The Ultimate Guide to Super Bowl LX
- Christian Clark
- Jan 30
- 14 min read
Updated: Feb 1
WACO, TX (January 30th, 2026)- From 32 squads down to a pair of elites. On February 8th, 2026, the New England Patriots of the American Football Conference (AFC) and the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football Conference (NFC) will compete for the NFL’s most prestigious crown: the Lombardi Trophy. Not many, if any, saw this matchup coming at the beginning of the 2025 season.
It seemed like a safe bet that between Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs), Josh Allen (Bills), and Lamar Jackson (Ravens), one of them would represent the AFC. In the NFC, it was a bit more of a wide-open bag. The defending champion Eagles had just blitzed the Chiefs in Super Bowl 59. Were they about to run it back? Then there was Stafford’s Rams, Goff’s Lions, or maybe the Commanders and Jayden Daniels would rebound after their NFC Championship loss and return to the big game after decades of futility.
Instead, none of that preseason hype transpired. Mahomes and Lamar didn’t make the postseason, and the Bills fell short of a Super Bowl berth yet again. In the NFC, the Lions didn’t make the playoffs following the departure of head coach Ben Johnson. The Commanders had a catastrophic season, as Jayden Daniels spent most of the year injured. And the Cowboys, yep, still haven’t made an NFC Championship Game in the 21st century.
Instead, we got something much better: one of the greatest NFL seasons I think I’ve ever watched.
We saw a multitude (FIVE!) of new playoff teams, including:
Seattle Seahawks (NFC West Champions)
Carolina Panthers (NFC South Champions)
Jacksonville Jaguars (AFC South Champions)
Chicago Bears (NFC North Champions)
San Francisco 49ers (6 seed)
The parity is what makes this league so special. Not only did those teams make the playoffs after missing in 2024, but four of them went on to win their divisions. Simply spectacular.
In 2025, we also saw some epic, blockbuster regular-season matchups, including:
(*inhale*)
Bills over Ravens, 41-40 — an electrifying 16-point comeback in the final four minutes (Week 1)
Giants' Russell Wilson throws for a career high, but Dallas survives in OT, 40-37 (Week 2)
Philly blocks a kick and returns it for six as time expires to beat the Rams, 33-26 (Week 3)
Green Bay–Dallas ends in a 40-40 tie on SNF (Week 4)
Jaguars score a last-second TD against Kansas City on MNF, 31-28 (Week 5)
Drake Maye’s biggest win as a pro against Buffalo, 23-20 (Week 5)
Rico Dowdle’s revenge game in Carolina’s upset over Dallas, 30-27 (Week 6)
Broncos complete a 19-0 fourth-quarter comeback to win, 33-32 (Week 7)
Jets pick up their first win in a 39-38 shootout (Week 8)
Bears’ Colston Loveland hauls in a 58-yard TD reception against Cincinnati in the final minute to win, 47-42 (Week 9)
TNF thriller: Kirk Cousins vs. Tampa Bay, 29-28 (Week 15)
Philip Rivers comes out of retirement to play for the Colts in a valiant effort vs Seattle (Week 15)
Darnold–Stafford classic duel in OT, ending with a walk-off two-point conversion to win, 38-37 (Week 16)
Caleb Williams tosses a walk-off OT touchdown to D.J. Moore vs. rival Green Bay (Week 16)
Williams–Purdy Bears vs. 49ers classic shootout (Week 17)
Tyler Loop’s missed field goal sends Pittsburgh to the playoffs on SNF (Week 18)
(*exhale*)
EVERY. SINGLE. WEEK. INSTANT. CLASSICS. AND. ABSOLUTE. BANGERS.
And if you thought the regular season was great, how about the playoffs?
Bryce Young and Jalen Coker put the Rams on the brink before a Stafford last-second TD in the Wild Card.
Josh Allen and Bo Nix deliver an OT frenzy, plus the controversial Brandin Cooks “catch/no-catch” game in the Divisional Round.
