The Seattle Seahawks will return to the Super Bowl this Sunday to take on the New England Patriots. The last time the Seahawks made it to the league championship game was 2015, when they lost in the final minutes to the Tom Brady-led Pats. For a look ahead to the big game, KUOW’s Kim Malcolm talked to Jerry Brewer, who writes about sports for The Athletic.

This interview has been edited for clarity.

Kim Malcolm: The last time we spoke, you were hoping for a Seahawks-Patriots final, and you got that wish. So, let’s go straight to any of your thoughts on which team is primed to pull off a win on Sunday.

Jerry Brewer: I think the Seahawks have a decided advantage in this game, and I think that the only thing that is going to deter them is if they commit some turnovers, or put themselves in really bad situations, and make life easier than the Patriots do.

On Monday night during the first media availabilities for both teams, I had other members of the media come up to me and say, “Just walking in the building, it looks like the Seahawks are going to kill the Patriots.” That’s how physically imposing the Seahawks look just out of their uniforms in sweats.

Okay, so let’s back up a little bit. What did you like about how the Hawks performed in the NFC Championship game against the LA Rams?

They won with the opposite hand. I mean, this is a team that is built around defense, but they had to win a shootout against the LA Rams, the only team with an offense that has vexed Mike McDonald’s defense. And the Seahawks said, you know what, we’re not just going to play conservative ball and try to hold these guys down. We’re going to go for it. Sam Darnold had the best game of his career. Jaxon Smith-Njigba had an incredible duel with Puka Nacua, the wide receiver for the Rams.

You saw just how explosive and dynamic the Seahawks offense can be. You saw how stellar their special teams are, and even in a moment when their defense didn’t play as well, you saw them make big plays at the right times. They were incredibly clutch in that game, even though they weren’t spectacular.

What should we know about the strengths of the Patriots? How could they beat the Hawks?

Well, they feel like a modern version of the Patriots dynasty, which is scary. Those guys are going to do their jobs. It’s a remarkable run from a team that was one of the worst teams in the NFL a year ago to now being in the Super Bowl, coached by a great defensive-minded head coach in Mike Vrabel.

They do have the best quarterback in this matchup. Young Drake Maye, from North Carolina, is really spectacular. He can run, he’s big and he’s strong, he’s got a big arm, and he has a penchant for just that surprise moment, making big plays down the field. They are really going to test the Seahawks discipline in a lot of areas, but especially that defensive backfield.

The Hawks have had two weeks to get ready for their return to the Super Bowl. What are you hearing from players and coaches about how they’re getting ready?

There is just a veteran’s calm about these Seahawks, like they’ve been there before. It really feels just like another business trip with them. They have an incredible amount of respect for the Patriots. There has been zero trash talk from either side in this Super Bowl. It’s actually been rather boring. I mean, you would think they were getting prepared for week six of the season and not the biggest game of their lives.

But as long as the Seahawks’ heart doesn’t race too much, they are the better team. And if they can handle the stage, which they’re showing a lot of signs that they can, I think they’ll be prepared to play their best football game.

Listen to the interview by clicking the play button above.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/02/07/seahawks-primed-for-super-bowl-grudge-match-with-patriots/