There are innumerable opinions about Super Bowl XLIX between the defending world champion Seahawks and the Patriots, and varying ways to analyze the game. Madden NFL 15 can offer yet another perspective.
Vegas may consider the game a pick'em, but how do the two teams stack up in Madden? Using the latest roster, which was updated following the conference championship games, the evaluation by positional group ratings favors the Patriots.
Of course the result will be about more than just individual attributes, and that's something the Madden video game struggles to portray. Last year's Super Bowl between the Broncos and Seahawks appeared to be a fair fight until the first snap showed something completely different.
Many factors won't be found in this analysis, including which team will be best prepared, in-game coaching decisions, game-planning and adjustments, level of execution, turnovers, players rising to the moment, and which team will best play as a unit.
Right now, though, we'll look strictly at the player ratings.
Quarterback: Advantage, Patriots
It's difficult to compare Tom Brady (98 overall) and Russell Wilson (89 overall) given their contrasting styles. In Madden, Wilson might be the more valuable QB. His athletic skill (86 Speed, 82 Agility, 82 Acceleration, 87 Throw on the Run) is an additional dynamic that needs to be defended.
Brady has to get the nod here, however. The nine-point advantage in overall rating is too significant to overlook. A 99 Awareness, 93 Throw Power and higher Accuracy ratings stand out.
Running back: Advantage, Seahawks
Marshawn Lynch (97 overall) leads the way for Seattle. His physical nature, with a 99 Stiff Arm and a 98 Trucking, are combined with 98 Ball Carrier Vision, 97 Awareness, 90 Speed and 89 Strength. Robert Turbin is a solid backup (79 overall) who will get a handful of carries and be in for two-minute situations.
The Patriots, on the other hand, may use any of their running backs substantially in a given game. The ratings display that tendency as none are rated as a primary back. LeGarrette Blount (83 overall) has a bit of "Beast Mode" in him with a 98 Trucking and 98 Stiff Arm. Shane Vereen is the speedy, shifty back (82 overall) with 93 Acceleration, 92 Agility, 90 Speed, 84 Catching and, surprisingly, 86 Spectacular Catch. Jonas Gray also could be a factor with his 93 Trucking and 91 Stiff Arm.
One underappreciated aspect of the position is pass blocking ability. The Seahawks have a significant edge there. Lynch and Turbin combine for 133 Pass Blocking points while Blount and Vereen only manage 100.
Wide receiver/tight end: Advantage, Patriots
Julian Edelman (89 overall) is the highest rated receiver, but the highest rated pass catcher is tight end Rob Gronkowski (98 overall). The 98 Catch in Traffic, 94 Spectacular Catch and 93 Catching are all the highest marks from among the two teams. Edelman and Brandon LaFell (84 overall) also excel with 94 and 92 Catch in Traffic marks, respectively, which makes New England a passing team that's very difficult to defend. Edelman's 95 Route Running and Lafell's 89 Beat Press are also noteworthy.
The Seahawks have a unique weapon in tight end Luke Willson (84 overall), who features 87 Speed, 86 Acceleration and 89 Jumping. Doug Baldwin (86 overall) leads the receivers; he boasts 94 Acceleration, 86 Elusiveness and 89 Juke Move. Jermaine Kearse (80 overall), with 94 Spectacular Catch, and Ricardo Lockette (71 overall), with 95 Speed represent areas of strength as well.
Offensive line: Advantage, Patriots
New England gets the nod here, but it's a close call. Its line averages 80 overall. The strength is on the outside with tackles Nate Solder (88 overall) and Sebastian Vollmer (91 overall). New England has a slight edge in Pass Blocking but a more significant six-point average advantage in Impact Block (which represents blockers getting to the next level).
The Seahawks line averages 82 overall. Their strength is in the interior with center Max Unger (92 overall) anchoring the line. Seattle has a slight edge in Run Blocking.
