Digital Sports Desk

Online Destination for the Best in Boston Sports

Darnold’s Full Redemption

by

SANTA CLARA – (Wire Service Report) -Seattle’s well travelled quarterback Sam Darnold didn’t need to play a starring role to pen the final chapter in one of the greatest redemption stories in NFL history on Sunday night.

Embed from Getty Images

Darnold completed 19 of 38 passes for 202 yards with a touchdown and did not turn the ball over in Seattle’s 29-13 victory over New England in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium. He didn’t win Most Valuable Player honors — those went to running back Kenneth Walker III. And truth be told, he missed a few open receivers that could have helped the Seahawks pull away earlier in the game.

But Darnold also led an efficient offense that steadily applied more pressure on a Patriots offense besieged by the Seahawks’ relentless defense. He also completed a three-game postseason run without throwing an interception after tossing 14 during the regular season.

A former first-round pick previously cast aside by the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, Darnold is now a Super Bowl champion, playing for his fifth team in eight seasons. And while he wasn’t the Super Bowl hero, he was most definitely a major driving force in Seattle’s journey to the franchise’s second world championship.

“My teammates and my coaches, they believed in me ever since the beginning of OTAs, training camp,” Darnold said in what gave him the belief that the Seahawks had championship potential. “That was our mindset. Every single day we came to work.”

Following three seasons with the Jets and two with the Panthers, Darnold latched on with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023 as Brock Purdy’s backup. It was ironically playing with the 49ers in the stadium of Sunday night’s ultimate triumph that began Darnold’s resurrection from being viewed as one of the biggest busts in NFL draft history.

He only threw 46 passes that season, but showed enough growth under 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan that the Minnesota Vikings signed him in 2024. When J.J. McCarthy went down to a torn ACL before the season started, Darnold guided the Vikings to a 14-3 regular-season record.

However, a disastrous playoff performance contributed to Minnesota deciding not to re-sign Darnold in the offseason. The Seahawks signed Darnold to a three-year deal worth more than $100 million to replace Geno Smith, beginning a relationship that ultimately led to an NFC West title, home-field advantage and a Super Bowl title.

Darnold was consistently under pressure when he dropped back on Sunday night. The Patriots’ blitz-heavy gameplan only resulted in one sack, but Darnold was constantly on the move. So, Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak responded with a run-heavy attack that led to Walker ripping off 135 yards on 27 carries.

Darnold’s lone touchdown pass came on a throw to tight end AJ Barner in the fourth quarter — a few possessions after All-Pro wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba went to the locker room to be evaluated for a potential concussion. So, Darnold turned to Barner and veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp to finally reach the end zone after two previous trips to the red zone resulted in field goals.

Darnold finished the game with 202 passing yards and the touchdown for a modest 74.7 passer rating. But he also left Levi’s Stadium as a Super Bowl champion, with his status forever etched in Seahawks history.

Darnold’s thoughts when he saw the blue and green confetti falling down following the final whistle?

“We did it,” he said. “That was it. It’s been such a special journey with these guys. So much hard work that’s been poured into this, and that’s it.

“It’s just a job well done.”

–Derek Harper, Field Level Media

MVP is Kenneth Walker LX

by

SANTA CLARA – (Wire Service Report) – When the Seattle Seahawks won their first Super Bowl title 12 years ago, a 43-8 thrashing of the Peyton Manning-led Denver Broncos, the Most Valuable Player award could have landed in a number of different players’ hands. Little-known linebacker Malcolm Smith was the winner, his pick-6 and fumble recovery standing out in Seattle’s complete defensive effort that night.

Embed from Getty Images

When the Seahawks’ lead stood at 12-0 entering the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LX on Sunday, the MVP discussion may have been down to another defensive selection, or perhaps Seattle kicker Jason Myers. But one offensive player was the consistent throughline from the Seahawks’ first quarter through the fourth, the steady engine of an offense that eventually found another gear.

Running back Kenneth Walker III finished the game with 135 rushing yards on 27 attempts and took home Super Bowl LX MVP honors after his team’s 29-13 triumph over the New England Patriots. He is the first running back to win the award since Denver’s Terrell Davis at Super Bowl XXXII in January 1998.

The soft-spoken 25-year-old let his legs do the talking until it was time to accept the award on stage at Levi’s Stadium.

“First and foremost, I want to thank God for this blessing to be here,” Walker said. “Also I want to talk to my brothers. This don’t happen without them. We went through a lot of adversity this season but we came together and we stuck together, and this is what we got.”

As NBC presenter Maria Taylor was about to move on to quarterback Sam Darnold, Walker cut back in.

“Hey, shoutout to the 12s!” he added, referring to Seattle’s fan base.

A native of Tennessee, Walker played two seasons at Wake Forest before transferring to Michigan State in 2021 and lighting up the college football world with 1,636 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground. Despite winning the Doak Walker Award for the nation’s top running back, he finished a mere sixth in Heisman Trophy voting and went to Seattle early in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Because he dropped out of the first round that year, his rookie contract was four years without a fifth-year option. Walker enters the offseason as a free agent and was mostly mum on his future during Super Bowl week.

Walker’s workload increased when backfield mate Zach Charbonnet went down with a torn ACL in the divisional round against San Francisco. After finishing the regular season with 1,027 yards and five touchdowns rushing, Walker ran for 116 yards and three scores against the 49ers and another 62 yards and a touchdown against the Rams in the NFC Championship Game.

He didn’t add to the TD total Sunday, but time and again he brought the Seahawks into scoring position. Walker took the first play of the game 10 yards around left end. His 30-yard run propelled Seattle to its second of five field goals, and he added two catches for 26 yards, including a 20-yarder.

Walker is only the third player in Super Bowl history with two carries of 25-plus yards in a game, according to ESPN Stats and Information. He joined Washington’s Timmy Smith in Super Bowl XXII (three) and the Raiders’ Marcus Allen in Super Bowl XVIII (two).

