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Bound for the Bowl
47 Plays16 days ago
Tristan and Miles talk about the Seahawks’ preparations for Super Bowl LX, including the potential sale of the team, a game with two elite defensive lines, and managing Mike Tirico’s calendar.
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Transcript
Introduction to the Promised Land
00:00:01
Tristan Amundson
Miles, the Bible describes the promised land as a land flowing. and man, tell me if I have this right, because I'm a little, maybe a little rusty, but a land flowing with Ghirardelli's chocolate and golden nuggets with beautiful views of of a majestic bay. yeah Am I correct, Miles? Am I remembering the the perfect description of the promised land?
00:00:27
M dub
You're mostly there. I think there is also a description of just buzzing with with beautiful jolting electricity. I think that's also in there.
00:00:36
Tristan Amundson
Okay, yeah, buzzing with electricity, um you know, ah great universities, all that good stuff. Holy smokes, man, here we are. we i mean, again, we get to be, we're in such a lucky, fortunate position that we
Super Bowl Week Excitement
00:00:53
Tristan Amundson
get to keep talking. And the Seahawks get to keep playing football.
00:00:56
Tristan Amundson
It is the week before the Super Bowl. It is Monday, February second And ah there's a lot of folks on Radio Row, I suppose, down there. they're They're getting ready. They're interviewing. They're asking very invasive questions of all of the all of the competitors.
00:01:17
Tristan Amundson
it It feels good to be here, man. I mean, what a special what a special moment to be able to talk to you in preparation for the Super Bowl.
00:01:26
M dub
It is good to be here. We were discussing doing radio kayak out on the bay, but you know getting everything plugged in, we were just facing some logistics. So we we did ultimately decide to record this as we normally do, but hopefully can get out there later in the week, radio kayak. that we We won't let be let into radio row, so radio kayak it is.
00:01:47
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, no, that would be that would be absolutely
NFL News and Discussions
00:01:49
Tristan Amundson
killer. um You had kind of a fun idea for this episode, which is kind of going through um some of the big news items, because this is a very i mean, maybe it's it really is a good way to start this episode because this is such a unique um week in the NFL. In fact, there's no other week like it where you just have this lull and it creates space for for news and and for kind of what's going on around the NFL. So do you want to go through a few of those?
00:02:21
M dub
Yeah, let's go for it no it feels There's no game here to talk about. This is normally our thing. But yeah, there were there were a lot of different things that happened around the league in the last week.
Terrell Williams' Recovery Story
00:02:31
M dub
First story, I think this is the biggest story around the Super Bowl, and there isn't a lot of discussion about it. Or at least there isn't yet. And there isn't really even much to find about this on YouTube. But throughout this whole season, the New England Patriots defensive coordinator, Terrell Williams, has been fighting cancer.
00:02:53
M dub
He had this health scare early in training camp, the situation where he was really dehydrated. He had to kind of leave a practice. And then completely unrelated, about three or four weeks later at the start of the regular season, it comes out that he has cancer. And thankfully for him, thankfully for everybody, it was it's it was announced just in the last few days here.
00:03:17
M dub
like really just one two or three days ago that that he is cancer-free, and that's a big deal. I mean, that's that's that's a real thing. That that's would just be such a complex series of emotions in their locker room. Terrell Williams, he's 51 years old, and he's been coaching D-lines in a ton of places across college and the pros since 1998.
00:03:40
M dub
He worked with Mike Vrabel in Tennessee, and this was going to be his first year at the the coordinator level in college or the pros. So I'm sure that was complicated as well. 51, that's a long time to to get to this level. And, you know, he did the offseason. He did training camp, was getting the regular season rolling.
00:03:59
M dub
I'm sure there would just be so many emotions with that. But it's good to know that he's doing well. And... Yeah, just what what a unique story. and And I hope we learn more about it and and maybe hear a little bit more from Terrell as the week goes on.
00:04:13
Tristan Amundson
so it's It's a really good thing to bring up. We we were talking right before the podcast started that you know this is, of all the things we're talking about, this is really one of the few things that's actually important, truly. And yeah it's a real person, a real man who had a real battle, and he has ah a real family. and And all of these things um really put in perspective the fact that end of the day, we're talking about entertainment. We're talking about a game. There's a lot of beautiful things about this game and they bring families together and um they give us things to remember. There's a lot of great things about it, um but it's still just a game. And ah yeah, just absolutely thrilled to hear that Terrell is doing well um after, um you know, what what what I'm sure is ah a pretty difficult thing to go through. And yeah, looking forward to him
00:05:05
Tristan Amundson
being back on the field next year. So that's, I think it's a great way to start. It's a really important to start with perspective in life. And I think it's a really good story.
00:05:14
M dub
Yeah, and I'll definitely be looking for for more. Hopefully we we get, yeah, I'm just looking forward to hearing more about this story because there there as much as many eyes are on this game, I think this has been underreported so far.
Zach Kerr's Role in Patriots
00:05:27
M dub
It's not really a very elegant way to spin out of talking about this subject into, you know, talking about the nuts and bolts of this game, but for I'm going to do this right now. ah In the meantime, this season, the Patriots have had 37-year-old Zach Kerr stepping in as their defensive coordinator. And this is definitely his first year at this type of level.
00:05:50
M dub
He's 37 years old. This is already his 12th coaching stop across college and the pros.
00:05:55
Tristan Amundson
wow
00:05:57
M dub
That's a lot of moving. And credit to him. He was given this opportunity under very unique and Complicated circumstances and we're looking at a situation where, especially in the playoffs, the Patriots defense is what has gotten them to this level.
00:06:14
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, pretty incredible that that's how he got his opportunity. um And cool that he gets to go home um and enjoy the Super Bowl in in his home state and probably have his dad, Steve Kerr, come out and hang out with him. And they can talk basketball. They can talk football.
00:06:32
Tristan Amundson
um What a cool story that is, Miles, that that Steve Kerr's son is in the the NFL um doing defense. I'm sure there couldn't be any other Kers, right? So, I mean... It has to be that this is Steve Kerr's son. it There's no other um option in my mind.
00:06:48
M dub
um Well, that's Steve Kerr. This is Zach Kerr. And hopefully you heard that that was spelled K-U-H-R.
00:06:51
Tristan Amundson
Oh.
00:06:55
Tristan Amundson
Oh, okay. So.
00:06:56
M dub
And Zach is spelled Z-A-K, which I feel like that that has to be the first Zach in the NFL. You know, it's it's hard to imagine Z-A-K Zach playing in the NFL or being in the NFL at at any other time in our history.
00:07:10
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, and I would imagine that now that I realize it, if Steve Kerr was to have a son and name him Zach, I think he would probably, not that I know Steve super well, I think he would opt for a more traditional spelling, a more Z-A-C-H.
00:07:27
Tristan Amundson
um I can't really imagine it any other way. We'll do a little research and and kind of understand Steve and and his wife's naming you know conventions and philosophies at a later podcast. I think I've derailed us enough. Good for Zach, though, and and his ascension. And that'll be an interesting thing, honestly, to see how the Patriots um juggle that next year. Right. I mean, now they're going to potentially have two guys for one job. um So that will be kind of an interesting storyline coming out of the game.
00:08:00
M dub
It will be. And funny enough, speaking of people with interesting spelling names and speaking of hot potential coaching candidates who now no longer have a place to go on the coaching carousel because it is now all filled up. We heard.
00:08:16
M dub
was it really just yesterday on Sunday?
Clint Kubiak's Move to Raiders
00:08:18
M dub
wi we
00:08:18
Tristan Amundson
I think so. Yeah.
00:08:19
M dub
We heard yesterday that the Seahawks offensive coordinator, Clint Kubiak, will be going to the Las Vegas Raiders. I have to admit, I don't completely understand.
00:08:29
M dub
This is basically being treated as official. I thought that wasn't exactly possible to do with a team that's still in the playoffs.
00:08:35
Tristan Amundson
yeah
00:08:37
M dub
So he he has not literally put a pen to paper, but um in a more meaningful way he has, i guess. And unfortunately, this will be the, let's see, four offensive coordinators in four years.
00:08:53
M dub
We're going Shane Waldron, Ryan Grubb, Clint Kubiak, and then our mystery man who we're going to start hiring in a few weeks after this hullabaloo is over.
00:09:02
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, you know, it's I think it's a bit disappointing. If I was in NFL leadership, I'd be very upset and would be looking sincerely to fix this problem.
00:09:13
Tristan Amundson
This isn't an announcement that should be made in any way before the Super Bowl. um I think it's it's a distraction to your most important game. You have you have your your best piece of real estate that comes around once a year.
00:09:22
M dub
you
00:09:26
Tristan Amundson
And it seems kind of crazy to to allow this to kind of happen beforehand. and it it seems it seems like it it it ah it potentially could affect the game. I don't think it will.
