Why Drake Maye and Sam Darnold have very different paths to a Super Bowl win

9 snips

Feb 2, 2026

Dianna Russini, senior NFL insider at The Athletic known for front-office scoops, reveals behind-the-scenes hiring and GM drama. They dive into Sam Darnold’s path through New England’s pressure-heavy defense and Drake Maye’s need for rhythm and mobility against Seattle. Plus, surprising details on Minnesota’s timing changes and the coaching carousel.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

ADVICE

Lock In Routine And Remove Distractions

During Super Bowl week, keep routines normal and eliminate distractions to stay focused on the game plan.
Use the one allowed night responsibly and lock in mentally the next morning, as Chase Daniel described from his Super Bowl experience.

ANECDOTE

Rookie Super Bowl Night Became A Team Lock-In

Chase Daniel recounted his rookie Super Bowl week with Sean Payton and how one night out became a team lock-in.
The coach used that moment to refocus the team and install a serious playoff mentality immediately after.

ADVICE

Prioritize Protecting The Quarterback Early

Protect Sam Darnold and avoid turnovers early to give Seattle a chance against New England's pressure.
Clint Kubiak must call conservative early plays to let Darnold settle into the game, per James Palmer and Chase Daniel.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Super Bowl week is officially here, and Scoop City kicks it off with a full-scale breakdown of Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots and the decisions that will decide Super Bowl LX. Can Sam Darnold guide Seattle’s balanced, explosive offense through New England’s pressure-heavy defense? Can Drake Maye and the Patriots generate enough big plays against what many believe is the best defense in football? And a shocking fire in Minnesota. What happened behind the scenes of one of the most bizarre timing changes at GM in recent memory?

James Palmer and Chase Daniel pull back the curtain on what Super Bowl week is really like from a player’s perspective. From the downtime and routine management to preparation inside the facility, Chase explains how teams avoid overthinking the biggest game of the season.

James and Chase then lay out the keys to victory for both Super Bowl teams, starting with the Seahawks offense and Sam Darnold, breaking down how Seattle’s top-10 unit can stress a Patriots defense that thrives on disguise and late movement. They examine Klint Kubiak’s role in adjusting on the fly, how Jaxon Smith-Njigba can be moved around to find matchups.

From there, the spotlight turns to Drake Maye and the Patriots offense facing Seattle’s versatile, physical defense. James and Chase breakdown how Maye’s mobility, patience, and selective aggression can unlock opportunities, especially on deep passes

Next, The Athletic’s senior NFL insider Dianna Russini joins the show with must-hear reporting on the coaching and front-office landscape. Russini breaks down the Minnesota Vikings’ decision to move on from Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and how Sam Darnold's trip to the Super Bowl could be responsible for the move. Dianna also shares the latest in the coaching carousel, where the final two vacancies are set to be filled.

James and Chase wrap the show locking in their Super Bowl predictions, final scores, and MVP picks,

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you don’t miss a moment of Super Bowl week on Scoop City.

Who has the bigger edge on Sunday: Seattle’s defensive dominance or Drake Maye’s ability to create explosive plays?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.