Sports
Patriots pit pup QB, prized defense against Sam Darnold, Seahawks
Feb 2, 2026; San Jose, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) and New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) shake hands during Opening Night for Super Bowl LX at San Jose Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Call it a comeback. And better make it two.
Super Bowl LX sets up as a recall of recent great teams colliding Sunday on the home field of the San Francisco 49ers.
It’s a repeat of Super Bowl XLIX in February 2015 that swung from a Seattle Seahawks celebration to a confirmation of the New England Patriots’ dynasty when Malcolm Butler intercepted Russell Wilson pass at the goal line with 20 seconds left.
“It hasn’t come up one time,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said of the Super Bowl rematch.
Almost everything has changed on both sidelines in the decade since that game. Neither team was even in the playoff field last season.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft called a leadership audible and restored the championship standard in New England, placing three-time Super Bowl champion Mike Vrabel atop the organization pecking order, and the new head coach guided a stunning turnaround in 2025.
Vrabel, a former linebacker under Bill Belichick, has resurrected the franchise and partnered with the second-youngest Super Bowl starting quarterback ever, 23-year-old Drake Maye, to move New England to the doorstep of a league-record seventh Lombardi Trophy.
“The organization has set a standard,” Vrabel said. “The Patriots organization, Robert and Jonathan (Kraft), have set a standard for this organization that this is what the expectation is. We understand that, we embrace that.”
Seattle shifted from Pete Carroll at the end of the 2024 season, and longtime general manager John Schneider restocked in tandem with Macdonald, 38. The second-year coach and defensive-minded mad scientist won 14 games in the 2025 regular season, earning the top seed in the NFC with reclamation project Sam Darnold starring in the vast shadow of Seattle’s sledgehammer defense.
Darnold threw 25 touchdown passes in his first season with the Seahawks. He opposes Drake Maye, the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft, who produced numbers once expected of another famous Patriots passer with a fully stocked ring finger. Maye finished ahead of Darnold in most passing categories. He had 31 touchdown passes, 4,394 yards and a league-leading 113.5 passer rating with a pair of rookies starting on the left side of a fully revamped offensive line.
Maye has harped on running the ball, and Vrabel continues to preach balance in the long preamble to Super Bowl LX. But numbers could set up in Seattle’s favor.
The Seahawks have a streak of 28 consecutive games without allowing a 100-yard rusher and big plays are a pipe dream — only 15 plays of 20-plus yards — because of the speed and versatility of the back seven and the ability of Macdonald to generate pressure with his front four. They were stingy on first down and excelled on third down, when the crosshairs are largely centered on the pocket.
New England had allowed Maye to be sacked 15 times in the playoffs.
“We’ve got to stay connected,” Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said. “It’s kind of like synchronized swimming. If one of them is different than the other, you usually have a bad play. We’re going to be put to the test. They will twist and stunt, a really violent team.”
Seahawks defensive tackle Leonard Williams is a terror inside, and six Seattle defenders have at least 40 QB pressures. Williams leads the team with 65 followed by DeMarcus Lawrence with 58. While Seattle’s dynamic personnel and playmaking mix is getting headlines, the Seahawks were far from flawless in 2025. They allowed 27 points to the Rams in the NFC Championship Game and needed an offensive explosion to edge the same team 38-37 in the regular season.
McDaniels said he’s not afraid of leaning on his young players. He recalled being in the press box as an assistant coach in the 2001 season when a young Tom Brady made his Super Bowl debut and beat the St. Louis Rams.
“That was a great example of a young player being put in a situation where (coaches) could have let the game go to overtime,” Daniels said. “Those are the types of situations players live for. Drake has had to deal with those types of circumstances this season, and we’ve only gotten his best football.”
Maye registered 11 multiple-TD games in the 2025 regular season. He has taken only one loss since Sept. 21, compiling a 16-1 record since then. Maye leads the Darnold, 29, in career postseason wins, and their combined five playoff victories were all collected last month.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the league with 1,793 passing yards and was the target of 163 of Darnold’s 477 passes in the regular season. He logged 119 receptions and 10 touchdowns. Smith-Njigba had 10 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown in the NFC Championship Game. On film, Vrabel is still hunting for a major weakness.
“Sudden, savvy, competitive,” Vrabel said. “Really good play strength for his stature. He’s really good at contested catches. Good route craft and understanding in zone and man. Great body control.”
Maye insisted Wednesday his shoulder was fine after being limited last week. He was in Levi’s Stadium the last time it hosted the Super Bowl — February 2016, when the Denver Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers — and the Patriots played at San Francisco last season. He said the preparation for the Super Bowl is mostly a normal week with a bonus hotel stay and practice at a foreign facility. Ah, youngsters.
“It’s such a cool moment to be out here with the guys and the teammates,” Maye said. “A chance to enjoy the moment together. The emotions will be a little bit higher on game day.”
