Patriots Wrap Up Final Super Bowl Prep at Stanford, Stick to Routine Ahead of Clash with Seahawks
With Super Bowl LX just two days away, the New England Patriots wrapped up their final full practice Friday afternoon at Stanford Stadium, staying true to the formula that’s carried them through the postseason. Head coach Mike Vrabel and his squad kept things light, focused, and familiar - a tone that’s become a hallmark of their Friday sessions throughout the season.
The team will hold a brief walkthrough on Saturday, but for all intents and purposes, the prep work is done. As Vrabel put it, “It’s Friday, we’re 48 hours before the game, and that’s just how we normally operate.”
No Surprises, Just Consistency
The Patriots didn’t deviate from their usual Friday rhythm. After opening with stretching, the team’s assistant coaches engaged in their now-traditional lighthearted drills against one another - a staple of Vrabel’s end-of-week practices. It’s a small moment of levity that helps keep the team loose, even with the biggest game of the year looming.
Seattle, on the other side of the matchup, mirrored that approach. The Seahawks ran through their standard ACT routine - alignment, communication, technique - a familiar cadence that’s helped them stay sharp and connected all season.
Simulating Super Bowl Sunday
One key adjustment the Patriots made was simulating the extended Super Bowl halftime. After a special teams segment, Vrabel sent the entire team to the locker room for 14 minutes - a nod to the longer intermission that comes with the Super Bowl spectacle.
It’s a small but important tweak. Regular-season halftimes last 13 minutes, but the Super Bowl break stretches well beyond that, and it can throw off a team’s rhythm if they’re not ready for it.
When the team returned to the field, they dove into team drills. The starting offense and defense squared off against the scout team, giving one final look at the game plan in action. Vrabel then gathered the group for a final huddle before breaking off into smaller position groups for focused individual work.
Quarterback Drake Maye, tight end Hunter Henry, and rookie wideout Efton Chism were the last players to leave the field - a trio that could play a major role come Sunday. In total, the Patriots’ practice ran just under 90 minutes, slightly shorter than Seattle’s 96-minute session.
Health Trending in the Right Direction
For the first time since before the divisional round, the Patriots had full attendance at practice - a promising sign heading into the weekend. Linebacker Robert Spillane and edge rusher Harold Landry were both on the field, though they were limited and later listed as questionable. Still, just having them suit up is a step forward.
“They’re doing everything they can to be ready for the football game,” Vrabel said. “We’ll see how they respond from practice today.”
Seattle’s injury report was even cleaner. Fullback Robbie Ouzts was the only player listed. Safety Nick Emmanwori, who had been dealing with an ankle sprain suffered earlier in the week, practiced fully on Friday and was removed from the report - a good sign for a secondary that will be tested by New England’s emerging passing game.
The Stage Is Set
At this point, there’s nothing left to do but wait. The Patriots have put in the work, stuck to their routine, and kept things steady in the final lead-up to the biggest game of the year. Vrabel’s message has been clear all week: trust the preparation, trust each other, and play their brand of football.
Come Sunday, we’ll find out if that steady hand and familiar rhythm can carry New England to another Lombardi Trophy.