On Super Bowl Sunday I hereby grant Gridiron absolution

[True Dough]

3. The way I see it:

The Patriots have a good defense, but Seattle's is better.

Neither Darnold nor Maye has ever been to a Super Bowl before. I think Maye has the higher ceiling for his career, but Darnold has more experience at this point, so the edge to Darnold, IMO.

Related to that last point, I'd give the Seahawks the nod for the better receiving corps. Jaxson Smith-Njigba is, without a doubt, the best receiver on the field today, arguably the best in the league.

When it comes to the running game, you'd have to rank New England ahead with the Stevenson/Henderson tandem. Seattle lost Charbonnet to injury, so the load is essentially all on Kenneth Walker.

Both teams have average special teams. That's a draw.

Finally, coaching. Mike MacDonald sure looks like he's going to be very good, possibly great. He has two seasons under his belt as a head coach, both in Seattle. He's led them to a combined 24-10 regular season record.

Mike Vrabel is an NFL veteran with three Super Bowl rings from his days with the Patriots. He had some good seasons as the head coach in Tennessee and some "meh" seasons. The amazing turnaround for New England is partly owing to him (and partly to having an easy strength of schedule, to be fair). But, by all accounts, Vrabel is a master of game management and finding ways to exploit every situation. So I'd favor the Pats in the coaching department at this juncture.

Bottom line: I think it will be Seattle's day.

Seahaws 23, Patriots 17