Old School vs. New School

Often, in games of importance, we find Older Brother vs Little Brother. The experienced veteran vs the kid fresh out of college.

Super Bowl XLIX will be the same case. Hopefully a more exciting championship game than last years sad excuse of an athletic competition. But, in many ways this is a sad final game of the season.

We are now nearing the end of Tom Brady's career, and a legacy that will likely retire along with him. Brady, now in his 15th season behind center, at age 37, will likely be calling it quits soon. And with an unproven Jimmy Garoppolo to follow in his footsteps, Patriot fans shouldn't have much to look forward too.

Yet, Seattle has everything to look forward too. They have the seventh youngest team as of the 2014 cut day. They have a young QB with all the fundamentals along with his brilliant decision-making while passing and running the ball (Russell Wilson also ran for 849 yards and six touchdowns). And arguably the best fans in the NFL with the 12th man.

The battle of "Time to rebuild" against "Everything to look forward too."

Tom Brady while towards the end of his career put up 4,109 yards and 33 touchdowns and nine interceptions with, lets be honest, below average receivers. But Peyton Manning has shown us that great play will come to an end.

Russell Wilson had another phenomenal regular season with 3,475 yards, 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He helped keep the Seahawks consistent throughout the season by using his both his feet and allowing Marshawn Lynch to use his as well to lead the league as a team in rushing yards per game with 172.

Both have a few things in common as well; Brady and Wilson both attended Big Ten schools (Michigan and Wisconsin respectively), both were drafted by MLB teams, Brady by the now defunct Montreal Expos, and Wilson by both the Rockies and Rangers. Wilson can also have his second Super Bowl in his third season.

If Brady can still escape from the pocket and accurately deliver the ball deep downfield to his mish-mosh of receivers like Shane Vereen, Danny Amendola, Julian Edelman and Gronk, then he might have a successful last few years in the NFL.

When Brady leaves, Wilson will likely be in his prime. If Pete Carroll sticks around and can keep dialing up plays for one of the most athletic quarterbacks in the NFL Wilson might make it six championships just like Brady. Wilson, with a win in Super Bowl XLIX, can be the face of the NFL.

Enjoy the game today everyone, and someone please give Tom Brady a high-five after they win tonight please.

Follow me @BSzabo24 and Matt at @Coochigross on Twitter. And check back regularly for more coverage of all the hottest sports.

Playoffs? You kidding me! Playoffs?

Clear skies, a sun beaming on fading green turf, and the swirling winds of Gillette Stadium on a Saturday afternoon. The screaming and shear craziness of the 12th man in the packed CenturyLink Field. A Sunday haze sitting below a cloud filled sky in Green Bay, Wisconsin. And a faithful Orange and Navy breathing in that thin Mile-High air this Sunday evening. 

I love football.

We have hard-nose, ground and pound run games, prolific, high-flying offenses ready to sling the ball with gritty, "Legion of Boom" type players ready to fly around the field and hit someone in the mouth. There's insane winter storms, game time decisions, and plays that will be written down in the history books. Making the NFL playoffs, the best time of the year.

Starting at 4:35pm Saturday afternoon, we may know who's on pace to hoist the Lombardi trophy. The Baltimore Ravens will take on the New England Patriots in Foxboro. Two teams that while excelling at times, have average numbers in both offensive and defensive categories. Joe Flacco has won the last two against Tom Brady and may need to put the ball in the end-zone more than usual to beat the 4th best scoring team in the NFL (29.2 PPG). Look for Stephen Gostkowski to put a few FG's through tomorrow... maybe even the game-winner.

The Panthers will take on the Seahawks tomorrow night at 8:15 and the most confusing team in the world may have some trouble handling Russell Wilson and gang. If Luke Kuechly can cover the entire field like he usually does, they definitely have a shot. The story of the game will be Cam Newton's performance against that stifling defense. Lookout for Richard Sherman one-on-one against Kelvin Benjamin, I don't think the Panthers will shy away from him. This will likely be a low scoring one, with the Seahawks pulling out wins in the last three games against the Panthers while scoring no more than 16 points, and allowing no more than 12. The hawks should make it four straight tomorrow night.

Game of the Weekend in my opinion. The 8-0 on the road Dallas Cowboys travel to the 8-0 at home Green Bay Packers Sunday afternoon. The Packers average-at-best defense will be tested with DeMarco Murray likely running all over them. If the Cowboys fall behind, and Tony Romo isn't throwing interceptions the entire second half, it's hard to say they can ever lose. Dallas has enough to make it all the way. The Cowboys haven't beaten the Packers since 2008 but the Cowboys have won four straight post season games against the Cheeseheads. If Aaron Rodgers can keep it together behind center with a torn calf, Packers will pull away with the win.

The third versus the fourth ranked offense. The first ranked pass offense versus the fourth. The successor versus the veteran. Luck versus Manning. Peyton has the better team around him and the inconsistent Broncos defense will likely show up against a weak Colts offensive line. T.Y. Hilton and Demaryius Thomas will probably go back and forth. But, the Broncos will want to move on from this one quickly. Denver will pull away late in Sunday's afternoon and final game of the weekend.


Go check me out on Twitter @BSzabo24 if you want to tell me how wrong I was or talk smack and check this blog regularly for more of me and @Coochigross