StadiumPosts Logo
Stay upto date with notifications from Stadiumposts
Notifications can be managed in browser preferences

EFFICIENCY BREAKDOWN: WHY SEATTLE’S NO. 1 EPA RANKING MAKES THEM SUPER BOWL FAVORITES

The Seattle Seahawks’ No. 1-ranked defence brings its 27-game "no 100-yard rusher" streak to Super Bowl LX against the Patriots.

Efficiency Breakdown: Why Seattle’s No. 1 EPA ranking makes them Super Bowl favorites
Seahawks No. 1 defence officially set to face Patriots in Super Bowl LX

The Seattle Seahawks’ defence rolls into Super Bowl LX with a chip on its shoulder. All season, they’ve looked like one of the league’s most dominant groups, and honestly, they’re the main reason fans have hope. The numbers back it up, too—every advanced stat and matchup breakdown puts this unit among the NFL’s best. They know exactly who they are heading into the biggest game of the year.

What really sets Seattle apart? Consistency. Every phase of the defence just clicks. The scheme doesn’t just highlight individual talent—it turns it into real team strength. They gave up the fewest points per game in the regular season, smothered pretty much every opponent’s run game, and got after quarterbacks without selling out on blitzes. That kind of balance makes them a nightmare to plan for. You can’t just attack one weakness and hope it cracks.

Versatility is a big part of this, too. Guys like Nick Emmanwori move all over the field, letting the coaches mix up coverages and pressure looks. Opposing quarterbacks get forced into quick reads and tight windows. And it’s not just one level of the defence making plays—linemen, linebackers, DBs, everyone chips in with big tackles, turnovers, and drive-killing stops that flip the field and the mood in a heartbeat.

Look at the advanced stats, and it gets even wilder. By DVOA—a metric that actually accounts for context and play-by-play efficiency—Seattle’s defence is already rubbing shoulders with some of the best groups in the last forty years. That’s not just about flashy total yard numbers either. It’s about shutting teams down on third down, clamping up in the red zone, and delivering when it matters.

If you want a reason to believe Seattle can win this thing, look no further than the defence. Mike Macdonald’s group gave up just 16.4 points a game during the regular season, better than anyone else. In the divisional round, they didn’t just beat the 49ers—they shut them down. San Francisco managed two field goals, fumbled away three turnovers, and failed on three more fourth downs. And get this: Seattle hasn’t let a running back hit 100 yards in 27 straight games. That’s despite facing studs like Christian McCaffrey, Kyren Williams, Bijan Robinson, and Jonathan Taylor in just the past couple of months.

The matchup looks good for Seattle, too. The Patriots lean on their passing game, but they’ve struggled against disguised coverages and pressure all postseason—exactly what Seattle brings. If the Seahawks can speed up Mac Jones and take away big plays, they’ll drag this game into a grind, where field position and ugly, low scores work in their favour.

Sure, there are a few red flags. Some recent title games have shown a few cracks in the run defence or pass rush, but Seattle’s depth and flexible scheme help cover those up. They don’t need to be perfect, just better than New England’s offence when it counts.

Bottom line: Seattle’s defence is why the oddsmakers and experts pick them. If this unit shows up like it has all year, the Seahawks control the tempo and put themselves on the doorstep of another Lombardi Trophy.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES TRADE JAREN JACKSON JR. TO UTAH JAZZ IN 8-PLAYER BLOCKBUSTER

The Memphis Grizzlies have traded Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz, creating a record $28.8 million trade exception for 2026.

top-news
Grizzlies finalise Jaren Jackson Jr. deal

The Memphis Grizzlies turned heads on Tuesday, pulling off a blockbuster trade that sent two-time All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr to the Utah Jazz. Along with Jackson, the Grizzlies shipped out Vince Williams Jr, John Konchar, and Jock Landale. Coming back their way: Walter Clayton Jr, Kyle Anderson, Georges Niang, and, maybe the most important part, three future first-round picks.

And honestly, it feels like Memphis isn’t done stirring the pot. Inside the organisation, they see Zach Edey and Cedric Coward as the future. Both went late in the lottery in the past two drafts, and the Grizzlies landed some value in the second round this year, too, grabbing Jaylen Wells and Cam Spencer.

