I never thought I’d find myself in favor of a New England Patriots Super Bowl win, but this season has made it hard to ignore what this team has become.
I grew up with all the kids in elementary and middle school jumping on the Patriots’ bandwagon when Tom Brady was leading the team through their prime. As a loyal Denver Broncos fan, I always hated everyone’s favoritism towards New England.
Even after they beat my home team this past weekend, it’s easy to see that this is a completely new team.
I think the combination of quarterback Drake Maye, a top-ranked defense, and a few star players sprinkled in could be a recipe for their first Super Bowl win since the Tom Brady Patriots in 2019, when they beat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3.
The New England Patriots are one of two teams with the most Super Bowl wins in the NFL and I think they are going to do it again.
Under the leadership of head coach Mike Vrabel, the Patriots ended the regular season with a record of 14-3 and did not lose a single game on the road.
This trend continued into the AFC Championship Game where they defeated the Broncos in their home stadium, Empower Field at Mile High.
Beyond their ability to play on the road, the win against the Broncos also highlighted the Patriots’ stellar defense. The team ranked eighth in defense during the regular season, allowing 295.2 yards per game.
New England’s main advantage is its MVP finalist quarterback. Maye is the second-youngest quarterback to play in a Super Bowl, according to an article published by NBC Sports and his stats reflect why he’s an MVP candidate.
Maye leads the NFL with a 72% completion percentage during the regular season, according to a CBS Sports webpage.
Maye also became the youngest player ever to lead the NFL in that statistic and broke Brady’s previous completion percentage franchise record, according to the same source.
Combined with his accuracy on deep passes, the Patriots’ passing game will challenge Seattle’s defense, known for being strong against the run. Defensively, the Patriots have proven that they can hold off high-level offenses.
I think this balance between a strong defense and an efficient passing offense will be what decides the game.
Still, the Patriots have a depth that goes way beyond Maye. Even when he hasn’t played at his best, the rest of the team has secured important wins.
It’s no secret Maye has struggled at times during the postseason. But in the most important game of his life, I have no doubt that he will show up.
New England has more “X-Factor” players than Seattle. With players like wide receiver Kayshon Boutte who leads the team in receiving yards in the postseason, they have many options for star players who can change the game on Feb. 8.
And if wide receiver Stefon Diggs can return to his old form — as veterans often do for the Super Bowl — he could give the Patriots another advantage when they need it most.
Veterans often find another gear when it matters most. Brady proved this at 43, when he led Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl LV win after an uncertain season.
In the Super Bowl, teams have to embrace doubt rather than fear it. Although it’s true the Seattle Seahawks are favored over the Patriots by 4.5 points, according to an article published by ESPN, New England has proven that they can work through tough conditions. Underdogs are 4-1 in the past five Super Bowls, according to an ESPN betting webpage.
With expectations stacked against them, the Patriots are in a position to add another underdog win.
Just this weekend in Denver, they played a game that started in the sunshine and ended with horrible visibility and freezing temperatures, showcasing their strength against adversities.
They ran against wind and into the snow in the last quarter and still managed to secure their Super Bowl LX spot.
Unlike the conditions they faced in Denver, the Super Bowl setting could work in New England’s favor.
Speaking from experience, Northern California is a much nicer place to be than Denver this time of year.
In comparison to their last game, Super Bowl LX should be a much clearer field, allowing them to focus solely on the game in front of them.
This Super Bowl feels extra meaningful because of the journey of Coach Vrabel. Vrabel has a chance to be one of only four coaches that have won Super Bowls as both coaches and players, according to an article published by BetMGM.
This would be a remarkable accomplishment, considering it is his first year as the Patriots’ head coach after being fired from the Titans last season.
He was playing for the Patriots when they went on a three-year run in Super Bowl wins in 2001, 2003 and 2004, according to the New England Patriots webpage.
Over 20 years later, he gets to take the same franchise to the Super Bowl as their coach.
As Vrabel represents the history of the team, Maye represents their future.
This is the second Super Bowl Maye will be attending in Santa Clara, as he was in attendance during Super Bowl 50 when he was in 7th grade.
I love to imagine that little boy grinning at the idea that he’d be back in Santa Clara playing in the Super Bowl a decade later. Call me sentimental, but the stories behind the game are what make the Super Bowl so enjoyable to watch.
So while not many NFL experts are expecting a Patriots win, I think that this is the year where they return to their prime and secure the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
