4 players from each team who will decide Super Bowl XLIX

By Steve Silverman | Jan 21, 2015

Jan 18, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) looks downfield to throw during the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

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TE Rob Gronkowski, New England

All it takes is a look at Gronkowski’s numbers to understand how much he means to the Patriots offense.

He was healthy for the full season in 2014, and he caught 82 passes for a team-leading 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns, but those numbers don’t tell the full story.

Gronkowski is a big and strong tight end who can catch the short pass and keep drives alive. He can catch the crossing pattern over the middle and punish tacklers after the catch. He can also go deep and leap over the top of the secondary to make the big play.

He is also a brutal blocker who can crush opponents in the running game or help his fellow receivers with his downfield blocking.

The Seahawks have physical players like middle linebacker Bobby Wagner and strong safety Kam Chancellor who have a legitimate chance to slow him down, but it seems unlikely they can stop him consistently.

Next: Relentless Beast Mode

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