ESPN 103.7 Lafayette and 104.1 Lake Charles staffers Dawson Eiserloh, James Meche, Blake Purser, Raymond Partsch III, Kevin Foote and Jordy Hultberg have provided their thoughts and predictions for Sunday’s big game in Santa Clara, California.
Here is what the fellas of Southwest Louisiana Sports Station had to say about Super Bowl LX.
WHO IS THE KEY PLAYER FOR SEATTLE?
EISERLOH: SAM DARNOLD
“The key player for Seattle is Sam Darnold. When you look at this Seahawks postseason run, Darnold has been the engine, specifically in the NFC Championship game when he was forced to make big plays to outduel Matthew Stafford and the Rams. It feels like Darnold will need to be the difference again in this Super Bowl.”
MECHE: JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA
“The best player to step onto that field in Levi’s Stadium on Super Bowl Sunday will be Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The level he has reached in his third year is so impressive, going from being predominantly a slot receiver to a player who can line up all over the field. Seattle gets so creative with him, even lining him up or motioning him into the back field to create mismatches, which will put stress on New England’s defense and make it difficult for their cornerbacks to properly cover a receiver who has been practically impossible to cover this season.”
PURSER: KENNETH WALKER III
“Since Zach Charbonnet went down in the divisional round, Walker has picked up the slack and been excellent this postseason. He’s also the only RB on the Seahawks that is not signed for next season, so he’s playing for much more than a Super Bowl; he’s auditioning to either be re-signed by Seattle or be a coveted name in free agency this offseason. With 256 all-purpose yards, 4 rushing TDs this postseason, and in a Klint Kubiak offense, he’ll be used in multiple ways to dissect the Patriots defense and keep them guessing.”
PARTSCH: SAM DARNOLD
“The story of Darnold going from being a first-round bust to backup QB to now a starter in the Super Bowl is compelling. Not to mention, Darnold has played some of his football this season, but he remains a turnover-prone QB. He had 14 interceptions and six lost fumbles in the regular season. If he can play mistake-free football — as he has done in the playoffs, the Seahawks should come out victorius. If he doesn’t then it could be the Pats hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.”
FOOTE: KENNETH WALKER III
“He’s been up and down all season. Seattle only ran it for 2.9 yards a carry against the Rams after running it with great success against 49ers. Need to a good complement to the passing game.”
HULTBERG: SAM DARNOLD
“If he plays like he did in NFC title game, Seahawks win big on Sunday.”
WHO IS THE KEY PLAYER FOR NEW ENGLAND?
EISERLOH: RHAMONDRE STEVENSON
“The key player for New England is Rhamondre Stevenson. This Patriots team made it clear who the running back they trust the most is. Stevenson received 25 carries in the AFC title game to just three for TreVeyon Henderson. If the running game gets going, this Patriots offense can start to click. That will revolve around Stevenson.”
MECHE: MILTON WILLIAMS
“For this question, I’m going with Milton Williams. The big free agency signing for the Patriots helped that defense rank sixth in the NFL in total run defense in the regular season and further elevated them to allow just 71.3 yards per game on the ground through three playoff games. Williams’ impact should slow down Seattle’s inside run game and force them to call plays outside the tackles and open up extra opportunities for guys such as Harold Landry III and K’Lavon Chaisson to make plays.”
PURSER: DRAKE MAYE
“He is the New England offense; he can hurt you in multiple ways, and he’s shown that against tough defenses and tough conditions, he does what he needs to do to put his team in a position to win. He can light up the stat sheet, but his football IQ and decision-making have been the difference-maker for New England all season.”
PARTSCH: WILL CAMPBELL
“The former LSU star began struggling in the back half of the season as a rookie starting left tackle along New England’s offensive line. The Patriots took the former Tiger in the Top 10 to solidify the offensive line. Campbell has played well at times this season but has hit the rookie wall. If the Patriots are going to win on Sunday, Campbell will need to play his best game.”
FOOTE: CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ
“The Patriots’ cornerback figures to be trying to slow down Seattle receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. If Gonzalez can somewhat limit him, Seattle’s offense may be more vulnerable than some are thinking.”
HULTBERG: DRAKE MAYE
“His ability to make off script plays, particularly his legs could be the difference for the Patriots against the Seahawks defense.”
