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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency Services, Feb. 2 Still no sign of missing girl Mining company faces long odds in Smith River proposal Public Meetings: Feb. 2-6 Super cheerleader Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services, Feb. 2 Emergency services Emergency services UPDATED: Body found in Greensprings area is Klamath Falls fugitive Former Klamath County District Attorney Ed Caleb dies Politics and Elections Amid rising scrutiny, governor says fiancee won't have role in administration Ashland aims for diversity, but numbers show shortfall Kent Bush: The keys to decoding the State of the Union address Oregon Legislature convenes, session starts Feb. 12 Education Parent files discrimination complaint against Ashland schools Some gains, some losses Medford reconsiders full-day kindergarten State boosts class time expectation A wealth of experience Environment Commissioners won't object to BLM road closures Mt. Ashland Ski Area crew dips to five Public sounds off on gas pipeline Mt. Ashland ski area announces layoffs Bear cub headed to rehabbers in Idaho State News 'Seven Wonders' ads pay off, Oregon park officials say Sales call leads to rescue of beaten woman Feds: Oregon logging rules don't protect fish, water Amid rising scrutiny, governor says fiancee won't have role in administration Oregonians face Feb. 15 health insurance deadline Nation - World Obituaries Nordica Mae Irvin William (Bill) Earl Shewman III A Celebration of Life for Karen Weaver Joseph Richard �Rich� Halliday, Jr. Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Beavers turn focus to UCLA Koepka rallies to win Phoenix Open Whiteside comes up big for Heat in win Ducks have some work to do Detroit downs Houston, ends four-game skid Varsity 541 College Sports Beavers turn focus to UCLA Ducks have some work to do Kennedy earns 200th win as Raiders roll Defense keys No. 7 OSU's rout of USC Duke knocks Virginia from unbeaten ranks Pro Sports Koepka rallies to win Phoenix Open Whiteside comes up big for Heat in win Detroit downs Houston, ends four-game skid Bucks cap fine week at Blazers' expense Sons represent Seau at Hall ceremony Community Sports Local Events Business Latest Stories Blog: Aussies send Erickson's Elvis into retirement Homes for the long haul Blog: Southern Oregon Business Conference 2014: Gross, unadulterated enthusiasm Blog: Better than Ordinary...Extraordinary! Medford moving up in economic rankings Real Estate News Homes for the long haul New owners of Medford Center promise a hands-on approach: Home loan rates continue to fall, applications soar Jackson County real estate market headed back to normal People In Business People in Business Transportation The heart of Brammo will remain Want to be an investor? Four companies will be pitching their plan to you Medford airport traffic flies to new heights Agriculture Nine companies pitch investment opportunities in Medford Darigold to shutter Medford plant, putting 29 out of work Opinion Latest Our View: Wood-fired steam plant at SOU makes sense Letters to the Editor, Feb. 1 Help wanted: The Medford School District needs you George Will: Our annual season of wretched excess Dana Milbank: Bernie Sanders is right to be outraged Editorials Our View: Wood-fired steam plant at SOU makes sense Other Views: Nothing to see here; move along Our View: Improving graduation rates isn't easy Our View: Revving up the gas tax debate Our View: Updating Oregon's presence in the U.S. Capitol Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Feb. 1 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 30 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 29 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 28 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 27 Guest Opinions Help wanted: The Medford School District needs you Guest Opinion: Market forces work against LNG project's success Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose gas pipeline A fair shot for all: addressing our low-wage crisis Guest Opinion: SOU biomass burner would be big mistake Lifestyle Latest stories Southern Oregon Journal: Discovery of the Bigfoot brownie Some like it hot Time with the Tiger-lilies Pet of the Week — meet Fuzz Charleston's Marine Life Center eyes spring opening Food Community blog: Raise a cup of bone broth to better health Good to the Bone Gail Ciampa: Marcona almonds make this a salad with substance The next Pike Place Market? Food for Thought: These healthy Super Bowl snacks are game-changers Home and Garden Dear Monty: Is a home ‘trade-in’ a good idea? Buying a home? Consider its walkability Home Help: 5 ways to revamp your outdoor living space this year Paint a room or two in a weekend Dear Monty: Sell home now? Or wait until summer? Health Community blog: Five "Must Haves" Health Watch: Don’t let your fitness resolutions fizzle out Community blog: Toxic Love: How to Identify an Abusive Relationship Community blog: A Higher Walk To Better Health HealthStyle: Are you in an unhealthy relationship? Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs Religion briefs, Jan. 23 Religion briefs Old stained-glass windows face threats Milestones and Achievements 50 years and counting: Bulebar Wedding: Lindsey-Maria Rios New arrivals Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Here it is! Live Music in Local Clubs Terrapin Flyer plays Historic Ashland Armory Eric Johnson and Mike Stern at The Rogue Theatre Alcyon Massive and Frankie Hernandez play acoustic at Howiee's Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Theater Classics, premiers highlight '15 season for OSF Randall Theatre presents playwright Charles Ludlam's comedy "The Mystery of Irma Vep" Roy Orbison tribute hits high note Thanks for the Memories Theatre presents 'Cardenio' Thanks for the Memories Theatre presents 'Rent' Music Here it is! Live Music in Local Clubs Jesse Cook plays the Craterian Theater Shybo Torres plays South Stage Cellars Terrapin Flyer plays Historic Ashland Armory Trio Valtorna plays SOU Music Hall Community Events Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Paula Poundstone performs at the Craterian Len Dickson's 'Fall Harvest' to grace Belle Fiore wine label A look at the life and vision of Martin Luther King Jr. Ty Barnett and Ian Harris are 'Divided' Dining Sandwiches and burgers are hits at The Rogue Chef The Vine