WE'LL HAVE A LOOK: The Patriots don’t have much familiarity with the Seahawks — they last met in Week 2 of the 2024 season, but none of the Patriots’ current coaches were on staff. Ben Volin took a closer look at what to expect from the Seahawks once the Super Bowl kicks off.
NO CONTEST: The Patriots have been the region’s best local sports franchise this century, and it’s not even close, writes Dan Shaughnessy.
BOBO MANIA: Seattle's Jake Bobo, a relatively little-used wide receiver and a North Andover native, thrust himself into football’s biggest spotlight with a crucial touchdown in the NFC Championship. Tara Sullivan has more on Bobo, now facing his hometown team in the Super Bowl.
NFL HONORS: Mike Vrabel added some hardware to his collection, taking home the Coach of the Year award Thursday night at the annual NFL Honors ceremony. ... Adam Vinatieri was
elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his second year of eligibility. ... Josh McDaniels
won the NFL’s assistant of the year award after his masterful offensive turnaround of the Patriots.
NO MVP FOR MAYE: The Rams’ Matthew Stafford won his first NFL Most Valuable Player award by the thinnest of margins, denying the Patriots’ Drake Maye a place in the rare company of second-year quarterbacks to win the league’s highest individual honor.
FUELING THE FIRE: Heading into the Super Bowl, the Patriots are fueling up on equal helpings of “they hate us cuz they ain’t us” and “nobody thought we could do it.” Read more in Dan Shaughnessy's latest column.
FEELING GOOD: Quarterback Drake Maye continued to preach positivity when it came to his right shoulder. Asked Thursday how he was feeling and his level of excitement, Maye said he’s trending in the right direction. Christopher Price has more in the notebook.
BEST OF THE BEST: We asked Patriots players and coaches for their favorite Maye passes of the season. Here are their top five.
HALFTIME SHOW: In Bad Bunny, the NFL sees a bridge to its ever-growing desire to become the singular sporting force on earth. Despite predictable political blowback for the choice, commissioner Roger Goodell’s eyes are cast beyond American politics, writes Tara Sullivan.
ROUGH TIMING: New England’s Olympians have a huge problem: In Italy, the Super Bowl kicks off way too late. Here's how the locals on Team USA are coping with the time difference.
TUNE IN: On the latest episode of Boston Globe Sports Report,
Christopher Price gives Ben Volin his assessment of the Super Bowl quarterbacks and coaches: Maye and Sam Darnold, and Vrabel and Mike Macdonald.
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