Now that deflate-gate and Marshawn Lynch’s media appearances and whatever other noise is starting to fade, we can get down to the game. Isn’t that refreshing. Let’s get right to the picks of the Shutdown Corner crew for Super Bowl XLIX. And be sure to listen to our Super Bowl preview podcast for even more on the game: KEVIN KADUK I picked the Broncos over the Seahawks in last year’s Super Bowl so it’d stand to reason that I’d smarten up and pick Seattle this time around, right? Nope. While Seattle’s comeback against the Packers was an all-timer, I can’t rid my mind of the offensive ineptitude that marked most of that game for the Seahawks. Marshawn Lynch will leave his mark on the game, yes, but so will LeGarrette Blount (or maybe Jonas Gray if Bill Belichick really wants to screw with all of us). New England has the better coach, the better quarterback and the purpose that only dropping their last two Super Bowl appearances can provide. Tom Brady lifts the Lombardi after a 10-year absence. Patriots 23, Seahawks 17 [Watch: Check out the Super Bowl’s buzziest commercials on Yahoo Screen ] JAY BUSBEE When a game is this close odds-wise, I revert to a tried-and-true method of picking games: which mascot would win in real life. And a seahawk would totally destroy a colonial dude taking two minutes to reload his musket. In the real world, this game will turn on a couple of big plays, a couple of key mistakes, and the Seattle defense has the capability to make those plays and force those mistakes. I don’t have a whole lot of faith in the Seahawks receivers (prove me wrong, Doug Baldwin, prove me wrong), but I do believe Marshawn Lynch could carry the entire Patriot defense into the end zone on his shoulder pads if need be. This will be a low-scoring but tense game throughout, and somebody’s going to have their hopes crushed in the final minutes. Seahawks 20, Patriots 17