The game is set, the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots will meet for Super Bowl LX, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. on RDS, Sunday February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Two weeks before the big match, we offer you a first look at one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year.
A little context
Cornerback Malcolm Butler’s interception at the one-yard line that allowed the Patriots to steal top honors from the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX will forever remain engraved in fans’ memories.
For the Patriots, it’s a return to the Super Bowl after a six-year absence, following the end of the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady dynasty. As for the Seahawks, this will be their fourth participation.
Head coach Mike MacDonald and the Seahawks quietly improved from 10-7 in MacDonald’s first season by winning the NFC West title and clinching the conference’s top seed. In his first season in Seattle, Sam Darnold joined Tom Brady as the only quarterbacks to have back-to-back 14-win seasons. Boasting the best defense (17.2 points conceded per game), the Seahawks also received a midseason boost with the acquisition of receiver Rashid Shaheed. His exceptional play as a return specialist was instrumental in several key victories.
In his first year as New England head coach, Mike Vrabel orchestrated a turnaround that allowed a team that went 4-13 last year to win their division for the first time since their streak of 11 consecutive titles between 2009 and 2019. They are the sixth team to reach the Super Bowl after winning five or fewer the previous season. The last team to win the Super Bowl in this scenario was…the 2001 Patriots, in Brady’s first season as a starter. After starting the week with two losses in three games, the Patriots won 13 of their next 14 games thanks to an offense and defense ranked among the five best in the NFL, as quarterback Drake Maye established himself as one of the favorites for the regular season MVP award.
Seahawks de Seattle
A reason to believe: Defense wins championships. Have you heard that one before? Mike Macdonald’s team conceded the fewest points in the NFL during the regular season, with 16.4 points per game, then took it up a notch against the 49ers in the 2nd round of the playoffs. Despite the Rams’ offensive success in Sunday’s game, the Seahawks have now gone 27 straight games without giving up 100 yards to a running back.
A reason to worry: The turnovers. Only the Vikings committed more than Seattle (28) during the regular season. Sam Darnold was selected to the Pro Bowl despite his NFL-high 20 turnovers. Darnold is also playing through an oblique injury, and Seattle’s offense just lost one of its most reliable players, running back Zach Charbonnet, to a torn ACL.
The X factor: Rashid Shaheed. The Seattle newcomer brings a unique skill set to the Seahawks offense. He is explosive and capable of creating the big play as soon as he touches the ball, whether as a receiver, running back or on special teams. He demonstrated this ability in the NFC Championship Game, where he made a 51-yard reception, a week after scoring a major on a kickoff return. Receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and running back Kenneth Walker III are expected to attract New England’s attention, which could land Shaheed in favorable situations in the most important game of his life.
New England Patriots
A reason to believe: Quarterback Drake Maye. His talent for making plays with his arms and legs is unique, as is his millimeter precision on long passes, even when escaping from the pocket. During the regular season, he led the NFL in pass completion percentage (72%) and in yards per pass attempt (8.93).
A reason to worry: Like the Seahawks, it’s the turnovers that worry. Maye lost the ball six times in the Patriots’ first two playoff games, and he also had an interception on a deflected ball against the Chargers. Youth is also a factor to take into account with 11 players selected in the 2025 draft in their roster.
The X factor: Rhamondre Stevenson. The running back has emerged as a centerpiece of Drake Maye’s offense. After a difficult start to the season marked by several fumbles, he had the opportunity to turn things around following Antonio Gibson’s season-ending injury, and he has performed well since Week 6, alongside rookie TreVeyon Henderson. Despite the Patriots’ inconsistent offensive line, Stevenson continued to be productive, totaling 58 touches and 280 yards in three playoff games. Vrabel trusts Stevenson, and the veteran should be in high demand by the Patriots during the Super Bowl.
and Duel Darnold C. Maya Maye
If anyone had this Super Bowl quarterback showdown on their bingo card, I’d love to see it. What an unlikely duo, but it’s certainly deserved by both players.
By the numbers, Maye had a tough playoff run. His two worst games of the season, in terms of advanced statistics, were the last two wins against the Broncos and Texans. His sack rate doubled from 7.8% to 14.7%, and his pass completion percentage went from 9.1% above expectations to 5.8% below expectations, according to the stats NFL Next Gen.
Of course, we have a simple explanation for this: He faced three excellent defenses, and it was snowing heavily against two of them (the Texans and Broncos). Maye will now have to face the Seahawks defense that only one quarterback has managed to beat convincingly this season: Matthew Stafford, Maye’s rival for the title of “MVP”.
Even Darnold’s most ardent supporters questioned his abilities in big games and key moments. The Rams’ defense, in particular, had confounded Darnold when he played for the Vikings in last season’s playoffs and then again when he played for the Seahawks during the regular season. But he was brilliant against the Rams in the NFC championship game. He was fearless in a situation where many expected him to be fearful and hesitant.
Much of Darnold’s success must be credited to Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, a standout quarterback who has a wide range of plays to highlight his quarterback. With two weeks of preparation, who will win the battle of strategy? Vrabel and his defensive team, with their pressure schemes, or Kubiak, with all his clever maneuvers?