Caleb Williams throws a miracle pass in Chicago’s eventual OT loss to L.A. in the Divisional.
Darnold and Stafford go toe-to-toe in an NFC Championship Game shootout.
Patriots and Broncos, led by backup Jarrett Stidham, duel it out in the snow in the AFC Championship Game.
ABSOLUTE. CINEMA.
So now we’re down to one final game for all the marbles. If this season is any indication, we’re in for a classic. Who will emerge victorious?
It’s time to get into 'The Ultimate Guide to Super Bowl LX.'
And before I kick things off, I always like to bring transparency to my picks so we can see how my picks have evolved over time: My history predicting Super Bowls hasn't been so hot: 5-8
Correct Super Bowl predictions (est. 2012):
Ravens def. 49ers 27-24 in Super Bowl 47 (ACTUAL: 34-31 Ravens)
Patriots def. Falcons 34-31 in Super Bowl 51 (ACTUAL: 34-28 Patriots in OT)
Eagles def. Patriots 23-19 in Super Bowl 52 (ACTUAL: 41-33 Eagles)
Patriots def. Rams 31-27 in Super Bowl 53 (ACTUAL: 13-3 Patriots)
Chiefs def. 49ers 30-26 in Super Bowl 58 (ACTUAL: 25-22 Chiefs in OT)
Incorrect Super Bowl predictions:
Broncos over Seahawks 27-23 in Super Bowl 48 (ACTUAL: 43-8 Seahawks)
Seahawks over Patriots 23-13 in Super Bowl 49 (ACTUAL: 28-24 Patriots)
Panthers over Broncos 31-16 in Super Bowl 50 (ACTUAL: 24-10 Broncos)
49ers over Chiefs 34-29 in Super Bowl 54 (ACTUAL: 31-20 Chiefs)
Chiefs over Buccaneers 34-23 in Super Bowl 55 (ACTUAL: 31-9 Buccaneers)
Bengals over Rams 23-20 in Super Bowl 56 (ACTUAL: 23-20 Rams)
Eagles over Chiefs 24-20 in Super Bowl 57 (ACTUAL: 38-35 Chiefs)
Chiefs over Eagles in 27-23 in Super Bowl 59 (ACTUAL: 40-22 Eagles)
Meet the Teams
AFC Champion: #2 Seed: New England Patriots (16-3)
Last Super Bowl appearance (2018 season)- def. Los Angeles Rams (13-3) in Super Bowl LIII (53); 6-5 in Super Bowls
Biggest win: 23-20 @ Buffalo Bills (Week 5)
Most surprising loss: 20-13 vs Las Vegas Raiders (Week 1)
Team MVP: Drake Maye, quarterback
From a 4–13 record in 2024 to 14–3 this season and a trip to the Super Bowl, what a remarkable turnaround. If this were any franchise besides the New England Patriots, it would be hailed as a true Cinderella run. But when you’re a six-time champion, with much of that success still fresh in memory, it’s hard to call you an underdog. And yet… here they are, once again.
Patriots fans are no strangers to seeing Mike Vrabel–led teams win big. A key contributor to three championships in the early 2000s as a player, Vrabel knew exactly what it would take to bring championship-level football back to New England. This team looks eerily familiar: hard-nosed defense, disciplined play on both sides of the ball, and most importantly, the ability to come through in the biggest moments. It feels like a revival of the Brady–Belichick era blueprint.
Drake “Drake Maye” Maye is only in his first full season, and second year overall, as a starter, yet he’s already established himself among the league’s premiere QBs. The likely runner-up in the NFL MVP race, Maye has defied expectations and vaulted New England back to the top of the conference in short order. The Patriots have won in every way imaginable: blowouts, fourth-quarter comebacks, and defensive slugfests. Teams that can win in multiple ways are the toughest outs in January...and February.
Defensively, New England boasts an impressive mix of talent, led by prized acquisition Milton Williams, stalwart tackle Christian Barmore, linebacker Robert Spillane, and lockdown corner Christian Gonzalez. Their consistent, physical play has been the backbone of the Patriots’ postseason success.