He nearly had a third run of more than 25 yards late in the fourth quarter, when he broke free up the middle for what would have been a 49-yard touchdown. But center Jalen Sundell was called for holding and the play was nullified.

–Field Level Media

Super Bowl LX – Preview

by

QUICK CAPSULE: ALL THE FACTS 

Records: New England (17-3) at Seattle (16-3)

TV: Sunday, 6:30 p.m., NBC

Betting Hero odds: Seahawks by 4.5, moved to 5.0 on Sunday morning.

Last meeting: Seattle beat New England 23-20 in overtime on Sept. 15, 2024

Last game: The Seahawks beat the Rams 31-27 in the NFC championship game. New England beat Denver 10-7 in the AFC championship game.

Patriots offense: overall (3), rush (6), pass (4), scoring (2)

Patriots defense: overall (8), rush (5), pass (9), scoring (4)

Seahawks offense: overall (T-7), rush (T-10), pass (8), scoring (5)

Seahawks defense: overall (6), rush (3), pass (10), scoring (1)

Turnover differential: Patriots plus-3; Seahawks minus-3

PATS to WATCH: QB Drake Maye. In his second season, Maye has thrived working for the first time with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Maye is the fourth quarterback since 2000 to win each of his first three career playoff starts, joining Tom Brady (won first 10), Joe Burrow (three) and Jake Delhomme (three). Maye is also the first quarterback in history to win three games against top five defenses in a single playoffs — the Chargers (No. 5), Texans (No. 1) and Broncos (No. 2).

SEABIRDS to WATCH: RB Kenneth Walker III. The fourth-year running back has been on a roll since Zach Charbonnet was injured. In the playoffs, Walker has averaged 4.7 yards per carry, and has 256 yards of total offense with four touchdowns rushing. Walker will have to work for his yards against New England’s run defense, but he’s been able to rise to the occasion in the playoffs.

MATCH-UPS: QB Sam Darnold against the Patriots secondary. While Darnold has played through an oblique injury the past two games, he impressed during the win against the Rams. Darnold completed 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards with three touchdowns in the NFC title game. He will have his work cut out against a Patriots defense that allowed the ninth-fewest passing yards per game in the regular season, as well as the fourth-fewest points per game.

INJURIES: Seahawks: Left tackle Charles Cross, who has been limited because of multiple injuries since mid-December, was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday with a foot injury. Darnold was limited because of his oblique injury. Safety Nick Emmanwori, who broke up three passes in the NFC championship game, injured his ankle during Wednesday’s practice. Emmanwori said Thursday that he expects to play in the game. He was a full participant on Friday. FB Robbie Ouzts is listed as questionable for the game. Patriots: After being limited in one practice with a right shoulder issue during the Super Bowl bye week, Maye returned to full participation on Wednesday. … LB Robert Spillane, who injured his ankle in the AFC championship game, is questionable along with DL Joshua Farmer (hamstring), DE Harold Landry (knee)..

CROSS CONFERENCE SERIES RESULTS: The Seahawks have won three in a row against the Patriots, but New England holds ultimate bragging rights with its 28-24 win against Seattle in Super Bowl 49. Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler intercepted Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson with 20 seconds remaining in the game. Each of the past six games between these two teams has been decided by seven or fewer points. While the Seahawks were still in the AFC, they won five games in a row against the Patriots from 1989-1993. New England won the first three games in this series, including a 31-0 shutout Oct. 9, 1977.

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: The Patriots are making their 12th Super Bowl appearance. They are 6-5 in their previous 11. … With a win Sunday, the Patriots will break a tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most Super Bowl wins in NFL history. … With a victory, New England would also join the 1981 San Francisco 49ers, the 1999 St. Louis Rams, the 2001 Patriots, the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles and the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the only teams to follow a losing record with a Super Bowl victory. … The Patriots are the sixth team to have reached a Super Bowl after winning five or fewer games the previous season. The Rams and Patriots were the only teams to win the Super Bowl from that group. … The Patriots were 9-0 on the road this season. They are the first team in NFL history to play at least nine games on the road and win them all. … DT Milton Williams will play in his second consecutive Super Bowl. He won a ring with the Eagles last season. … Patriots rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson led the NFL with four TD runs of 50-plus yards (52, 55, 65 and 69) this season. It tied the league record for the most in a season by a rookie joining Saquon Barkley (2018) and Lenny Moore (1956). … CB Marcus Jones returned an interception for a touchdown in the divisional round against the Texans. With another, he will join Asante Samuel as the only Patriots player with two in a single postseason. He’d also join Ty Law as the second Patriots player with a pick-6 in a Super Bowl. … CB Carlton Davis III had two INTs in the divisional round against Houston. With a third on Sunday he would join Rodney Harrison, Ty Law and Fred Marion as the only Patriots players with at least three in a single postseason. … Seattle earned its first division title since 2020, and 12th in franchise history. … The Seahawks have 14 regular-season wins for the first time in franchise history. The Seahawks previous franchise record for wins in a season was 13, which happened in the 2013 and 2005 seasons. Seattle won the Super Bowl after the 2013 season. Seattle went 10-7 last season and hasn’t had a losing season since 2021 under Pete Carroll. … The Seahawks had five players selected to the 2025 All-Pro team, matching a franchise record, with WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba earning first-team honors and DT Leonard Williams, CB Devon Witherspoon, LB Ernest Jones IV, and P Michael Dickson making the second team. … Smith-Njigba, who led the NFL in receiving yards this season, has also had 100 or more catches in consecutive seasons. He had 119 catches in the 2025 season. … Seahawks TE A.J. Barner has set single-season career highs in receptions (52), yards (519) and touchdowns (six). … Ernest Jones IV had five interceptions this season for Seattle, tied for second most in the NFL. Jones also had one in Seattle’s divisional round win over the 49ers. … Kenneth Walker III tied Shaun Alexander’s record for TD runs in a playoff game with three in Seattle’s divisional-round victory over the San Francisco 49ers. … Sam Darnold had his most yards passing in a game of the season when completing 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards against the Rams in the NFC championship game.