00:09:37
Tristan Amundson
But, yeah, I would much prefer this just happen, you know, next week. It should be completely silent. um And I don't know exactly how you do that.
00:09:48
Tristan Amundson
You know, maybe you just make the fine big enough to the teams that everyone just knows they have to keep their mouth shut. Maybe you talk to the Adam Schefters of the world and say, know, Try to find other things to tweet about um between now and then.
00:10:00
Tristan Amundson
i don't know what what the idea would be. But yeah, I think it's kind of a bad look for the NFL in general that a story that just just that this happens out of the order from which we were told it was supposed to happen.
00:10:14
Tristan Amundson
Right. This is supposed to be a totally silent period. Um, if, if I was in leadership, I i try to fix that personally.
00:10:18
M dub
you
00:10:20
Tristan Amundson
And, and by the way, I say that this is a dream come true. I'm sure for Clint Kubiak, I'm totally happy for him. Um, you only get a chance to get your dream job. I don't know if the Raiders would be that, but.
00:10:33
Tristan Amundson
But certainly to be a head coach in the NFL, there's only 32 of these jobs. um And, you know, you probably just have to take it when you can get it. um So i I couldn't be more thrilled for him. What a cool opportunity. But yeah, would would much rather if the NFL had had control of their business just a little bit better.
00:10:54
M dub
That's interesting. i was thinking, that's the I think that's looking at it from the league perspective, which i think is accurate. I was definitely feeling this more from the Seahawks perspective.
Coach Mack's Strategy
00:11:03
M dub
I think players and other coaches on the team have anticipated for months that this would be coming, Clint Kubiak going to somewhere else around the NFL. And i I think everybody's known that they would like for him to stay and that this is just the way the NFL is. It's probably going to go like this.
00:11:22
M dub
What I started thinking about, though, was I really appreciate that Coach Mack has done, I think he struck a very elegant balance of hiring both inside and outside of his personal network. And I think that that balance is really important.
00:11:39
M dub
We know he worked with Leslie Frazier in Baltimore, and he brought him over as kind of the senior assistant head coach and and somebody that, you know, we haven't seen a lot of Leslie Frazier out in the public, but we we would guess that Mike is is really leaning on Leslie's, you know, veteran wisdom behind the scenes quite a bit.
00:11:58
M dub
But when it comes to the coordinators, um first Ryan Grubb, now Clint Kubiak, and then also Adan Durde on the defensive side, Those were all guys that Mike McDonald had no prior professional connections to. And I think we've seen around the NFL, it's really tempting to hire your friends and your colleagues, but I think ultimately...
00:12:19
M dub
it I think it's a it's ah it can be a successful road for a little bit but I think that road is a dead end at the end of it like you you need to con if you're a great team like the Seahawks are right now other teams are going to be poaching from your coaching staff and you need to constantly be replenishing that just as you're constantly replenishing your roster with the draft if Everybody on the Seahawks staff right now with somebody, Coach Mac knew in Baltimore, I think this would be feeling a lot more scary than it is right now.
00:12:50
M dub
It's a big loss to lose Clint, but... you know They found Clint in just the the straight up interview process a year ago. They interviewed far and wide. They took their time with it.
00:13:01
M dub
We didn't really see it coming. And they found really the perfect man for the job. And I mean, in a way, you kind of hope it's not an annual thing they have to do to do this coordinator interview process. But Maybe it will be, and and we'll see what happens.
00:13:18
M dub
And I agree with you. I think everybody's going to be locked in for this game, and it's something we'll look to at the end of February and March.
00:13:25
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, I mean, if you just think about it from Clint Kubiak's perspective, he wants this just as bad. Like he this still is from a personal um from a personal perspective. and And these guys are I think are all really good at talking and walking team first. And I really believe that I think that team first is a big deal for this group in general.
00:13:47
Tristan Amundson
um But if you do just look at this as like an individual accolade, as the OC, winning a Super Bowl is a really big deal. I mean, it's still a Super Bowl super bowl ring that you have. And um I can't imagine that he's not going to be totally locked in 100%. Everyone still wants the exact same thing. And everyone is going to do everything they can get there.
00:14:09
Tristan Amundson
And now at this point, there are no more distractions. That's now behind, you know, that that interview happened on Saturday. And now, you know, we're on to the Super Bowl. And I'm sure that's it's a lockdown, um you know, ah focus on on the big game, as it were. And and beyond that, I mean...
00:14:30
Tristan Amundson
you know Maybe this is the week where um you know John Schneider just walks into the lunchroom and is like, okay, like listen, we're happy for you, but you know what if we paid you $300,000 more because we have unlimited money? what What do you think? So maybe there's still some wheeling and dealing, but either way, happy for Clint. Sure, it won't be a distraction, um and i hope you know hope is a great fit for him.
00:14:55
M dub
um Something funny I learned about Clint is he actually played safety in college at Colorado State. I thought that was pretty wild.
00:15:03
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, I didn't know that. That's interesting.
00:15:06
M dub
So I don't know when the offensive transition happened.
00:15:09
Tristan Amundson
um So the next big storyline that's been all over the place, and and this is what I want to talk about, Miles, from a ah player distraction perspective, because i don't think it is at all, um is the Seahawks being announced that they are up for sale. What do you what was what was your thought and advice How did that news hit
Seahawks Potential Sale
00:15:31
Tristan Amundson
you?
00:15:31
Tristan Amundson
I guess officially the Seahawks would be up for sale soon or, you know, maybe shortly thereafter the Super Bowl. um What did your research and and how did that hit you?
00:15:42
M dub
um Well, I was fascinated that this could be the biggest sale in NFL history. It probably would be. The biggest sale so far was the Washington Commanders sold in 2023 for $6.05 billion.
00:15:56
M dub
The Seahawks are, people will value it as the 15th most valuable team in the NFL, so right in the middle. But that price tag right now is still up to $6.59 billion. dollars And I guess the final price tag could could be for more.
00:16:13
M dub
It got me thinking about one of the 50 seconds in Seahawks history I did earlier in the year where you know Ken Baring, the owner of the 90s, he had aspirations to move the team to Southern California.
00:16:25
M dub
Paul Allen comes in in 1997 and buys it for $200 million. dollars And it really rubbed me the wrong way. listen listen hearing Learning more about that story and that it was still taxpayer money that helped fund the stadium at that time.
00:16:41
M dub
And that just rubs me the wrong way. But It's kind of come back around in an in an interesting way. So the Allen family sold the Trailblazers here in Portland for $4 billion. dollars it's It's a sale that's still kind of ongoing.
00:16:55
M dub
And then this sale is going to happen. and And all of that money is going to be given to philanthropic causes. And that's a lot that's a lot of money.
00:17:05
Tristan Amundson
It's incredible.
00:17:06
M dub
So, I mean, i don't... I'm not going to say this is all completely done for for charitable purposes, but that is unique in the history ah of of sports and and you know the multi-billion dollar sports world we live in. So I'm just kind of thinking about the history of that money and i kind of wonder what's going to happen to the Northwest or or other places with with that much money. I mean, yeah, that can really change a lot of things.
00:17:37
Tristan Amundson
it It
Paul Allen's Legacy
00:17:38
Tristan Amundson
really could. And I mean, anyone who has researched Paul Allen over the years knows, you know, he was in the forefront of brain mapping research.
00:17:48
Tristan Amundson
His yachts are kind of famously known as being retrofitted for scientific, um, expeditions that he would let, you know, other folks use his yachts to, to go do cool scientific things, um, in the ocean.
00:18:03
Tristan Amundson
um Obviously, the Experience Music Project, or I guess now it's what, the Mopop in Seattle, um other museums and and donations around the city.
00:18:14
M dub
you
00:18:14
Tristan Amundson
um yeah When I think of Paul Allen, I really do think of a guy that... if If you were to be a billionaire kind of he did it the right way, meaning he had fun with his money, he bought the trailblazers, he bought the Seahawks. um But he did a lot of good things with his money as well. And he's going to continue that legacy on and you know, that's a pretty Incredible thing. If you imagine $4 billion, you just said, for the Trailblazers, let's call it just let's call it ah just this a sweet, cool $6 billion just for the sake of conversation.
00:18:45
Tristan Amundson
If we're talking about investments that he made in these teams, and by the way, while he was the owner of those teams, And this really struck me, Miles, when Jodi Allen, his sister, was accepting the award.
00:18:55
M dub
Thank you.
