Patriots, Seahawks kick off Super Bowl festivities with calmer Opening Night

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Maybe the game itself will live up to the hype, because Super Bowl Opening Night was calmer than usual.Drake Maye and the New England Patriots (17-3) take on Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks (16-3) on Sunday at Levi's Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers.The media frenzy that kicked off the week's festivities late Monday night was smaller, quieter and far less outrageous than recent years.The crowd inside the San Jose Convention Center was a fraction of its usual size — Opening Night has previously been held in larger arenas. More than 2,000 reporters from across the globe were credentialed to cover the typically zany event, and the league expects 6,500 media members to cover the game and various events surrounding it.There was no sign of the naked man in a barrel. Nobody wore a wedding dress and proposed to Maye. Reporters weren't asking players to dance or perform odd tricks. One guy did dress up as Charizard, a Pokemon character.Still, it wasn't all football and X's and O's.Maye was asked about his wife, Ann Michael Maye, and her popular baking videos on social media."Keep being you," he said. "You're the better half of me and I love you. It's such a special moment for me to follow your journey. I know you do it for something bigger than yourself and that's what makes it special."Darnold was asked to name his favorite coffee spot, burger joint, hobby and food.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 reporter from Nickelodeon who presented him with a purple-and-green chain that read, "Slime." Vrabel wore it but feared he'd get that green, gooey stuff splashed all over his head."Why do you keep looking up? Am I about to get slimed?" he said.Assured he wasn't, Vrabel was asked if there's one player he would want to slime."Stefon Diggs," he said without hesitation.Diggs, the standout receiver, was full of praise for his coach."I've had great coaches but this guy played the game, he knows we're gonna grind and he takes care of us," Diggs said.The Patriots spent one hour fielding questions before giving way to the Seahawks, who took the stage an hour after New England concluded.Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald, a finalist along with Vrabel for AP NFL Coach of the Year, was asked if he considered signing Marshawn Lynch to a one-day contract to give him an opportunity to score a 1-yard touchdown.This is a Super Bowl matchup that produced one of the most memorable endings among the first 59. The Patriots beat the Seahawks 28-24 when Malcolm Butler picked off Russell Wilson's pass from the 1 in the final minute on Feb. 1, 2015. Seahawks fans still lament the fact Lynch didn't get the ball in that spot."I love Beast Mode," Macdonald said. "Just the fact that he knows me and he texts me. ... That's how you want Seahawk football to look like Marshawn."An event that began as a daytime introduction of the teams has evolved into a live, ticketed, prime-time showcase on national television.The Patriots are aiming for an NFL-record seventh Lombardi trophy and first without Brady and Belichick.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 has led the way for the Patriots in the playoffs, holding three opponents to just 8.7 points per game.The Seahawks had the NFL's stingiest defense, 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 top storyline of the week. A 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 walk away in free agency. He became the first quarterback to lead two teams to consecutive 14-win seasons and has 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 has experienced this week's shenanigans. He was a backup to Brock Purdy when the 49ers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl two years ago."The reason why this is so special is because of the process and what it took to get here," Darnold said.