Vrabel’s Super Bowl experience has been a common talking point in the Patriots’ makeshift camp at the San Jose Marriott and Stanford University this week. Veteran defensive players such as cornerback Carlton Davis III (Tom Brady’s teammate for Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl win to cap the 2020 season) and defensive tackle Milton Williams (a winner with the Eagles 12 months ago) are helping keep younger players and newbies like 32-year-old wide receiver Stefon Diggs from emotional exhaustion with all of the pomp and circumstance on the Super Bowl periphery this week.
“His maturation process is second to none. One of the best I’ve ever seen from a quarterback position,” Diggs said of Maye’s calm. “He’s still super young, which is crazy. He’s had a lot of success, but as I have grown closer to him, I’m a huge fan of him. He’s like a mini inspiration. To be that young, be that mature and be able to play at a high level is something that I always wanted when I was a young player. I’m just happy to be a part of this thing.”
As expected with another defense-first head coach, Seattle also stresses the running game. Kenneth Walker III led the team with 1,027 rushing yards in the regular season, and he has added 178 yards and four touchdowns in two playoff games.
For the Patriots, Rhamondre Stevenson was second to rookie speedster TreVeyon Henderson in rushing in the regular season, but Stevenson climbed out of Vrabel’s doghouse — where he landed due to three fumbles — to lead the NFL in rushing in the playoffs with 194 yards on 51 carries.
“We’re always looking to find balance in our offense because you become more difficult to defend if the defense has to defend run-pass on every series in every situation,” McDaniels said.
The Patriots finished the season sixth in the NFL in rushing with 128.9 yards per game after ranking 31st the first month of the season. Maye has been a problem for front sevens in the playoffs because of his mobility. Seattle can use rookie safety Nick Emmanwori as a spy to keep Maye’s speed in check, but the Patriots know there are counters to that kind of chess move.
“There are weak spots in every coverage,” Maye said.
New England’s interior defensive line tandem of Milton Williams and Christian Barmore, self-described QB predators, present a hurdle for Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak finding a comfort zone for Darnold. Seattle rookie left guard Grey Zabel will be vital in making the mission possible.
“Me and him, we come in hungry. We’re like lions. We come to hunt,” Barmore said. “And the whole D-line. Our goal is to dominate every time we’re out there. It doesn’t matter who it is, another day to line up and kick ass.”
Darnold signed a three-year, $100.5 million deal with the Seahawks last March. He hasn’t played for the same team or play-caller since 2022, his second year with the Carolina Panthers, when Baker Mayfield was named the starter. Darnold, the third pick in the 2018 draft, is on his fifth team but playing his finest football. However, he led all quarterbacks in turnovers — six fumbles lost, 14 interceptions — opening the door to doubts about his performance this week.
Darnold said his oblique strain, an issue that crept up before the divisional playoffs, is vastly improved with the two-week break between conference title games and the Super Bowl. He said he is not in the mindset of proving anyone wrong by winning Sunday.
“All of the hard work and dedication leads to this moment,” Darnold said.
–Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Georgetown guard KJ Lewis entering transfer portal
Feb 21, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Georgetown Hoyas guard KJ Lewis (5) drives to the basket against Seton Hall Pirates guard Adam Clark (0) during the first half at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Georgetown guard KJ Lewis, an All-Big East third-team selection, plans to enter the transfer portal for a second consecutive offseason, On3 reported on Tuesday.
Lewis, who played his first two seasons at Arizona, started 27 of his 28 games this season, leading the Hoyas in scoring average (14.9), which was ninth in the Big East. He also was second in the league in steals (2.1 per game) and led the team with 5.1 rebounds.
The 6-foot-4 Lewis sustained a season-ending injury to his left ankle against Marquette on Feb. 24, with six games remaining in the regular season.
Georgetown (16-18, 6-14 Big East) won two games at the conference tournament before falling to UConn in the semifinals.
Lewis averaged 10.8 points and 4.6 rebounds in 37 games (six starts) last season at Arizona. He made the Pac-12 All-Freshman team as an honorable mention in 2023-24. He averaged 8.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals in 73 career games for the Wildcats.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Pacers get fresh start vs. Lakers with record skid over
Mar 23, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) lays up during the second half against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images The slate has been wiped clean ahead of Wednesday’s meeting in Indianapolis, where the Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers collide after both saw their recent streaks come to an end.
Indiana coach Rick Carlisle implored his players to “make a stand” after crashing to a 16th consecutive loss — a franchise record — and the Pacers did just that with a drought-breaking 128-126 victory over the host Orlando Magic on Monday.
Pascal Siakam scored 37 points before producing the clutch defensive play of the game when he blocked Paolo Banchero’s drive at the buzzer, which would have sent the game into overtime.
“We had not been playing well,” Carlisle said. “The game (Saturday) in San Antonio was very disappointing for all of us. We talked about it (Monday) morning that we needed to make a stand and raise our level of collective will of how we’re competing. Guys did it, led by the veterans — Pascal, Andrew (Nesmith) and Aaron (Nembhard). It was a great game. It felt like a playoff-type game.”
Indiana (16-56) had led by 12 deep in the fourth period before narrowly surviving a late Orlando rally.
It was the Pacers’ first win since Feb. 11, before the All-Star Game that featured Siakam, who is averaging a team-best 24.0 points.
