Scoop City: Inside The NFL

Super Bowl week is officially here, and Scoop City kicks it off with a full-scale breakdown of Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots and the decisions that will decide Super Bowl LX. Can Sam Darnold guide Seattle’s balanced, explosive offense through New England’s pressure-heavy defense? Can Drake Maye and the Patriots generate enough big plays against what many believe is the best defense in football? And a shocking fire in Minnesota. What happened behind the scenes of one of the most bizarre timing changes at GM in recent memory?

James Palmer and Chase Daniel pull back the curtain on what Super Bowl week is really like from a player’s perspective. From the downtime and routine management to preparation inside the facility, Chase explains how teams avoid overthinking the biggest game of the season.

James and Chase then lay out the keys to victory for both Super Bowl teams, starting with the Seahawks offense and Sam Darnold, breaking down how Seattle’s top-10 unit can stress a Patriots defense that thrives on disguise and late movement. They examine Klint Kubiak’s role in adjusting on the fly, how Jaxon Smith-Njigba can be moved around to find matchups.

From there, the spotlight turns to Drake Maye and the Patriots offense facing Seattle’s versatile, physical defense. James and Chase breakdown how Maye’s mobility, patience, and selective aggression can unlock opportunities, especially on deep passes

Next, The Athletic’s senior NFL insider Dianna Russini joins the show with must-hear reporting on the coaching and front-office landscape. Russini breaks down the Minnesota Vikings’ decision to move on from Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and how Sam Darnold's trip to the Super Bowl could be responsible for the move. Dianna also shares the latest in the coaching carousel, where the final two vacancies are set to be filled.

James and Chase wrap the show locking in their Super Bowl predictions, final scores, and MVP picks,

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Who has the bigger edge on Sunday: Seattle’s defensive dominance or Drake Maye’s ability to create explosive plays?
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Super Bowl LX is around the corner, and Scoop City’s Thursday Road Trip makes final stops in Seattle and New England before the Seahawks and Patriots head to Santa Clara. Can Seattle’s explosive playmakers and pass rush tilt the game at Levi’s Stadium? Can New England’s offense and Drake Maye’s deep ball rise to the moment against a suffocating defense? How does this matchup of coaches change how franchises search for their next leader? And can the Steelers’ bold hire of Mike McCarthy reshape Pittsburgh’s future — including what it means for Aaron Rodgers?

Our road trip begins in the Pacific Northwest with Michael-Shawn Dugar to trace how the Seattle Seahawks built a Super Bowl roster and who deserves the most credit for the climb. Then the focus shifts on the matchup: Seattle’s ability to win up front and create pressure without sending extra rushers, and what that means for New England’s protection.

Next stop: Foxborough. Chad Graff explains the Patriots’ run to the Super Bowl and why Drake Maye is the centerpiece of their postseason surge, including the reality of his shoulder and how it could affect the plan. They break down why explosive plays feel essential against Seattle, how New England can hunt matchups, and what Christian Gonzalez’s role could be in slowing down Seattle’s top weapon. It’s the Patriots’ path to a title — and the specific pressure points that could decide it.

The Super Bowl head coaches move into the spotlight as Zak Keefer shares how finding the perfect head coach can accelerate your team to a Super Bowl. Keefer connects what Mike Vrabel and Mike Macdonald have done as “CEO” leaders to the broader coaching cycle, including why teams are chasing culture, structure, and fast rebuilds again. If you’re tracking the NFL’s next hiring wave, this conversation explains the trend and the why behind it.

Finally, the Road Trip lands in Pittsburgh with Mike DeFabo breaking down what Mike McCarthy’s homecoming means for the Steelers and how Aaron Rodgers fits into the teams plans for next season.

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Who has the bigger Super Bowl advantage: Seattle’s pressure and playmaking, or New England’s explosive passing and Vrabel’s situational edge?

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Coaches take the spotlight briefly off of the Super Bowl with two more hires and one major snub. Did the Cleveland Browns get it right by hiring Todd Monken? Why did the Buffalo Bills choose Joe Brady — and how much say did Josh Allen really have in the decision? What does the league-wide fallout look like after Bill Belichick was shockingly passed over as a first-ballot Hall of Famer?

