NFL.com offers a look at the sights and sounds from Super Bowl LX Opening Night.
Super Bowl week is finally upon us, and it all begins with Opening Night.
Players and coaches from the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks arrived at the San Jose Convention Center to begin the festivities leading up to Super Bowl LX.
The Patriots kicked off the event first, fielding questions regarding the week ahead, the looming showdown and so much more.
Shortly after, the Seahawks arrived to the stage to meet their opponent and then speak with the media.
Patriots arrive to Super Bowl LX Opening Night
Seahawks have their turn on stage
QBs praise opposing defenses
With both teams on the stage, NFL Network's Scott Hanson asked Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold and Patriots QB Drake Maye about the challenges they'll face lining up across from their respective opponents.
In lieu of any trash talk, Darnold and Maye each pointed out the tremendous scheming and coaching involved for each defense -- and for good reason, considering Sunday's battle for the Lombardi Trophy will feature two top-four units in keeping teams out of the end zone.
While the Patriots defense has saved perhaps its best for the postseason, perhaps fueled by being underappreciated while allowing an average of 8.6 points per game across three playoff contests, the Seahawks defense has drawn inspiration and needed to outdo some of its own history.
Seattle allowed the fewest points in the league this year for the first time since the vaunted "Legion of Boom" Seahawks crew did so four seasons consecutively from 2012-2015, which included the year the last time these two squads faced off in a Super Bowl.
Leonard Williams explained that after all the comparisons, Seattle decided it was time for the group to forge its own identity and come up with its own name: the Dark Side.
"We had a few names thrown at the wall and I think the Dark Side stuck because one of coach Mike (Macdonald's) messaging is a play style and a place that nobody wants to play," Williams said. "In Seattle, it gets dark during the winter time and we shut some teams out this year, no points on the board, so we have a very suffocating defense. That's why we came up with the Dark Side."
It's all about the journey
Whether long and winding or short and prolific, every member of the Patriots and Seahawks has forged a special path to Super Bowl LX.
New England coach Mike Vrabel touched on his experience, going from a third-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers to a three-time Super Bowl champion as a player with the Patriots before finishing his playing career with the Kansas City Chiefs and becoming a coach. He never made it to the big game in six years as the Tennessee Titans head coach. Now, in Year 1 with New England, he's taken all his collective experience and turned it into a unique approach that has his team on the doorstep of a Super Bowl.
"There's a lot of stops and everybody has a journey to this league," he said. "And my journey has included a lot of different places. … You try to learn, you try to pay attention and focus and learn each stop along the way. But then again, you have to make it your own style."
As for Sam Darnold, his trip through the NFL is well-known, and he told reporters he sees the good in each stage -- from the blessing of entering the NFL with the New York Jets, to learning experiences with the Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings before seeing it all culminate in the season he's enjoyed with the Seahawks.
"I take every experience as its own no matter what happens," Darnold said. "Everything I do, I just take it one day at a time. And I think that's kind of the mantra for myself and what I've been able to do I guess over the last couple years."
Perhaps it also makes sense Darnold seems to have found a long-term home with the Seahawks, his first club with a bird mascot. After all, the QB is apparently somewhat of a birder.
Super (Bowl) superstitions
Drake Maye didn't reach Super Bowl LX and become an MVP finalist solely on his play and preparation. Apparently, he also has a few superstitions to thank.
Asked about any personal superstitions or good luck charms, the Patriots quarterback first presented a specific order of operations in getting dressed.
"I try to keep my warm-up routine the same every week," he said. "I put my right shoe on before my left shoe. I put my left sock on before my right sock. Really other than that, I don't really listen to music in headphones. I kind of just listen to what the locker room is playing."
He then continued to list parts of his pregame preparation, quickly realizing the process contains quite a few quirks.
"I try to keep the little things the same," Maye continued. "Try to eat the same thing. I don't eat very much on game day. Try to keep it light. And then from there, I stand in the same spot during the National Anthem. So, yeah I got a lot of things I probably do."
Here's hoping Maye starts off Super Bowl Sunday on the right foot -- and in the right spot for The Star-Spangled Banner.
Rather than bothering with socks or shoes at all, one of Maye's wideouts, Mack Hollins, waltzed into Super Bowl LX Opening Night featuring his signature barefoot look.
Then there was Sam Darnold, Maye's opponent not just on Super Bowl Sunday, but also when it comes to shoe philosophy.
Pats CB gives flowers to Seahawks WR
One of the popular storylines heading into Super Bowl LX is the matchup between star Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez and Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Both made the Pro Bowl roster for the first time this season and are a game away from a Lombardi Trophy.
Gonzalez shared his thoughts on JSN six days prior to being asked to shut him down.
"He can do everything from every spot of the field," Gonzalez said. "He's a smooth runner, smooth route-runner, can run every route. He's just an amazing player. I've got the most respect for him. Excited for Sunday."
Such smooth route-running allowed Smith-Njigba to record 10 receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown in the NFC Championship Game. Whether or not he can end up close to those numbers again will likely come down to his matchup with Gonzalez.
Although there is clearly mutual respect between Smith-Njigba and Gonzalez, the wideout didn't include the Pats corner on his hypothetical flag football team for the 2028 Olympics.
However, he did save a roster spot for another man very familiar to the Patriots faithful: Tom Brady
"I think playing with Garrett Wilson could be fun," JSN said. "A lot of my Ohio State Buckeyes would be cool. I think Tom Brady. Him coming back would be awesome."
Sam was hamming it up
As is a yearly tradition, Guillermo from Jimmy Kimmy Live! took in Opening Night, and he made the most of his visit to Sam Darnold's podium.
First, he threw Darnold a "Ham for Sam" pin, which the Seahawks quarterback skillfully caught. Then, Guillermo doubled down on the pin by gifting Darnold a ham-shaped hat in honor of an apparently brand new nickname. Darnold was hesitant at first, but he eventually relented and wore the hat for a few seconds -- although he quieted the crowd once the "Ham for Sam" chants started.
Best of the rest from QBs
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