The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks when they clash at Gillette stadium in Sunday Night Football. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 12:30pm (AEDT).
Both teams come into the game leading their respective division, with the Seahawks holding a 2-game lead from the Arizona Cardinals atop the NFC West and the Patriots sitting at an NFL best 7-1.
This is the first meeting between the teams since their epic Super Bowl XLIX, which ended in Malcolm Butlers’ game-winning goal line interception.
Why the Seahawks decided to throw on 1st-and-1, with the leagues best short yardage back raring to go, was baffling then and only gets more perplexing with the passing of time.
Despite their lofty positions in the standings, both teams have glaring and exploitable weaknesses. For the Seahawks, it is their now annual offensive line problems, exaggerated by the injuries to Russell Wilson which have sapped him of his mobility, the retirement of Marshawn Lynch and the injury to last years revelation Thomas Rawls.
However, these may not be such a concern in this match up due to the Patriots trading away their two most explosive defensive players, Chandler Jones and Jamie Collins, in separate trades, effectively robbing the team of much of their pass rush.
It is highly doubtful the Pats will be able to present the same type of test that Seattle’s much-maligned O-line was presented with three weeks ago against the Cardinals, when they gave away a staggering 10 penalties.
However, you doubt Bill Belichick and his game planning at your peril, and he will have cooked something up just for this match up.
Both teams come into this game at near full strength. Kam Chancellor was a full participant at practice this week and is expected to play, however the Seahawks will be missing DE Michael Bennett (knee) and RB Thomas Rawls as he continues to recover from a broken fibula.
For the Patriots, they look set to regain the services of Dion Lewis, however this could be tempered as he is expected to ease his way back after an Achilles tendon injury.
This game has all the makings of a classic, as I am sure the Seahawks will be keen to for some payback for their Super Bowl meltdown and stamp themselves as one of the NFL’s elite teams.
For the Patriots, this marks Tom Brady’s first true test after returning from suspension. So far this year he has been nothing short of sensational, and despite playing only four games to date has already stamped himself as one of the favourites for the MVP.
While he has already won thee of these awards, Peyton Manning won five, and we should never discount Brady’s ability to find a new slight, real or imagined, to use as motivation.
After announcing their support for Donald Trump earlier this week (one of the very few celebrities to do so), one could argue that Belichick and Brady have done a deal with the devil to guarantee themselves another Super Bowl title.
If they are to lose this game don’t be shocked if the new President-elect announces a rematch due to poor score counting! (I’m 97 per cent joking).
That, and more importantly their home-ground advantage, should give the Patriots an edge in this one, but I expect it to be far closer than the markets suggest.
Tip: Patriots by 6
Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 12:30pm (AEDT).
Jay Dunbar
Roar Guru
FINAL RESULT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 31-24 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS Another classic by these teams. Seahawks get a huge win in Foxborough, really stamping themselves as championship contenders. They also maintain their lead atop the NFC West. Seahawks fans will be ecstatic with that win, particularly the much-improved performance of their offensive line. But there are plenty of other positives for them too, like the return of Kam Chancellor (who was absolutely dynamic) and the performance of RB Prosise, who really added another dimension to the Seahawks with his pass catching ability. For the Patriots, they looked great most of the time on offence, but their defence was really suspect. Both their pass-rush and cornerback (outside of Malcolm Butler) need attention should they wish to be the team that wins the last game of the season.
Jay Dunbar
Roar Guru
Here we go, for the game........ Brady throws to Gronk in a one-on-one, mano on mano battle with Chancellor...... and it's incomplete!!! The Seahawks are going to win!!!
Jay Dunbar
Roar Guru
Blount tries a superman dive over the top, but for the umpteenth time today, Chancellor makes a huge play! he is stopped on the goal line. Brady tries another QB sneak, his 4th of the game, and the ball hits the ground! Pats recover. 4th down. There's a penalty for too many man on the field against Seattle! I actually cannot type fast enough here....
