Super Bowl Preview LIVE From San Francisco

·48 min·4 clips

The Seahawks are scaling back their game plan to make it simpler, showing supreme confidence ahead of the Super Bowl.

This episode is a live Super Bowl preview recorded in San Francisco, featuring MMQB hosts Connor Orr and Albert Breer. They analyze the upcoming championship game between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. Orr and Breer discuss the Seahawks' calm confidence, comparing their vibe to the franchise's Super Bowl-winning team from twelve years prior. Seattle's coaches have scaled back their game plan for simplicity, relying on a defensive line without "mercenaries" that can confuse offenses. The hosts credit Seattle's drafting, citing young stars like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Charles Cross, Byron Murphy II, and Devon Witherspoon. Veteran acquisitions like Sam Darnold, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Leonard Williams have also been hits. Breer initially picked the Patriots to lose every playoff round but now predicts a close, three-point game. He sees a parallel between these Patriots and the 2001 team, which was more talented than perceived at the time. New England's path to victory involves "muddying the game up" by stopping the run and controlling the line of scrimmage. Patriots defensive tackle Milton Williams is named as a potential MVP if New England wins. The hosts highlight how Seattle's defensive coordinator, Mike Macdonald, crafts bespoke pass-rush plans by studying offensive linemen's splits and stances. A key matchup will be Seattle's rush against New England's rookie left-side offensive linemen, Will Campbell and Jarrett Wilson. An intriguing tactical nugget reveals the Patriots are experimenting with how early Drake Maye puts his hands under center to counter Seattle's defensive tells. The Patriots even studied crowd noise levels from the last Patriots-Seahawks Super Bowl. The hosts suggest Seattle may test New England's safeties deep early, targeting speedy receiver Shaheed. The tone is conversational and analytical, blending insider anecdotes with strategic football breakdowns. NFL fans who enjoy Xs and Os analysis and behind-the-scenes reporting will love this episode. Listeners seeking pure entertainment or narrative drama might find it too technical.

As heard by us

A loose Super Bowl-week conversation that folds travel chatter and halftime history into football context.

This episode is a loose Super Bowl week hangout, and the appeal comes from the friction between the travel chatter and the media-night circus.

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Why you'd press play

For when you want Super Bowl week with the side conversations intact.

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