It’s instructive to remember that New England lost its past two Super Bowl appearances when its high-octane offense sputtered and failed against the underdog New York Giants (in early 2008 and ‘12). But now, its best shot to win that long-coveted fourth ring might rest in the hands of a defense that could throw up a challenging roadblock in front of Russell Wilson and the rest of the Seattle Seahawks offense.

The Patriots’ defense might lack the panache, profile and pedigree of Seattle’s suffocating and well-decorated unit, but don’t be surprised if the story of Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday revolves around New England’s ability to frustrate and deny the Seahawks’ creativity on offense.