SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Sam Darnold has been traded, discarded and labeled a bust.
Now, it’ll take an upset for him not to be called a Super Bowl champion.
Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks (16-3) are 4 1/2-point favorites on BetMGM Sportsbook against Drake Maye and the New England Patriots (17-3) on Sunday.
It’s a matchup that features two of the NFL’s most balanced teams who have taken different routes to get here.
The Seahawks earned a first-round bye and then dominated the San Francisco 49ers 41-6 to reach the NFC championship game. Behind a spectacular game from Darnold, they beat the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 to advance to their fourth Super Bowl. They’ve won one and would’ve had back-to-back championships if Russell Wilson didn’t throw a pick at the 1-yard line in the final minute of a 28-24 loss to New England 11 years ago.
The Patriots have relied on a dominant defense to reach this point because the NFL’s second-highest scoring offense has slumped in the playoffs. After averaging 28.8 points per game in the regular season, they’re down to 18 per game in the postseason and that includes a pick-6.
That’s the fewest points by any team to make the Super Bowl since the 1979 Rams averaged 15 in the playoffs.
But New England’s defense shut down Justin Herbert in a 16-3 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild-card round. The Patriots intercepted C.J. Stroud four times and returned one for a score in a 28-16 victory over the Houston Texans. They held the Broncos to one touchdown in a 10-7 win in the AFC title game.
Seattle’s defense was stingier in the regular season, giving up a league-low 17.2 points per game. The Patriots were fourth best, allowing 18.8. The Seahawks were right behind New England in scoring offense, averaging 28.4 points.
In yardage, each team was top 10 in every category on both sides of the ball.
The Seahawks are 14-5 against the spread while the Patriots are 13-6-1.
New England is playing in its 12th Super Bowl and seeking its seventh victory, which would break a tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most in NFL history.
The Patriots, who won six Super Bowls with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick in nine tries, haven’t been an underdog in this game since the first time they won one. The “Greatest Show on Turf” St. Louis Rams were double-digit favorites when Brady, in his second year, led New England to a 20-17 victory on Feb. 3, 2002.
Underdogs have covered the spread five straight years and have won three in a row, including the Philadelphia Eagles over the Kansas City Chiefs last year.
Overall, favorites are 36-23 straight up and 27-30-2 ATS in the Super Bowl.
Pro Picks sees a close one.
SEAHAWKS: 24-22
Overall: Straight up: 193-90-1. Against spread: 149-127-8.
Regular season: Straight up: 184-87-1. Against spread: 143-121-8.
Playoffs: Straight up: 9-3. Against spread: 6-6.
Best Bet: Straight up: 15-6. Against spread: 9-11-1.
Upset Special: Straight up: 14-7. Against spread: 15-6.
Pro Picks is a weekly column where AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi shares his picks for upcoming games. For all previous Pro Picks, head here.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, left, greets Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald during the NFL Super Bowl Opening Night, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in San Jose, Calif. ahead of the Super Bowl 60 football game between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
New Englad Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, left, and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, right, smile on stage with the Lombardi Trophy during the NFL Super Bowl Opening Night, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in San Jose, Calif., ahead of the Super Bowl 60 football game between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb 4, 2026--
(World Cancer Day) — Dana-Farber Cancer Institute today announced the largest single gift in its history through a new joint commitment from Josh and Anita Bekenstein and the Jonathan and Jeannie Lavine family. The transformational gift for the future cancer hospital builds on the two families’ decades-long dedication to Dana-Farber’s mission of delivering expert, compassionate patient care while accelerating discoveries that improve outcomes for people with cancer around the world.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260204469403/en/
Left to right: Josh Bekenstein, Anita Bekenstein, Benjamin L. Ebert, MD, PhD, Jeannie Lavine, and Jonathan Lavine. Photo Credit: Sasha Pedro
The region's only inpatient hospital dedicated to cancer will be named in recognition of the remarkable joint gift from the Lavines and Bekensteins. Friends and business partners for more than 30 years, Josh Bekenstein was a Founding Partner and former Co-Chair of Bain Capital, where he first met and worked with Jonathan Lavine, who is the Founder of Bain Capital Credit and Bain Capital Special Situations and also served as Co-Managing Partner and Chair of Bain Capital.
Designed entirely around the needs of oncology patients and their families, the 300-bed hospital will expand access to highly specialized, fully integrated cancer care, supporting a seamless experience across diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
“We are deeply grateful for this exceptional, shared commitment, from two families who have been profoundly devoted to Dana-Farber,” said Dr. Benjamin L. Ebert, president and CEO of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. “By helping make the future cancer hospital possible, the Bekensteins and Lavines are investing in a fully integrated model of cancer care — one designed around patients and families, powered by scientific innovation, and delivered by teams whose sole focus is cancer.”
