Patriots Pregame Thread SUPER BOWL PREGAME THREAD - Patriots vs Seahawks 2026 SB - The Rematch

[NFL Mystique]

Maye led this team to the Sb and 17-3 why would he need to blame something.
It’s a strange fan that within a couple of hours of his team getting to the SB feels the need to take a shot at its best player.

They are in the SB. But they need Maye to have a great 60 minute game if they are going to upset Seattle. He has not had a good game from start to finish this postseason.

Both can be true.

 

[DaBruinz]

Sam Darnold has not played against the Patriots in those 4 years.

Darnold led the undefeated Vikings (5-0) against the Lions in 2024 and the Vikings suffered their first lost of the 2024 season.
Darnold was 22-27 for 259 with 1TD and 1 INT in that game.

Garrett Bradbury was his center.

 

[Nikolai]

I want to know the over/under on how many times the Bulterception gets mentioned in the lead up to and during the game.

Seriously, though, tough test. But unless a freak blizzard strikes the Bay Area in two weeks, I think Maye will be fine.

That said, I don't rule out one of those weird February atmospheric rivers that have been a thing lately.

 

[VrabelJr]

I hadn't heard Mike MacDonald talk before but he seems easily hateable, like a mini John Harbaugh.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Wow…

 

[Kdo5]

Overall the Seahawks are better than the Rams but I do put stock into Super Bowl experience. The Rams would have had that advantage and are more of a veteran group. The Seahawks are no more experienced than us.

I think we have a better chance at causing difficulty for Darnold than we would’ve against Stafford and his two receivers. But this isn’t going to be a sub-20 point defensive performance. That won’t cut it. Maye and the offense will need to figure it out against another top defense.

 

[DarkPatriot84]

Toughest game of the year. I trust Vrabel

Classic War of Attrition. Came down to pure coaching strategy. Who maneuvered their troops into the most advantageous position.

SunTzu stated Weather and Terrain are two of the 5 factors in strategizing victory on the field of battle. Two of 5 things that can equalize any Army/ Team outcome.

#GoPatz84

On to the SB !!!

 

[ViperGTS]

They are in the SB. But they need Maye to have a great 60 minute game if they are going to upset Seattle. He has not had a good game from start to finish this postseason.

Both can be true.

He has played a gauntlet of top defenses in pretty crap weather. Could be have played better at times? Sure, it's his first playoff run and Brady wasn't lights out in '01. If they had played tomato can defenses, then who knows. Throw in some really, really ****ty weather in multiple games and what he has done while at times frustrating for myself..in the grand scheme of things is pretty damn good.

 

[DaBruinz]

Our special teams needs to be significantly better than it was today. Especially against Seattle who is one of the best ST units in the league. We can't afford to play an entire half with bad field position against Seattle's offense like we did today.

Seahawks:
Kick Coverage - 103 Kick offs - 18 Touch backs, 81 returns, 24 YPR, 3 OOB, 0 TD
Kick Returns - 46 returns, 28YPR, 1 TD, 1 Fumble
Punt Coverage- 52 Punts , 42.2 Net, 6 OOB, 7 Downed, 3 touch backs, 17 Fair Catches, 19 returns for 295 yards (15.5 YPR), 1 TD
Punt Returns - 29 returns, 448 yards, 15.4 YPR (16.2YPR with Shaheed), 2TD, 26 Fair catches, 0 Fumbles

Patriots -
Kick Coverage - 96 Kickoffs - 25 Touch backs, 68 returns , 25.3 YPR , 2 OOB, 0 TD
Kick Returns - 57 Returns - 25.5 YPR, 1 TD, 1 Fumble
Punt Coverage - 51 Punts - 40.1 Net, 6 OOB, 4 Downed, 4 TB, 15 Fair Catches, 22 Returns for 265 Yrds (12 YPR), 1 TD
Punt Returns - 21 Returns - 393 yards, 17.3 YPR, 2 TD, 20 Fair Catches, 2 Fumbles


The Seahawks have a good Kick return unit will push the Pats kick Coverage.. However, the Pats Punt Coverage and Punt return units are better than the Seahawks.

The weather affected the Field Goal unit and Punt unit. The Punt coverage Unit was on their game as well. Of Baringer's 8 Punts:
-1 Yard
Downed
1 Yard
Fair Catch
8 Yards
Out of Bounds
Out of Bounds
Out of Bounds

The first 5 punts were all in the 1st half, when the weather was just cold. The Pats Punt Coverage gave up 8 yards on 3 returns (2.67 YPR). That's pretty amazing considering that Mims was averaging 15.6 YPR.

The Pats Punt Coverage allowed 9.7 YPR against Houston and No Returns by the Chargers.

 

[VrabelJr]

Seahawks:
Kick Coverage - 103 Kick offs - 18 Touch backs, 81 returns, 24 YPR, 3 OOB, 0 TD
Kick Returns - 46 returns, 28YPR, 1 TD, 1 Fumble
Punt Coverage- 52 Punts , 42.2 Net, 6 OOB, 7 Downed, 3 touch backs, 17 Fair Catches, 19 returns for 295 yards (15.5 YPR), 1 TD
Punt Returns - 29 returns, 448 yards, 15.4 YPR (16.2YPR with Shaheed), 2TD, 26 Fair catches, 0 Fumbles

Patriots -
Kick Coverage - 96 Kickoffs - 25 Touch backs, 68 returns , 25.3 YPR , 2 OOB, 0 TD
Kick Returns - 57 Returns - 25.5 YPR, 1 TD, 1 Fumble
Punt Coverage - 51 Punts - 40.1 Net, 6 OOB, 4 Downed, 4 TB, 15 Fair Catches, 22 Returns for 265 Yrds (12 YPR), 1 TD
Punt Returns - 21 Returns - 393 yards, 17.3 YPR, 2 TD, 20 Fair Catches, 2 Fumbles


The Seahawks have a good Kick return unit will push the Pats kick Coverage.. However, the Pats Punt Coverage and Punt return units are better than the Seahawks.