WHO IS THE UNDER THE RADAR PLAYER FOR SEATTLE?
EISERLOH: RASHID SHAHEED
“My under the radar pick for Seattle is Rashid Shaheed. We have seen the impact he can make on special teams with a kick return touchdown in these playoffs. Additionally, a deep shot can open things up for the Seahawk offense. Watch for Shaheed to make a few impact plays in this game to help open things for Darnold.”
MECHE: NICK EMMANWORI
“There are several players to choose from for Seattle due to their well-rounded nature, but I’ll go with rookie defensive back Nick Emmanwori. The former South Carolina Gamecock has secured the nickelback position and made plays anytime opposing quarterbacks throw to receivers in the slot. Leonard Williams, Demarcus Lawrence, and the rest of Seattle’s defensive line should beat an underdeveloped New England offensive line throughout the game, giving Emmanwori opportunities to play the ball in the air when he lines up against notable players like Stefon Diggs.”
PURSER: RASHID SHAHEED
“The former Saint doesn’t have any numbers that jump off the page from this season, but he can be explosive, which we saw on that 51-yard reception in the NFC Championship game. He’s fast, agile, and can hurt you in a lot of ways, and in a game where Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Kenneth Walker III are probably receiving the majority of attention, Shaheed is not someone the Pats want to forget about.”
PARTSCH: COOPER KUPP
“Jaxon Smith-Njigba has established himself as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, if not the best after hauling in 119 receptions for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns this year. The Patriots will try their best to limit his impact in the game. That means former Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp could have favorable matchups. After an underwhelming season in which he had only two touchdowns, Kupp started heating up later in the season. He knows better than anyone what it takes to win on the biggest stage.”
FOOTE: NICK EMMANWORI
“Aggressive safety for the Seahawks is a key in stopping the run to force Drake Maye to be more efficient in the passing game and could be one of the keys to limit Maye’s dangerous running threat.”
HULTBERG: RASHID SHAHEED
“He is a game changer in the return game. The Patriots would be foolish to kick to him, and he is a deep ball threat that will have to be recognized.”
WHO IS THE UNDER THE RADAR PLAYER FOR NEW ENGLAND?
EISERLOH: WILL CAMPBELL
“Will Campbell has to step up and play well for the Patriots on the offensive line. It has been an up and down rookie season for Campbell. With the Seahawks providing one of the most dangerous defensive fronts New England has seen, they need to rely on their left tackle to hold things down. If he helps to keep Drake Maye clean, we might see this offense create some of the big plays necessary to stay with Seattle.”
MECHE: RHAMONDRE STEVENSON
“Rhamondre Stevenson was always someone I thought would be replaced for the last couple of seasons, yet he’s still producing. Stevenson is responsible for 33.5% of the Patriots’ offensive yards and has yet to score a touchdown in the playoffs. Odds are the lead back will score at least once in four playoff games. Coach Mike Vrabel and his staff have relied on the veteran to take the bulk of the carries and will get him involved in the receiving game to take pressure off quarterback Drake Maye.”
PURSER: KAYSHON BOUTTE
“Again, another player Louisiana natives are very familiar with. Boutte has also had a quiet season in terms of numbers, but he’s a solid deep threat for Maye, and with Stefon Diggs being the primary target and Rhamondre Stevenson facing a tough defensive front and probably being asked to block more, the game is wide open for Boutte to have a big impact for the Patriots.”
PARTSCH: MILTON WILLIAMS
The defensive tackle and former Super Bowl champion with the Philadelphia Eagles has proven to be the Patriots biggest pickup this offseason. He has been dominant in pressuring the QB, as he had eight pressures in the AFC Championship Game alone. If he is able to pressure Darnold consistently that will free up the other pass rushers as well, and the Patriots could pull off the upset.
FOOTE: MACK COLLINS
“Could just has easily be tight ends Hunter Henry or Austin Hooper in this spot, but the thought is Seattle’s defense is likely too good to let New England run the ball down their throats or let Stefon Diggs have a big game. It’ll likely take a complementary target to make it work.”
HULTBERG: KAYSHON BOUTTE
“The former LSU star has become Maye’s go-to-guy this season. He seems to always find the end zone.”
