Super Bowl Prediction and Beyond
By: Alina Amaral
On Sunday February 1st the New England Patroits will line up against the defending 2013 Super Bowl Champions, Seattle Seahawks, in Pheonix Arizona for at Super Bowl 49! As a lifelong football fan, I say “Go Seattle”, out with the “Old Guard” and in with the New, PLEASE. When I look at these two teams so many parts of their identities represent old tradition vs. something new and refreshing, from the cities they represent, to the uniforms, the coaches, the fan base, attitude, and much more. My prediction: Seattle 31, New England 24.
But even more interesting is what will happen after the Super Bowl, when the NFL completes their investigation of the New England Patriots possibly deflating the game balls at the AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts, the game that got them to the Super Bowl. One might say what possible impact would an almost unperceivable difference in a football make? And why would they do this when they are already such a successful team? And they won the game decisively? The reality is the ball does become better to grip, throw, catch and hold on to, for not only the quarterback but for all the offense. The other reality is that the deflation may have been going on for many years. A recent study shows that the New England Patriots’ ability to keep their hands on the ball and more importantly keep possession of the ball , increased amazingly in 2007, the first year that the NFL changed the process where each team brings their own balls to each game. Interestingly, Tom Brady, the Patriot’s quarterback was one of the lead advocates of this rule change.