00:18:59
Tristan Amundson
And she specifically said, i accept this on behalf of the city of Seattle and 12s everywhere around the world. And i just thought that was indicative of the Allens in general. When when I heard him say what her say that,
00:19:14
Tristan Amundson
I thought of Paul and the few times he spoke, he always made it about the city and he always kind of, it always kind of felt like just a, a big kid that owned, you know, this, this really cool thing and wanted to share it with everybody. And like, it was all of ours. And, and I got that vibe from her too, that, you know, Hey, this isn't, this isn't mine. um this isn't the trust. This is, this is ours together that we won.
00:19:38
Tristan Amundson
and um, it makes you just really appreciate good ownership and people that, um, Paul Allen always was willing to spend whatever money it took. And I think, I mean, tell me if I'm wrong. I think that was the case with the trailblazers as well. I don't think money was ever the issue. um It pretty great ownership and and it just makes you hope that they're able to find the next great owner.
Seahawks Ownership Transition
00:20:02
Tristan Amundson
we've known this was coming down the pike for a while because he always said like, Hey, I want this money to go to charity. it's It's literally written in the will, right? So it has to do that. And
00:20:13
Tristan Amundson
To your point, you just hope that this, you know, these $10 billion dollars just has a massive ripple effect in the Northwest and really helps a lot of people um in our in our area. And, and you know, you you you hope it does. You hope that the charities use it really wisely. um and And, you know, you got to figure 10 billion, you know, some of that's going to do some real good. So that's it's a pretty cool legacy.
00:20:41
Tristan Amundson
When you think of the different owners in the NFL, they are not all created equal, as we know. um You got you got owners that have really bad reputations. Frankly, you have owners that that have massive egos um and you have owners that don't seem to be able to invest in their teams.
00:20:55
M dub
you
00:21:01
Tristan Amundson
And it's it the Seahawks won the lottery when Paul Allen saved the Seahawks from from moving. And I think you really did the city a massive service. I hear what you're saying about the stadium, but then in retrospect, if you look at the the long tail of that investment, I think it was a great it's certainly a great and very profitable investment for the city as well.
00:21:21
Tristan Amundson
So, um, man, yeah, just, you know, it makes you kind of yeah hope, Hey, can I, can I put out some good vibes right now? Steve Ballmer, are you listening buddy?
00:21:32
Tristan Amundson
Um,
00:21:32
M dub
Oh, wow.
00:21:33
Tristan Amundson
Listen, you're one of the few people rich enough just to like write, literally write the check and it's not that big of a deal.
00:21:36
M dub
Oh, man.
00:21:39
Tristan Amundson
um You know, let's keep it in the Microsoft family. Let's ah let's just write that check. You can own the Lakers or I'm sorry, the Lakers. You can own the Clippers. You can you can own the Seahawks.
00:21:51
Tristan Amundson
um um I'm putting out some good Steve Ballmer vibes. I think that'd be a great owner.
00:21:56
M dub
Oh, wow. Okay. umm i'm ah Let's see how the Kawhi Leonard ah dust settles would be my...
00:22:02
Tristan Amundson
I guess that's true. Yeah, maybe maybe we got over our skis. But hey hey, if you get Steve Ballmer, you're getting a very involved and enthusiastic owner, which there's something to be said for.
00:22:14
M dub
When Paul Allen passed away in in the middle of the 2018 season and Jody Allen took over, I like how mentioned that Paul Allen was kind of winning the lottery from a fan's perspective. And I think when Jody Allen took over, we didn't really know what was going to happen next or how it would look different or just what to expect at all. And in the end, if this is her last season owning the team, the Seahawks have had a winning record in six of her seven seasons as an owner.
00:22:43
M dub
And i thought it was interesting looking back because there are many NFL owners out there who I think it's safe to say they are the problem. They're the only common denominator across decades of losing teams. And to have a winning, winning seasons in six out of seven years and getting to the Superbowl here, that's way better than most owners.
Jody Allen's Seahawks Tenure
00:23:06
M dub
And funny enough, Her education ended. you know I mean, these Microsoft guys, you know your your degree, i don't know. A lot of people with advanced degrees. Jodi Allen got a bachelor's degree in drama from Whitman College out in Walla Walla in 1980. And that was that was the end of her education. I just thought it was funny that ah this is a person who is not...
00:23:33
M dub
I mean, shes she's pulled in here because of her brother, you know, first and foremost, from for the family ties. and it's kind of remarkable how well it worked out as well. And running running laps around many longer term NFL owners.
00:23:48
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, and it's it's been fun hearing Coach talk about her this week and what an important part of um the the the winning success, the formula of winning she's been. he He specifically talked about his Monday meetings with her every single Monday, um the the demands that she places on the organization, the questions that she asks that open up a ah open up really good conversations and and drive the whole thing forward. And then if you just look at it really objectively, it was Jody who stepped in and said, Hey, um listen, we love Pete, but we I think that it's time. And he she made i mean, imagine the legacy that she potentially has as an owner.
00:24:32
Tristan Amundson
If she I mean, she's she's the owner that's hired Mike McDaniel, ah Mike McDonald, man, you would think that wouldn't happen to me anymore. Mike McDonald and and potentially, i mean,
00:24:45
Tristan Amundson
Dude, hes he's, I would assume he's going to be the coach of the Seahawks for a long, long time with a lot of success. Everything that we have seen so far would tell us that. That's an, and I mean, kind of an unbelievable home run.
00:24:58
Tristan Amundson
And then she was a driving force, I think, in supporting the team in in in moving on from Geno um and kind of just saying, let's let's do this a little differently. um And that to me is the...
00:25:12
Tristan Amundson
ah maybe the through point between Paul and Jody, it sounds like they both just have massively high expectations and we're actually fairly hands-on. I know that, um that John Schneider had to write a report for Paul Allen every single Monday um about the game and what went right, what, what, what wrong. And, you know, kind of had a really a ah pretty detailed report to Paul every single Monday. um So I think we're talking about to two folks at the helm that have been very engaged. And that's pretty cool. And I think engaged in the right way, yeah, that's unique for the NFL owners. we We see a lot of examples of engaged in the wrong way.
00:25:58
M dub
I also appreciated those comments from Mike. I was really surprised to hear just the amount of communication that's going on but between the owner and the head coach. It did make me wonder if that is just the level of involvement with the Portland Trailblazers. Sometimes it can feel like ah the forgotten team in the closet. The arena is is behind almost every other and NBA arena at this point. um Anyway, so I had those two thoughts about that.
00:26:26
Tristan Amundson
That's interesting. No, i didn and I didn't know about Portland. So that's, yeah, that's an interesting, interesting tidbit. Well, we'll see what happens. We've known this is coming for a long time. And if this is the end, I think they'll make it a really cool end. So that's, ah yeah, yeah, a lot going on.
00:26:44
M dub
One very last thing. i don't have a ton of thoughts about this, but over in Minnesota, Vikings general manager, Kwesi Adolfo Mensah, got fired this week. He got fired for for one decision, let's say.
00:26:59
M dub
maybe Maybe a lot of Vikings fans have criticisms of his draft record, but I think we know he was fired for one decision, and that was winning 14 games with a quarterback and letting him walk in free agency And um i think I mentioned it before. I think NFL GMs sometimes let let perfect or a 10-year plan be the enemy of a solid two or three-year plan.
00:27:24
M dub
I don't anticipate Sam Darnold will be the Seahawks quarterback 10 years from now. I think I said that last spring when he got signed, but boy, was he a great... i mean, and I did say it back then. I'm proud to have this on tape, that I thought Sam Darnold was a great option for this three-year contract. and boy Boy, are there some regrets over there in Minneapolis.
00:27:46
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, yeah. I mean... And I don't know if you read the article this morning where Justin Jefferson was um specifically talking about how, yeah, we would have been in a better spot if if we just would have held on to Sam. And ah um pretty pretty crazy. like i mean And he wasn't necessarily throwing his current quarterback under the bus, but I think he was just kind of looking at the reality of like, yeah, Sam's really good. And we would have been a lot better if we just would have kept him.
00:28:13
Tristan Amundson
um Yeah, I mean, these decisions... are are such are are on such a knife's edge. I mean, if you think about the fact that we wanted to bring back Gino Smith, that was option number one. So Sam wasn't even necessarily like the first choice, at least as far as we know.
00:28:31
Tristan Amundson
And yet, man, it was the absolute right choice. And thank goodness it went that way. So, yeah, how many decisions in our lives and in things like the you the in the NFL and in business Just come down to the the smallest of margins. You know, one one guy saying no, one person saying, hey, I want out. Okay, what are we going to do?
00:28:53
Tristan Amundson
And, you know here's our next plan. And it turns out to be just everything you could hope for and more. So it's pretty incredible, man. I mean, you you couldn't write it. yeah If you wrote the script, you wouldn't believe it.
00:29:04
M dub
That's true, especially with Gino going and leading the team that has the number one draft pick in this year's draft while while the Seahawks win the Super Bowl. I mean, that's pretty wild.
