A year ago this article appeared here: The Super Bowl that no one wanted. Because the Kansas City Chiefs were there again and because many would have preferred to see one of those feel-good stories from Detroit or Washington in the NFL finals instead of the Philadelphia Eagles. Among other things, it was about the fact that the Chiefs had overthrown the New England Patriots after their long dynasty and had now become a generally hated (or rather, envied) team themselves.
And now? Are the Patriots suddenly back? And also the Seattle Seahawks. Nobody wanted to see the Eagles anymore, but then the Seahawks?
Patriots and Seahawks gather many fans in Germany
The team from Seattle did not shape a dynasty as long as the Patriots, who reached nine Super Bowls and won six with head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback legend Tom Brady in the first 20 years of this millennium. But Seattle experienced a high phase in the middle of the last decade with two Super Bowl appearances and one triumph. Both around the time when the NFL hype was really picking up steam in Germany. Consequently, many German fans became supporters of the Seahawks or Patriots.
Most people have probably already heard that they are fans of success. And this was also the reaction in some parts of the German NFL bubble: no desire at all for this Super Bowl. Precisely because of these success fans. Well, if one or two Patriots fans say that they went through hell because their team hasn’t been in the Super Bowl for seven years, then that’s also rather difficult to understand for some other fans whose team has never been there. The other way around, those Patriots supporters didn’t know anything else for a long time. It’s all a question of perspective.
In fact, the pairing of the last Super Bowl seems to have put off one or two fans in this country: an average of 1.31 million people watched on RTL, which was the fewest in a long time. Again the Chiefs and again the Eagles – some people might not have wanted it.
But this year things could be different again. Because the Patriots and Seahawks are the largest fan bases in German-speaking countries and will of course all be sitting in front of the television (although perhaps not all of them on RTL). In addition, neither of them were in the final for a relatively long time (with emphasis on relatively!): The Patriots, as mentioned, in 2019, the Seahawks in 2015. Also back then against the Patriots.
Legendary duel in the Super Bowl eleven years ago
That Super Bowl from eleven years ago is also legendary. It was generally an outstanding game from both teams, a real battle for the title. And it ended dramatically: Shortly before the end, the Seahawks were directly in front of the opponent’s end zone, and a touchdown meant victory. They had the best running back in the league in Marshawn Lynch. Everyone expected the run – but the Seahawks chose a pass. The Patriots’ Malcolm Butler intercepted it, game over, New England won. This image surely haunts Seahawks fans’ nightmares to this day.
It’s also because of this scene that the stories surrounding this Super Bowl write themselves. But not just because of that. Both teams have now been replaced, both in terms of the squad and the head coaches. The Patriots have apparently found a new franchise quarterback in Drake Maye who could shape the league for years to come. The Seahawks come with their fantastic defense and quarterback Sam Darnold, who was once considered a failure and can now suddenly win a title.
But can he do that too? Will he build on his outstanding performance from the NFC Championship Game? Or is he falling back a little into old patterns? And what is Drake Maye doing on the other side – is the 23-year-old already at the point where he can lead the team, which is individually weaker, to triumph? Is he ready for this stage yet? Will the Seahawks live up to their role as favorites or will it remain exciting until the end?
There’s plenty of good things to look forward to in this Super Bowl and why you should tune in – even if you don’t like the teams that much. And if only there is hope that the Seahawks will be in front of the Patriots end zone again shortly before the end and can decide the game with a short run. Would they do it this time?
