The look forward to Tremendous Bowl LX is lastly over. The Patriots and Seahawks will take the sector at Levi’s Stadium with the Lombardi Trophy on the road.
The Seahawks enter as 4.5-point favorites, however as Patriots followers know, something can occur in a Tremendous Bowl.
The Herald sports activities workers did their finest to foretell what is going to occur within the huge recreation, from selecting an X-factor to MVP and the ultimate rating. Right here’s what we expect may occur:
Andrew Callahan
X-Issue: Stress
Drake Maye has been a totally completely different quarterback underneath strain within the playoffs in comparison with the common season, when he would calmly escape, scramble or lengthen performs. If he can return to his regular-season kind, whereas the Patriots make Sam Darnold soften right into a puddle of strain, that is the Patriots’ recreation to win.
Daring Prediction: Maye throws to an O-lineman
Over the past two months, the Patriots have used a sixth offensive lineman greater than any staff within the NFL. However Josh McDaniels has but to name a play-action move for one among his jumbo blockers, like backup offensive deal with Thayer Munford or defensive tackle-turned-fullback Khyiris Tonga. That ends tonight.
MVP: Drake Maye
If the Patriots win, Maye must be the choose. He throws a pair landing passes, together with one within the fourth quarter, to seal a squeaker for the Pats.
Ultimate rating: Patriots 23-20
Mac Cerullo
X-Issue: Christian Gonzalez
Can the star cornerback shut down Jaxon Smith-Njigba? He’ll have a tall job retaining the high-powered Seahawks passing offense in verify.
Daring Prediction: Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers
The Patriots protection will come up huge once more, forcing at the least three Seattle turnovers.
MVP: Drake Maye
If the sport is shut and the Patriots have the ball late, anticipate Maye to make an enormous play to seal the deal.
Ultimate rating: Patriots 24, Seahawks 21
Steve Conroy
X-Issue: Drake Maye
The age of the anti-hero is lastly over. First Fernando Mendoza, now Drake Maye. Squares rule!
Daring Prediction: Defensive wrestle
Whereas the Patriots offense has been opportunistic within the playoffs, the protection has been dominant.
MVP: Milton Williams
Williams has been the guts of the Patriots protection and can paved the way in Tremendous Bowl LX.
Ultimate rating: Patriots 21, Seahawks 17
Zack Cox
X-Issue: Robert Spillane’s well being
The Patriots center linebacker and main tackler stated there’s no way he’s missing his first Tremendous Bowl. However will he be full-go after sitting out a number of practices with the ankle damage he suffered within the AFC title recreation? If not, that’s a significant blow to the Pats’ protection.
Daring Prediction: Sam Darnold’s regular-season turnover points resurface
Amid heavy strain from Milton Williams, Christian Barmore and the remainder of New England’s move rush, Darnold will revert to his turnover methods. Not fairly to “seeing ghosts” ranges, however sufficient to restrict a Seattle offense that’s scored 72 factors via two playoff video games.
MVP: Jaxon Smith-Njigba
As gifted as Christian Gonzalez is, there’s no more durable cowl within the NFL than Smith-Njigba. The Patriots will make containing Seattle’s celebrity wideout a precedence, however he makes sufficient performs to steer the Seahawks to a slender win.
Ultimate rating: Seahawks 23, Patriots 20
Greg Dudek
X-Issue: Mack Hollins
Hollins, who caught 46 passes for 550 yards with two touchdowns within the common season, is a trusted goal for Maye and needs to be as wholesome as he’s been shortly after lacking the beginning of the postseason attributable to an stomach damage.
Daring Prediction: TreVeyon Henderson breaks huge run
The rookie performed simply 4 snaps within the AFC title recreation, however has the potential to burst via a gap at any second. He has 4 50-plus-yard runs on the season and can make it 5 Sunday.
MVP: Drake Maye
Whereas I anticipate a lower-scoring recreation, the MVP goes to the quarterback a majority of time. So, right here you go Drake Maye. He might need a pair errors, however will make one or two signature performs to take residence the {hardware}.
Ultimate Rating: Patriots 20, Seahawks 17
Doug Kyed
X-Issue: Christian Gonzalez
I don’t suppose Gonzalez shadows wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, as a result of the Seahawks transfer him across the formation an excessive amount of. However Gonzalez does must lock his aspect of the sector down and forestall Seahawks QB Sam Darnold from discovering anybody else within the offense.
Daring Prediction: The Patriots pull out a trick play early within the recreation
Josh McDaniels loves getting in his bag early. Count on the Patriots to come back out with one thing you haven’t seen this season.
MVP: Drake Maye
Maye has to play higher than he’s carried out this postseason run. Maye was an MVP candidate for a purpose, and if he may be as environment friendly and explosive as he was in the course of the common season, then the Patriots can win this recreation.
Ultimate rating: Patriots 24, Seahawks 23
Jack Murray
X-Issue: Milton Williams
The free agent signing has been an enormous issue within the trenches and instructions lots of consideration from opposing offensive traces. His presence permits different gamers from the protection to get alternatives, and his expertise on this stage final 12 months ought to assist him.
Daring Prediction: Offensive line advantages from relaxation
The offensive line, whereas general improved this 12 months, has had its struggles within the postseason. Nevertheless, a bye week ought to have allowed a while for relaxation and restoration and the finality side of the Tremendous Bowl ought to permit the unit to empty the tank and have its finest recreation of the season.
MVP: Drake Maye
If the Patriots win, it’s unlikely that the second-year quarterback doesn’t have his finest recreation of the postseason. Additionally, the MVP has been the successful quarterback for seven of the final 9 Tremendous Bowls, so Maye and Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold needs to be the favorites primarily based on historical past.
Ultimate Rating: Patriots 31, Seahawks 28
Barry Scanlon
X-Issue: Kenneth Walker III
With Milton Williams again wholesome and Christian Barmore taking part in at a excessive degree, the Patriots have been tough to run on. However search for Seattle to pound the ball with Walker, who runs haaaard.
Daring Prediction: Security dance
With two defenses taking part in at a excessive degree, search for one among them to report a security.
MVP: Jaxon Smith-Njigba
It doesn’t matter whether or not it’s Sam Darnold or Sam Malone from “Cheers” throwing the ball for Seattle. This man catches every part. Smith-Njigba will catch at the least one TD move and go effectively over the 100-yard mark.
Ultimate rating: Seahawks 26, Patriots 19
Gabrielle Starr
X-Issue: Ok’Lavon Chaisson
The Patriots protection has been criminally underrated all season and Chaisson has been very efficient in his function, however isn’t getting talked about sufficient.
Daring Prediction: Drake Maye is the Patriots’ main rusher
The Seahawks might have a fantastic run protection, which can maintain up TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson, however thus far no staff has proven they’ll cease Maye from altering the sport together with his legs.
MVP: Christian Gonzalez
Gonzalez is a difference-maker and I’m not completely bought on Sam Darnold on this spot, which may result in interceptions.