Super Bowl Analysis: Seahawks vs Patriots
00:29:16
Tristan Amundson
It's absolutely crazy. Well, yeah, that's fun kind of going through the news there. and And yeah, I mean, I think it was worthy to do because that's kind of the nature of this week. that This week is full of um news stories. I mean, this really is kind of the the week that the NFL just kind of lets it breathe a little bit. So fun to go through those with you.
00:29:37
M dub
Yeah, that was a lot of stuff happening. And 50 years of the Seahawks, this will the next owner will be the fourth ownership group in the team history. This doesn't happen very often. So a lot did happen this last week. But we have a monster game looking ahead.
00:29:51
M dub
One, I'm just very relieved to to not be playing an NFC West opponent. We've got we got the Seahawks Patriots playing in San Francisco.
00:30:02
M dub
Super Bowl number 60. And Tristan, I'd like to start with the Patriots schedule. And I think we're on the same page with this. I think there's been a really, the Patriots played one of the easiest schedules of all time.
00:30:18
M dub
It was really bizarre. And you know what? It's not their fault. They couldn't really do anything except keep on cleaning the clocks of the next below 500 team that, that came up on the schedule. What were they supposed to do?
00:30:35
M dub
But, So it's not their fault, but it I don't... And I actually was pretty confident that they were going to get blown out very early in the playoffs. So credit to them.
00:30:47
M dub
They played three really tough teams to get here to the Super Bowl, going to the ASC. But I would much rather have the Seahawks regular season where you've got a normal to above average distribution of teams versus what what the Patriots did, which which was very rarely being challenged. Is that how you feel?
00:31:07
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, you know, it's my favorite thing in life to point out to people. Two things can be true at the same time, and it's not the end of the world. We can acknowledge the fact that the Patriots deserve to be here. They did exactly what they had to do to be here. They had a great year. They beat a lot of teams.
00:31:27
Tristan Amundson
um It's hard to beat any team in the NFL. These are all professional teams that have massive budgets. um It's not as though this is college football where you know sometimes you get just a ah ah really cake schedule that you created. and you're playing you know the Sisters of the Poor, ah you know directional university, and and and you're just going to blow them out 56 to nothing, and if you allow them to have one touchdown, it's the end of the world.
00:31:55
Tristan Amundson
No, that's not it. This is the NFL. Every team is good. Every team um will give you a challenge. That's for sure. And and you can't control your your schedule. So you you play the games you play.
00:32:09
Tristan Amundson
And then for good method measure, you have to play the game, the teams that make it into the playoffs. Right. And those teams are supposed to be the very best. And you beat those teams and then you get to the Super Bowl. So um I 100 percent agree with you. This is not a knock on the Patriots whatsoever. Right. They did exactly what they had to do. They should be proud of of the year they had. um At the same time, ah objectively, we can look at these games, we can look at their schedule and say, yeah, this wasn't this was not a murderer's row of a regular season.
00:32:46
M dub
No, and to that point, I looked at the bottom 10, the defenses with the top 10 points most allowed, so the 10 weakest defenses.
00:32:56
Tristan Amundson
Oh, whoa. Okay.
00:32:57
M dub
in the league The Seahawks played four games against those teams. They went 4-0. And the Patriots played eight games against those teams. They went 7-1.
00:33:09
M dub
So that's pretty big difference. Double the amount of games. Then looking at top ten defenses. So the ten best defenses in the league. and But the Patriots and the Seahawks are... In that group, and this is regular season and playoffs included, Seahawks played six of those games, went 5-1. The only loss was that November loss to the Rams, the first one in the trilogy.
00:33:32
M dub
New England, in the regular season, did not play against another top 10 defense. Now, all three of their playoff opponents were top 10 defenses, so they're three and o but it really did we really didn't know what it was going to look like until the playoffs because they literally went through their entire 17-game schedule and did not play one of the top 10 defenses by points a allowed in the NFL.
00:33:59
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, no, it's it's absolutely wild. You look at the games and, and yeah, it's not it's it's not anything that that blows your mind when you just look at it. If you actually look at it objectively game by game, it's it's not, yeah, it's interesting. It's it's a really interesting thing.
00:34:18
Tristan Amundson
Listen, they still have a great running, you know ah maybe the best one-two punch in the NFL, um certainly a top five one-two punch in the NFL at running back. They have two really great cornerbacks. They have a really, really good, um maybe great ascending young quarterback. I mean, they have the quarterback of the future, the the most important thing you could possibly have in the NFL, right? um So they have a lot of really, really good pieces. And and certainly, it's funny, we're kind of nitpicking because it's the Super Bowl. This is a great team, right? I mean, that's what's kind of funny about it. This is a team that made it to the Super Bowl, which means they are a really, really good team.
Patriots' Season Schedule
00:34:58
M dub
Yes. So, Tristan, I was trying to look at thinking, okay, so the Patriots did have this schedule in in the regular season. Their playoff schedule has been legitimate. We did have the Bo Nix injury through a little bit of a curveball in there.
00:35:12
M dub
They were still going against one of the very best defenses in the NFL in Denver. I was trying to think, what is there a tangible impact that this schedule could have on the game? And here's what I landed on. I'm not sure i'm not sure if it's totally convincing, but but here's as far as I could get.
00:35:28
M dub
And that would be the Patriots' inexperience running the two-minute drill in a close in a close fourth quarter. It just didn't come up for them very much because they were blowing out a bad team most of the time.
00:35:42
M dub
So I went back across the entire season. I looked for the Patriots and the Seahawks. I looked for a drive in the last 10 minutes of the game when they were tied or trailing.
00:35:55
M dub
So those are gotta-have-it drives. so Those are the... the biggest impact drives. And the Seahawks, comparatively, were barely in that situation because we had a lot of games that were over in the first half throughout the regular season.
00:36:10
M dub
But on the year, the pay the Seahawks excuse me had 18 different drives that met that criteria, tied or trailing in the last 10 minutes. And they managed to get a score on nine of those drives.
00:36:24
M dub
The Patriots also had a 50% success rate with with scoring, either touchdown or a field goal, but they only had 10 of those drives. it It almost barely happened to them. to to Yeah, to I mean, that's... you know and You can have more than one of those drives in the same game when you're tied or trailing in the last 10 minutes. There could be a lot of drives. and So it wasn't even 10 different games they had it.
00:36:47
M dub
I feel like the Seahawks were barely in that situation, but the Patriots were really almost... never in that situation. And some of their scores were things like, ah you know, like there was like a 65-yard touchdown run in there. And there just there wasn't a lot of straight two-minute moments.
00:37:05
M dub
And we have seen the Seahawks come through in those multiple times, especially towards the end of the year.
00:37:11
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, being able to perform under pressure in those in those key situation you know situational football, right? I mean, being able to perform in situational football like that two-minute drill and the like, um I think that's a pretty good point. I mean, it's the differentiating factor of why we were able to beat ah The Rams, ah you know, that last Sunday was because of the last call it five minutes of the game when when you want to put that game away. That's a high pressure moment.
00:37:40
Tristan Amundson
um It's funny because I distinctly remember us, you know, it was towards the end of the year. I think it was right before the Indy game where we kind of said we we need some pressure games here because we're blowing all these teams out. We need some games to kind of give us some, you know, some heart some heart palpitations. palpitations, excuse me, a little bit.
00:38:00
Tristan Amundson
And it was nice towards the end of the year. We finally got a bunch of those games, which um I think in retrospect now, and I think even during the time we talked about it, we were thankful coming out of those games with wins.
00:38:12
Tristan Amundson
Hey, that was a good learning experience game. Hey, we actually had to, um, you know, play the entire game and it it wasn't a blowout, um you know, see, see the Vikings, see the, the new Orleans game. um I know there was plenty of others that were just absolute blowouts. The Titans game was, was pretty, pretty well in hand Carolina. um You think about some of those games where we didn't get a chance to do it. And I do think that it was fortunate that a lot of our, um,
00:38:42
Tristan Amundson
really high leverage games seem to come towards the end of the year. um You know, I guess save the 49ers experience um towards the end. But besides that, like a lot of those games were very um ah hit or miss, you know, nip and tuck right down to the very end. And and that's, yeah, I mean, that that's the...
00:39:03
Tristan Amundson
That is the experience that you're going to rely on at the end of the year. So I think it's incredibly beneficial going into this game.
00:39:15
M dub
Yeah, so I know that's a very that's a lot of guesswork on my part, but I guess I will feel more confident. Yeah, the the Patriots just really haven't had a chance to do it very much, to to just get a proper two-minute drill out there.
00:39:29
M dub
You're down by three or four with with three or four minutes to go. I mean, you know that was Tom Brady's home for for many years, and the Patriots just haven't had an opportunity to do it, really.
