The NFL season always seems to go by in the blink of an eye. It feels like just yesterday the Cowboys and the Eagles were opening up this season in week 1. 21 short weeks later, the Super Bowl is officially set. The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots meet once again in a Super Bowl rematch from 2015, which included the infamous Malcolm Butler interception delivering Tom Brady and the Patriots another ring. Let’s see how these two teams match up in this year’s Super Bowl.
Quarterbacks
Drake Maye and Sam Darnold both took very different paths to get here, despite both being picked third overall in their draft. Drake Maye in only his second season has led New England back to the Super Bowl. However he has struggled throughout these playoffs with turnovers and sustaining long drives. Sam Darnold on the other hand has traveled to a few destinations on his path to his full potential under center, and he may have found his home in Seattle. After being close to the top of the league in turnovers in the regular season, he hasn’t committed a single one in the playoffs. Both quarterbacks will need to focus on limiting those turnovers should they become a Super Bowl champion.
Weapons
Sam Darnold has the clear advantage in the wide receiver room with JSN, Shaheed, and Cooper Kupp. But Drake Maye has found success with his own group of playmakers like Stefon Diggs, Demario Douglas, and Kayshon Boutte. The key difference will be the running back room. Seattle has looked just fine without Charbonnet, as Kenneth Walker has done plenty to make up for the absence. For New England Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson are going to have to take some pressure off Drake Maye and find a way to get this run game going.
Defense
Seattle’s defense is arguably one of the best in the league. They haven’t allowed a 100 yard rusher in 27 games and allowed the fewest points in the league this season. New England has shown it can be an elite defensive unit as well, not allowing more than 7 points in two of their three playoff games. Both defenses are going to be leaning on their offenses a bit to try and keep them off the field and as rested as possible. This very well could be a Super Bowl where the team that wins the possession battle wins the game as well.
One thing is certain, this year’s Super Bowl is going to be must watch football!!
