A casual fan's guide to another Patriots Super Bowl
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The Pats face the Seahawks on Sunday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. Photo: Don Juan Moore/Getty Images
What was once something like an annual tradition returns this weekend: The Patriots are in the Super Bowl.
Why it matters: For Pats die-hards, this means everything — the start of a new era of title contention, the potential coronation of a new franchise quarterback and a shot at history.
Yes, but: Casual Bostonian observers would be forgiven for having questions. For example: This again? And: Already?
Don't worry. Here's a guide to the big game, in case any normies reading this get swept up in a blue-and-red maelstrom on Sunday.
State of play: The Patriots face the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium, the Santa Clara-based home of the San Francisco 49ers.
- 📺 6:30pm Sunday on NBC and the Peacock app.
- The Seahawks are favored by 4.5 points.
How we got here: A year ago, the Patriots were adrift.
- The Pats were coming off a 4-13 record that led to the firing of head coach Jerod Mayo after a single season.
- His replacement, former Pats linebacker Mike Vrabel, was a revelation this season, leading a young, talented roster to a 14-3 record. Three playoff wins later, here we are.
Guys to know: First and foremost, Drake Maye. The Patriots' QB, only in his second year, made the superstar leap this year.
- On offense, Maye relies on a solid run game led by the running back tandem of veteran Rhamondre Stevenson and rookie TreVeyon Henderson.
- Cornerback Christian Gonzalez and defensive ends Milton Williams and Christian Barmore will seek to slow down Seattle's offense.
Know your enemy: Speaking of the Seahawks, they enter the game with the NFL's top-rated defense by many metrics.
- The explosive offense is led by quarterback Sam Darnold and receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
The intrigue: Darnold was once the quarterback for the Jets, a division rival of New England's, and has a history of struggling against the Patriots.
- In a lopsided 2019 loss to the Pats, Darnold famously was recorded saying he was "seeing ghosts" against New England's defense.
Fun facts: Deploy these as needed to enhance your cred at any Super Bowl gatherings:
- The Patriots can become the first team in league history to win seven Super Bowls.
- Maye will be the second-youngest QB to start a Super Bowl and would be the youngest to win it. He'd also be the first since Brady to win his first four career playoff starts.
- Vrabel can become the fifth person ever to win a Super Bowl as both a player and a head coach. (He won three with the Pats as a player.)
- The Seahawks are seeking revenge for Super Bowl XLIX in 2015. Seattle was on the cusp of a game-winning touchdown late, only to be foiled by a Patriots interception.
The bottom line: Win or lose, the Patriots are back at the pinnacle of sports. Get yourself a Maye jersey and join the crowd.