00:39:40
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, no, absolutely. No, 100%. Do you you want to go through each one of these? I am kind of, I'm itching to do it, Miles. I'm not going to lie.
00:39:47
M dub
Let's do it. Let's do it.
00:39:48
Tristan Amundson
Okay. Okay. I'll say the name of the team the Patriots played. We'll start with week one. We'll do this rapid fire. I'll keep track. And you just kind of tell me. I'll keep track of every time you say, ooh, that was a great defense.
00:40:01
Tristan Amundson
um Let's just go through each one and give me your gut reaction. Ready?
00:40:06
M dub
I'm ready.
00:40:06
Tristan Amundson
Okay. Raiders.
00:40:08
M dub
one man one One star, 10 practice squad guys.
00:40:12
Tristan Amundson
Okay. pay ah Dolphins.
00:40:15
M dub
ah Nope, they were focused on the offense over there.
00:40:18
Tristan Amundson
Steelers.
00:40:21
M dub
ah Old, but but a wi wily old team.
00:40:24
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, yeah. Average, like solid defense. I i agree. ah Panthers.
00:40:29
M dub
Up and down.
00:40:31
Tristan Amundson
Okay. So we haven't had any great defenses yet, right?
00:40:34
M dub
Nothing above average, no.
00:40:35
Tristan Amundson
Okay. Bills.
00:40:38
M dub
There we go.
00:40:38
Tristan Amundson
Okay.
00:40:39
M dub
Now that's a defense.
00:40:40
Tristan Amundson
Solid defense. Okay, so that's one. Saints.
00:40:44
M dub
No.
00:40:44
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, that was, I mean, yeah, it's kind of, I almost didn't even want to say it out loud because that was a ah rough one. Okay, so Saints, no good. Titans.
00:40:53
M dub
and No, no. Oh, again, one one star, 10 others.
00:40:58
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, Jeffrey Simmons and then everybody else. ah Browns.
00:41:02
M dub
Yeah, yeah pretty yeah, pretty good, pretty good.
00:41:04
Tristan Amundson
solid Solid defense, really pretty pedestrian offense, but solid defense. And that was they beat them by 32, you know, 13 to 32. That's interesting. ah Falcons.
00:41:16
M dub
Nope, nope.
00:41:17
Tristan Amundson
Okay. ah Buccaneers.
00:41:21
M dub
Not as good as you'd think.
00:41:23
Tristan Amundson
Jets.
00:41:25
M dub
that The only team in NFL history to never intercept a pass. You can go to all the black and white leatherhead footage you'd like. You won't find another team that did that.
00:41:35
Tristan Amundson
um You know it's bad when I felt almost embarrassed to to say the Jets name. I didn't even want to like include them in the segment, but it's it's important. Bengals.
00:41:45
M dub
Probably the worst defense in the NFL this year.
00:41:48
Tristan Amundson
Giants.
00:41:50
M dub
Yeah, a lot of high draft picks up there, but I i mean, we're we're in the top five in the draft again.
00:41:57
Tristan Amundson
Bills. We already know.
00:41:58
M dub
Well, yeah, yeah.
00:41:58
Tristan Amundson
Pretty good. Yep. um And that was a shootout. That was 35-31, the way. ah Ravens.
00:42:06
M dub
I don't have Coach Mack. That's why john harba John Harbaugh is currently a New York Giant.
00:42:12
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, middle of the road, I'd say. We're back to the Jets. I know your answer there. And then they finished with the Dolphins. so And I know your answer there. So that's the regular season. Let's just be fair, though.
00:42:23
Tristan Amundson
Chargers for the postseason.
00:42:25
M dub
Really good. Really good.
00:42:27
Tristan Amundson
Very good. um That was 3-16. This one is so interesting because CJ Stroud just had such an absolutely terrible game. But Texans.
00:42:39
M dub
That's an elite one.
00:42:40
Tristan Amundson
That's an elite defense. CJ really helped um the Patriots cause. And then, of course, you know, the infamous snow game um started snowing about the the last 33% the game, of the Broncos.
00:42:54
M dub
Yeah, I think Texans, I mean, fair enough if the Patriots do this, I think Texans, Broncos, and Seahawks are kind of tier one in NFL defense. So if the Patriots manage to collect all three, more credit to them.
00:43:07
Tristan Amundson
That would be, I mean, if you think about it, that is actually cool as I'm looking at it right now. They would end playing Texans, Broncos, Seahawks, considered the three best defenses in the league. um So that is quite ah I mean, that is quite a prove it kind of deal, right? You're you're going against the very best um and and a win is a win. they They beat the Broncos by three points. They scored 10, but you know what? that's That's what we call win, folks. So thank you, Miles, for, um thank Thank you for giving me that. i I really I mean, i I kind of like those rapid fire gut reaction kind of deals.
00:43:45
Tristan Amundson
um And yeah, we're basically saying and I guess it goes back to your main point, right? we're We're talking about basically four really good defenses that they faced all year.
00:43:55
M dub
And by the way, their trip to Denver last week was their first time traveling west of the Mississippi. And then this, you know, the Super Bowl with seven days to recover from the time change will be their first time in the Pacific time zone. Contrast that with the Seahawks were on the East Coast like five times this year, right? I mean, even that was more difficult.
00:44:16
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, I heard that Coach Mack now has diamond status with Delta, which I think is really, really cool. And he was able to do that just with all those all those flights. So, um no, that it it is incredible. It's at two very different ways of getting to the place. and And, you know, I think it's not even arguable. The Seahawks got through the hardest division in football to get here. So um what's funny about all of that, Miles,
00:44:43
Tristan Amundson
is you can throw all that out the window because football is a really funny sport and it's a new day and it's a new game. And on Sunday, we're just going to see what actually happens. um All of those stats, everything that happened in the past really doesn't matter. um It just depends on how these two teams show up on Sunday.
00:45:04
M dub
That's absolutely true. But if you know the Patriots are in a two-minute drill situation and it goes haywire, hope the listener thinks of me. i'll I'll be feeling good about myself if that comes to pass.
00:45:15
M dub
and And if the opposite happens and they crush the two-minute drive, well, we're going to move on and have a new take next week.
00:45:22
Tristan Amundson
Yeah. Well, and you know, it's funny. I, and I, I just give you my take really fast here. I, we don't have to spend a lot of time on this. i was thinking about Peter King's old, I don't know if he still does it, but you know what I think, I think. And I was thinking about it from a standpoint of Matthew Stafford and,
00:45:40
Tristan Amundson
Matthew Stafford is the only quarterback this year that's really given us massive trouble. I think that's fair. um He's really, he's given the Seahawks defense a lot of issues.
00:45:52
Tristan Amundson
And if you think about him doing that, he's doing that with an elite offensive line. He's doing that with Puka Nakua, one of the great wide receivers in the NFL. I mean, you you'd argue, you know, number one or number two receiver in the NFL.
00:46:06
Tristan Amundson
Devontae Adams, three good tight ends. and And probably more important than anything, 16 years of NFL experience between his ears, which is is pretty crazy to think about.
00:46:17
Tristan Amundson
As I just look at this game, ah as I look
Patriots' Quarterback Drake May
00:46:20
Tristan Amundson
at what our defense can do, and I think about who's given our defense fits, Matthew, and then I think about Drake May, very good young quarterback, but it is his second year in the league.
00:46:32
Tristan Amundson
and And I think maybe... the The difference between 16 and 2 is the most important thing about going into this game. 16 years of experience versus two years of experience.
00:46:47
Tristan Amundson
It's just, it's a different thing. I mean, i was just listening to Tom Brady talk about this, how... How good he was in his 20s versus his thirty s versus the very end of his career and how he really felt like his late 30s, early 40s, he was his best.
00:47:06
Tristan Amundson
And obviously that's not because he was his physical best, but because he just knew that much about football. He had that much information to go off of. I think that's I think it's a really interesting. And again, this is nothing against Drake, but two years is two years and 16 years is 16 years. um and And I just imagine that's going to be a big differentiator when it comes to facing a defense like the Seahawks.
00:47:30
M dub
I think that's right. I think the Seahawks defense is complex enough that that that's a ah very legitimate point to make. I also look at the Patriots. They have... ah even though their defense has created a lot of turnovers on the other side of the ball, which which is definitely something we're going to talk about here, but on the offense, they have also turned the ball over five times in their playoff run. And Drake may has has fumbled the ball a lot in the season. And I think that's something and in the Seahawks defensive meetings that they're really going to be talking about that.
