Key events
Stats
Maye has passed for 48 yards, Darnold for 88. Walker is basically the Super Bowl 60 offense with 94 yards. Seattle are a few key plays from Gonzalez and an overthrown ball by Darnold from blowing out the Pats, but yet, they’re only down 9-0.
I can’t wait to see what kind of adjustments Vrabel makes and how the Pats respond.
OK, I’m gonna go watch Bad Bunny, hit the head and eat something. See you when play resumes! Stick with us!
Seahawks 9-0 Patriots, end of half
Maye takes a knee and that will do it for the first half.
NBC grabs the coaches before they head to the break.
Vrabel:
“We have to do a much better job doing playing complimentary football…we missed too many tackles, we gave them too many edges.”
Macdonald:
“We’re doing a good job at taking care of the ball which is good, Sam’s doing a good job.”
There was more but I can’t type that fast. Basically they both think they need to do better. It’s a common theme amongst coaches.
FIELD GOAL Seahawks 9-0 Patriots, 0:11 2nd quarter
Darnold has time and has Smith-Njigba in the end zone but Gonzalez makes another amazing play at the last second to break it up! Wow! That’s potentially game-saving!
So here comes our old friend and MVP candidate Myers who slots the 41-yard field goal. It’s good. Huge two-score lead for Seattle.
Seahawks 6-0 Patriots, 0:21 2nd quarter
The call stands, the pass to Kupp was incomplete.
So Seattle can go for the end zone and take a shot, but I would not play around right now if I were Mike Macdonald. I would take the field goal and say thank you very much.
Timeout New England as they continue to ice Bad Bunny.
Seahawks 6-0 Patriots, 0:15 2nd quarter
Darnold from the shotgun, did he find Kupp for a short reception? No, he dropped it, but he almost caught it. Whatever, it’s better for Seattle that he dropped it because it stops the clock.
But they’re looking at it to review if it’s a catch or not.
Seahawks 6-0 Patriots, 0:23 2nd quarter
Darnold has time and has Kupp for seven yards to the 23. Seattle use their final timeout.
Seahawks 6-0 Patriots, 0:32 2nd quarter
Walker runs to his left, tries to wrap around, but it’s not there. Gain of one.
A field goal here for Seattle would be such a huge win.
Now Holani, the un-drafted running back, has a catch for six. So it’s 3rd & 2. The clock is running.
Holani is in on the play again and this time it’s a run up the middle – he’s got a first down after a five-yard gain!
Timeout Seattle on the New England 30. They have one left and 32 seconds to play with.
The Pats need to make a play.
Seahawks 6-0 Patriots, 2:00 2nd quarter
Darnold hits Kupp for seven yards over the middle, before Walker runs to his right for seven yards. And at least compared to New England’s offense, Seattle are The Greatest Show on Turf.
Two-minute warning – Seattle are at midfield when we come back.
Stat
The last three Super Bowls averaged 25 points in the first half. I told you folks to take the under! Scroll back, it’s there!
Email!
Kirkby is back:
“The stupidest stat ever….Seattle’s win percentage is at 75% and they are not even one score in front.”
Well, it is an odds-based thing, and New England can’t move the ball, so six points feels like a lot more right now, doesn’t it?
Seahawks 6-0 Patriots, 2:50 2nd quarter
On 2nd & 7 Maye is on the run! He moves to his right while being chased and throws it away.
So another big down coming up! But not before a flag! That’s right, a penalty, the first of the game. It’s a false start on the left tackle, Campbell, which means they’re a bit off balance. So it’s 3rd & 12 and Maye is airing it out! He’s seeking Hollins on the far right side, but it’s too long!
So another Pats punt after a single NE first down. Seattle will start at their own 43, good field position!
Seahawks 6-0 Patriots, 3:21 2nd quarter
A good timeout – Seattle had just 10 players on the field.
Now Maye will pass…incomplete! He was looking for Hollins up the middle.
