Tremendous Bowl 2026 preview, prediction, what to observe for
An inside take a look at the Patriots-Seahawks Tremendous Bowl 2026 battle in Santa Clara, Calif. on Sunday evening:
Marquee matchup
Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba vs. Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez
In coaching camp, that is referred to as “good on good.’’
Gonzalez is among the many handful of the most effective cowl corners within the league, and Smith-Njigba rose to prominence this season, with 117 receptions (fourth-highest within the league), an NFL-high 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Will Gonzalez journey throughout the sector to stay with Smith-Njigba?
He lined up on the suitable aspect 72 p.c of the time this season, although when the Patriots confronted the Buccaneers he did journey with Emeka Egbuka.
The Rams within the NFC title recreation couldn’t decelerate Smith-Njigba — 153 receiving yards and one TD. Gonzalez provides the Pats an opportunity to at the least maintain him in examine, considerably. “He can do all the pieces,’’ Gonzalez mentioned, “He’s wonderful.’’
4 downs
Sam I’m: Sam Darnold’s rise from struggling younger quarterback to the Comeback Child is exceptional, and if he completes the mission with a Tremendous Bowl victory, extra energy to him.
What can’t be ignored is that he stays a turnover-prone participant.
His turnover-worthy play price of seven.2 p.c was the worst amongst all beginning quarterbacks, in response to Subsequent Gen Stats.
He threw 14 interceptions and misplaced six fumbles for an NFL-high 20 turnovers.
Holding onto the ball and accepting a sack is preferable than handing it over to a Patriots protection that intercepted C.J. Stroud 4 instances within the divisional spherical.
“All people, when you get a pair hits on the quarterback and assault them in as some ways as attainable, all quarterbacks are going to be pissed off with that and discover a approach to put themselves within the hunch,’’ Patriots edge rusher Okay’Lavon Chaisson mentioned.
Massive play alert: The quarterbacks on this recreation ranked within the high 5 throughout the common season in completion share, landing to interception ratio and yards per try on passes 20 or extra yards downfield.
Darnold and Drake Maye can each fling it. However they are going to be going in opposition to two of the most effective defenses, by way of stopping deep passes from reaching the top zone.
The Seahawks allowed only one landing, and the Patriots gave up simply two touchdowns on passes 20 or extra yards downfield. Which of those tendencies wins out?
Onerous to defend: Probably the most dominant unit on this recreation is the Seattle protection, which allowed the fewest factors within the NFL this season, helped alongside by two former Giants, Leonard Williams and Julian Love.
“I might say that is essentially the most full protection and essentially the most full workforce I’ve been part of,’’ Williams mentioned. “Our protection isn’t just good on all three ranges, we have now depth on all three ranges.’’
One caveat: The Seahawks will not be all the time nice within the tackling division. They missed 162 tackles this season — Twelfth-most of any protection, in response to Professional Soccer Focus, with 102 of these misses coming in opposition to the move.
Maye day: When all else fails, run. That’s not precisely the Patriots Method, but when it really works, why not?
Maye within the AFC Championship recreation got here up with a fake-handoff bootleg run on third-and-5 to choose up a primary down and deal the deal in a 10-7 victory over the Broncos.
He led the league in scrambles for first downs (27) and was third in whole scramble yards (432) within the common season. He’s run it practically seven instances a recreation since Week 15.
If the mighty Seahawks protection has a weak spot, it’s containing opposing quarterbacks, who averaged 5.3 dashing yards per recreation, fourth-most within the league.
Paul’s decide: Seahawks 23, Patriots 19
