National Football League

NFL 2014 predictions: Brees, Brady highlight Super Bowl XLIX between Saints, Patriots

Published Sep. 4, 2014 11:00 a.m. ET

Alex Marvez

As kickoff of the NFL season approaches, FOXSports.com has previewed how the year will play out. We have told you who will make the playoffs, how the first two rounds will play out, and what to expect in the conference title games. Today, we unveil who will be playing for the Lombardi Trophy. When you're done reading, feel free to let us know what you think about our picks.

SUPER BOWL XLIX

Clam chowder vs. gumbo. Sam Adams vs. Dixie Beer. Aerosmith vs. Lil Wayne. The Departed vs. The Big Easy.

And from a football standpoint, Spygate vs. Bountygate.

There will be plenty of cliché cultural comparisons between two of America’s most storied cities entering this Super Bowl -- as well as a reflection upon the scandals that sullied both franchises.

Spygate was a pregame Super Bowl XLII media fixation before the 2007 Patriots were upset by the New York Giants in Glendale, Arizona. Already having dealt with the fallout earlier in the season, Bill Belichick and his players are again peppered with questions about whether the illegal taping of signals from the New York Jets was a widespread practice that had given New England an unfair competitive advantage.

Bountygate resulted in even greater punishment for Saints players, coaches and the franchise itself than the discipline NFL commissioner Roger Goodell administered to Belichick and the Patriots. Goodell suspended Saints head coach Sean Payton for the entire 2012 season for failing to stop a long-running program that allegedly offered financial inducements to defensive players for injuring opponents.

The fact Belichick and Sean Payton not only weathered the subsequent fallout from such improprieties but led their franchises back into the Super Bowl speaks volumes about just how talented both are.

It also led to another pre-game storyline: How will a defensive guru like Belichick stop an offensive wizard like Payton at University of Phoenix Stadium?

For Super Bowl XLIX, Belichick again deploys a top-flight cornerback to constantly harass tight end Jimmy Graham like during New England’s 2013 victory over the Saints. This time, it is Darrelle Revis, who helps limit Graham to four catches for 39 yards.

But this is a more diverse Saints attack since the last time these teams met. The emergence of running back Mark Ingram and splash made by rookie wide receiver Brandin Cooks have made quarterback Drew Brees even more lethal. A balanced attack helps the Saints take a 24-20 lead late into the fourth quarter.

That’s when Tom Brady gets the monkey from Super Bowls XLII and XLVI off his back.

Brady couldn’t rally the Patriots in both those losses to the Giants. He does it this time. A 12-yard scoring strike to tight end Rob Gronkowski with 34 seconds remaining spells the difference.

Super Bowl MVP: Brady. His numbers aren’t earth-shattering (25 of 43 for 285 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions) but the quarterback comes through when the Patriots need him most to capture the fourth Lombardi Trophy of his Hall of Fame career.

Final: New England 27, New Orleans 24