Jay Dunbar
Roar Guru
Another big conversion from New England. Gronk has a guy hanging off his hip, holds him off, and makes the catch on the 2 yard line. Gronk is just incredible. 1st and goal, New England in possession on the Seattle 2 yard line. 37 seconds to go..... in regulation.
Jay Dunbar
Roar Guru
Incredible play from Patriots on 3rd down. Edelman somehow manages to shake Sherman and Earl Thomas for a 20 yard gain. You look at Edelman and he might be the NFL least physically imposing wideout. He's the anti-Julio Jones, yet he just makes big plays at big times, over and over and over.
Jay Dunbar
Roar Guru
Patriots are going to need a touchdown to stay in this. I'm interested to see if they go with a no-huddle offence.
Jay Dunbar
Roar Guru
TOUCHDOWN SEAHAWKS!!! Doug Baldwin, lined up in the slot, just eviscerates Logan Ryan on a simple route run. New England has real problems at the cornerback spot. Seattle go for 2 in a surprising move, and it doesn't pay off. They lead by 8 Seattle 31- 24 New England
Jay Dunbar
Roar Guru
SSS is at it again! They force a fumble from the Patriots and this time they DO recover! Seattle in possession at halfway., 8:24 mark of Qtr 4.
Jay Dunbar
Roar Guru
massive return from Cyrus Jones on the kickoff, over halfway.... and he fumbles!!! Pats are very fortunate that the NFL's most successful rugby convert
Jarryd HayneNate Ebner is able to recover.Jay Dunbar
Roar Guru
And its good! Seattle lead again Seahawks 25- 24 Patriots Qtr 4 8:56
Jay Dunbar
Roar Guru
There's a very looooooooong stoppage as Seattle challenges the call on a short run. The ruling on the field, no touchdown, stands though. Seattle down to 1 time out. Then there's a false start on Seattle, now 3rd and goal on the 6. Wilson passes, intended for Lockett, is incomplete!! Seattle to take the field goal.......
Jay Dunbar
Roar Guru
Outstanding conversion from Seattle, a 30-yard pass to Procise (yep, that man again!) is completed on 3rd down. They are now 1st and goal on the 2yard line!!
Jay Dunbar
Roar Guru
The pace in this half has been noticeably quicker than the first. Have to assume this is a deliberate tactic from NE (when they have the ball) to exert maximum stress on Seattle, who are coming off a short week.
Jay Dunbar
Roar Guru
Seattle gets a big sack on Brady on 3rd down to force a FG attempt for the Pats, which they duly convert. That's the 6th lead change of the night. Pats lead 24-22
Jay Dunbar
Roar Guru
Huge play from NE to end the 3rd quarter! After being backed up to 3rd-and-25, Brady finds Edelman for a 30 yard reception to make it 1st-and-goal.
Jay Dunbar
Roar Guru
Patriots on 1st down throw to Bennet, who totally humiliates 2 Seattle defenders for a big gain. 2 nice Blount runs later and Pats have 1st down on the Seattle 25.
Jay Dunbar
Roar Guru
Seahawks have really struggled in the red zone so far this game. This is an area where their star tight end Jimmy Graham can be a real handful, but credit the Pats defence so far for keeping him quiet. He only has 3 receptions for 29 yards.
Jay Dunbar
Roar Guru
Magnificent defence by the Patriots! They get the sack on Wilson on second down, then apply enormous pressure again on 3rd down to force an intentional grounding call! Wilson scrambles but there is nowhere to go. This is a much more difficult attempt for FG now from 41 out, but Hauschka drills it to give the Seahawks back the lead. Seattle 22- 21 Patriots.
Jay Dunbar
Roar Guru
Seattle RB Procise having a big game. He's catching passes out of the backfield, and it's really opening up the Seattle offence. he just made another great play setting up a second and goal. Seattle deep in the red zone now.
Jay Dunbar
Roar Guru
TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS! A lovely long drive from the Patriots, with Blount making a number of long runs, culminating in his 13-yard TD run. Blount now leads the league in rushing touchdowns- not bad for a 29 year old playing in a young mans position, who was almost cut during training camp. Gostkowski converts the extra point and Patriots now lead 21-19.