All this movement means Ja Morant’s future in Memphis suddenly looks shaky. He’s been the face of the franchise since they took him No. 2 overall back in 2019. When he’s healthy, he’s electric—no question. But injuries and off-court drama have slowed him down, and now, with the trade deadline closing in, the Grizzlies are openly shopping him. Teams around the league are watching.

There’s another wrinkle here: by dealing Jackson, Memphis created a massive trade exception—$28.8 million, the biggest in NBA history, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks and Shams Charania. It’s a huge chess piece. With that exception, the Grizzlies can absorb big, ugly contracts from other teams in exchange for more draft picks. Think of what the Thunder did a few years back—stockpiling picks by taking on bad deals until they rebuilt into a contender.

Now, you’ve probably heard Giannis Antetokounmpo’s name floating around in trade rumours. He hasn’t officially asked out of Milwaukee, but everyone in the league expects something to happen soon. Teams like the Timberwolves and Knicks are circling. The Grizzlies? They’re not likely to chase Giannis directly. But with that trade exception, they could play a big role as a third team—taking on salary dumps or unwanted contracts, collecting more picks, and helping another franchise pull off the Giannis blockbuster. Memphis just put itself squarely in the middle of the NBA’s hottest rumour.

KLINT KUBIAK SNUBS NFL RIVALS TO LEAD RAIDERS’ NEW ERA UNDER TOM BRADY

The Las Vegas Raiders are zeroing in on Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak as their next head coach, with Tom Brady leading the search.

top-news
Klint Kubiak is set for the Raiders as Seahawks coach faces the New England Patriots

The Las Vegas Raiders are in the middle of a huge shakeup right now. Klint Kubiak, the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, is set to become their new head coach—and honestly, he’s nothing like Pete Carroll.

Kubiak’s still in his 30s, calling plays on offence, while Carroll just wrapped up last season as the NFL’s oldest head coach. The Raiders had their eyes on Ben Johnson previous year, but when he decided to take the Bears job, they turned to Carroll instead.

This time, Las Vegas seemed to have that same level of interest in Kubiak, but they had to wait things out because Seattle was still in the playoffs. Tom Brady, who’s a minority owner with the Raiders, clearly played a big part in picking the new coach.

Since nothing’s official until after the Super Bowl, Brady can’t come right out and talk about Kubiak joining the team. Still, he didn’t hold back when it came to sharing what he liked about the guy.

“Klint’s played to his team’s strengths. Last week, he did a ton of good things against a really strong Rams defence,” Brady said on the “Let’s Go!” podcast. “That’s what it took for them to win. The Rams are a tough team. That game in Seattle could’ve gone either way... Seattle really had to play a complete game in all three phases to pull it out, and they’ll need to do the same this weekend in Santa Clara.”

Brady also talked about Fernando Mendoza.

Another big reason the Raiders’ coaching job is so appealing? They’ve got the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Everyone expects them to grab Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

Brady doesn’t have to be secretive about it—nobody’s jumping ahead of them in the draft. He was pretty open about how much he likes Mendoza.

“What do I value most? When I see him, he’s always talking up his teammates. He wins the Heisman, and he’s giving credit to everyone else,” Brady said. “That’s the kind of attitude you want in a leader.”

Kubiak focused on the Super Bowl, not the job switch.

Kubiak’s career is about to take off, but right now, he’s locked in on trying to win his first Super Bowl. So, he isn’t ready to talk about the Raiders just yet.

“I’m coaching the Seahawks in the Super Bowl, and that’s all I’m thinking about,” Kubiak told reporters on Monday. “I’m just excited for this week and this game.”

Not everyone in Seattle is thrilled to see Kubiak go. Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold had nothing but praise after working with him this year.

“He was unbelievable,” Darnold said Monday. “The stuff I picked up from Klint—just with schemes, and then learning from him as a coach and a person—the grit. He’s up before the sun, gets to the facility at 4 or 4:30, and leaves later than anyone. The guy just grinds. He loves football, and he’s always straight with his players. I know I really appreciated that, and so did the rest of the guys.”

Premier League Standings

WhatsApp Read More News