Offensively, the Patriots may not feature many headliner names, but the production has been there. Stefon Diggs has quietly enjoyed a resurgent season, hauling in 85 receptions for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns. Complementing Diggs, pass-catchers Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, and Hunter Henry have delivered timely plays for their young signal-caller. In the backfield, Rhamondre Stevenson and Tre’Veyon Henderson form a reliable one-two punch, with the rookie Henderson providing the more explosive, game-breaking element.
It's rare to see New England as an underdog but maybe that's right where they want ya...
NFC Champion: #1 Seed: Seattle Seahawks (16-3)
Last Super Bowl appearance (2014 season)- lost to New England Patriots (28-24) in Super Bowl XLIX (49); 1-2 in Super Bowls
Biggest win: 38-37 in OT vs Los Angeles Rams (Week 16)
Most surprising loss: 38-35 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 5)
Team MVP: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, wide receiver
The model of consistency in the NFC? When projecting how Seattle will do year-by-year, it's a safe bet that they'll be in contention for most of the way. Since 2012, they've had double-digit wins 10 times with only two losing seasons since the arrival of Russell Wilson in 2012. Despite him and Pete Carroll in the swan song of their careers, second-year head coach Mike Macdonald and the Seahawks have retooled in a big way and should be in championship contention for years to come.
Free agent pickup Sam Darnold didn't see ghosts of the New York Jets' past in 2025, and the narrative that he is a turnover machine and unfit to be a starting QB in the league is officially six feet under (well almost). After having a career-year in Minnesota, what would he do for an encore? Only throw for 4,048 yards and 25 TDs in 2025. And who would've thought in a draft class with Baker Mayfield, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen that Sam Darnold would be the first one to make it to the Super Bowl?
Here's a stat for ya. There have been eight quarterbacks to win at least 30 games in a 2-season span, including playoffs: Terry Bradshaw, Troy Aikman, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Russell Wilson, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, and...SAM DARNOLD. Pretty great company to be in if you ask me. He's turned from a serious liability into a bonafide playmaker.
On offense, Seattle has a strong group of complementary players, including running back Kenneth Walker III, superstar Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and veteran receiver Cooper Kupp. Losing backup running back Zach Charbonnet hurts, but they’re hoping back George Holani can step in and give Walker a breather from time to time.
But their true bread and butter has been the defensive side of the ball. Leading the way is lockdown corner Devon Witherspoon, who consistently ranks at the top of nearly every defensive back metric in the league. He, along with corner/safety hybrid Nick Emmanwori, has the makings of a “Legion of Boom” 2.0 (think Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor). The pass rush has been solid as well, with Seattle racking up 47 sacks in the regular season, good for eighth in the league.
Here's another random conspiracy as well: Every time a new Catholic Pope is elected, Seattle is bound for the Super Bowl.
• 2005 (Benedict XVI): The Seahawks reached Super Bowl XL.
• 2013 (Francis): The Seahawks reached and won Super Bowl XLVIII.
• 2025 (Leo XIV): Following the election of Pope Leo XIV (Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost) in May 2025, the Seahawks secured the #1 seed and advanced to Super Bowl LX.
Can Seattle and the 12s finish the job and bring home Lombardi #2? If the Vatican has a say, it's a done deal.
Halftime Show
Bad Bunny
The X-Factor
Rashid Shaheed, wide receiver/kick returner, SEA- Devin Hester reincarnated? Acquired in a trade from the last-place Saints, Shaheed's game-breaking potential in the passing game and on special teams makes him the ultimate X-factor. His biggest highlights have come on special teams for Seattle. Against the Rams in mid-December, Shaheed helped the Seahawks overcome a 16 point fourth-quarter deficit with his electric 58 yard punt return for an eventual 38-37 OT win in what might've been the game of the year. He followed that up with a tone-setting 95 yard opening kickoff touchdown return against their rival San Francisco 49ers. He might not necessarily break another TD against a well-coached Patriots' team but even one or two 20-30 yard return on a punt could be the difference.