TL’s Super Sunday Notes | NE v SEA

by

By TERRY LYONS, Editor in Chief

BOSTON – Oh, the glory. The Winter Olympic Games colliding with the Super Bowl. NHL players are back in the ice hockey tournament and the New England Patriots are playing in their first Super Bowl since 2019, which seems like forever and a day ago if you have to turn the calendar back to the Year 2000.

Here’s a quick look at the Patriots’ Super Bowl appearances with a translation from Roman Numerals to the more modern Hindu-Arabic numbers we use these days:

Tom Brady (file photo)

New England Patriots Super Bowl Appearances:

Super Bowl 20: Chicago Bears 46, New England Patriots 10

Super Bowl 31: Green Bay Packers 35, New England Patriots 21

Super Bowl 36: New England Patriots 20, St. Louis Rams 17

Super Bowl 38: New England Patriots 32, Carolina Panthers 29

Super Bowl 39: New England Patriots 24, Philadelphia Eagles 21

Super Bowl 42: New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14

Super Bowl 46: New York Giants 21, New England Patriots 17

Super Bowl 49: New England Patriots 28, Seattle Seahawks 24

Super Bowl 51: New England Patriots 34, Atlanta Falcons 28

Super Bowl 52: Philadelphia Eagles 41, New England Patriots 33

Super Bowl 53: New England Patriots 13, Los Angeles Rams 3

Every Super Bowl (link)

SUPER: The theme of this week’s notebook is to enjoy some reminiscing about Super Bowls of the past. This year marks Super Bowl LX and it dates those of us who can remember Super Bowl I (Kansas City vs Green Bay in Los Angeles). Super Bowl I wasn’t even in the lexicon of sports fans before Super Bowl I, as the term was coined by Lamar Hunt, the owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, in 1966. He suggested the name during a meeting while trying to decide on a title for the championship between the NFL and AFL.

The story goes that Super Bowl I wasn’t sold out in the massive Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum which was commissioned in 1921 and opened in 1923. The game was played January 15, 1967 (I had just turned seven years old).

The LA Coliseum is enormous (77,500), and over the years with the LA Rams and then the LA Raiders playing in the venue, it caused some issues for the NFL as it was, indeed, difficult to sell out and thus the NFL TV blackout rules might kick-in to black out the home Los Angeles (No. 2 TV market) and spoil TV ratings.

My memories were looking at what seemed to be an invincible Green Bay Packers team and thinking the Kansas City Chiefs were going to get clobbered in this first great match-up between the National Football League (NFC) and the rival American Football League (AFC). My premonitions were correct and KC got smoked by the score of 35-10. Green Bay QB Bart Starr was the Most Valuable Player as he would be in Super Bowl II at the Orange Bowl in Miami. That game featured the Oakland Raiders who fell 33-14 to the Pack, a slight improvement. I can remember the great Vince Lombardi stalking the sidelines, classically dressed in his overcoat and stoic.

We (meaning my family and most of the kids in my neighborhood) were AFL fans, as the New York Jets played at Shea Stadium, which was closer to our homes. The rival New York Giants seemed old and stogy, and they played at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. The love of the Mets was the attraction to the Jets and thus, the dislike of the Yankees and the (football) Giants.

Then, there was a key factor – Joe Willie Namath, a.k.a. “Broadway Joe.” Sure there was Yankees greats Joe DiMaggio (Mr Coffee) and Mickey Mantle and some others, but Joe Namath was the very first marketing machine athlete I can remember, and his charisma of coolness fit in with Walt “Clyde” Frazier of the New York Knickerbockers.

Of course, the Jets upset the Baltimore Colts, with the QB tandem of Earl Morrall and the great Johnny Unitas), 16-7, after Namath made the bold guarantee for the New Yorkers to win the game. I had other sports idols on the Jets. I had an Emerson Boozer sweatshirt, and loved defensive safety Johnny Sample and the host of great receivers, like Don Maynard and George Sauer.

That game cemented my love of the NFL and it lasted until the Jets moved from the aging Shea Stadium to the new Giants Stadium in New Jersey (1984). The trip through the Midtown Tunnel and Lincoln Tunnel to East Rutherford was too much, and our dump, the beat-up, cold and windy Shea Stadium, seemed so great, although imperfect.

With these various memories in mind, I consulted with column contributor Tom Walsh, the organizer and facilitator of the greatest Super Bowl, and then, AFC/NFC Championship parties in the history of the world, as well as being the most trustworthy and loyal friend you could ever ask for.

To Mr Walsh, the following question was posed:

Q: “I know you love the KC Chiefs as you adopted them in the Len Dawson era and rooted for them against the mighty GB Packers. What are your earliest memories of the Super Bowl?”

A: (Surprised me a bit) – “So the first Super Bowl ever was played on my fifth birthday Jan 15, 1967. Truth be told, I don’t remember a thing about that particular “game.” I do, however, remember a lot of fuss going on in the household because we had moved from Kansas City the year prior and my brother Billy ( five years older) was a fan already, so it was a combination of birthday and Super Bowl celebration.

“My first clear memories of a Super Bowl came from Super Bowl IV (January 11, 1970) and at that point in time, I was fully aware of sports. The Mets were coming off of their miracle Mets run (of 1969) and I was beginning to care about and participate in sports. The Chiefs beat the Minnesota Vikings 23-7). It was that moment that did it for me in terms of fandom.”

He was a Chiefs fan for life.

And, that’s how the NFL does it and how the Super Bowl became the highest-rated, most watched, can’t miss worldwide sports event on the planet. World Cup be damned!

The New England Patriots vs Seattle Seahawks game will attempt to break last year’s 127.7 million viewers. That’s to serve up :30 second spots at $8 million or :60s at $16m to $20m. (estimated 2026 prices)

As the ‘70s marched on there were great (better call them super) football teams in the Miami Dolphins (coach Don Shula), the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers – The Steel Curtain. Those high level teams dominated but were highly respected by all football fans.