The coaching carousel takes center stage as Todd Monken is hired by the Cleveland Browns, and The Athletic’s senior NFL insider Dianna Russini joins Scoop City to explain how the agreement came together. Russini details what separated Monken from other candidates, what Cleveland valued most in the process, and how this decision fits into a broader league trend. She also delivers updates on the ongoing head coaching searches for the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders, including where those processes currently stand.

In Buffalo, Russini breaks down how the Bills landed Joe Brady, why he emerged as the top choice over other candidates, and how involved Josh Allen was throughout the process. With the Bills still chasing their first Super Bowl, the discussion centers on why the organization believes Brady is the right coach to help unlock consistency, adaptability, and greater postseason success.

Bill Belichick was snubbed by Pro Football Hall of Fame voters in his first year of eligibility, sending shockwaves across the NFL. ESPN senior writer Seth Wickersham, who broke the story, joins James Palmer to explain how the decision unfolded, why politics — not accomplishments — played a role, and how the football world reacted to one of the most surprising Hall of Fame moments ever.

Finally, Joe Buscaglia joins the show with reaction from Buffalo following the hiring of Brady and a look ahead to what the rest of the Bills’ offseason could hold. From roster decisions to lingering pressure points, Buscaglia explains what Buffalo must do to finally get over the hump — and whether this coaching move is the one that helps push the Bills to a Super Bowl next season.

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The Seattle Seahawks are headed back to the Super Bowl for the fourth time in their franchise history. Once again, they will face the New England Patriots. Plus, what’s next for the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams after losing their respective conference championships?

Former NFL QB Chase Daniel breaks down how Sam Darnold was able to lead the Seahawks past the Rams. And what did Daniel see in Drake Maye’s performance? Now, they will face off against one another in Santa Clara in the Super Bowl.

Elsewhere, many NFL teams are still looking for their next head coach. The Athletic’s senior NFL insider, Dianna Russini, shares the latest updates from around the league. The Buffalo Bills continue to interview candidates to replace Sean McDermott, and Russini explains why the Bills have included MVP QB Josh Allen in the search. Plus, the Cleveland Browns are interviewing candidates in a unique way. Russini shares who the finalists are in Cleveland, and the group discusses why nobody wants to be the Philadelphia Eagles’ next offensive coordinator.

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Which coaching vacancy do you think is the most intriguing?
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The NFL is down to Championship Sunday — four teams, two conference titles, and one final step before the Super Bowl. Can the Broncos survive the moment with Jarrett Stidham stepping in under the brightest lights? Are the Patriots ready for the pressure that comes with being the team everyone expects to win? Can the Seahawks protect Sam Darnold (and his oblique) long enough to let their offense play free? And will the Rams keep finding ways to win even when they’re not playing perfect football?

Scoop City kicks off the Thursday Road Trip: Championship Edition starting in the AFC with Broncos writer Nick Kosmider, diving into why Denver believes Stidham can keep the offense steady — and why this week might actually bring out the best in Sean Payton. From the details behind Stidham’s preparation to the confidence coming from inside the locker room, the Broncos aren’t shrinking from the moment… they’re leaning into it.

On the other side of the AFC, Patriots writer Chad Graff, who explains what the week has felt like in Foxborough as the Patriots suddenly carry a different kind of burden: the pressure to win against a backup. Chad breaks down why Drake Maye’s postseason efficiency has dipped from his regular season level, what Denver’s defense can exploit, and how New England can avoid letting the moment — or the matchup — speed them up.

Then it’s over to the NFC and the Seahawks with Michael-Shawn Dugar. The spotlight lands on Sam Darnold’s oblique injury, how it changes the game plan, and why the biggest priority is limiting pressure — especially with so many of his turnovers coming when defenders get home. If Seattle keeps Darnold clean and composed, the Super Bowl path is real.

Finally, we close the team previews with a Rams report from Nate Atkins, focusing on how Los Angeles keeps stacking wins even when the performance isn’t flawless. With Matthew Stafford as the longest-tenured veteran QB still standing — and already a Super Bowl champion — plus Sean McVay’s experience, creativity, and the ability to win ugly when it matters most.

James Palmer wraps the show with his end-of-season awards picks after today’s finalists were released — including MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Offensive Rookie of the Year, Defensive Rookie of the Year, and Coach of the Year.

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Who is your Super Bowl matchup with the Conference Championships on Sunday?
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