I believe the consensus (and I think there's a consensus) that this will be a low-scoring affair. The Seahawks' Defense is elite, probably an all-time unit, while the Patriots apparently are rounding into form. New England, according to writers breaking this team down, are rounding into form on Offense as well, but I still am skeptical because of two reasons: Drake Maye is in just his second Year as a pro, and the left side of the Pats' Offensive Line (in particular Left Tackle Will Campbell) appears to be the biggest liability of any unit or sub-unit in the Super Bowl. (I still believe that New England's easy schedule in the Regular Season is indicative that they've been lucky to get this far, but analytics people, using recency bias, shows that they have played well in the playoffs, where obviously the teams are all good, so maybe I should drop that).
And yet, and this might be my Vikings fandom talking, I don't know if Sam Darnold is going to have a good game. The interior of the Seahawks' Offensive Line is somewhat suspect as well (in particular Right Guard Anthony Bradford), and the Patriots probably will find a way to exploit that and make Darnold look vulnerable. Finally, New England Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels is a mastermind, and given two Weeks to engineer a game plan, I have to believe he's going to get his Offense going and scoring. How much? I don't know.
With all that being said, I have super-specific predictions I am obligated to give:
1) Darnold won't have a good Game. He'll throw for, oh, 225 Yards, even though he will score two Touchdowns -- one to Jaxson Smith-Njigba, one to ... you know, I'm going to pass up first-string Tight End A. J. Barner and say that backup TE Elijah Arroyo receives the other TD.
2) I am not sure if Seattle will rely on its run Game, even though the Offense is predicated on it. The injury to Zach Charbonnet might drag down the Seahawks' Offense. Still, I think Seattle will rush for 75 Yards.
3) As much as I think the Patriots will try and double him, I think Jaxson Smith-Njigba has a productive night. He'll catch for over 100 Yards and get that Touchdown, and those statistics will pop in what I think will be a cagey affair.
4) Over on the other side, I raise one final wrinkle that makes me lean in one direction: Drake Maye is working with a hurt throwing shoulder. He's off the injury report for Super Bowl LX, but I still think it's going to be an issue. He'll throw an Interception. He will also throw for 250 Yards and throw for one Touchdown.
5) I also think New England relies on its running Game. The Seahawks "Dark Side" Defense has been so good because they have been able to rush the Quarterback without committing more than four players, thus giving them plenty of tacklers in the back in case an offensive player gets loose. To counter that, and to give Maye time to grow into the Game, McDaniels will have the Patriots running the ball. And I think they'll have some success: 100 Yards and a Touchdown by TreVeyon Henderson.
6) This will be a tight affair. In fact, it could be a slog, especially in the First Half. Both Offenses have feasted on the big play, and so both Ds will do their damndest to prevent that from happening. Expect a lot of runs and checkdowns, on both sides. And still, most likely when it comes to third-and-longs, both Defenses will get to both Darnold and Maye. I expect, in total, ten Sacks.
7) I also expect that because of fatigue and the desperation to win the Game, things will open up. There will be way more Yards gained in the Second Half than in the First. Logic dictates that there will be more Points scored after Halftime, too. But what I will say the pivot point of the Super Bowl is an Interception thrown by ... Drake Maye, and it'll be returned all the way for a Touchdown. That will happen at some point in the Second Half.
That's all I got. I was hoping to read more breakdowns of the Super Bowl, and I really want to be an aficionado, but I couldn't get through Bill Barnwell's behemoth on ESPN.com, and I stopped halfway through. Like I said, I'm busy. But if you have time, read it. The Xs and Os are wonderful.
But, with the information I can process now, my prediction for Super Bowl LX is: Seattle 24, New England 19. If I were a betting man, I would wager on the Under of 45 1/2. (I have seen Seattle -4 1/2 pretty much since both teams won their Championship Games.) Smith-Njigba wins MVP. And the football team of a city I really like gets its second football title.
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