Will Campbell, left tackle, NE- The rookie left tackle was a revelation for New England’s offense for much of the season before a right MCL sprain sidelined him for four games late in the regular season. Since returning for the playoffs, he’s struggled to keep Maye out of harm's way against the Chargers, Texans, and Broncos' vaunted defenses. It's likely that Campbell is playing through some residual effects of that injury but it's causing the offense to bog down. And things won't get any easier against the Seahawks' defensive line. Maye has coughed up the ball a few times in the pocket and a key takeaway could flip the contest in what should be a game of narrow margins.
Nick Emmanwori, defensive back, SEA- Another dynamic rookie has exploded on the scene helping elevating this defense to lofty heights. He reminds you a lot of Kam Chancellor who put fear into every receiver's mind with his hard-hitting plays. The way that New England's offensive line is struggling, perhaps bringing him on a timely blitz in a big spot or rocking the block of a receiver across the middle could force a fumble and turn the tide in the Seahawks' favor.
Carlton Davis, cornerback, NE- A boom-or-bust corner who has extremely high highs and extremely low lows. Although he's a bit penalty prone, he's also stood up to the task in key moments. He'll need to be at his best against the likes of JSN and Cooper Kupp in order for the Patriots to slow down Darnold's passing attack
Game Analysis
Sunday, February 8th, 2026 — Super Bowl LX (60)
6:30 PM ET | NBC | Santa Clara, CA (Spread: Seahawks -4.5)
As most NFL fans are well aware, the Patriots and Seahawks previously met in Super Bowl XLIX (49), a game many still consider the greatest finish in Super Bowl history. Seattle trailed by four points with under 30 seconds remaining and appeared poised to win back-to-back championships. Facing second-and-goal at the one-yard line, logic screamed for the Seahawks to hand the ball to Marshawn Lynch, who had been dominant all night. Instead, future Hall of Fame QB Russell Wilson dropped back to pass...and the rest is history.
“Play clock at five. Pass is… INTERCEPTED at the goal line by Malcolm Butler! UNREAL!”
The stunned disbelief from NBC announcers Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth made the moment even more iconic.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t believe the call.”“Me neither.”“You’ve got Marshawn Lynch in the backfield… a guy who’s been borderline unstoppable down here.”
Now, 11 years later, with entirely different rosters, Seattle finally gets a shot at redemption against the franchise that delivered one of the most painful moments in NFL history. Regardless of Sunday’s outcome, this rematch will live forever in league lore.
Both Seattle (60–1) and New England (80–1) opened the 2025 season with long odds to even sniff the Super Bowl—and at the time, that felt about right. Neither team made the playoffs last year, and both rosters screamed “talented but flawed.” For the Patriots, the season was really about one thing: seeing continued development from Drake Maye. Safe to say, they got in a MASSIVE way.
Seattle took a different route. They hit the retool button, trading away franchise staples DK Metcalf and Geno Smith to the Steelers and Raiders. It felt like a move toward the future, not a Super Bowl run. But here we are. In Maye’s first full season as a starter and Sam Darnold’s first year in Seattle, long odds turned into very real tangible results. This league flips fast when you have a quarterback-coach combo that clicks.
Seattle hasn’t lost since Week 11, a two-point road loss to the Rams. New England has been nearly as steady, with just one loss since Week 4, a 35–31 loss to Buffalo in Week 15 after blowing a 21-point first-half lead. Consistency matters this time of year, and both teams have had it for months.
For the Patriots, this season's run reminds me so much of the 2001 season. A team who missed the playoffs in the 2000 season (5-11 record), flipped around those numbers in '01, going 11-5. In Super Bowl XXXVI (36), the defense slowed down the then St. Louis Rams and the "Greatest Show on Turf" to win the big game. Can Drake Maye pull off a similar feat and slow down Seattle's high-paced offense? It's definitely possible but there are things they'll need to clean up before Super Sunday.