Another early memory for me was the fact many of the games were somewhat one-sided. It wasn’t until the 1979 Pittsburgh vs. Dallas Super Bowl, won by Pitt (35-31) that I can remember a high scoring affair.

Fast forward to the early ‘90s and we witnessed the Buffalo Bills’ four consecutive bridesmaids era and then later in the decade, the Denver Broncos era.

As the clock struck 2002, it was time for Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the Patriots to ride in with a decade of dominance give or take a few disappointments, a New York Giants miracle or two (ask David Tyree) and ultimately the Patriots chasing Brady down I95 where he won another Super Bowl with former Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski as a sidekick.

Patrick Mahomes and the Walsh Family enjoyed their renaissance and took three Super Bowl titles in the 2020s, while losing title games to Brady’s newfangled Tampa Bay Bucs and the mighty Philadelphia Eagles who can still fly with the best of ‘em.

All the while, event organizers from New Orleans to Miami Gardens to Los Angeles to Las Vegas to Santa Clara have raked in the millions in economic boosts the size of Saturn Five rockets. This week, the NFL has inserted major cash flow from San Francisco to Palo Alto and from San Jose to Santa Clara. There’s nothing like it as the New England and Seattle faithful have traveled heavy and at steep prices.

Face value for a cheap seat is roughly $950 but that same ticket is going for $3,869 on the secondary market as kick-off time draws nearer and nearer. Meanwhile, lower bowl “decent/good” seats are going for $5,007 and as high as $8,000 to $14,000 per seat, depending on how close you like your seat to the 50 yard line.

High-priced tickets go for $40,530 to $44,796 per seat on the secondary market and a luxury suite will set you back $600,000 to $1.8 million. Although ticket prices can fluctuate drastically in the final two days, Super Bowl LX is currently the second-most expensive Super Bowl on record, with an average purchase price of roughly $8,016.

ALL ABOUT TONIGHT: That brings us to game time. How about some predictions and prognostications, with an attempt to avoid the cliches? (Such as protect the ball, limit turnovers, team that has the ball last, pass protection is key, focus, special team play can be the determining factor).

Please keep in mind, after the Joe Namath Jets, my NFL allegiances were usually to root for the favorite teams of friends, so they could enjoy the title. But, while living in New England, it was always fun to watch Tom Brady operate on a weekly basis, orchestrating comeback after comeback, victory after victory, but the arrogance of team owner Bob Kraft always kept me an arms-length away from the team/Gillette Stadium. That said, I have a friend who was BBs right hand man, and I certainly rooted for him to take in a Playoff share. He left the Patriots when BB did.

This year, it’s been very different. I did not expect the Patriots to win five or six games, maybe seven. I did not think QB Drake Maye could turn into a major contender for MVP (Matthew Stafford of the LA Rams edged Maye out) in teh voting, and I did not think Mike Vrabel’s effect on the team would be so amazing, so vibrant and meaningful in his first year as Patriots’ head coach.

Well, damn the torpedos, and full speed ahead.

Let’s take a look.

TL PREDICTIONS: The prediction here is that Vrabel’s defense will step up once again. Just as they held the Los Angles Chargers and Denver Broncos and Houston Texans offenses down, I expect even more from NE’s “D” on Sunday. The neutral home field will be a major advantage, compared to the crazy and hostile setting of Denver. The Patriots’ defense endured and QB Drake Maye did what he had to do to rally, run and score.

Against Seattle, I see a game-long defensive battle. The Patriots, as they’ve done thoughout the late half of the regular season and all of post season, will limit RB Kenneth Walker III to play as though he’s not age III but age LX. Walker’s sidekick, RB Zach “Don’t Call Me ‘Guy’” Charbonnet is out – a huge setback for the Seahawks. Seattle, like the Patriots’ other opponents, will struggle to gain more than 3.4 or 3.5 per offensive play, a factor that will see punt-after-punt-after-punt in the early going.

LOW SCORING: I see a possible 0-0 first quarter score, and maybe a 7-0 or 10-3 halftime.

SECOND HALF ADJUSTMENTS: It will be the second half when Vrabel’s defense can win the game. Look for at least one “points off turnover” score, coming from a forced fumble or mid-field interception. It would not surprise if there’s a “Pick 6” or a score off a muffed punt. The Patriots might produce seven or 10 points from the defensive and special team side of the ball, while holding Seattle QB Sam Darnold to “three and outs” regularly.

CAN NEW ENGLAND RUN VS. SEATTLE D? If New England can establish a decent running game, with RB Rhamondre Stevenson and his sidekick, rookie TreVeyon Henderson, it will open up the passing game for Maye and simultaneously create running opportunities for the MVP-runner-up QB. I can see Maye break a 15-20 yard run, maybe for a TD.

PUTTING THAT ALL TOGETHER: I see a relatively low-scoring game. Certainly, it will be a battle of defensive capabilities in the first half. Will one team have its defense on the field too long? Will fatigue play a factor? Will points be scored off turnovers and just how many turnovers or significant mistakes will be made by the young QBs (of either team) and the stumbling, fumbling RBs?

X-FACTOR: I see New England’s TE Hunter Henry playing a pivitol role in converting those third and long or third and five/six situations. He will be a clutch performer and I haven’t seen that written anywhere else.

IN CONCLUSION … a.k.a. THE VEGAS LINE: I think Las Vegas bookmakers have the wrong team favored. The line came out at New England (+5), then settled at New England (+4.5). … In some other books, the line came out at Seahawks (-3.5) and settled at (-4.5) and its stayed put. … Two Sundays ago, I would’ve placed the line at New England (-2.5). Today, I might call it (- 1.5). … The scoring total is at 45.5 – far too high, unless the defenses score 14 points or more apiece.

I see it more like: New England 17-6 or New England 17-10. Drake Maye runs for one TD, throws for another (Henry) and Maye gets his MVP and his first Super Bowl ring.

Most of the experts disagree and they, of course, are the guys who set the Vegas lines.

