Our Football Insiders’ team weighs in on who will win Super Bowl XLIX and why.

Devon Jeffreys

I don’t expect this year’s game to disappoint like last year’s did, but the end result should be the same, with the Seahawks hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. The Seattle defense is the best of all the units that will take the field, and the offense won’t make the same mistakes that nearly cost them the game against Green Bay. They’ll feed Lynch, which will put Wilson in a position to take advantage of a defense stacked to stop the run. New England should be able to keep it close with Brady using Gronkowski and the middle of the field to pick at the Seahawks defense. But someone in the Legion of Boom will come with a turnover in the fourth and the Seattle offense will go on one more magical run to a touchdown and their second straight championship. Seahawks, 27-24.

Pat Donovan

It’s funny, because I look at this game very differently than a lot of analysts. It seems the consensus is that the New England Patriots have to run the ball and run the ball some more if they’re to beat the Seattle Seahawks; As if taking the ball out of Tom Brady’s hands is a good idea. The Seattle secondary is great, but if the Patriots are going to win Super Bowl XLIX, it will be on Tom Brady’s arm. Of course the Seahawks will run the football, it’s what they do. Expect a great chess match between two of the best coached teams in football, and expect the game to be close. Both offenses are going to be able to move the ball and score against the opposing defense, but in the end I’m going to go with the team with the better quarterback, and the better coach. If Aaron Rodgers was healthy, the Green Bay Packers would surely have been able to hold on against Seattle two weeks ago. Tom Brady is healthy, and he and the Patriots will do enough to hoist the Lombardi Trophy for fourth time Sunday night. Patriots 31, Seahawks 27.

Ryan Ratty

Given the talent on both sidelines, Super Bowl XLIX has the makings to possibly be one of the best Super Bowls of all time. However, the Seattle Seahawks are the league’s best rushing team and that will be the difference maker in this game. To keep Tom Brady off the field, the Seahawks are going to try and run to keep the ball on the ground rather than pass. The Baltimore Ravens gave the Patriots a scare in the Divisional Round, and in that game, the Ravens ran for 134 yards. Seattle has the ability to exploit this weakness and I believe it will be the reason why they win their second straight Super Bowl.

Seahawks 24-23

Michael Lombardo

I trust the most physical team in football and that’s the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle will win time of possession and make just enough timely plays on offense, while their defense will frustrate a New England offense that relies heavily on finesse and deception.

The Seahawks will defend their crown with a 31-16 victory. Afterwards, Patriots fans will take screen grabs of random Seattle penalties (holding, etc) and flood the internet with memes saying, “Who’s the cheater, now?” Gracious losers, those Patriots fans.

Mark Gunnels

I have the Patriots winning, 27-20. Even though Seattle escaped against Green Bay, their defense was a bit vulnerable. With New England in their way, I think they’ll have a hard time defending Gronk (who doesn’t) and I think Legarrette Blount will find some holes. On the other side of the ball, we all know Seattle will try to establish Marshawn Lynch and while I don’t think New England will stop him, I’m confident Belichick will come up with a gameplan to make Russell Wilson beat them with his arm and that will be difficult to do against the likes of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner. Tom Brady is my Super Bowl MVP.

John Owning

Seattle Seahawks 24, New England Patriots 14

The old adage is that defense wins championships and that will not change at this year’s Super Bowl. The Seahawks are one of the few teams who match the Patriots offensive personnel well. Kam Chancellor may be the only safety who can cover Rob Gronkowski on a regular basis and do a good job doing it. Tom Brady can forget about throwing at Richard Sherman. His only hope is that Byron Maxwell and Jeremy Lane have terrible games, but I don’t see that happening. On offense, the Seahawks should be able to establish a potent ground attack with Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch. As long as they don’t turn the ball over, the Seahawks be able to get the W.

Alex Hickey

Super Bowl? More like Superfluous Bowl. The Kansas City Chiefs have already proven they are the greatest team in football by beating both of these teams in the regular season. ALEX SMITH, YOU THE REAL MVP.

Wait, it doesn’t work that way? In that case, I don’t see how New England’s no-name receiving corps matches up against the Legion of Boom. LaGarrette Blount will need to have a career-type game if the Pats are going to pull this off. Or New England will need a Russell Wilson turnover-fest. But I’m not betting on either… Seahawks, 24-14.

Jeff Carlson

I committed early to the Seattle Seahawks repeating as Super Bowl Champions, due to the team peaking at the right time, especially on defense. Last season’s demolishing of the Denver Broncos was one of the most dominating defensive performances in memory and it seems as if they have gotten themselves back in that same rare form.

On the offensive side, the combination of power running and Russell Wilson’s ability to move around, make plays and throw from the pocket when necessary will be enough to overcome Tom Brady and company. Peyton Manning blasted through the regular season, but with everything on the line, the more one-dimensional team came away wanting. The Patriots have a good chance to become very similarly one-dimensional behind Brady, thus giving the Seahawks the upper hand and the trophy!

Charlie Bernstein

Although the Seahawks were the most dominant defense in football, they struggled against “dink-and-dunk” types of teams and against tight ends. New England loves the short passing game and Rob Gronkowski is the very best tight end in the business. Offensively, Seattle is one-dimensional and Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick is the best in the game at taking away the opponent’s strength and making them beat him with their weakness. The Seattle defense will keep the team in the game, but their offense won’t be able to find enough points to win. Tom Brady officially becomes the best quarterback in the history of the game with his fourth title in six appearances. Patriots 24, Seahawks 17.

Bo Marchionte

The world will sit down to watch the biggest single-day sporting event on earth. Tom Brady’s legacy, once again under scrutiny for ‘Deflategate’ as if his previous 235 career starts were a mirage built on misconception rather than a heart of a champion. People that are doubting his ability to win or at least win fairly is like pouring gasoline on a fire. Not only do I expect the Patriots to win Super Bowl XLIX, but Brady wins his third Super Bowl MVP along with a record tying (for quarterbacks) fourth Super Bowl ring. Victorious (possibly notorious) will be the final words printed after Tom Brady and company bask in the glory of their fourth Vince Lombardi Trophy.