By John Sapochetti NEFJ Contributor As we approach Super Bowl LX, let’s take a look at some oddities that have occurred in the previous 59 “BIG GAMES.” Patriots quarterback, Drake Maye is the first North Carolina quarterback to start a Super Bowl. Meanwhile, Seattle quarterback, Sam Darnold is the first USC quarterback to start a Super Bowl. That one is hard to believe. Both Maye and Darnold were the third…
SANTA CLARA– The Patriots are looking to win their franchise record seventh Super Bowl. It will not be easy as they face a Seahawks team that is talented in all three phases and has been the best team in the NFL arguably this season. If the Patriots win this game, they would have earned it. Here are five storylines to keep an eye on that will impact the outcome of…
Mark Konezny-Imagn Images SANTA CLARA- It is never too early to start thinking about next season which starts on Monday after the Super Bowl. Despite a historic 2025 offseason where the New England Patriots redefined aggressive spending, the franchise is set to enter the 2026 league year in an enviable financial position. Last year, the front office shattered records by leading the NFL with over $209 million in guaranteed money…
Courtesy of the New England Patriots PALO ALTO- The Patriots shifted their Super Bowl LX preparations to the West Coast, conducting high-intensity sessions at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto. The most encouraging development for the team is the health of second-year quarterback Drake Maye. Despite a right shoulder injury sustained in the AFC Championship, Maye was a full participant in both Wednesday and Thursday’s practices, taking all first-team reps. During…
Greg Cooper/AP Photo SANTA CLARA- Preparation for the Super Bowl requires a delicate balance between early installation and maintaining a sharp mental edge. While the Patriots successfully integrated the bulk of its game plan during last week’s practices in Foxborough, head coach Mike Vrabel revealed that the coaching staff intentionally withheld specific strategic elements for their arrival in the Bay Area. By saving fresh information for their meetings and practices…
Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images Cover 6 talk was all the rage on Tuesday as internet coaches across X tried to debunk its effectiveness against Drake Maye and how to beat it. Well, I am here to tell you that it is not that hard to attack and it is far from Maye’s kryptonite. Cover 6 is a combination coverage in which the weak side of the coverage call is Cover 2…
Gareth Patterson/AP SANTA CLARA- To many in New England, the idea of Tom Brady not waving a “Patriots” foam finger during Super Bowl LX feels like a personal betrayal. After twenty years, six rings, and the recent unveiling of a seventeen-foot bronze statue at Gillette Stadium, fans naturally expected Brady to be the franchise’s “Supporter-in-Chief.” However, Brady’s recent “no dog in the fight” comments regarding the Patriots, Seahawks matchup shouldn’t…
File Photo SANTA CLARA- The steps of the Pro Football Hall of Fame will remain just out of reach for Robert Kraft for at least another year. Despite a resume that includes six Super Bowl championships and the transformation of the New England Patriots from a struggling franchise into billion-dollar franchise, reports surfaced on Tuesday confirming that the 84-year-old owner did not receive the necessary votes for induction in the…
Kyle Terada-Imagn Images SANTA CLARA- Drake Maye provided a reassuring update on the right shoulder injury that had limited him in practices the previous week. Speaking at Super Bowl Opening Night last night, Maye said that the cross-country trip and the change in environment marked a significant turning point in his recovery. “I think I turned a corner landing on the flight,” Maye told reporters, noting that the rest and…
The Patriots have been one of the most aggressive defenses in the playoffs and I would expect that to continue this week. If they want to win this game, they are going to need to blitz Sam Darnold, early and often. Not only do they need to pressure him, but they need to be willing to bring 5, 6 and 7 man pressures on a consistent basis. Mike Vrabel and…