The biggest reasons for concern for the Patriots? Their schedule hasn't necessarily been murderer's row. Their opponents this year? Jets (2X), Raiders, Dolphins (2X), Saints, Titans, Browns, Falcons...yikes. I was skeptical too, even though I had them reaching the Super Bowl in my initial bracket. But their playoff run changed everything. It's not easy to beat three elite defensive units in the playoffs but New England did just that. The Patriots navigated through some ugly offensive stretches and finally killed their Mile High playoff hex. So for anyone that says this game will be a blowout, well...you just haven't been watching the games.
In order to get their offense back to functioning at a high-level, their offensive line has to play MUCH better. They've struggled mightily, causing Maye to run for his life and getting sacked 5+ times like he often would his rookie season. If that doesn't change against Seattle, there's not many scenarios where they still pull off a win. I'm really nervous for that matchup if I'm pulling for the Patriots here. Against Demarcus Lawrence (6 sacks), Byron Murphy II (7 sacks), Uchenna Nwosu (7 sacks) and Leonard Williams (7 sacks), it could be chaos if they can't scheme around what will be a well-rested Seattle defense.
As for Seattle, Sam Darnold has been one of the biggest surprises in the league. No, he’s not Kurt Warner but he’s been playing at an elite level, which still feels weird to type. The question everyone keeps asking is whether the “ghosts” show up at the worst possible moment. If any team knows Darnold, it’s New England, but that version of him feels like it belongs to a completely different career under Mike Macdonald. He did have a blip in Week 11 loss to the Rams, where he imploded, tossing 4 interceptions. But besides his two regular season games vs LA (6 turnovers), he's been more than enough to win games. And even better, he's been turnover-free in the playoffs.
Seattle doesn't have a lot of weaknesses but the loss of Zach Charbonnet to a torn ACL in the Divisional Round really hurts their rushing attack balance. Starting RB Kenneth Walker III is extremely talented and will get the bulk of the carries in this one but can he get it done against the Pats defensive line? The Rams defense was subpar for most of the year and he wasn't necessarily lighting it up in the NFC Championship without his running mate. Perhaps the Pats have a formula if they can make Seattle one-dimensional and force them to play to their style of play.
I do believe that Seattle's passing attack is more dynamic right now and that's mostly due in part to superstar receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He posted an absurd 119 receptions for 1,793 yards and 10 TDs in the air this season. And he's not your typical outside receiver as he'll move around in the slot and the backfield, making guarding him a nearly impossible task.
Can Drake Maye deliver against Seattle in this do-or-die moment? If he succeeds, he'll be the second-youngest QB to win a Super Bowl, just behind Ben Roethlisburger. Seattle's defense has been elite but their secondary was uncharactistically shredded against LA for the second time this year. Now, yes, you can maybe chalk that up to playing a division rival who knows you well and the presumed MVP in Matthew Stafford on the other side. However, the Buccaneers also managed to do it in Week 5 when they were playing elite football as Seattle surrendered 379 passing yards in that one. Is that a cause for concern? Possibly?! The formula is there. It's just this: can Maye and the coaching staff find a way to replicate that? If so, they've got a shot.
I think we'll see a bend-but-don't break performance by both teams on defense. I think the offenses will move the ball but will lock down and force a bunch of field goals, making this a game that will be played in the teens or low 20s.
Where will I be siding on this one? In my gut, something tells me that the Patriots might pull off a stunner but I'm not going to overthink my pick too much. Typically, I say "defenses win championships" but what do you do when both teams have lockdown D? I look at who has the best answers when things break down. I look at the dynamic playmakers and it's hard for me to overlook JSN who will be the best player on the field and Cooper Kupp, a former Super Bowl MVP. In a game of the narrowest of margins, The Seahawks finally exact revenge on the Patriots and win their second Super Bowl in franchise history.
Seattle Seahawks 23, New England Patriots 22
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