*Ask 30 people about this wildly even matchup, and you will get 30 different opinions. NFL.com readers are picking the ... at a 51 percent clip. We've already looked at the reasons ; now let's take a look at the case for the . *The Patriots' biggest weakne sNew England's rush defense is mediocre. While they finished the second half of the regular season well, the absolutely pushed them around up front in the Divisional Round. Even "Boom" Herron found some lanes in the AFC Championship before the game got away from the . The start at defensive tackle. They often have Siliga and next to each other at the position. Calvin De Haan Jersey is a team leader, but he is not the player he once was. This is an athletic defense that can make big plays, but they are not stout. They don't match up well against ... A man on a mi sion isn't just one of the best running backs in the league. He's in the middle of one of the all-time greatest postseason runs. His ability to carry defenders and inspire his teammates is unmatched. Put any other running back on the , and they don't pull off that comeback against Green Bay. The bigger the game, the better Lynch plays. After a week of quiet at the podium, would it surprise anyone if Lynch made a ton of noise in a career-defining performance? Michael BennettThe more we watch Bennett, the more he feels like the key to the defense. His quickne s as a defensive tackle is often stunning, leaving opposing guards flatfooted. He can also line up at his usual position of defensive end. Known as a prankster in front of the media, Bennett's extensive film study shows up on Sundays. He often appears to know the play before it happens and is underrated stopping the run. Offensive lines have had a very difficult time stopping Bennett and when they are lined up next to each other.Seattle's pa s rush was the key to winning last year's , and Bennett is playing at a higher level against an inferior offensive line this time around. He's someone to watch closely Sunday.Wilson's deep ballLike , safety is one of the best "centerfielders" at preventing big plays. But and his underrated wideouts present a unique challenge. The , like so many others, figure to put extra defenders in the box to slow down Lynch. That leaves one-on-one matchups on the outside, and those often break down while Wilson is extending plays. The offense can lull defenses to sleep before suddenly exploding for back-to-back 35-yard gains like in the NFC Championship. While Wilson is not nece sarily the best quarterback yet at anticipating throws, few players throw a sexier deep ball.Fooled by randomne sBill Belichick prides himself on being ready for anything. But there is no game plan that can fully solve random, improvised plays by a superior athletic quarterback. So much of Seattle's succe s this season came on plays that aren't repeatable. will eventually slow down, but for now he's one of the toughest quarterbacks to contain since . So many defenders can dominateThis is a . Not since the 1969-1971 has the same defense led the league in scoring defense for three straight years. They are so difficult to handle because of their depth. At least seven players are capable of completely taking over a game in a given week: Bennett, Avril, , , , , and . That doesn't even mention versatile role players like , , and last year's MVP , who have all had moments to shine. It's impo sible to know what defender will step up in a given week, but there is safety in having so many different chances for greatne s.The Gronk Stopper is the key to the offense, and the are uniquely qualified to stop him. They know not to give Gronkowski a free release off the line of scrimmage, and they have two safeties ( and ) that can take on Gronk in coverage. Chancellor is enjoying an epic playoff run, violently like an All-Pro. It's rare to see any one player play this aggre sively and well this often. Carroll is not afraidIn Pete Carroll, Bill Belichick faces another opposing coach who doesn't shy away from aggre sive decisions in big moments. The blitzed in a number of key spots in the NFC Championship with great succe s. Carroll will make aggre sive calls on the goal line or in late-game situations when many coaches step back. told this week that facing Rodgers was the best po sible preparation for Brady. Like Rodgers, Brady wins from the neck up. Speaking of which ... They survived their worst gameThe should not be in the . They played their worst offensive game po sible at home for 55 minutes in the NFC Championship, and still found a way to win. It feels like the had the ultimate chance to serve humble pie. Great squads that survive close calls often respond with better outings the next time out. Remember last year?It's easy to forget now, but the were favored to beat Seattle last year. The made an all-time great quarterback look his age four straight quarters. They played their absolute best offensively on the biggest stage against a good-but-not great defense. This is a champion team that has barely changed over the course of the year. Why should this game be any different? The latest Podcast and breaks down the storylines nobody is talking about. Find more content on . Matthew Phillips Jersey