The guy I trust the most is Matt Youmans of VSiN and he has it: Patriots 23-20 over Seattle, with Drake Maye as the MVP. In scientific terms, that means he’s on the Patriots and the “Under.”

A factoid to consider: The team that is the better NFL Playoff seed (Seattle a No. 1 and New England a No. 2) is just 2-17-1 (ATS) = (10.5%) in the last 29 Super Bowl games. (Some games had teams with the same playoff seed). And, in the last 24 years, Underdogs own an (18-6) record = 75%. By the way, another slice has Underdogs (14-4) over the last 18 Super Bowls, but those stats doesn’t really matter as this is forward thinking column and past performances have ZERO to do with the outcome of Sunday’s game.

FLIP SIDE: If you’re keen on the Seattle Seahawks and don’t buy any of the logic explained above, you’re probably criticizing New England’s relatively smooth (not easy, but smooth) path to the Super Bowl. (Chargers to Texans to Broncos).

In the wild card round, New England held the Los Angeles Chargers to one second quarter field goal in a low-scoring, 16-3 contest.

While Houston looked great on paper and rode a 10-game winning streak, the fact of the matter was New England’s defense stood up to Texans QB C.J. Stroud and held him down in the Red Zone. Houston led 10-7, but a NE pick six (Marcus Jones) returned for 26 yards, and a Drake Maye to Stefon Diggs 7-yard TD strike made it 21-10 Patriots at the half.

In the AFC Championship game, New England faced a Denver Broncos team without their (more) dynamic QB Bo Nix.

Lady Luck!

SLEEPLESS SEATTLE … can impose a much more dynamic offensive approach, sans No. 2 RB Zach Charbonnet. The combo of much-travelled but underrated QB Sam Darnold to Pro Bowl WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba is dangerous at all times and can take advantage of New England’s one defense weakness – a suspect secondary. The deep ball is not a friend in New England.

Can Vrabel devise his defensive schemes to take Smith-Njigba out of the game, and force Seattle to run? Can the New England secondary step-up and play their best game of the season? – Lots of question marks but the answers will play out in Santa Clara.

Kick-off is 6:30pm ET/3:30pm (Local).

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: What’s a Super Bowl Notebooks without a few of the basic lines? Here’s the basic line and a sampling of alternate wagers/props:

Super Bowl LX

  • Seattle (-4.5) over Patriots (Line opened at 5.0 points)
  • Over/Under 45.5

Most Rushing Yards

  • (Seattle’s) Kenneth Walker III – (-225)
  • (NE’s) Rhamondre Stevenson – (+240)
  • (NE’s) Drake Maye – (+700)
  • (NE’s TreVeyon Henderson – (25/1)
  • (Seattle’s) George Holani – (50/1)
  • (Seattle’s) Rashid Shaheed – (66/1)

Yards Rushing (Over/Under)

(Seattle’s) Kenneth Walker III

  • Over 74.5 yards – (118)
  • Under 74.5 yards – (-110)

(New England’s Rhamondre Stevenson

  • Over 47.5 – (118)
  • Under 47.5 – (110)

(New England’s) TreVeyon Henderson

  • Over 37.5 (118)
  • Under 37.5 (110)

(New England’s) Drake Maye

  • Over 37.5 (115)
  • Under 37.5 (115)

Passing Yards

(New England’s) Drake Maye

  • Over/Under – 221.5 (115)

(Seattle’s) Sam Darnold

  • Over/Under – 229.5 (113)

Longest Rush

  • (New England’s) Drake Maye – 13.5 (120)
burger with lettuce and fries on brown wooden table
Photo by Eiliv Aceron on Unsplash

TIDBITES (sic) & (Chicken) NUGGETS: Ahh, the annual Lyons/Martin Super Bowl Menu. It’s not a game time decision, it’s an all day affair.

Breakfast

  • Fresh Whole Oranges, peeled and sliced into silver dollar sized bites
  • The World’s Greatest pitted Grapes (both red and green), cold and crunchy
  • Assorted Cereals, with Almond Milk or 1%
  • Fresh Everything Bagels, with Garden Veggie cream cheese, served toasted
  • Assorted Berries or Chocolate Chip Pancakes, served with Vermont Maple syrup
  • Tropicana Orange Juice, Cranberry Juice Cocktail
  • Freshly Brewed Coffee or Bigelow Tea (assorted flavors), served with 1/2 & 1/2

Lunch

  • Classic, well done Omaha Steak Cheeseburgers w/ Heinz ketchup and dill pickles
  • Crispy tater-Tots
  • Diet Cokes

Pre-Game Snacks

  • Veggies Crudite – Celery, Carrot sticks, sliced Multi-Color Peppers
  • Knorr’s Vegetable Soup Mix dip, sour cream
  • Pig in Blankets
  • BUFFs’ Chicken Wings (Medium, not too hot)
  • Cheeze Sticks (Trader Joe’s)

Game Time

  • White Chicken Chili
  • Taquitos
  • Hint of Lime Chips
  • Sam Adams American Light Beer
  • Diet Coke
  • Wine Spritzers
  • Olde Tyme Prezels (Dark and Regular)
  • Dry Roasted Planter’s Peanuts
  • Chips
  • Honoring Super Bowl stars of the past, famous GRONK-a MOLE w chips
  • A new dish will be: crispy bacon B.L.Ts with MAYE-O

Half Time

  • Clare’s Famous Meatball Subs
  • Artichoke Dip with Pita
  • Street Corn
  • Celery sticks
  • Blue Cheese Dressing
  • Combinations of Kalamata, Pitted Green, and Castelvetrano Olives, mixed with artichokes, feta, and marinated vegetables (a.k.a. Giardiniera)

Post Game or Anytime

  • Breyers Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
  • Coffee
  • 2019 Silver Oak: Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Josh Cellar, 2024: Pinot Grigio

PARTING WORDS & MUSIC: Two guys walk into an English pub near London 250 years from today. They want to toast what used to be The United States of America. “Yeah, they made it 250 years, but then, forget it,” says the older man. “Let’s not talk about that tonight,” says the younger lad. “I want to play some music. The Beatles or the Rolling Stones?”

