: Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril. Of the 24 4-3 ends with at least 100 snaps from the left, Bennett was third best at Pass Rushing Productivity at 13.5 and Avril was fourth-best at 12.9.

Seattle brings five or more pass rushers on one in every four pass plays. On the plays where they rush with five or more rushers, they get pressure on the quarterback half the time. When they bring four or fewer rushers, then they only get pressure one third of the time.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/01/29/sb-xlix-32-observations/

[gettlemanjack]

Patriots defensive tackle Sealver Siliga has a Run Stop percentage of 12.1% which is second best for all defensive/nose tackles. He has playedin over 70% of snaps in three of the last four games.

When Seattle is running an option run play, Marshawn Lynch has seven touchdowns which leads all players on that type of play. Tied for second in the league is Russell Wilson at five. The Patriots have defended 68 option run plays this season, and have yet to allow a touchdown.

On quarterback scrambles, Russell Wilson had 12 defenders miss tackles on him which led the league and is three times more than the third-ranked quarterback. He also led the league in yards on scrambles with 529 on 56 attempts.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/01/29/sb-xlix-32-observations/

[gettlemanjack]

with a loss, New England would tie Denver for the most Super Bowl losses with five. But with a win, they would tie Green Bay and the New York Giants for the 4th-most SB wins (4) behind the 49ers (5), Cowboys (5) and Steelers (6). The Patriots are currently tied with the Raiders and the Redskins for 6th-most SB wins (3)

with a loss, Tom Brady would be 3-3 in the Super Bowl and would tie HOFer John Elway (2-3 in the Super Bowl) and HOFer Fran Tarkenton (0-3 in the Super Bowl) for the 2nd-most Super Bowl losses by a QB behind HOFer Jim Kelly (0-4 in the Super Bowl). But with a win, Brady would be 4-2 in the SB and would tie HOFer Joe Montana (4-0 in the SB) and HOFer Terry Bradshaw (4-0 in the SB) for most SB wins by a QB. Brady is currently 3-2 in the SB, tied with HOFer Troy Aikman (3-0 in the SB) for the 3rd-most SB wins by a QB

[gettlemanjack]

This will be Belichick's 6th Super Bowl appearance as a head coach, tied for most all-time with Don Shula. Belichick is currently 3-2 in SBs, all with Patriots. Don Shula is 2-4 overall as HC in SBs (0-1 with Colts in 1969 and 2-3 with Dolphins in 1972, 1973, 1974, 1983, 1985)

Belichick (3-2 in SBs) is currently tied for 2nd-most SBs wins for a HC with Joe Gibbs (3-1 in SB with Redskins) and Bill Walsh (3-0 in SB with 49ers). If the Patriots win, Belichick with be tied for #1 with Chuck Noll (4-0 in SB with Steelers)

Belichick has the most playoff wins in history (21), ahead of Tom Landry (20), Don Shula (19), Joe Gibbs (17) and Chuck Noll (16). Belichick currently has the 3rd-highest winning percentage in the playoffs, min 12 games, with 70.0% behind Joe Gibbs (70.8%) and Bill Walsh (71.4%)

Pete Carroll has a 66.7% win pct in playoffs, tied with Chuck Noll and John Harbaugh for 5th-best win pct in the playoffs (min 12 games) behind Bill Walsh (71.4%), Joe Gibbs (70.8%), Bill Belichick (70.0%) and Jimmy Johnson (69.2%)

[gettlemanjack]

Forbes:

Pete Carroll (age 63) and Bill Belichick (age 62) are the 2nd and 3rd oldest coaches in the NFL. Both are also two of the three highest paid coaches in the NFL

Seattle has by far the NFL’s richest owner while the Patriots rank No. 2 in Forbes NFL team valuations

Brady has made $150 million in playing salary and bonuses in his career, according to Spotrac. Only Peyton Manning has made more in NFL history.

Brady's off-field income is estimated at $7 million. He is one of only five NFL players that makes more $5 million a year off the field (along with fellow SB-winning QBs Brees, Rodgers and the Manning brothers)

Katy Perry is the featured artist for the halftime show. She has more Twitter followers (64 million) than any other person on the planet. Her three studio albums have all gone platinum. Perry will not be paid for Sunday’s performance, which amounts to a 12-minute commercial for the pop princess before 115 million people

Super Bowl Sunday is the second biggest day of food consumption in the U.S. after Thanksgiving. The National Chicken Council projects 1.25 billion chicken wings will be consumed on Sunday. Numbers from the Snack Food Association include 11.2 million pounds of potato chips, 8.2 million pounds of tortilla chips and 3.8 million pounds of popcorn.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2015/01/28/49-things-you-need-to-know-about-super-bowl-xlix/

[gettlemanjack]

Katy Perry is the featured artist for the halftime show. She has more Twitter followers (64 million) than any other person on the planet.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2015/01/28/49-things-you-need-to-know-about-super-bowl-xlix/

from the same link:

Carroll has more 1.1 million Twitter followers. Belichick, not surprisingly, is not on the social networking platform. Sherman has the most followers of anyone playing in the Super Bowl with 1.2 million. Russell Wilson has 1.1 million. Rob Gronkowski is the top Patriot on Twitter with 745,000 followers.

[gettlemanjack]

This is crazy:

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was 12 years old when Tom Brady won his first Super Bowl in 2001.

No pressure

[chknwing]

I think its fuging hilarious that you are talking to yourself

[mc52beast]

I'm more interested in what food we'll be eating... This SB means.nothing to me

[DeeJay]

Im gonna be fapping so hard to the sideline reporter girl,

Michelle tafoya