00:48:00
M dub
that that the goal here is going to be to get the ball back, and that's a gettable goal in this game. And it just did not feel like that with Matthew Stafford. You were just kind of holding on, and um you had to have a massive stop on fourth and goal in order to to stop Matthew Stafford where all sorts of complex things are going on. But I think there's an opportunity for the Seahawks to cause one or two fumbles when Drake Mays in the pocket in this game.
00:48:28
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, and and I think, and that that kind of leads me perfectly to, i think the opposite of that. and I was really looking at this from a schedule perspective. It's funny because Sam, I think we all suddenly started gripping a little tighter towards the end of the year. Hey, can we trust Sam?
00:48:45
Tristan Amundson
And then if you actually look at the numbers, you look at the games, you know, it turns out that Sam really was pretty, pretty good with the football after that first. So, you know, in November we played mid November, I think it was the 16th.
00:48:58
M dub
you
00:48:58
Tristan Amundson
We played the Rams for interceptions. That was a, that was a really bad game for, so for Sam from a, from an interception control the football kind of standpoint. Since that moment, Sam was pretty, pretty good with the ball. He had a few other games that were a little rickety. um And then obviously towards the end of the season, let's call it the last four games, five games, he really tightened it
Seahawks' Quarterback Sam Darnold
00:49:20
Tristan Amundson
up. And I think what we saw, I really do believe this. And I think Daniel Jeremiah um kind of believes this as well, just as I listened to his thoughts on Sam.
00:49:31
Tristan Amundson
I think what we saw was the maturation of Sam Darnold really kind of going from younger Sam Darnold into a more seasoned, older NFL quarterback.
00:49:41
Tristan Amundson
Also knowing and respecting and understanding how good his defense was. I mentioned last week when we were talking, every time he just threw it away, every time he just jumped on the ball, I cheered during the NFC Championship game. And I really think those were insanely important plays for Sam that he just didn't try to be Superman. He just jumped on the ball.
00:50:04
Tristan Amundson
and and And I really think we've seen that maturation process with Sam Darnold. i say this, I feel with with pretty good confidence.
00:50:11
M dub
Thank
00:50:13
Tristan Amundson
I'm not worried about Sam. I really trust him. I think he's going to be just fine. i think that he's over the hump of some of those bad decisions, some of those Let's try to make something out of nothing, fix a broken play.
00:50:25
Tristan Amundson
um i think the maturation of Sam Darnold is going to be a major part of of his story moving forward. and And I really think that's actually what the NFC Championship game was about more than anything.
00:50:38
M dub
Yeah, and to your point, last three games, Seahawks have not turned the ball over at all. That's anybody on the offense. The last turnover at any point was week 17, a few days after Christmas, in the Carolina Panthers game, which which ah was also a blowout. So it's been a really clean game, not just from Sam Darnold, but from everybody on the offense to control the ball. And we definitely know that in the Rams game,
00:51:02
M dub
The Seahawks are probably in trouble if they turn the ball over even once in that game and they didn't do it.
00:51:09
Tristan Amundson
Absolutely. Yeah. I mean, and it it it was a massive storyline of that game. So um I think it's a big thing going into this game that we we just watch out sam ah how Sam controls and and I think continues to control the football. And can i can i shout out our USC audience out here, Miles? I know we have a growing audience of um USC alumni and and USC football lovers out there.
00:51:36
Tristan Amundson
Sam Darnold has a chance to be the first USC quarterback to ever win a Super Bowl, which is, if you think about the names, the u the quarterback factory that USC was and and still is and and the number one picks,
00:51:53
Tristan Amundson
And you you think about you think about Matt Leinart, you think about Carson Palmer, you think about, um you think about ah I'm totally blanking on his name right now because you know we're actually talking into microphones. Caleb Williams, there we go. um You think about like some of these huge quarterbacks over the years that have come out of se Sam is the first one. He has a chance to actually make it to the Super Bowl and win a Super Bowl before all of those guys and then take it a step a step further past USC.
00:52:24
Tristan Amundson
Sam Darnold has a chance in the same court in the same class that he was drafted to get and win a Super Bowl before Lamar Jackson and before um Josh Allen, which is just...
00:52:39
Tristan Amundson
I mean, again, the NFL, you couldn't script it, man. It's ah unbelievable. and And it's so cool that we get to see the ascension of Sam Darnold. And I really hope that that we're just celebrating with him on Sunday.
00:52:51
M dub
Oh, man, absolutely. And I appreciated Sam calling out his experience in the 2023 Super with Francisco. with san francisco You know, I bet that's actually helpful. He he has been through this week in ah in a very different situation.
00:53:01
Tristan Amundson
For sure.
00:53:06
M dub
He knew he probably wasn't going to play. He did have to be ready to play, even though he didn't end up getting in that game. But I bet it would really help to just to mentally go through the the reps of everything and in your media
Super Bowl Preparations
00:53:17
M dub
day. And you're going to be really hit me how long the the teams are away from home for the for this game. they They left yesterday from Seattle.
00:53:27
M dub
That's a full Seven days you're hanging out in San Francisco before the game. I mean, that's too long. has it always been this long
00:53:35
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, the NFL doesn't make it easy on you, right? Like they're going to distract you any which way they can. They probably give all the players like drink tickets and like party tickets and stuff.
00:53:43
M dub
long?
00:53:45
Tristan Amundson
Like they're probably just like baiting the players into, hey, you know, there's a Vogue party that you could go to if you want. And it's, you know, open bar. No, no, no, sir. Thank you. I just I need to go to bed tonight. I need to drink a protein shake and go, you know, be in bed by eight. um Pretty wild. But yeah, it's a It's a wild atmosphere, I'm sure, for the players to um to figure out. And I think I totally agree with you, man. I think everyone you have on staff that's experienced it before, they can just tell other people. I saw an interview today where Sam, um actually Alex Smith was interviewing him, and he said something really, it was something as simple as this. But it makes sense that these are the things.
00:54:25
Tristan Amundson
he the The players ask, it's like, ah are you bringing um are you checking a bag or are you just bringing your carry-on? And think about that. Most of the time on their road trips, right?
00:54:36
Tristan Amundson
They leave on Friday, they play on Sunday and they're, they're back Sunday night at their home.
00:54:36
M dub
Yeah.
00:54:41
Tristan Amundson
So of course we're just, you know, it's ah a two, three day trip. We're going to bring our, um, our carry on. And now suddenly, well, we left on Sunday and then we'll be down there and probably won't get back until Monday or or maybe Sunday night. Like, well,
00:54:58
Tristan Amundson
What do we do do? I mean, do I pack totally differently for this game than I've packed for any other game? It's it's such a little thing, but that's a kind of a big thing. Like it's it's ah another thing to think about as you go into a week like this. So, yeah, no, I think having as many people that have just experienced it as possible is is incredibly beneficial.
00:55:21
M dub
Tristan, looking into the guts of this game, I really think that much like last year's Super Bowl, I think this will be won and lost between the two defensive
Defensive Lines' Impact on Super Bowl
00:55:31
M dub
lines. I think in a lot of ways, these are the strongest units on each team.
00:55:36
M dub
And there's a really bizarre kind of back and forth that's happening with with the two offensive lines and and how they are protecting or not protecting their quarterback in the playoffs this year. So a pressure, but that that stat we use, pressure, it's that's all hits, hurries, and sacks just added together.
00:56:01
M dub
So if you look at that, just the what the offensive lines are allowing in the postseason, the Seahawks look really terrible compared to the Patriots.
00:56:12
M dub
The pressure percentage in the playoffs, Seahawks offensive line is allowing 32.2% pressure. patriots allowing sixteen point eight percent pressure And that Super Bowl last year that the Eagles dominated with their defensive line, they had like a 36% pressure rate, which I think we could call the absolute gold standard. that That knocked Patrick Mahomes out of his rhythm. 36% is absolutely elite. And the Seahawks are terrifyingly close to that.
00:56:42
M dub
But it hasn't felt like that because not every pressure is created the same. Not every hit or hurry is the same as just a totally engulfing sack. So if you look at the sack percentage in the playoffs, Seahawks offensive line is allowing an 8.6% sack rate, which is really comfortable. It's it's been pretty good.
00:57:03
M dub
Patriots allowing a 16.3% sack rate, which as I mentioned last week would be way past the worst team in the regular season. In three playoff games, Drake May has been sacked 15 times.
00:57:18
M dub
A little contrast, the entire regular season, Sam Darnold was sacked 27 times. and And, you know, that' that's that was feeling like a little uneven for us to have 27 sacks. And, you know, it it didn't always feel comfortable.
00:57:32
M dub
Way improved from last year, but 27 across 16 regular season games. And it's been 15 sacks across just three games for Drake May in the playoffs.
00:57:44
M dub
So ah the Patriots, especially the interior of their defensive line, is really strong. I think that's where that's where I will be watching when the Seahawks are on ah offense. And when the Seahawks are on de defense, I'm going to be looking at the defensive line as well.
