The long, agonizing wait for fans of the New England Patriots is finally over. It’s been seven full years since they’ve seen the home team compete for a Super Bowl championship.
Oh, the misery they have endured. There were many stumbles along the way. Namely with replacing Tom Brady with Cam Newton. The drafting of Mac Jones had some promise but quickly fizzled out. Then there were the peculiar coaching decisions and the drafting of players like Cole Strange and Ja’Lynn Polk near the top of the draft board.
Enter Drake Maye and Mike Vrabel. The quarterback and coach are in place for the foreseeable future. Now fans will see what they can do in one of the biggest sporting events in the world. Will they add to the crowded trophy case in Foxboro? The Seattle Seahawks represent their toughest adversary of the entire season. But what does Franklin County think? What do area football fanatics think about this game and how it will play out? Let us see.
George Bush is a 99-year-old Turners Falls graduate and ardent supporter of the New England Patriots. Bush has held season tickets to the Patriots for 54 years. He attended Super Bowl XX and Super Bowl XXXVI. His ticket to see the Patriots play the Bears in New Orleans was a ridiculous $75.
“At the time they didn’t have many season ticket holders,” Bush said. “Everyone that was a season ticket holder automatically got tickets. What do they do? You become a season ticket holder, and you get a chance to go to the Super Bowl. They have 16,000 season ticket holders now. What do they do? They have a lottery!”
Bush gave his insights at a recent Turners Falls girls hoops game.
Keys to the game: “They have to stop the quarterback,” Bush said. “The reason they (Seahawks) are favored is because the quarterback had a great game against the Rams … the last couple of games we’ve relied mainly on our defense to win the games. Maye hasn’t been as sharp as he was in the regular season. It will depend more on the defense than the offense. If our defense holds their quarterback and they don’t score very much and our defense plays great like they have been … but Maye needs to have a good game.”
MVP: Drake Maye
Final score: Patriots 28, Seahawks 20
Peter Bergeron used to play quarterback for the Greenfield High School football team in the 1990s. He also played a little baseball in his day. What does he think about the big game?
Keys to the game: “Defense of course,” Bergeron said. “Defense is always the key to the game. I think it will be a defensive battle. “
MVP: Andres Borregalas. Bergeron predicts he will hit six field goals including the game-winner with no time left.
Final score: Patriots 25, Seahawks 24
Mike Kuchieski, Athletic Director at Greenfield High School, brings decades of football experience to the table with his prediction.
Keys to the game: “I think the defensive backs for the Patriots need to have a really great game,” Kuchieski said. “I think their run defense is pretty tough. I just don’t think they have to worry about (Sam) Darnold running. But I think if Bo Nix is out there, they aren’t even there … just because of the passing … I am hoping that straightens out.”
MVP: TreVeyon Henderson. Kuchieski predicts the rookie running back from Ohio State will score the game-winning touchdown in the final minute on a toss. Similar to the James White play that beat the Falcons in overtime in Super Bowl LI.
Final score: “If I am going to bet with my heart I am going with the Patriots,” Kuchieski said. “But If I bet with my head I am going with the Seahawks. They look pretty tough. But I am going with my heart. I’d say the Patriots in a 24-17 slobberknocker.”
Scott Dredge presided over a very successful season at Frontier Regional in the fall. What does he think?
Keys to the game: “Close game, low scoring,” Dredge said. “I think the Patriots can control the game if they use big personnel and run. Seattle likes to play seven deep a lot. But still, another good defense they are facing. I like the Patriots D-line getting after Darnold.”
MVP: Stephon Diggs
Final score: Patriots 20, Seattle 17
Jim Woodward is the winningest coach in Mahar Regional history. During a recent Mahar boys basketball game, Woodward shared his insights into the big game.
Keys to the game: “No turnovers,” Woodward said. “They need to solidify their offensive line. If they don’t do a better job up front it’s going to be tough. Defensively I think they will be OK. They have to keep that running back (Kenneth Walker III) under control. They’ve done a good job all year against the run. Hopefully they will be able to contain him.”
MVP: Drake Maye
Final score: Patriots 27, Seahawks 24
I suppose I can’t wiggle out of this without my own prediction. This is a tough one for me. My Patriots fandom goes back to 1986, when my parents told me I could stay up and watch Super Bowl XX in their bedroom. They told me, “you want the team in red to win.” Watching on a tiny black and white television I knew that meant not the team in white. I remember a big, fat man scoring and then dancing around. Obviously, it didn’t go well.
It’s been pretty devoted fandom ever since.
Jackson Smith-Njigba worries me endlessly. The same goes for Kenneth Walker III. The Seattle defense is talented at every level. I want to be wrong. But I can’t let fandom get in the way of objectivity. It’s my core mission.
MVP: Jackson Smith-Njigba
Final score: Seahawks 24, Patriots 20