Defensive line: Advantage, Patriots
If not for the loss of Seattle's Brandon Mebane (90 overall), who was put on IR earlier this season, the evaluation of the units would have resulted in a push. With Mebane out, Vince Wilfork (90 overall) became the difference maker.
Both teams have impressive pass rushers who specialize in Power Moves. Chandler Jones (91 overall) has a 95 in that category, Rob Ninkovich (89 overall) comes in at 88 and Wilfork has an 81 there. The Seahawks' Michael Bennett (94 overall, highest-rated D-lineman among the teams) features a 93 rating in the category.
Seattle's Cliff Avril is the lone player excelling in Finesse Moves with a 94 rating (he's 87 overall), leaving the defensive ends about even. Seahawks tackles Tony McDaniel and Kevin Williams have good Strength ratings, but they just don't match up to Wilfork.
Linebacker: Advantage, Seahawks
Speed is the biggest differentiator. The Seahawks' starters average 87 Speed, the Patriots only 79. The two units are about even in man and zone coverage skills.
Dont'a Hightower (92 overall) leads New England while Bobby Wagner (90 overall) leads Seattle. The Seahawks' Bruce Irvin (84 overall) and the Patriots' Jamie Collins (89 overall) feature highly rated pass rush Power Moves. Seattle's K.J. Wright is another strong player (84 overall). The weak link is the Patriots' Akeem Ayers (75 overall).
The Seahawks have an edge in Pursuit and Tackle ratings, which combined with the speed factor makes this an easy call.
Cornerback: Even
Most of the hype goes to the "Legion of Boom," and deservedly so, but the Patriots rate as equals at the position. Man and Zone Coverage categories are dead heats, and nearly every category examined came out within a point of each other.
Richard Sherman is one of only two players in Madden NFL 15 with a 99 overall rating (J.J. Watt is the other). Sherman features 99 Zone Coverage, 99 Press, 98 Jumping, 97 Awareness, 96 Agility, 94 Man Coverage, and a 85 Catching rating that would make him an above-average wide receiver.
Right on his heels is Darrelle Revis (97 overall). He has 98 Man Coverage, 96 Awareness, 94 Play Recognition, and 92 Zone Coverage. The Patriots also have Brandon Browner (86 overall) and Logan Ryan (81 overall), while the Seahawks have Byron Maxwell (84 overall) and Jeremy Lane (78 overall).
This one was too close to call.
Safety: Advantage, Seahawks
The Legion is anchored by two of the NFL's premier safeties: Earl Thomas (96 overall) and Kam Chancellor (94 overall). They're rated at the very top of the league at their respective positions. Watch out in particular for Chancellor's 97 Hit Power.
New England's Devin McCourty (96 overall) has become one of the best safeties in the league as well. Patrick Chung (83 overall) rates as a solid player but is not in the class of the others.
The Seahawks' safeties have the edge in Awareness, Tackle, Hit Power, Pursuit, Play Recognition and Zone Coverage. The only relevant category the Patriots win on is Man Coverage, and that one only barely went their way.
Special teams: Advantage, Patriots
The Seahawks have great coverage units but lack a positive at returner. Doug Baldwin has been taking kicks (66 overall) and Bryan Walters punts (62 overall). Their best tactic basically is to fair catch and allow for touchbacks.
The Patriots, on the other hand, have Julian Edelman returning punts (88 overall) and Danny Amendola taking back kickoffs (95 overall). They have much greater potential to make an impact.
Both kickers — the Patriots' Stephen Gostkowski (94 overall) and the Seahawks' Steven Hauschka (87 overall) — are really good. Seattle has an edge at punter, which can affect field position to a great degree. Jon Ryan (87 overall) is rated significantly higher than Ryan Allen (68 overall).
Bryan Wiedey posts sports gaming news and analysis daily at Pastapadre.com, is a regular participant in the Press Row Podcast and Press Row Hangout shows, and can be reached on Twitter @Pastapadre.