“The Beatles,” says the older gentlemen.

“The Stones,” says the young lad.

“The Who,” shouts someone from the bar.

Obviously, the argument of the best rock band is endless, and there’s never a right answer.

“What’s your favorite color,” asked the Bridgekeeper in Monty Python’s Holy Grail?

“Red, no Blue.”

Arghhhh.

But if some sports historian two hundred and fifty years from now were to ask anyone, from any corner of the earth, “What was the best halftime act in NFL Super Bowl history?” There would be a chorus.

A chorus of “Prince.”

The stories of the legendary halftime show are endless, and they’ve taken on even more magnificence in the 269 fictitious years since Prince took the stage in the middle of a serious thunder/lightening storm in South Florida for my little story, here.

But, the point being: No one will ever top the halftime act performed by Prince at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

Bruce Springsteen was great. Others were fan-tastic. Some were controversial (Where were you when the term “Wardrobe Malfunction” was coined?

Today, to put the finishing touch on this Super Bowl LX collection of notes and quotes and quips and nuggets, I give you Prince.

Note: You will need to click-through to watch the show on the NFL Youtube channel. That’s the NFL’s rule because it’s their footage. It’s a MUST WATCH.

While We’re Young (Ideas) is a weekly (every weekend) collection of Sports Notes and News written by Terry Lyons. The posting of each notebook harkens back to the days when you’d walk over to the city news stand on Saturday night around 10:00pm to pick-up a copy of the Sunday papers. Inside, just waiting, was a compilation of interesting sports notes, quotes and quips in a column that always sold a few newspapers. Wire Service reports are utilized within the column. And, remember, PGA TOUR Brunch is On Sale.

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes – Brought to you by Digital Sports Desk.

Super Bowl LX: Weather

by

SANTA CLARA – (Wire Service Report) – A Bay-Area Super Bowl week serving up sun and comfortable conditions might offer something else on game day.

Temperatures are forecast to reach 67 degrees around kickoff at 3:30 PT at Levi’s Stadium with wind gusts up to 10 mph before dying down by late in the game.

An earlier chance of storms in the evening has been reduced to almost zero percent by Weather Underground and Accuweather modeling that two days ago indicated a potential thunderstorm during the gametime window.

Timing appears to be working in the NFL’s favor in the first outdoor Super Bowl in the past five years. The previous four were played in climate-control dome settings.

Next year’s Super Bowl is scheduled to move back indoors at SoFi Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers.

The league publicly considered the idea of moving the Super Bowl to Presidents Day weekend to offer some a holiday of sorts with many companies, schools and businesses closed on that Monday, what would be the day after the game. But the forecast from Weather Underground reveals the three-day plan might have been a Valentine’s weekend heartbreaker for the NFL with more than 1.5 inches of rain in the forecast next Saturday night (Feb. 14) through Monday afternoon.

– Field Level Media

Creighton Wins Big Comeback

by

OMAHA – (Staff Report from Official News Release) -Nik Graves’ late 3-pointer paced Creighton in comeback win; Villanova gets season-best 26 from Acaden Lewis in win at Georgetown; Jason Edwards returns to lead Providence with 25 points in win over DePaul; Marquette’s balanced offensive attack proves to be the difference in home win versus Butler.
Embed from Getty Images
Villanova 80, Georgetown 73 – Box Score 
Of Note:
Marquette 70, Butler 55 – Box Score
Of Note:
Providence 90, DePaul 72 – Box Score
Of Note:
Creighton 69, Seton Hall 68 – Box Score
Of Note:

St John’s Holds Court v. UConn

by

NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The most anticipated college basketball game of the 2025-26 season did not disappoint, as No. 22/22 St. John’s earned an 81-72 victory over No. 3/3 UConn in front of a sold out crowd at Madison Square Garden.  The win for the Red Storm extended their win streak to nine games, while the loss snapped the Huskies’ 18-game win streak, which began on Nov. 23.
Embed from Getty Images
St. John’s 81, UConn 72 – Box Score 
Of Note:

Patriots Had This Moment in Mind

by

SANTA CLARA – (Wire Service Report) – There’s more security than Patriots players around the Santa Clara hotel the team is staying at this week, one of the novel elements of the Super Bowl for New England players and staff making their maiden voyage on this eight-night sleepover.

Embed from Getty Images

Every player and coach — from the most identifiable in quarterback Drake Maye and head coach Mike Vrabel to 5-foot-10 face-in-the-crowd rookie wide receiver Efton Chism III — follows the mandate to wear a lanyard around his neck with his plastic 3×4-inch name tag fully displayed for security checks at every exit and entrance of the property. On Monday, for example, Maye had to flash his badge to uniformed officers to exit in the morning, return to the building, enter a meeting room, return to the lobby, exit for practice, return from practice, exit for In-N-Out Burger and return.

Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls with the Patriots as a player, made it a strict point to stress grace and being a polite Patriot when the team receives a request from support staff, security, equipment managers and janitors. It’s his new Patriot Way.

“Those little things that go a long way, do things right, and coach Vrabel is the best at it,” Maye said Thursday at 8 a.m. PT media before the team loaded buses to Stanford University for another full squad practice.

Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels were present when 24-year-old Tom Brady started Super Bowl XXXVI. Vrabel was 26. He started at outside linebacker with Tedy Bruschi and Roman Phifer with a mandate to corral Marshall Faulk and put Kurt Warner on his can to douse the “Greatest Show on Turf.”

Their unique perspective as observers of Brady’s ascension and active participants in the Patriots’ dynasty has been gold for Maye as he advances in the NFL’s ultimate treasure hunt for the Lombardi Trophy.

