SAN FRANCISCO (AP) 鈥� Nobody on the Seattle Seahawks has supported Sam Darnold quite like Ernest Jones IV.
When Darnold threw four interceptions against the Los Angeles Rams in a 21-19 loss in Week 11, Jones had his quarterback鈥檚 back. The second-team All-Pro linebacker wouldn鈥檛 allow Darnold to take the blame.
鈥淪am鈥檚 been balling,鈥� Jones said after that game. 鈥淚f we want to try and define Sam by this game, man, Sam鈥檚 had us in every game. So, for him to sit there and say, 鈥榊o, that鈥檚 my fault,鈥� no, it鈥檚 not. There were plays defensively we could have made plays, or opportunities where we could have got stops.
鈥淭his is football. He鈥檚 our quarterback and we鈥檝e got his back.鈥�
Darnold rewarded his teammate鈥檚 faith. He led the Seahawks back from a 16-point, fourth-quarter deficit to an overtime win against Los Angeles in the next meeting and was sensational in Seattle鈥檚 31-27 victory over the Rams in the NFC championship game.
鈥淟ike I said, doubt Sam if you want to, Sam鈥檚 gonna show you every time,鈥� Jones said afterward. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 who we know, and that鈥檚 why I stood on that, and I鈥檒l do it all over again.鈥�
Darnold has earned plenty of trust in the locker room in his first season in Seattle after a breakout year in Minnesota. Once considered a bust after the Jets drafted him No. 3 overall in 2018, Darnold 鈥� on his fifth team in eight seasons 鈥� is one victory away from leading Seattle to the franchise鈥檚 second Lombardi Trophy.
Darnold and the Seahawks face Drake Maye and the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl on Sunday in a rematch from a matchup 11 years ago.
Tom Brady and the Patriots won that one, 28-24, after Russell Wilson鈥檚 pass from the 1-yard line in the final minute was intercepted by Malcolm Butler.
That gave Brady, coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots the fourth of their sixth Super Bowl rings before the dynasty ended.
First-year Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, a standout linebacker on three of those championship teams, has quickly turned a team that was coming off consecutive 4-13 seasons into a winner.
Maye has been the catalyst for New England鈥檚 impressive turnaround.
鈥淔rom Day 1, I feel like the guys have really taken what Coach Vrabel has wanted to do with us and have just really applied it to their lives in every single way,鈥� Maye said.
鈥淲hether it鈥檚 on the field, off the field, getting treatment, doing little things, making great decisions off the field. I think the biggest thing is just 鈥� Coach Vrabel always says he treats us how we treat the team. I think that鈥檚 how guys have taken this year, and I think it鈥檚 just rallying together and wanting to play for each other. From there on, we just have had fun doing it every single day since, and it鈥檚 been a ride. Looking forward to trying to finish it off.鈥�
Brady also was a second-year quarterback when he led the Patriots to their first Super Bowl title in the 2001 season.
They were double-digit underdogs when they beat the Rams. The Pats were favorites in their next eight Super Bowl appearances until now. New England is a 4 1/2-point underdog this time around.
The 23-year old Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 draft, will be the second-youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl. Ben Roethlisberger was the youngest to win one when he led Pittsburgh to a victory over Seattle in the 2005 season.
Maye has demonstrated plenty of poise in clutch situations. He changed a play and ran a bootleg to extend the drive on third down late in the AFC championship game against Denver to seal a 10-7 victory in the snow.
鈥淚 think just as we鈥檝e gone through this entire year in this program, and the more that he鈥檚 been out there and the games have kind of built up on us that, really, we鈥檝e done a nice job in those situations,鈥� Vrabel said of Maye鈥檚 maturity in big moments. 鈥淚 think he鈥檚 improved in them, and he鈥檚 a big part of why we鈥檙e here, obviously.鈥�
Of course, both teams are far more than just their quarterbacks.
Darnold has All-Pro wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, running back Kenneth Walker and Seattle鈥檚 defense is the stingiest in the league. The Seahawks allowed the fewest points in the NFL and have standout players at every level. Defensive tackle Leonard Williams, linebacker Jones and cornerback Devon Witherspoon were second-team All-Pros. Safety Nick Emmanwori had a standout rookie season.
Maye has running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson, wide receiver Stefon Diggs and the defense has been dominant in the playoffs.
Only one team will leave Santa Clara, California, with the Lombardi Trophy.
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