00:57:59
M dub
We talked about last week the Rams' offensive line somehow shut down this unit. So it's it's been a little while since they've been able to fully go at it. But let's not forget, the Seahawks won so many games this year because their four guys on the defensive line win on their own without blitzers and I think we could we could really get back to that in this game and that's why I feel the most optimistic about i do feel optimistic about a Seahawks victory and just that incredible amount so this is I mean the Patriots they're allowing less pressures but that huge sack percentage it kind of points to when they're allowing a pressure they're allowing somebody to get all the way home very quickly
00:58:39
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, that's it's really the the ah the discrepancy between the pressure rate and the sack rate is fascinating. I mean, it is really, really interesting. I'm thinking about ah this game against the Rams, how many of those passes that Sam threw where he he threw it at the last minute, right? As someone was in his face and and getting to him.
00:59:00
Tristan Amundson
which makes me frankly respect Sam even more. um So that's really, really interesting. ah But it it is the oldest adage in football when our four can beat your five.
00:59:13
Tristan Amundson
um I'm not going to act like I've watched a lot of Patriots games, but my understanding is that their offensive line has struggled. That 16% rate would would certainly speak to that.
00:59:24
Tristan Amundson
um And I agree with you. All season, I've been talking about Byron Murphy. and obviously big cat williams and how much we love both those guys and and how they've dominated the inside of of the line of scrimmage in a way that so few do and again someone who hasn't watched a lot of patriots as i as i hear and and look into the numbers a little bit it does look like it's that interior of their defensive line that also dominates so It's kind of funny to think, let's watch this game in a phone booth the way that, you know, I'm kind of imagining doing it. But I really do think I'm going to be watching closely um how Bradford, how um Zabel, how Sundell can handle their themselves on the inside and then vice versa.
01:00:13
M dub
you
01:00:13
Tristan Amundson
um You know, can this just be an absolutely yet one of those games? And I really do feel like basically every game this year – we've Either Leonard or Byron, and most of the time, both of them have had a few pretty big moments. um And so that's just kind of what what I'm looking forward to is is watching Byron Murphy. I'm looking forward to seeing that knee on the ground when Byron Murphy just does that super incredible, you know, it it looks like ah a medieval movie when the horses are
01:00:43
Tristan Amundson
are running to the line you know we're going to attack the other the other side and they put the the spears in the ground and you know it just it was a terrible image um but you know just kind of that that that momentum putting your knee in the ground and you just watch him take on double teams i it's been my favorite thing to watch on this team all year and i i can't wait to see it one more time of this year and i'm really hope for a dominant performance between those two guys. And and and and frankly, yeah can can our guys hold up on the inside will be really interesting.
01:01:17
M dub
Yeah, the the Patriots are really good at this as well. I mean, they have completely turned off the run game for opponents. So I think that will be really important for the Seahawks. And I think that would be the Patriots' path to victory, honestly, because turning off the running game, and they've created eight turnovers as a defense across their three playoff games, which is, that's a boatload of turnovers. That that fumbles everywhere.
01:01:41
Tristan Amundson
Pretty cool. Pretty, pretty cool, man. going be fun, fun to see it and, and just get into this really, really special game. How do you feel like this week's going to
Super Bowl Anticipation
01:01:50
Tristan Amundson
be for you? Is it going to be a fast week, a slow week? um How, how do you think the week before is just going to feel? And I'm, I'm kind of curious. i wish we could like listen to a bunch of people that are listening right now and just ask them the same question. I would, I'd love to hear from Seahawks fans. um Just that thought, but, but just you miles, how, how's this week going to feel?
01:02:11
M dub
I think it'll be pretty, judging by how much I was looking at pro football rumors yesterday, I think it's going to be a pretty slow week where I'm already, you know, taking up these crumbs about, um you know, position coaches and passing game coordinators being hired around the NFL. So I think it'll be slow, but in a way that that just makes that just makes the game itself ah all the more enjoyable when it finally arrives.
01:02:35
M dub
what What do you think your week has in store?
01:02:39
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, you know, I think i think it's going to be kind of ah a slow slow week so in the beginning. So I will be flying up. I want to watch this game with my family. so I'll be flying up to the Northwest um this week with my family. And we'll all be watching together at my brother's house, which I'm extremely excited about. Excited to...
01:03:03
Tristan Amundson
watch it with my, with my dad and with my brother and with my mom and and the whole family up there. Um, so that's going to be a really special time. And yeah, I think, I think probably, you know, knowing the fact that I'm traveling with children up to Seattle, probably around Thursday, the the week's going to speed up quite a bit on me.
01:03:23
Tristan Amundson
Um, as you start kind of prepping for that kind of travel.
01:03:29
M dub
that That'll be awesome, though, that you're doing that. that That's just really cool. um I'm super glad.
01:03:33
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, I think ah never.
01:03:33
M dub
Have you done prior Super Bowls like that?
01:03:36
Tristan Amundson
I've never done the the first Super Bowl that I lived down here was the Steelers and I watched it down here.
01:03:37
M dub
ah excellent.
01:03:43
Tristan Amundson
um That was the same day that after that Super Bowl, my wife and i not wife at the time, girlfriend at the time, we we defined the relationship miles. We said, hey, you know what?
01:03:55
Tristan Amundson
I think we should start dating. um And i I am that great of a human that I was able to absorb a Seahawks loss. And then instantly just roll into, well, hey, you know what? I like you and let's you know let's make this happen. so So that was Super Bowl number one. And then the next Super Bowl, um I watched down here and my dad was up in Washington. And then funny enough, the New England Super Bowl, I watched down here, but my dad watched ah from Florida. He was at Disney World that week. And so um he got to Disney World before the Super Bowl MVP, um funny enough. So, yeah, we've always watched it separately for these big games. So it'll be really fun to be able to watch this game with him and and just kind of feel feel the game from his perspective. Maybe I'll try to. rope him in to be ah a special guest for a little bit of the podcast next week since I'll be I'll be with him the day after so no promises but I might be able to convince him to to give us some some some Seahawks history and wisdom um from years past.
01:05:01
M dub
Oh, man, that that would be excellent. Tristan, speaking of history, i love Super Bowl trivia in history. Can I hit you with some the, and it happens every year, there's there's new corners of Super Bowl history to find every time.
01:05:17
M dub
Can I hit you with some of the tidbits that we're looking at rapid fire style? And you you can jump in if if something tickles your fancy for a little extra commentary.
01:05:25
Tristan Amundson
I love it. Yep.
01:05:27
M dub
All Tristan, in this game, we have in Marcus Jones on the Patriots and Rashid Shahid on the Seahawks. Jones is number one, but we have the number one and number two highest average career punt return, punt returners in NFL history. They're they're number one and number two all time.
01:05:47
M dub
Shahid number two, Marcus Jones of the Patriots number one. So look out for that on special teams.
01:05:52
Tristan Amundson
I mean, that's I didn't know that that you instantly put fear in me. So that's that's good. That's very that's really good information. I'll be now watching very closely their returns.
01:06:03
M dub
Yeah, it's a big part of the game. ah Although Dixon has way out punted their guy, Bryce Berenger. It's about a 10-yard per punt difference so far in the playoffs. That's part of it as well, who's who's kicking to him.
01:06:15
Tristan Amundson
Yep.
01:06:16
M dub
We got Mike McDonald, the first coach in the Super Bowl ever with no college playing experience. I couldn't believe it. A lot of these coaches don't seem like college football players, but i looked i look back at some random guys and sure does. They've all got some experience, including Bill Belichick at a D3 school in Connecticut. Mike is the first one.
01:06:36
M dub
He would also be the third youngest winner of the Super Bowl ever behind Mike Tomlin and Sean McVay. Patriots making their 12th Super Bowl appearance. So this is the 60th Super Bowl.
01:06:48
M dub
One in every five have the Patriots. It's their third ever without Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Next most appearances in the Super Bowl is eight with the 49ers, Steelers, Broncos, and Cowboys all having eight. So the Patriots with a huge gap over everybody else.
01:07:04
M dub
If the Patriots win, that would be their seventh Super Bowl, and it would break their tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most Super Bowl wins at six. Also, Josh McDaniels, I'm not 100% sure on this, but I'm pretty sure. Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator, he would join Tom Brady and Bill Belichick as the only players or coaches with at least seven rings.
01:07:26
M dub
Drake May, he's 23 years old. He's the second youngest starting quarterback ever in the Super Bowl behind Dan Marino in 1984. We know Dan Marino doesn't have any Super Bowl rings, so Drake May would be the youngest ever winner.
