Super Bowl XLIX first look: Seahawks vs. Patriots

The reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks will play the newly crowned AFC champion New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX.

Here’s a first look at the game.

When: Feb. 1.

Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.

TV: NBC.

Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. PST.

Performers: Idina Menzel (national anthem), John Legend (“America the Beautiful”), Katy Perry (halftime).

The matchup: Pete Carroll against his old team, matching wits with Bill Belichick, the coach hired to replace him. The Seattle Seahawks looking to become the first team to win back-to-back Super Bowls … since the New England Patriots accomplished the feat a decade ago.

The Patriots returning to the scene of the crime — where their bid for a perfect season was sidetracked by the upstart New York Giants in the Super Bowl. And Patriots quarterback Tom Brady versus All-Pro Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman in the “U MAD BRO?” bowl.

Yes, Super Bowl XLIX is packed with story lines. It marks the second consecutive year that the No. 1 seeds from both conferences have advanced to the league’s marquee game.

The Brady-Sherman dust-up dates to a regular-season game two years ago, when the Seahawks were one of the league’s ascendant teams. After Seattle beat the visiting Patriots, 24-23, Sherman — who had a key interception — got in Brady’s face after the game. Later, Sherman tweeted a photo of the encounter with the caption “U MAD BRO?” which almost instantly became a recognizable catchphrase.