National Football League

Super Bowl Capsule

Published Jan. 31, 2015 7:24 p.m. ET

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NEW ENGLAND (14-4) vs. SEATTLE (14-4)

Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET, NBC

OPENING LINE - Seahawks by 3

RECORD VS. SPREAD - New England 10-8, Seattle 10-7-1

SERIES RECORD - Tied 8-8

LAST MEETING - Seahawks beat Patriots 24-23, Oct. 14, 2012

LAST WEEK - Patriots beat Colts 45-7 for AFC title; Seahawks beat Packers 28-22, OT, for NFC title

AP PRO32 RANKING - Patriots No. 2, Seahawks No. 1

PATRIOTS OFFENSE - OVERALL (11), RUSH (18), PASS (9).

PATRIOTS DEFENSE - OVERALL (13), RUSH (9), PASS (17).

SEAHAWKS OFFENSE - OVERALL (9), RUSH (1), PASS (27).

SEAHAWKS DEFENSE - OVERALL (1), RUSH (3), PASS (1).

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - New England is trying to become sixth franchise with at least four Super Bowl wins. Pittsburgh leads with six. Patriots will tie Dallas and Pittsburgh for most Super Bowl appearances with eight. ... Patriots are seeking first championship in 10 years after winning three in four. ... A victory ties Bill Belichick with Chuck Noll of Pittsburgh for most Super Bowl wins by head coach with four. ... Tom Brady would become first quarterback to start six Super Bowls and tie DL Mike Lodish for most Super Bowls played. ... Brady-Belichick duo is going to sixth Super Bowl together, most by coach-quarterback combination. ... Brady is career postseason leader in TD passes, yards passing, completions and attempts, also has most completions, attempts and yards passing in Super Bowl history, and is two behind Joe Montana's record 11 TD passes. ... Brady, DT Vince Wilfork and PK Stephen Gostkowski are only holdovers from 2007 team whose perfect season was ruined when it lost to Giants in Super Bowl in Glendale, Arizona. ... Rob Gronkowski caught TD pass in each of Patriots two postseason games after tying for league lead among tight ends with 12. ... RB LeGarrette Blount ran for 148 yards, three TDs in AFC title game win over Indianapolis, has seven TDs in four playoff games. ... WR Julian Edelman was eighth in NFL with 92 receptions, second in average punt return with 12 yards. ... CB Brandon Browner facing former team after missing last year's Super Bowl while suspended for violating NFL's substance abuse policy. ... CB Darrelle Revis playing first Super Bowl after losses in two AFC title games with Jets. ... LB Rob Ninkovich had eight sacks for third straight season. ... PK Gostkowski led NFL in scoring (156 points) for third consecutive season. ... With Jerod Mayo sidelined most of season, second-year LB Jamie Collins lead team with 109 tackles. ... Seahawks first defending champion to return to Super Bowl since New England in 2004 playoffs. ... Seahawks trying to become ninth team to win consecutive Super Bowls. ... Seahawks rallied from 19-7 deficit in fourth quarter of NFC championship game against Green Bay to win second straight conference title. ... Seattle has won eight straight dating back to regular season, outscoring opponents 193-78. ... Pete Carroll can become oldest coach in NFL history to win consecutive Super Bowls. ... QB Russell Wilson will be youngest QB in NFL history to start two Super Bowls and will be first QB to start two Super Bowls in first three seasons of career. ... Wilson is 42-13 (.764), including 6-1 (.857) in postseason. His 42 overall wins, 36 regular-season wins and six playoff wins all are most by QB in first three NFL seasons. ... RB Marshawn Lynch rushed 157 yards and TD in NFC title game. Lynch has rushed for 100 yards in four of past seven postseason games. ... WR Jermaine Kearse has touchdown reception in last four playoff games. Had winning 35-yard TD catch in overtime of NFC title game. ... TE Luke Willson has three TDs in past four games. ... Seahawks only team in league to allow less than 200 yards per game passing in regular season. ... Seahawks led league in scoring defense for third straight season. ... Seattle has allowed 9.8 points per game during eight-game win streak. ... DE Cliff Avril has at least a half-sack in all six playoff games. ... All-Pro LB Bobby Wagner had 104 tackles in regular season in just 11 games. ... Reserve LB Malcolm Smith was MVP of last year's Super Bowl after returning interception for TD and recovering fumble. ... CB Richard Sherman has interceptions in both postseason games this year. He's expected to play despite suffering sprained left elbow against Packers. ... S Earl Thomas expected to play after suffering dislocated left shoulder against Packers. ... Thomas and Sherman both had interceptions when they last faced Patriots in 2012. ... PK Steven Hauschka was 31 of 37 in regular season on FGs, but missed three field goals when Seahawks played at Arizona in Week 16. ... P Jon Ryan threw 19-yard touchdown in NFC title game to backup T Garry Gilliam on fake field goal.

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