01:07:40
M dub
One of my very favorite pieces of trivia, winning the Super Bowl back-to-back years with different teams. we've got We've got only one candidate alive between these two teams. And it's one of those Patriots defensive linemen.
01:07:53
M dub
Milton Williams won it last year with the Patriots. He had two sacks and a forced fumble in last year's Super Bowl. And our pal Ken Norton Jr., his record is safe as the only individual ever to win three consecutive Super Bowls that cannot be challenged this year.
01:08:08
Tristan Amundson
Unbelievable.
01:08:10
M dub
This is the fourth ever, last one here, this is the fourth ever Super Bowl appearance for the Seahawks, but it will be their first time being the favorite ahead of the game against the Steelers.
01:08:20
M dub
They were underdogs. Against the Broncos, they were underdogs, which
Seahawks as Super Bowl Favorites
01:08:24
M dub
is funny in retrospect. And the first Seahawks Patriots matchup was a pick them. It was even. this is the very first time the Seahawks rolling into the Super Bowl as a favorite.
01:08:34
M dub
Although as we've seen, that really does not mean a lot in recent Super Bowl history.
01:08:41
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, I mean, I would take that line from the Denver Broncos game anytime if it gave me the same result. um I think that, the to me, honestly, the wildest thing that you've just said is the Josh McDaniels. the The fact that that man has been in so many Super Bowls is just, it is shocking, isn't it? I mean, you think about the coaches and the players that are in the league for decades, you know and maybe just talk about coaches here, right? You're in the league for decades.
01:09:10
Tristan Amundson
And you never even make it to one Super Bowl. And the fact that, I mean, it would be actually really fun to ask Josh McDaniels, like, what what is the experience at this point? Is it like there must be a little bit of a ho-hum? Like, he he has been there and done that many, many, many times before.
01:09:28
M dub
you
01:09:28
Tristan Amundson
um It really is incredible that that this is did you see this is his seventh. Is that correct? um Or this would be his his seventh win if if they win?
01:09:37
M dub
Yeah, I think he's been to more than that, but this would be – even though he left to be a coach in the middle, he left during those middle years where the Patriots weren't winning Super Bowls.
01:09:43
Tristan Amundson
It's unbelievable.
01:09:46
M dub
So he does have all six of the Patriots, Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, rings. He wasn't the offensive coordinator for all of them, but he was in the building for all of them. And, yeah, this this would be his seventh. And I don't think anybody else – I think we're even just looking at Robert Kraft as as the only other person – who who would who would have seven rings really in any capacity.
01:10:09
M dub
i'd love if I'm missing somebody, I'd love to know. I'd love to know what happened, but I'm pretty sure that's the case.
01:10:13
Tristan Amundson
Well,
01:10:16
Tristan Amundson
well and I mean, so the rings, the wins are obviously impressive. It's that self-evident. But to me, almost just as crazy as just the number of times. Because, yeah, obviously he's been there more times than he's won.
01:10:29
Tristan Amundson
And, yeah, to say that he's like been to nine or ten Super Bowls, you know, in an official, i I'm not just sitting drinking beer and and eating nachos.
01:10:37
M dub
Thank you.
01:10:38
Tristan Amundson
Like I am here to to coordinate a team. It really is. I mean, it's it's a shocking thing. He would be one of the most unique people to interview about so you you what what is the experience of the Super Bowl and how do you how do you um think about the Super Bowl?
01:10:57
Tristan Amundson
What does it mean to you? Or or really, just what do you think of it? how How do you go into a Super Bowl now versus your first one and like your third or your fourth one? you know I mean, it's just that it's an incredible legacy that he has.
01:11:11
Tristan Amundson
and um you know, for all intents and purposes, one of the great offensive minds in the league, which is another factor in this game.
01:11:16
M dub
you
01:11:18
Tristan Amundson
and And frankly, his steadying hand, I think, will probably be a massive storyline in this game. You have a very young quarterback who has no Super Bowl experience, obviously.
01:11:30
Tristan Amundson
And then he has right next to an ah an ah offensive coordinator that has a lot of Super Bowl experience and a head coach that does. So um really interesting kind of just thinking about that.
01:11:42
M dub
It is crazy that the people who, out of the entire landscape in the NFL, have have managed to feel at home, at at the Super Bowl, at the pinnacle of it.
01:11:44
Tristan Amundson
Thank you.
01:11:52
M dub
that' It's the top of a mountain, and some of these guys have have just kind of set up a little cabin there. At the top of Mount Everest or something, they got a little stash with with food and a blanket and ah a kettle for tea up at the mountaintop.
01:12:07
M dub
it fit there's Yeah, and a lot of people would would have really loved to got there, and they never did.
01:12:14
Tristan Amundson
Miles, on the total opposite side of that, if Josh we McDaniels has knows everything to do, he has his prep down, What's really interesting is Mike
Mike Tirico's Super Bowl Broadcast
01:12:26
Tristan Amundson
Tirico. So Mike Tirico, who will be broadcasting the Super Bowl for NBC and Peacock, um the great Mike Tirico, one of my absolute favorite play by play guys. I think he's one of the really good, smart, um just engaging,
01:12:43
Tristan Amundson
um ah play not only play by play personalities, but just sports personalities in general. Would you believe it, Miles, if I told you that this is Mike Tirico's first broadcast of um of the Super Bowl?
01:12:57
Tristan Amundson
He's never been the lead broadcaster before.
01:12:59
M dub
now
01:13:01
Tristan Amundson
He's been at other ones, ah but this is the first Super Bowl that NBC has gotten sense um and since Al Michaels has left. So he was at that Super Bowl, but he was you know kind of behind the desk doing the the pregame and whatnot.
01:13:16
Tristan Amundson
This is Mike Tirico's first Super Bowl.
01:13:21
M dub
That's crazy. it ah Every January, i've I, of course, live on the NFL Throwback and NFL Films YouTube pages. And I was seeing some clips from a Monday, like Monday night football games where it it it was just so old the the you know The definition wasn't clear. I recognized the little score bug. where It was super old.
01:13:40
M dub
And I'm hearing Mike Tirico's voice like I just heard it a week ago.
01:13:42
Tristan Amundson
Yep.
01:13:43
M dub
and so i I really was thinking the last couple of days, like, man, he's been at it a long time. I can't believe this is his first one. That's wild.
01:13:52
Tristan Amundson
He's been at it a long time. He's at one of the absolute best. And the other nice little tidbit here about Mike is, and I heard this, he was on Brock and Salt's show. Then he was sharing and and he's always, when he's on that show, he's just one of the best interviews. Mike is just the best.
01:14:09
Tristan Amundson
And Mike Trico was saying that he has to be in Milan, Italy for the Olympics on Tuesday. So he will broadcast from San Francisco on Sunday. And I imagine he's just getting on a plane and going straight to Italy. i I don't think he's going to stop by his home in Detroit to pick up another pair of shoes or, or you know, a couple of jackets. i assume NBC has a very nice ah winter jacket for him and he's just going to go straight to milan
01:14:40
M dub
ah What a schedule. I did think about that with his interview with Michael Jordan last fall, that if you look at Mike Tirico's personal planner, you know, you've got like, you know, Tuesday prep questions for Michael Jordan interview, you know, Thursday, Michael Jordan interview Friday, talk with Chris Collinsworth about Sunday Night Football this year. I mean, what a life he's living. Is he really based in Detroit?
01:15:02
Tristan Amundson
He is. Yeah, he is based in Detroit.
01:15:03
M dub
I didn't know that.
01:15:04
Tristan Amundson
Yeah, yeah. he's I've learned a lot about Mike just listening to him on the Brock and Salk show, and ah he really is. I mean, sincerely, he's one of my absolute favorites. I think I was excited when I heard that Mike Tirico was going to be the play-by-play guy, and there's no one like Chris. he It's kind of like an old friend watching a game with, and and Chris Collinsworth does such a good job. So, yeah.
01:15:28
Tristan Amundson
I think we're lucky. we're We're getting a really good crew. All the crews are great. You know, I mean, when you're talking about Kevin and when you're talking about Jim, you're talking about Mike.
01:15:34
M dub
you
01:15:38
Tristan Amundson
These are all really unbelievable broadcasters um that that can do the play by play. But ah yeah, Mike Trico, I think, is is my personal favorite and couldn't be more excited that he will be with us for the Super Bowl.
01:15:54
M dub
That'll be great. Is there, there's something that I bet Mike Tirico, don't know if we're going to hear it during the broadcast, but I wonder if there's something he's watching the game that, that he wishes he could say to the people.
01:16:09
Tristan Amundson
i I think he's too classy to actually say it because Mike Tirico is a class act for the entire country and frankly, the entire world. But maybe in in a small recess of his heart somewhere, some little voice is saying, Go Hawks.
01:16:26
M dub
Go Hawks.