TOM BRADY

If he was to retire today, Brady would go down as one of the five greatest players to ever set foot on an NFL arena.

But he is a fierce competitor who demands a lot from his team mates and more from himself.

Already with three Super Bowl titles on the mantle and two Super Bowl MVP’s, a victory here cements No.12 among the very best in world sport.

To take that spot however, he will need to overcome one of the great NFL defences in recent memory, the ‘Legion of Boom.’

LEGION OF BOOM

Made up of the Seahawks secondary and highlighted by Pro Bowlers Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor, the LOB stands between Tom Brady and a fourth ring.

Sherman is so deadly as the left-sided cornerback that opposing teams rarely even throw in his direction, while safeties Chancellor and Thomas are game-breakers with their ball-hawking skills complemented by their energy and effort in making tackles on running backs, receivers and tight ends.

BEAST MODE

In ESPN’s E:60 program, Marshawn Lynch struggles to explain what happens when ‘Beast Mode’ takes effect.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyKhD-c4v2g

Whatever it is, the Seahawks need it more often than not. Without true stars at wide receiver, the Seattle offence goes as Lynch goes and usually it is ‘Beast Mode’ that kick-starts scoring drives.

New England possess Vince Wilfork, Chandler Jones and Donta Hightower up front, meaning Lynch will have his work cut out trying to gain yards inside the numbers.

GRONK

A powerful tight end is a nightmare match-up for any defence, including the LOB.

Too big for cornerbacks and safeties and too fast for linebackers, a 6-7″, 265lb (125kg) running, catching, scoring machine is difficult to deal with.

Gronkowski is a remarkable football player who is both the safety blanket for Brady and the big play threat.

Free safety Chancellor is the most logical matchup for ‘Gronk’ but that will take away from his freelance style where he loves to hit the ball carrier and try pick off any lapse passes.

REPEAT CHAMPIONS

In Super Bowl 48, Denver entered as warm favourites but Seattle departed as dominant champions.

Twelve months later, the Seahawks will be hoping to become repeat champions, a rare feat in professional sport.

Wilson, Lynch, Chancellor, Sherman, Thomas and Doug Baldwin will be key to repeating but the difference between a one-time champion and a back-to-back powerhouse is huge.

PATRIOT DYNASTY

As Seattle hope to go back-to-back and create history of their own, New England will be looking for a stunning fourth championship in the new millennium.

The combination of Brady and coach Belichick has been the constant for those championship drives but this is a new look ball club trying to get that fourth ‘chip.

BELICHICK

Bill Belichick is a law unto himself. Described as a dictator by Tom Brady, Belichick’s greatness is unquestioned and his ability to take away the opposition’s strength is legendary.

Regardless of the controversies that have surrounded him during his time as head coach, Belichick’s ruthless desire and pursuit of success is the cornerstone of the Patriots organisation.

INJURIES

In a game as physical and at times violent as the NFL is, injuries will always be part and parcel of the game.

As we approach the final game of the 2014/15 campaign, all players will have carried – or currently carrying – injury concerns.

None more important than Seattle pair, Sherman and Thomas.

Both All-Pro defenders with game breaking ability, coach Pete Carroll will need his two leaders to be somewhere near 100% healthy if he wants to compete with Brady and Gronkowski.