Patriots and Seahawks square off in Super Bowl XLIX

After a pair of stunning NFL conference championship games last weekend, we have an exciting Super Bowl XLIX match-up to look forward to: The high-powered offense of the New England Patriots vs. the defensive-minded Seattle Seahawks.

For this football fan, last Sunday was a busy and memorable one. Through all the paint matches and customers we had at Sherwin-Williams (paint store), there was a great NFC championship game brewing: last year’s Super Bowl champion Seahawks vs. the Green Bay Packers.

From kickoff, the Packers completely dominated the Seahawks, intercepting quarterback Russell Wilson four times. It seemed as if the game were nothing less than sealed for Green Bay.

As a longtime Falcons fan, I didn’t favor either team and, interestingly enough, another Falcons fan came into work. As we shared our deep sorrows about the terrible end of the season that was Falcons football, we both pegged Green Bay to win, given their healthy 19-7 lead and the minimal time remaining.

That was, until Seattle got the ball back with 3:52 left in the fourth quarter.

After a couple of pass completions by Wilson, Marshawn “Beast mode” Lynch scored a 35-yard catch-and-run for the score. Green Bay successfully challenged the play (arguing Lynch stepped out of bounds), and the officials spotted the ball at Green Bay’s 9-yard line.

Following a pair of four-yard runs by Lynch and Wilson, Wilson punched in a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 19-14, Packers.

What happened next surprised most everyone: The Seahawks went for an onside kick with just over two minutes to play, and recovered!

After a 15-yard Wilson scramble and a Lynch short run, the two-minute warning hit. The Seahawks then completed an eight-yard pass to the Green Bay 24.

With 1:33 left on the clock, “Beast mode” did what “Beast mode” does, rushing for a dramatic score and giving the ’Hawks their first lead of the game, at 20-19.

A wild, desperation Wilson connection with tight end Luke Wilson on a two-point conversion attempt then gave Seattle a three-point lead, 22-19.

With 1:25 remaining and the ball, Green Bay quarterback and NFL MVP favorite Aaron Rodgers led the Pack 48 yards down the field with 19 seconds left to set up a Mason Crosby 48-yard field goal attempt.

After Crosby’s made field goal tied the game at 22, Wilson took a knee to take the game into overtime.

Seattle won the OT coin toss and slowly but steadily moved down the field. After a 35-yard completion to Doug Baldwin, Wilson delivered the walk-off homer, in the form of a 35-yard bomb to Jermaine Kearse.

Game, set, match – Seahawks, 28-22 – and a ticket punched to the Super Bowl. I was shocked. I had just witnessed one of the greatest comebacks in NFL playoff history.

As work began to slow down, we changed the channel over to the start of the AFC championship game between the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts: Essentially, one of the greatest postseason quarterbacks of all-time in New England’s Tom Brady, vs. the up-and-coming star Colts quarterback, Andrew Luck.

The game was all Patriots, as they completely ran away from the Colts with an impressive 45-7 win. Despite a hiccup in the second quarter, the Patriots defense shut down Luck and the Colts, allowing only 126 total passing yards for Luck and picking him off twice.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Patriots looked like a well-oiled machine, scoring three touchdowns through the air and rushing for three scores behind an impressive game from former Oregon Duck running back LeGarrette Blount. Blount finished with 148 rushing yards on 30 carries.

The win was Brady’s 20th playoff win, setting him on top of all playoff quarterbacks. But, will Brady get that 21st victory and a fourth Lombardi Trophy from the Feb. 1 showdown in Glendale, Arizona?

My short answer is “yes.” I believe the Patriots are a better football team.

This time last year I had the same thoughts when it came to the high-powered offense of the Denver Broncos against the stingy defense of the 2013 Seahawks, which didn’t turn out as I planned as the Seahawks destroyed the Broncos, 43-8.

There’s a famous saying in sports: Defense wins championships.

Yet, I believe the Patriots have what it takes to defy this saying, thanks to their high-caliber offense. The difference between this year’s Patriots and last year’s Broncos is that the Patriots have a stronger defense.

The Seahawks defense just isn’t as dominant as it was a year ago, which showed last Sunday against the Packers.

If the Patriots are able to get a quick start against the Seahawks, I don’t see them looking back.

My prediction: 31-17 Patriots, and a fourth super Bowl ring for Brady.