This year’s Super Bowl pits the number one seeds from each conference, the New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks. As a Chiefs fan you notice both teams have one big similarity, they both lost to the Kansas City Chiefs. If I would’ve told you before the season that the Chiefs beat both the Pats and Seahawks as a part of their tough schedule and both made the Super Bowl, you would have thought wow the Chiefs probably will make the playoffs and win a game or two. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case as the Chiefs missed the playoffs altogether. We’ll take a look back at both games and how the Chiefs, Patriots and Seahawks trended after those games.

In September the Chiefs met the Patriots on Monday Night Football. The Chiefs completely decimated the Patriots to the tune of a 41-14 rout. In that game the Patriots couldn’t stop the rushing attack of Chiefs as they racked up nearly 200 yards on the ground. The Patriots couldn’t contain the Chiefs fierce pass rush either. Tom Brady looked uncomfortable all night as the Chiefs sacked Brady three times, forced a fumble and intercepted him twice and the last interception was returned for a touchdown, seemingly the nail in the coffin for the Patriots poor performance that night. After that demoralizing loss the Patriots fell to 2-2 and there were questions on if the Patriots would even be contenders this season. The Patriots never looked back after that  debacle winning 12 of their next 14 games leading up to their Super Bowl appearance. Their stretch of wins included blowouts of the Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts (twice) and a 14 point comeback win over the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round of the playoffs. It’s easy to say the MNF beat down woke the Patriots up and that game also jump started the Chiefs as they continued to pile up wins leading up to the Seattle Seahawks game.

The Seahawks came to Arrowhead Stadium in mid November looking to strengthen their postseason chances. They came out on the losing end of a close defeat, 24-20. This game was very back and forth. The Seahawks couldn’t stop Jamaal Charles and the Chiefs couldn’t stop Marshawn Lynch as both teams had high rushing yard totals. The game down to a few key plays for the Chiefs that ultimately led to the victory. The first was early in the fourth quarter on a goal line stand. The Seahawks went for it on 4th and goal from the 2 and Russell Wilson missed a throw for Doug Baldwin in the corner of the endzone who was well covered by CB Sean Smith. The second play came with 4 minutes left in the game with the Seahawks driving. The Seahawks had a 4th and 1 nearing the redzone and needing a touchdown to take the lead. They handed the ball to Lynch who the Chiefs hadn’t stopped all day and stuffed him for no gain giving the Chiefs the football. The Chiefs defense made a stop on the most critical play of the game and helped preserve a 24-20 victory.

The Chiefs were riding high at 7-3 after knocking off the defending champs. The Seahawks fell back to 6-4 as their chance of making the playoffs slipped below 50%. The two teams seemed to be heading in opposite directions and they were, just not in the Chiefs favor. Since that game the Seahawks have not lost a game, winning eight in a row leading up to the Super Bowl. The Chiefs on the other hand lost 4 of their last 6, including an ugly loss to the then 0-10 Raiders, missing the postseason by one game. Had the Chiefs beat either the Titans or Raiders, arguably two of the worst teams in the NFL, they would have made the playoffs. The Chiefs are the fifth team in NFL history to beat both Super Bowl teams and miss the playoffs. Chiefs fans can only dream of what could of been, possibly the first postseason win since 1991. Looking back, the Patriots and Seahawks would be wise to take notes on how the Kansas City Chiefs defeated them in preparation for Super Bowl XLIX.

Super Bowl XLIX Notes:

–  These teams previously met in 2012 when the Patriots visited Seattle. The Seahawks won that game 24-23.

– Pete Carroll will be facing his former NFL team, he coached the Patriots before Bill Belichick. This will be third time in NFL history the current coach is facing his predecessor in the Super Bowl.

– The Seattle Seahawks are seeking to win back to back championships for the first time since the ’03-’04 Patriots did it.

– The Patriots will be playing through the accusations they have endured because of deflategate. It is believed they played with footballs that had lower air pressure than the NFL requirement in their AFC Championship win over the Colts.

– Russell Wilson is the youngest quarterback, 26, to start two Super Bowls. The record was previously held by Tom Brady at 28.

– The last time the Patriots played a Super Bowl in Glendale was Super Bowl XLII. They entered the game 18-0  and fell to the New York Giants 17-14 in one of the biggest upsets in sports history, falling one win short of the ever elusive perfect season.

Super Bowl XLIX Prediction: It’s a tough choice on who will prevail but I believe the Seahawks will edge the Patriots behind their staunch defense, Marshawn Lynch’s consistency running the ball and catching passes out of the backfield and Russell Wilson’s big play ability and plays he can make with his feet using the zone read or scrambling.

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