The NFL gets a classic matchup for the Super Bowl after the Green Bay Packers completed one of the most incredible choke jobs in NFL history. New England won the later game, so either the Packers or the Seahawks would have set up a great Super Bowl pairing, but it’s the Seahawks who prevailed for the chance to win back-to-back Super Bowls against a team looking to cement their dynasty status.
As for the Packers, this one is going to sting for a long time. It will be interesting to see if a name is attached to this debacle, like Browns fans have had to live with “The Drive” and “The Fumble.” In the post-game video above, Joe Buck reaches back and repeats his father’s classic line – “I don’t believe what I just saw!” It’s a line he shouldn’t cite casually, and in this case the circumstances certainly warranted it. Packer fans will be left with a series of improbable plays to torture thei dreams, from a fake field goal to a botched attempt at catching an onside kick to a ridiculously lucky two-point conversion by the Seahawks.
And this series of events has to play into your thinking when contemplating the Super Bowl. The Patriots looked amazing as they destroyed a clearly inferior Colts team. Meanwhile, The Seahawks were heavily favored at home against a very good Green Bay team, but against an injured Aaron Rodgers. With a healthy Rodgers the Packers easily win that game, and the Seattle home field magic streak would have been broken. Russell Wilson was terrible for most of the game against a mediocre but inspired Green Bay defense. Of course, Green Bay got some breaks as well on their way to a 16-0 lead, and the Seattle defense was spectacular in the red zone.
The Seahawks opened as slight favorites with some books giving them a 2.5 point edge, but money quickly flooded in on the Patriots so at this point it’s pretty much a pickem’ game. This line will likely fluctuate some more over the next couple of weeks and for more information on how to bet online check out this site.
With their contrasting styles, there will be tons of analysis heading into this game. Also we have the injuries to cornerback Richard Sherman and free safety Earl Thomas, two of the most important players on the Seattle defense. Fans and bettors will definitely watch this closely.
Can Tom Brady perform better against the Seattle defense than Peyton Manning did last year? Will the rejuvenated Patriots defense be able to contain Wilson and Marshawn Lynch? Can the Seattle defense handle Gronk? These are some of the many questions to ponder leading up to what will hopefully be an epic Super Bowl.