WHAT IS THE KEY TO THE GAME?
EISERLOH: “Ultimately I think the key matchup in this game is the Patriots offense and how they are able to operate against the Seahawks defense. While the New England offense has not looked great in the playoffs, they have faced adverse weather conditions every step of the way. This is a game where they will have much more ideal conditions, and that should help Maye and company get things going.”
MECHE: “The key to the game is limiting turnovers. For how much Sam Darnold has improved over the last two seasons, he’s still a turnover machine. Darnold gave the football away 15 times, and Seattle did 20 times as a team in the regular season. They’ve cleaned that up in the playoffs, having a clean slate through two games. For New England, they didn’t turn the ball over as much, just 13 times through the regular season, but Drake Maye has three giveaways to his name through three playoff games.”
PURSER: “Seattle has to force Drake Maye to beat them through the air. The Seahawks have the third-best rushing defense in the league and are one of the best in the league at getting to the quarterback. He’s thrown eight interceptions this season, including two in the playoffs, and now faces a Seattle defense that ranks fifth in the league in picks. Seattle is one of the best at getting pressure on the quarterback. If they can keep him uncomfortable and force throws under pressure, the Seahawks secondary should be able to handle the rest.”
PARTSCH: “New England has dynamic playmakers in the passing game with Stephon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte and Hunter Henry. Yet, during the playoffs, they have been held in check due to the Patriots offensive line struggling to give Drake Maye a clean pocket. In three playoff games, Maye has been sacked 15 times, lost three fumbles and has thrown for only 533 yards. If rookie Will Campbell, who has struggled in the back end of the season, and the rest of the offensive line can stand tall, New England can win. If not, the game could get ugly quickly.
FOOTE: “The key is for Seattle’s defense to continue to shut down the running game and allow its aggressive defense to overwhelm the young quarterback. If the Patriots can’t run it effectively, yards and points should be at a premium.”
HULTBERG: “Whichever team affects/rattles the opposing quarterback most is going to win this game.”
WHAT IS YOUR SCORE PREDICTION AND WHY?
EISERLOH: NEW ENGLAND 27, SEATTLE 24
“I will actually take the upset and pick the Patriots here. The weather conditions that they have faced have toughened this group, and I think they use Mike Vrabel’s hard-nosed mentality to run the football early. That will set up some play action looks, and I think Maye is ready to make some of the big plays that you typically need a quarterback to make in a game of this magnitude. Darnold will play well, but I think the New England defense creates a big turnover at some point that helps flip the script and give the Pats another Lombardi Trophy.”
MECHE: SEATTLE 27, NEW ENGLAND 22
“When it’s all said and done, I’m taking the Seahawks to win it all. The weather shouldn’t be an issue on Super Bowl Sunday, and both teams can put up points. Seattle is just a great, well-rounded team. I struggled to find a phase of that team that looks like a legit weakness. Sam Darnold has been through the wringer, Klint Kubiak is a great play caller, and the circumstances that the Patriots have faced don’t make them as battle-tested as the Seahawks.”
PURSER: SEATTLE 31, NEW ENGLAND 23
“The Seahawks are just too well-rounded and have shown that against really good teams, they find a way to win. Seattle forces a few key stops, gets a takeaway, and walks out with the Lombardi Trophy.”
PARTSCH: SEATTLE 24, NEW ENGLAND 17
“The Seahawks are the more complete team. The defensive front will attack the Patriots’ vulnerable offensive line, which will make Drake Maye’s day a rough one. Seattle will lean on Kenneth Walker III early on, which will set up big pass plays to Cooper Kupp and Jaxson Smith-Njigba. Sam Darnold will avoid turnovers and the Hollywood ending for the former maligned QB will be complete.”
FOOTE: SEATTLE 27, PATRIOTS 10
“Seattle’s defense will put too much pressure on Drake Maye. The Patriots can win either a plus 2 or 3 but I think the Seahawks will force more turnovers and win the game.”
HULTBERG: SEATTLE 31, NEW ENGLAND 27
“Even though both teams rely on their defense, weather won’t be a factor & both offenses get rolling. This time New England has a chance to win late but the Seahawks defense makes the last stand to win Super Bowl LX.”