The Bekenstein family’s connection to Dana-Farber began in 1993 through the Pan-Mass Challenge, when Anita and Josh rode it for the first time. Josh has now ridden it 33 times and Anita and Josh and their five children have ridden a total of 100 times. Josh is also the current chair of the Dana-Farber Board of Trustees where he has served on the Board since 1997.
“Dana-Farber has been part of our lives for decades, and we have seen firsthand what’s possible when world-class research and patient care come together,” Josh and Anita Bekenstein said in a joint statement. “We are proud to support the future cancer hospital and the remarkable teams at Dana-Farber who care for patients every day while pushing the frontiers of science. This gift reflects our longstanding commitment to Dana-Farber’s mission and our belief that the planned cancer hospital will bring new hope to patients and families for generations.”
The Lavine Family’s decades-long involvement with Dana-Farber began in 1996 with an unrestricted gift of $100, marking the start of a long philanthropic partnership. Jonathan Lavine has served as a Dana-Farber trustee since 2011. He and his wife, Jeannie Lavine, a philanthropic leader and former strategy consultant, served together on the campaign cabinet for The Dana-Farber Campaign.
“Cancer affects everyone — patients and the people who love and care for them,” said Jeannie and Jonathan Lavine who are partnering on the joint gift with the Bekensteins. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reimagine what inpatient cancer care can be. Our support represents our belief in the people of Dana-Farber — the researchers, administrators, and the doctors and nurses on the front lines — and in a model of care that puts patients first. We hope this commitment inspires others to support what’s possible.”
"For generations, Massachusetts has been the global leader in health care innovation and medical research, and Dana-Farber has played an essential role in that legacy," said Governor Maura Healey and First Lady Joanna Lydgate. "Thanks to the tremendous generosity of the Lavine and Bekenstein families, Dana-Farber's future cancer hospital is one step closer to changing lives and delivering expert, compassionate care for patients and their families. We are proud of Dana-Farber and grateful for the Lavine and Bekenstein families' support."
“The City of Boston is profoundly grateful to Josh and Anita Bekenstein and Jeannie and Jonathan Lavine for their extraordinary generosity to realize the vision of the new Dana-Farber cancer hospital,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Boston thrives because we continue to reinvest in ourselves as a community that drives scientific research and global advances in human health. This joint gift is a landmark investment in the future of our city and a symbol of hope for millions of cancer patients around the world.”
Situated on the current site of the Joslin Diabetes Center along Brookline Avenue, the planned cancer hospital will be one of only 14 in the United States. The inpatient facility will be supported by a clinical collaboration among Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians. The interlocking campus will connect Dana-Farber and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center facilities, fostering multidisciplinary care across medical specialties for the patient journey. Construction is expected to begin in mid 2026.
About Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is one of the world’s leading centers of cancer research and treatment. Dana-Farber’s mission is to reduce the burden of cancer through scientific inquiry, clinical care, education, community engagement, and advocacy. Dana-Farber is a federally designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, the founding member of the Dana-Farber Harvard Cancer Center, and a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.
Dana-Farber is the only hospital nationwide with a top 3 U.S. News & World Report Best Cancer Hospital ranking in both adult and pediatric care.
As a global leader in oncology, Dana-Farber is dedicated to an equal emphasis on cancer research and care, translating the results of discovery into new treatments for patients locally and around the world, offering more than 1,200 clinical trials.
About Josh and Anita Bekenstein
Josh and Anita Bekenstein deeply value civic engagement and have had the privilege of supporting many philanthropic initiatives over the years. They believe that many of our most urgent challenges can be solved by supporting strong leaders with innovative and catalytic ideas. They are optimistic that philanthropy can drive transformative and sustainable systems changes which benefit the well-being of all humanity.
About The Lavine Family and The Crimson Lion/Lavine Family Foundation
The Lavine Family and their family foundation, The Crimson Lion / Lavine Family Foundation, and related family charitable entities, work toward leveling the playing field for individuals and families.
The Foundation addresses pressing social challenges in the areas of education, healthcare, workforce development, anti-discrimination, and democratizing information. The Foundation supports the multi-disciplinary efforts of organizations that serve to strengthen civil society through research, innovation, public policy, direct service, and advocacy.
Left to right: Josh Bekenstein, Anita Bekenstein, Benjamin L. Ebert, MD, PhD, Jeannie Lavine, and Jonathan Lavine. Photo Credit: Sasha Pedro