So it’s another 3rd & long for the Pats. And get this! Maye finds Douglas on the right side, complete for a first down! Wow! That’s a nine-yard gain but it feels like 90! Ball is on the NE14.
Seahawks 6-0 Patriots, 4:21 2nd quarter
Bad Bunny is standing by, but first, can New England get out of the doghouse? They’re at their own two and Stevenson runs for about three yards, so that gives NE a bit of wiggle room.
Maye takes the snap on second down but Seattle take their first timeout. When we return, it’s 2nd & 7.
Email!
Rowan Sweeny says:
“I’m not sure who taught you how to play chess, but if smearing your stationary opponent into next week, then making them punt the most important piece 50m away features heavily, I’d love to watch your next game!”
That’s a good point, Rowan!
Seahawks 6-0 Patriots, 4:58 2nd quarter
Darnold from the shotgun, quick fire to Walker and it’s incomplete! So New England stop that little bit of Seattle momentum there with a timely spot.
That’s great news, except the punt is coffin-cornered perfectly by Dickson at the two!
New England will have their backs against their own end zone to start this drive!
Seahawks 6-0 Patriots, 5:15 2nd quarter
On 2nd & 6, Walker has the ball again and he gets a single yard. So it’s 3rd & 5 – big down coming up!
Seahawks 6-0 Patriots, 6:26 2nd quarter
On first down, Darnold is pushed out of the pocket before throwing incomplete in search of Walker on the near sideline.
On the other sideline, Darnold does hook up with Kupp! It’s an eight-yard gain – so it’s 3rd & 2.
Now he’s passing again and finds Walker after stepping out of trouble! A six-yard gain for a first down!
Is this a real drive? Ball at the NE 44.
Seahawks 6-0 Patriots, 8:00 2nd quarter
OK, here comes another drive and it begins with another healthy Walker run, this time for nine yards. He’s up to 85 this half.
On 2nd & 1, here comes Walker again, wight into the pack, up the middle, and he has just enough for the first down. The ball is at the Hawks 39.
Seahawks 6-0 Patriots, 9:16 2nd quarter
Stevenson takes the handoff up the middle for about three yards.
Then Maye from the shotgun is sacked by Mills! Maye kind of just stood there like a statue – I don’t think he thought there was much of a threat there, but there was!
3rd & 17 coming up and Diggs, who we haven’t heard from, runs for about five yards, so clearly Vrabel is more than happy to wait for his moment before pulling out his bag of tricks … or, like, a basic offense.
The punt is caught fairly by Shaheed at the 29.
If you like chess, you came to the right place.
Seahawks 6-0 Patriots, 11:16 2nd quarter
New England catches the kickoff in the end zone – they’ll start at the 35.
Email!
The legend Hunter Felt is here and he says:
“It’s been a bit but, uh, I remember football as being a tad more thrilling than this.”
Joke’s on you Hunter, it’s 6-0 now!
FIELD GOAL! Seahawks 6-0 Patriots, 11:16 2nd quarter
3rd & 12 coming up and the drive stalls after the Seahawks run! Why are they running? Because they don’t think they can pass! It’s conservative but Seattle are happy to take the points. Can you blame them? Myers is good from 39 out. Eight plays, 39 yards in 2:54.
Is Myers the MVP so far? I joke … maybe.
Seahawks 3-0 Patriots, 13:10 2nd quarter
Walker again, this time up the middle, wiggling through with even more space, and the running back has opened up the Pats some on this drive! That’s a gain of 29 more hard yards! Seattle is on the 19!
Seahawks 3-0 Patriots, 13:34 2nd quarter
Darnold airs it out! He’s looking for the streaking Shaheed, and he has a step on Gonzalez but the All-Pro bats it down, making a fantastic play to break it up! Wow!
Now Walker is running left and has room down the near sideline! That’s a 30-yard gain, the biggest of this game for Seattle, for anyone! Ball on the NE 46!