The weather affected the Field Goal unit and Punt unit. The Punt coverage Unit was on their game as well. Of Baringer's 8 Punts:
-1 Yard
Downed
1 Yard
Fair Catch
8 Yards
Out of Bounds
Out of Bounds
Out of Bounds

The first 5 punts were all in the 1st half, when the weather was just cold. The Pats Punt Coverage gave up 8 yards on 3 returns (2.67 YPR). That's pretty amazing considering that Mims was averaging 15.6 YPR.

The Pats Punt Coverage allowed 9.7 YPR against Houston and No Returns by the Chargers.

I agree that our coverage units are pretty good but let's not sugar coat Mims not having a lot of return yards -- we punted the ball out of bounds at least three times.

 

[ViperGTS]

They need to dust off the old '14 AFCCG..yes the Deflatgate game. They doubled T.Y and took him out of the game. Take JSN out of the game. Then let the guys up front worry about Walker, who can be contained, especially since he is by himself now.

Put Gonzo on Shaheed, and Jones on Cupp.

 

[DaBruinz]

thielen used to do it i believe.

The guy I'm thinking of was a defensive player..

Just searched for it. I'm thinking of John Randle.

 

[scott99]

Overall the Seahawks are better than the Rams but I do put stock into Super Bowl experience. The Rams would have had that advantage and are more of a veteran group. The Seahawks are no more experienced than us.

I think we have a better chance at causing difficulty for Darnold than we would’ve against Stafford and his two receivers. But this isn’t going to be a sub-20 point defensive performance. That won’t cut it. Maye and the offense will need to figure it out against another top defense.

JSN is one of the best route runners in the league, had one of the best seasons of any receiver in years, and Darnold has been playing incredible QB, rarely has a bad game. You would think Gonzalez on JSN and Carlton Davis on Kupp, and Marcus Jones on Shaheed.

But this isn’t Madden Football, putting Gonzalez on JSN doesn’t guarantee that he’d be able to shut him down. Same for Marcus Jones vs Shaheed. I can easily see the Seahawks scoring at last 25+ points, which means the Pats would have to score 30+ points. I guess to kill the snake, you have to cut off the head, meaning they have to get to Darnold, have to harass him all game.

 

[DaBruinz]

I agree that our coverage units are pretty good but let's not sugar coat Mims not having a lot of return yards -- we punted the ball out of bounds at least three times.

WOW. Nothing like ignoring what's actually posted. I didn't sugar coat anything. I specifically noted the 5 punts that he COULD have returned and the 3 he DID return. All in the first half. He totaled 8 yards. A 2.67 YPR average when he normally had 15.6YPR.

But, yeah. I'm sugar-coating things. FFS.

 

[mgteich]

Maye doesn't need to have a really good game. He needs to play as well as Stafford did, for four quarters.

Our Defense needs to play better than LA's Defense. This is doable.

This is a tall order, but we certainly have a reasonable chance to be Super Bowl champs.

 

[VrabelJr]

WOW. Nothing like ignoring what's actually posted. I didn't sugar coat anything. I specifically noted the 5 punts that he COULD have returned and the 3 he DID return. All in the first half. He totaled 8 yards. A 2.67 YPR average when he normally had 15.6YPR.

But, yeah. I'm sugar-coating things. FFS.

Thanks for digging up the stats. I merely pointed out one flaw. Relax. (you're definitely not going to relax now that I said that)

 

[DaBruinz]

They need to dust off the old '14 AFCCG..yes the Deflatgate game. They doubled T.Y and took him out of the game. Take JSN out of the game. Then let the guys up front worry about Walker, who can be contained, especially since he is by himself now.

Put Gonzo on Shaheed, and Jones on Cupp.

JSN will eat Davis/Hawkins for breakfast and ask for more. You have to put Gonzo on him and Marcus Jones on Shaheed. Jones is the only one with the speed to stay with Shaheed.

I'm actually surprised the Seahawks didn't elevate Cam Akers for the game against the Rams..

 

[Kdo5]

JSN is one of the best route runners in the league, had one of the best seasons of any receiver in years, and Darnold has been playing incredible QB, rarely has a bad game. You would think Gonzalez on JSN and Carlton Davis on Kupp, and Marcus Jones on Shaheed.

But this isn’t Madden Football, putting Gonzalez on JSN doesn’t guarantee that he’d be able to shut him down. Same for Marcus Jones vs Shaheed. I can easily see the Seahawks scoring at last 25+ points, which means the Pats would have to score 30+ points. I guess to kill the snake, you have to cut off the head, meaning they have to get to Darnold, have to harass him all game.

Assuming Spillane is good to go I think the Pats can neutralize Seattle’s ability to run. That means Darnold will need to take matters into his own hands.

With regard to JSN. Fortunately we have Gonzo. When you match up the star corner with the star receiver I tend to notice the corner winning most of the battles.

 

[VrabelJr]

edit: double post. God my internet sucks tonight.

 

[VrabelJr]

We have to find a way to run effectively against Seattle. I think Maye can hero our way to a victory but it will be a lot easier if we can run well, especially situationally. A couple early runs that get to the second level will really open things up.