Patriots-Seahawks Super Bowl is not so much of a rematch as it is a matchup of contrasts

A heralded defence vs. an underrated one. A celebrated second-year quarterback vs. a veteran QB who has gone from perceived bust to beloved. An All-Pro wide receiver vs. one of the NFL's best young cornerbacks.

This year's Super Bowl matchup between the New England Patriots (17-3) and Seattle Seahawks (16-3) is all about contrasts.

And it starts with the coaches who will lead their teams onto the field.

Being a part of the final game of the NFL season is nothing new for Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls as a player with New England.

Vrabel, 50, can become the fifth person in NFL history to win the Super Bowl as both a player and a head coach, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Mike Ditka, Tony Dungy and Tom Flores, as well as Doug Pederson.

He'll match wits with 38-year-old Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald, who is in his first Super Bowl in just his second year in Seattle.

New England wouldn't be here without the play of Drake Maye. After showing flashes of his potential to develop into a franchise quarterback as a rookie, Maye has solidified that status in year two under offensive co-ordinator Josh McDaniels.

He finished second in MVP voting and led the NFL by completing 72 per cent of his passes this season. He threw for 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns with only eight interceptions thanks to production from a group of receivers led by veteran Stefon Diggs.

It's the main reason that Maye could become the fifth quarterback to win the Super Bowl in his first or second season, joining Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Hall of Famer Kurt Warner and Russell Wilson.

But he'll have to find a way to put points on the board against a Seattle defence that finished in the top seven in the league in sacks and