offers a taste of Italy Cheeseburgers on the cheap Valley View — It's all in the family Patty Groth's Morning Glory is still a delight Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Still no sign of missing girl ... Renovating The Bricks ... Mining company faces long odds in Smith River proposal ... Still no sign of missing girl ... Renovating The Bricks ... Mining company faces long odds in Smith River proposal ... SUPER BOWL Here's why the Patriots will win Comment By Howard Ulman The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Howard Ulman The Associated Press Posted Jan. 31, 2015 @ 4:54 pm By Howard Ulman The Associated Press Posted Jan. 31, 2015 @ 4:54 pm » Social News PHOENIX — Go ahead, pile on the Patriots. Declare the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady era over after they split their first four games this season. Call them cheaters when their footballs lose too much air. Predict the Legion of Boom will bring the hammer down on Rob Gronkowski. Then jump on the New England bandwagon. Watch one of the greatest quarterbacks ever lower the pressure on himself with handoffs to big LeGarrette Blount and quick passes to small receivers Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola. See the second-best defense in the Super Bowl silence Marshawn Lynch's running and put the burden on Russell Wilson to move the Seattle Seahawks with his arm and legs. Finally, concede that the Lombardi Trophy raised by New England owner Robert Kraft on Sunday night is well deserved, no matter how much fans of 31 other teams dislike the leader with the hoodie and the scowl — and his fourth Super Bowl championship as coach of the Patriots. "No matter what goes on around this game or outside this locker room, whatever it may be, you have to be ready to play," defensive tackle Vince Wifork said. "We can't let any distraction alter our course of what we want to be and how we want to do it." They want to be champions. How can they do it against the NFL's best defense? Start with Brady getting rid of the ball fast to a runner or receiver. Or let Gronkowski occupy two defenders after lining up wide, in the slot or beside a tackle. Or toss in some trickery — maybe a double reverse or even a flea-flicker. There's no end to Belichick's football imagination. What would he like to establish early? "What I'd like to establish is the lead," he said Friday, flashing a rare grin he breaks out in the Super Bowl spotlight as if trying to show there's more to him than an obsession with Xs and Os and victories. The Patriots have scored first in just four of their last eight games. But they've won six of them, with one of the losses coming in a meaningless regular-season finale. Never was their comeback ability more critical than when they overcame two 14-point deficits to beat the Baltimore Ravens 35-31 in the divisional playoffs. Doing that against Seattle will be a tougher challenge. The Seahawks are the first team to lead the NFL in points and yards allowed for two straight years since Chicago in 1985, when the Bears pummeled the Patriots 46-10 in the Super Bowl, and 1986. And in their last eight games, the Seahawks have allowed just seven points in the fourth quarter. Of course, the brainy Belichick probably saved some never-before-seen wrinkles — some might call them deceptions — to catch Richard Sherman and company off guard. "He knows the game in and out. He's very detailed and he wants perfection," said cornerback Darrelle Revis, a major reason for the Patriots' improved defense in his first season with them. "He's a winner." Belichick has the perfect partner in Brady — a two-time Super Bowl MVP who holds numerous postseason passing records and brings great intensity and intelligence. "He has the fight, the will and the determination to go out there and destroy anybody who's in his way," Revis said. Sounds a bit like Lynch. But the Patriots defense has been successful in neutralizing an opponent's most dangerous player. They did it this season with A.J. Green of Cincinnati, Peyton Manning of Denver, Andrew Luck of Indianapolis (twice), Calvin Johnson of Detroit and Philip Rivers of San Diego. None, however, is a running back. And Lynch rushed for the fourth-most yards in the NFL and 13 touchdowns. But New England had the ninth-best run defense and allowed only six rushing touchdowns. So they have the players and the strategy to control Lynch. "Green Bay did a really good job of that in the NFC Championship in the first quarter or two," Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower said. "They really slowed him down. They forced Seattle to throw the ball a lot earlier, more than they wanted to." The Packers led 19-7 with just over two minutes left after Wilson had thrown four interceptions. But touchdown runs by Wilson and Lynch gave the Seahawks the lead before Wilson capped the incredible comeback with a 35-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Kearse for a 28-22 overtime win. The Seahawks "primary goal is to put the ball in their playmakers' hands," Wilfork said. "When you have Russell Wilson and Marshawn in the backfield together, you have to make sure you account for both of them." The Patriots will. They're disciplined, quick and physical on defense. They'll chase Wilson down, gang tackle Lynch and use a secondary led by cornerbacks Revis and Brandon Browner, a Seahawk last season, to blanket mediocre receivers. New England was the NFL's fourth highest scoring team, averaging 29 points per game. It won't need that many to deny Seattle a second straight title and win the Super Bowl for the first time in 10 years. PREDICTION: Patriots 24, Seahawks 21. By Howard Ulman The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Howard Ulman The Associated Press Posted Jan. 31, 2015 @ 4:54 pm » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. fantasy football Top Fantasy Players, Projections for Patriots vs. Seahawks Jan. 31, 2015 at 8:39 am Fantasy Football Outlook for Titans Stars Jan. 30, 2015 at 10:37 am 2015 Fantasy Football Outlook for Buccaneers Stars Jan. 28, 2015 at 7:00 am DraftKings Fantasy Pro Bowl, Super Bowl Lineup Jan. 24, 2015 at 11:37 am Fantasy Favorites, Lineup Picks for Super Bowl XLIX Jan. 22, 2015 at 9:00 am Fantasy Breakdown, Stat Predictions for Super Bowl Jan. 20, 2015 at 1:00 pm calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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