Patriots and Seahawks kick off Super Bowl festivities with a quieter, calmer, tamer Opening Night

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Perhaps the game itself will live up to the hype, because Super Bowl opening night was quieter than usual.

Drake Maye and the New England Patriots (17-3) face Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks (16-3) on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers.

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The media frenzy that kicked off the week’s festivities Monday evening was less, calmer and much less scandalous than in recent years.

The crowd inside the San Jose Convention Center included more than 5,000 fans — it’s twice as big, or more, in larger arenas. More than 2,000 journalists from around the world have been accredited to cover the typically wacky event, up from 6,000 media members in Las Vegas two years ago.

There was no trace of the naked man in a barrel. No one wore a wedding dress and proposed to Maye. Reporters weren’t asking players to dance or do strange tricks.

However, it wasn’t all football, X’s and O’s.

Maye was asked about his wife, Ann Michael Maye, and her popular baking videos on social media.

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“Keep being yourself,” he says. “You’re the better half of me and I love you. This is such a special moment for me to follow your journey. I know you’re doing it for something bigger than yourself and that’s what makes it special.”

Patriots coach Mike Vrabel refused to compare Maye to Tom Brady and was asked several questions about playing for Bill Belichick. He had fun with a Nickelodeon reporter who presented him with a purple and green string that said “Slime” on it. Vrabel wore it but was afraid the green, gooey stuff would splash on his head.

“Why do you keep looking up? Am I about to lose weight?” he said.

Assured not, Vrabel was asked if there was a player he would like to slime.

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“Stefon Diggs,” he said without hesitation.

Diggs, the outstanding receiver, was full of praise for his coach.

“I’ve had great coaches, but this guy played the game, he knows we’re going to work hard and he takes care of us,” Diggs said.

The Patriots spent an hour answering questions before giving way to the Seahawks, who were scheduled to take the stage an hour later.

An event that began as a daytime presentation of the teams evolved into a live, paid, prime-time presentation on national television.

The Patriots are aiming for an NFL-record seventh Lombardi Trophy and first without Brady and Coach Belichick.

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Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls as a linebacker with New England, inherited a 4-13 team and has the Patriots on the verge of their first championship parade in seven years.

Maye had a sensational sophomore season, becoming a finalist for the AP NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year awards while leading the Patriots to their 12th Super Bowl.

A stifling defense paved the way for the Patriots in the playoffs, holding three opponents to just 8.7 points per game.

This is a Super Bowl rematch from one of the most memorable endings in the top 59. The Patriots beat the Seahawks 28-24 when Malcolm Butler recovered Russell Wilson’s pass from the 1 in the final minute on February 1, 2015.

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The Seahawks had the stingiest defense in the NFL, led by tackle Leonard Williams, linebacker Ernest Jones IV and cornerback Devon Witherspoon. Seattle allowed just 17.1 points per game.

But Darnold’s resurgence will be the hot topic of the week. The No. 3 overall pick by the New York Jets in 2018, Darnold is thriving on his fifth team.

Despite winning 14 games with Minnesota in 2024, the Vikings let Darnold leave in free agency. He became the first quarterback to lead two teams to consecutive 14-win seasons and proved his doubters wrong. Now he’s trying to help Seattle win its second Super Bowl in the franchise’s fourth appearance in the game.

At least Darnold lived through this week’s shenanigans. He was Brock Purdy’s backup when the 49ers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl two years ago.

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