“In the position we’re in, we need to play as much meaningful basketball as we can, because we know we’re not going to be in the playoffs,” Carlisle said. “This was an important game at an important time … We hadn’t won a game in a while. We needed this.”
The Lakers (46-26) had won nine straight — their best run since 2020 — before being edged 113-110 in Detroit on Monday.
Luka Doncic — the league’s leading scorer, averaging 33.4 points — posted 32 against the Pistons, but missed two key shots down the stretch.
The Slovenian superstar was unsuccessful with a go-ahead pullup from 13 feet, before Daniss Jenkins’ two free throws at the other end put Detroit up by three.
Los Angeles called for time and LeBron James’ long inbound caught a deflection before ending with Doncic, who missed a tough 3-pointer over Jalen Duren to level it at the buzzer.
Despite the setback, Lakers coach JJ Redick liked how his team rallied after the Pistons had stormed ahead by 16 in the third period.
“I didn’t feel like we were going to break,” Redick said. “We made the adjustment at halftime to switch one through five. That was helpful in slowing them down.”
The Lakers’ cause wasn’t helped by the absence of regular starters Marcus Smart (ankle) and Rui Hachimura (calf). Smart is doubtful to play Wednesday and Hachimura is questionable.
“Our winning streak also coincided with us being healthy,” Redick said. “(Monday), Smart and Rui were out. Not having Smart killed us. It’s important for us that we can get healthy and play our rotation. Post-Luke (Kennard) trade, when all nine guys have played, we’ve been a good basketball team. We need to finish the season strong, but we also need to finish the season healthy.”
LeBron James endured a rare scoreless first half but still impacted the game, finishing just shy of a triple double — 12 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.
“They play extremely hard, extremely fast and they’re super well-coached,” James said of the Pacers. “We’ve got to be ready for that. It’s our last game of the road trip. I know everybody’s trying to get home, but we’ve got business to take care of. We’ll be ready.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Paul George back for Sixers' stretch run; Bulls up next
Jan 27, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) looks on after a score against the Milwaukee Bucks during the fourth quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Following a lengthy suspension, Paul George returns to the court Wednesday when the Philadelphia 76ers host the Chicago Bulls.
Philadelphia (39-33) is looking to avoid the play-in tournament, but it has been a challenge playing without many of its key weapons in recent weeks. In addition to injuries to Joel Embiid (oblique) and Tyrese Maxey (finger), among others, the team has played its last 25 games without George.
The veteran forward was suspended Jan. 31 for taking “improper medication,” but that ban ended with Monday’s 123-103 home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. George is expected to be in the starting lineup Wednesday, with no minutes restriction, for an important contest against Chicago.
The Sixers entered Tuesday in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, the first spot in the play-in tournament.
“I think they’ve done a decent job of hanging in there,” said Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse, whose team went 13-12 without George. “I think it just shows you how fast 25 games goes in this league sometimes. It’s hard to believe it’s over with already.”
The players certainly are excited to welcome back George, who averages 16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 27 games (all starts) in 2025-26.
“It’s Paul George, man,” said rookie guard VJ Edgecombe. “He’s elite. He’s one of the smoothest players to ever touch a basketball. He’s a two-way player at that, so for him to get back on the floor means a lot.”
Edgecombe has been tasked with holding down the fort while George, Maxey and Embiid have been sidelined simultaneously. He made a career-high seven 3-pointers and scored 35 points in the loss to the Thunder and has averaged 31.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists over the last three games.
“He’s got a pretty good command of the team right now,” Nurse said. “As far as getting us organized, and as far as playing with great leadership, he’s leading by example a lot.”
Meanwhile, Collin Sexton has emerged as a leader for a Bulls team likely headed for the draft lottery. The veteran point guard supplied 25 points in Monday’s 132-124 triumph over the Houston Rockets — just Chicago’s second win in the last six games.
“I wanted to bring the juice and the energy — that’s all I was thinking about these last couple (of games),” Sexton said.
Matas Buzelis chipped in with 23 points against Houston. He shot 5 of 9 from 3-point range, leading a crisp long-range performance by the Bulls, who made half of their 38 attempts from beyond the arc.
Chicago (29-42) likely faces an insurmountable climb to the play-in tournament with only 11 games remaining, but Buzelis continues to prove he’s a key piece of its future.
“Win every game. Play-in or not. Playoffs or not,” said Buzelis, who is averaging 21.6 points and 6.6 rebounds this month. “(We’re) trying to win every game.”
That mindset certainly jives with the ultra-competitive Sexton, who has contributed 16.1 points in 15 games since joining Chicago in a midseason trade with the Utah Jazz.
“Stay hungry. Stay hungry,” Sexton said. “Don’t worry about the summer. Continue to (take things) one game at a time, one day at a time.”
This is the teams’ third and final meeting this season. The Bulls have captured the first two matchups, both in Chicago.
Embiid is listed as questionable for the contest.
–Field Level Media
Report: Georgetown guard KJ Lewis entering transfer portal
Pacers get fresh start vs. Lakers with record skid over
