GLENDALE, Ariz. -- At an initial glance, and without the benefit of film review, a look at which Patriots are "up" and which are at the opposite end of the spectrum in Super Bowl XLIX:
Up
Malcolm Butler -- Undrafted free agent from West Alabama stepped in as fifth defensive back in the third quarter and made the defensive play of the game.
Julian Edelman -- Receiver made things happen whenever he got his hands on the ball as the team's most consistent player.
Rob Ninkovich -- Defensive end held his ground on the edge for most of the game and added a sack early in the fourth quarter.
Shane Vereen -- Running back was a big factor on checkdowns in the passing game.
Down
Kyle Arrington -- The 5-foot-10, 190-pound cornerback wasn't put in the best position by the coaching staff when asked to cover 6-foot-5, 218-pound receiver Chris Matthews on vertical routes down the field. He was replaced in the nickel package by Butler in the third quarter.
Jamie Collins -- Linebacker struggled to wrap up late in the second quarter on the Seahawks' 80-yard touchdown drive that took 29 seconds, and also was in coverage on Marshawn Lynch's long catch down the left sideline on Seattle's final drive.
Situational defense/coaching adjustments -- The across-the-board defensive breakdowns late in the second quarter when the Seahawks drove 80 yards in 31 seconds was a turning point in the game, and then when adjustments were called for to open the second half to match up against Matthews, the Patriots were slow to make them.