One example: McDaniels has stressed to Maye the competitive stamina required to play in a Super Bowl. The pace and cadence of daily and even hourly activities the task of winning a Super Bowl requires of the position. Brady did not participate in family events during the week as a matter of course if only briefly interacting with them when the team’s traveling party multiples to include spouses and children on Friday.

Brady and the Patriots beat the Rams, 20-17, riding the quarterback’s arm on the final possession. McDaniels was on a headset but Charlie Weis was offensive coordinator. When the Patriots saw their 17-3 lead dissolve and the game was tied with 1:37 on the clock, coaches discussed briefly playing it safe and going to overtime.

“They let the kid go out and rip it. I remember Drew (Bledsoe) saying (to Brady) ‘Just go out there and sling the ball. Play like you always have,’” McDaniels said. “And he did. Those are the types of situations the best players in football live for. Hopefully we have one of those in us if we need it on Sunday.”

Brady completed his first two passes — to running back J.R. Redmond — and hit him again between two incompletions to get the ball to the Patriots 40. The 23-yard connection to Troy Brown down the left sideline put Adam Vinatieri within range and a quick-hitter to tight end Jermaine Wiggins got him six yards closer to the 48-yard game winner.

McDaniels said he uses Brady on teaching tapes for quarterbacks and Maye has seen plenty of examples of execution in the four- and two-minute offense with No. 12’s play doing the teaching. Without directly comparing Brady and Maye, McDaniels knows there is at least one visible common trait the quarterbacks share.

“He wants to have the last shot. If you play quarterback in the National Football League, that’s probably one of the prerequisites, that you would like to have the ball in your hand at the end,” McDaniels said.

Numbers back up the idea of Maye rising to meet elevated pressure. Against the blitz, he had 16 touchdowns, one interception and a 115.8 passer rating. Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald noticed.

“The thing that makes Drake so dangerous is, in addition to the arm talent, the processing and the movement, he’s got a playmaking ability late in, late in, late in plays,” Macdonald said.

Vrabel sees flashes of Brady’s trademark competitiveness. Daily. From trying to be the first and last in the building to pickup basketball and everything in between, Maye has an obvious and trained refuse-to-lose mindset.

“Every 2-on-2 basketball game in the backyard prepared me for this. The joy of it but also the feeling you get of accomplishing beating my older brothers, compete at a high level,” Maye said. “Watching my older brothers (Cole, Beau and Luke), excel in sports wanting the ball at the end of the games. And always being the player that you felt like, knowing that if they play well, they’re going to win the games. That’s the position I’m in now.”

– Field Level Media

Patriots Meet Seahawks, Again

by

SANTA CLARA – Call it a comeback. And better make it two.

Super Bowl LX sets up as a repeat of two recent NFL championship teams colliding Sunday on the home field of another NFL champion, the San Francisco 49ers.

Embed from Getty Images

It’s a repeat of Super Bowl XLIX in February 2015 that swung from a Seattle Seahawks celebration to a confirmation of the New England Patriots’ dynasty when Malcolm Butler intercepted Russell Wilson pass at the goal line with 20 seconds left.

“It hasn’t come up one time,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said of the Super Bowl rematch.

Almost everything has changed on both sidelines in the decade since that game. Neither team was even in the playoff field last season.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft called a leadership audible and restored the championship standard in New England, placing three-time Super Bowl champion Mike Vrabel atop the organization pecking order, and the new head coach guided a stunning turnaround in 2025.

Vrabel, a former linebacker under Bill Belichick, has resurrected the franchise and partnered with the second-youngest Super Bowl starting quarterback ever, 23-year-old Drake Maye, to move New England to the doorstep of a league-record seventh Lombardi Trophy.

“The organization has set a standard,” Vrabel said. “The Patriots organization, Robert and Jonathan (Kraft), have set a standard for this organization that this is what the expectation is. We understand that, we embrace that.”

Seattle shifted from Pete Carroll at the end of the 2024 season, and longtime general manager John Schneider restocked in tandem with Macdonald, 38. The second-year coach and defensive-minded mad scientist won 14 games in the 2025 regular season, earning the top seed in the NFC with reclamation project Sam Darnold starring in the vast shadow of Seattle’s sledgehammer defense.

Darnold threw 25 touchdown passes in his first season with the Seahawks. He opposes Drake Maye, the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft, who produced numbers once expected of another famous Patriots passer with a fully stocked ring finger. Maye finished ahead of Darnold in most passing categories. He had 31 touchdown passes, 4,394 yards and a league-leading 113.5 passer rating with a pair of rookies starting on the left side of a fully revamped offensive line.

Maye has harped on running the ball, and Vrabel continues to preach balance in the long preamble to Super Bowl LX. But numbers could set up in Seattle’s favor.

The Seahawks have a streak of 28 consecutive games without allowing a 100-yard rusher and big plays are a pipe dream — only 15 plays of 20-plus yards — because of the speed and versatility of the back seven and the ability of Macdonald to generate pressure with his front four. They were stingy on first down and excelled on third down, when the crosshairs are largely centered on the pocket.

New England had allowed Maye to be sacked 15 times in the playoffs.

“We’ve got to stay connected,” Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said. “It’s kind of like synchronized swimming. If one of them is different than the other, you usually have a bad play. We’re going to be put to the test. They will twist and stunt, a really violent team.”

Seahawks defensive tackle Leonard Williams is a terror inside, and six Seattle defenders have at least 40 QB pressures. Williams leads the team with 65 followed by DeMarcus Lawrence with 58. While Seattle’s dynamic personnel and playmaking mix is getting headlines, the Seahawks were far from flawless in 2025. They allowed 27 points to the Rams in the NFC Championship Game and needed an offensive explosion to edge the same team 38-37 in the regular season.

McDaniels said he’s not afraid of leaning on his young players. He recalled being in the press box as an assistant coach in the 2001 season when a young Tom Brady made his Super Bowl debut and beat the St. Louis Rams.

“That was a great example of a young player being put in a situation where (coaches) could have let the game go to overtime,” Daniels said. “Those are the types of situations players live for. Drake has had to deal with those types of circumstances this season, and we’ve only gotten his best football.”