Seahawks 3-0 Patriots, 14:10 2nd quarter
OK, so this is a war, as Maye is nearly intercepted over the middle as the ball bounces off Henry and nearly into the hands of the Seahawks.
It’s 3rd & 5. It’s a draw play – Maye hands to Stevenson who goes absolutely nowhere.
The punt is caught fairly at the Seattle 22 where the Seahawks will begin.
Seahawks 3-0 Patriots, end of 1st quarter
Stevenson ends the quarter with a run up the middle for about five yards to the NE 37, bringing this defensive quarter to a close. It seems a miracle that Seattle got three points. Vrabel made his adjustments quickly and Seattle have failed to move the ball since their first drive.
Now, can the Pats get any kind of offense going?
Seahawks 3-0 Patriots, 0:19 1st quarter
Darnold throws before being hit, incomplete! Wow, that’s pressure from New England! He was looking for Smith-Njigba but how could he even see him? It’s 3rd and 15.
Now he’s looking for Smith-Njigba on the far sideline, and no dice – incomplete! Another drive is quashed!
Defense rules right now in Santa Clara.
Brown catches the punt, goes back, goes forward and falls at the 32. Here come the Pats again.
Seahawks 3-0 Patriots, 1:00 1st quarter
Darnold finds a streaking Barner on a slant to convert a 3rd and 8, spinning after the catch for a few extra yards. It’s a 12-yard catch, first down Seattle!
Seahawks 3-0 Patriots, 2:18 1st quarter
Walker pushes the pack for a short gain.
Now it’s 2nd and 8 – Walker runs to his left this time for another short gain and it’s 3rd and long coming up.
Seahawks 3-0 Patriots, 3:29 1st quarter
So the Pats pass the gut-check and get set for their second drive. Maye is in the pocket with time! He finds Boutte for a gain of 21! Don’t give that kid time, folks!
Now Henderson is running but he is wrapped up for a loss of four. Then Henderson makes a catch out of the backfield and is also wrapped up for a loss on the near sideline.
Add it all up and it’s 3rd and 15 … and Maye now has NO time to do anything! Witherspoon comes in on a corner blitz and takes him down!
That means another punt for the Patriots! That’s sack 17 of Maye in the playoffs. Ouch!
The punt is 52 yards and after a small return, Seattle will be back at it at their 13.
Seahawks 3-0 Patriots, 6:07 1st quarter
On 3rd & 6 New England are swarming Darnold! He avoids the sack but then Smith-Njigba is open! Darnold chucks it up but the ball sails over his head, incomplete! That would have been six for Seattle if he makes that catch. Instead, it’s three-and-out.
The punt is caught fairly on the Patriots 35, so decent field position to start for NE.
Seahawks 3-0 Patriots, 6:51 1st quarter
Good first down by NE, who nearly force Darnold into a mistake – a batted ball is almost intercepted as the QB ends the play on his back.
Big drive coming up
Credit the Seattle defense for making life uncomfortable for Maye and forcing the punt. Now if they can come back and get in the endzone, we will start to wonder about the Pats hanging on and keeping this game competitive.
That’s another way of saying this drive represents an early gut-check form New England.
Seahawks 3-0 Patriots, 7:11 1st quarter
On 1st & 10 Maye is under pressure! Hall has a Super Bowl sack, pushing the pats back 10 yards and back into their own territory.
But he comes right back and steps into the pocket and takes off! The Seahawks didn’t have to face that v LA. That’s an 11-yard run for the QB!
Now it’s 3rd & 9. Here comes the pass rush and Maye chucks it out of bounds. Seattle holds and New England punts!
The Seahwaks will start at their own 10-yard-line after a fair catch.
Seahawks 3-0 Patriots, 9:24 1st quarter
A pair of NE runs makes it 3rd & 2 – can Seattle hold? No! Stevenson has a catch for a first down! Love had a chance to make a play and halt the drive but the running back made his move and had just enough to earn a fresh set of downs.