Maye registered 11 multiple-TD games in the 2025 regular season. He has taken only one loss since Sept. 21, compiling a 16-1 record since then. Maye leads the Darnold, 29, in career postseason wins, and their combined five playoff victories were all collected last month.

Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the league with 1,793 passing yards and was the target of 163 of Darnold’s 477 passes in the regular season. He logged 119 receptions and 10 touchdowns. Smith-Njigba had 10 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown in the NFC Championship Game. On film, Vrabel is still hunting for a major weakness.

“Sudden, savvy, competitive,” Vrabel said. “Really good play strength for his stature. He’s really good at contested catches. Good route craft and understanding in zone and man. Great body control.”

Maye insisted Wednesday his shoulder was fine after being limited last week. He was in Levi’s Stadium the last time it hosted the Super Bowl — February 2016, when the Denver Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers — and the Patriots played at San Francisco last season. He said the preparation for the Super Bowl is mostly a normal week with a bonus hotel stay and practice at a foreign facility. Ah, youngsters.

“It’s such a cool moment to be out here with the guys and the teammates,” Maye said. “A chance to enjoy the moment together. The emotions will be a little bit higher on game day.”

Vrabel’s Super Bowl experience has been a common talking point in the Patriots’ makeshift camp at the San Jose Marriott and Stanford University this week. Veteran defensive players such as cornerback Carlton Davis III (Tom Brady’s teammate for Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl win to cap the 2020 season) and defensive tackle Milton Williams (a winner with the Eagles 12 months ago) are helping keep younger players and newbies like 32-year-old wide receiver Stefon Diggs from emotional exhaustion with all of the pomp and circumstance on the Super Bowl periphery this week.

“His maturation process is second to none. One of the best I’ve ever seen from a quarterback position,” Diggs said of Maye’s calm. “He’s still super young, which is crazy. He’s had a lot of success, but as I have grown closer to him, I’m a huge fan of him. He’s like a mini inspiration. To be that young, be that mature and be able to play at a high level is something that I always wanted when I was a young player. I’m just happy to be a part of this thing.”

As expected with another defense-first head coach, Seattle also stresses the running game. Kenneth Walker III led the team with 1,027 rushing yards in the regular season, and he has added 178 yards and four touchdowns in two playoff games.

For the Patriots, Rhamondre Stevenson was second to rookie speedster TreVeyon Henderson in rushing in the regular season, but Stevenson climbed out of Vrabel’s doghouse — where he landed due to three fumbles — to lead the NFL in rushing in the playoffs with 194 yards on 51 carries.

“We’re always looking to find balance in our offense because you become more difficult to defend if the defense has to defend run-pass on every series in every situation,” McDaniels said.

The Patriots finished the season sixth in the NFL in rushing with 128.9 yards per game after ranking 31st the first month of the season. Maye has been a problem for front sevens in the playoffs because of his mobility. Seattle can use rookie safety Nick Emmanwori as a spy to keep Maye’s speed in check, but the Patriots know there are counters to that kind of chess move.

“There are weak spots in every coverage,” Maye said.

New England’s interior defensive line tandem of Milton Williams and Christian Barmore, self-described QB predators, present a hurdle for Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak finding a comfort zone for Darnold. Seattle rookie left guard Grey Zabel will be vital in making the mission possible.

“Me and him, we come in hungry. We’re like lions. We come to hunt,” Barmore said. “And the whole D-line. Our goal is to dominate every time we’re out there. It doesn’t matter who it is, another day to line up and kick ass.”

Darnold signed a three-year, $100.5 million deal with the Seahawks last March. He hasn’t played for the same team or play-caller since 2022, his second year with the Carolina Panthers, when Baker Mayfield was named the starter. Darnold, the third pick in the 2018 draft, is on his fifth team but playing his finest football. However, he led all quarterbacks in turnovers — six fumbles lost, 14 interceptions — opening the door to doubts about his performance this week.

Darnold said his oblique strain, an issue that crept up before the divisional playoffs, is vastly improved with the two-week break between conference title games and the Super Bowl. He said he is not in the mindset of proving anyone wrong by winning Sunday.

“All of the hard work and dedication leads to this moment,” Darnold said.

– Field Level Media

Celtics Acquire Vučević

by

BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official Team News Release) – In a pre-trade deadline deal this week, the Boston Celtics acquired center Nikola Vučević and a future second-round pick from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for guard Anfernee Simons and a 2026 second-round pick.

In 48 games (all starts) this season, Vučević (6’10”, 260) is averaging 16.9 points (50.5 FG%, 37.6 3FG%, 83.8 FT%), 9.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 30.8 minutes per game. The 35-year-old is the only player in the NBA this season with 400+ rebounds and 80+ 3-pointers and is just one of three centers this season averaging at least 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists (Jokic, Sengun).
In 1,020 career NBA games (956 starts) over 15 seasons with Philadelphia (2011-12), Orlando (2012-2020), and Chicago (2020-2026), the Montenegro native has averaged 17.2 points (49.8 FG%, 35.1 3FG%, 77.3 FT%), 10.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 31.4 minutes per game. Vučević is coming off the most efficient shooting season of his career, shooting a career-best 53.0 percent from the field in 2024-25 while shooting 40.2 percent from three-point distance, the second-highest mark of his career. Vučević has made 16 career playoff appearances (15 starts), averaging 18.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 32.3 minutes per game.
A two-time NBA All-Star (2019, 2021), Vučević is the only active NBA player with 10+ seasons averaging at least 10.0 rebounds per game. He is also the only player in NBA history with at least 2,500 offensive rebounds, 800 3-pointers, 800 steals, and 800 blocks. Recording at least 40 double-doubles in nine consecutive seasons, Vučević ranks second among active players in career double-doubles (578), trailing only LeBron James, and ranks fourth among active players in career rebounds (10,601).
Vučević was originally selected with the 16th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by Philadelphia after playing three seasons collegiately at USC (2008-11).