The stage is set for Super Bowl LX, a dramatic rematch of Super Bowl XLIX between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. Both franchises have found success and pushed through the playoffs for a chance to add another banner to their stadium. This isn’t unfamiliar territory for either team; the Seahawks won a chip in 2014, and the Patriots have made it back for their first Bowl since just 2019. Now, the real question to be asked is, which team wants it more?
Last season, the Patriots had an abysmal record of 4-13. Their rookie quarterback, Drake Maye, showed signs of potential, but a championship window for this team seemed leaps and bounds away. Then, they brought in Mike Vrabel. And just like that, the team’s whole future turned around. After losing their first two out of three games, the Patriots went 13-1 for the rest of the season, garnering them a 14-3 record, the second seed in the AFC, and MVP talks for Drake Maye.
This didn’t come with support from the rest of the league, though. Numerous criticisms were made about the team’s easy schedule, and pretty much no one thought they would make it to the Super Bowl. Despite the comments, New England pushed their way to the Super Bowl. And although one could argue that injuries and awful quarterback play let them get that far, it is impossible to deny that this team is legit. Super Bowl LX marks New England’s 12th appearance in the Super Bowl, and a win would give the franchise its 7th win, a feat that lets them stand alone (except for Tom Brady, of course).
The Seahawks’ last season wasn’t half bad, as they had a 10-7 record, but they failed to make the playoffs. It was apparent their quarterback situation needed to be fixed, and Geno Smith wasn’t helping them at all. Over the offseason, they brought in Sam Darnold from the Vikings and improved their defense. These changes worked wonders for the team, and they have found success since then.
Their 14-3 regular-season record got them the first seed in an extremely competitive NFC and basically revived Darnold’s career. On top of all of this success, their WR1, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, had a breakout season as the receiving yards leader and is in talks to be the Offensive Player of the Year.
The Seahawks also have a high-powered defense and special teams core that allows them to dominate every team they play. This showed especially in the playoffs, when they blew out the rival 49ers by 35 points and kept them from scoring a single touchdown. This Super Bowl means a lot to the Seahawks, as their last outing against the Patriots ended in heartbreak (Seahawks fans might remember when they went for a pass at the 1-yard line and were subsequently intercepted). This is a chance for them to get their long-desired revenge and prove that they are the new best team in the league.
With both teams having numerous strengths and looking to prove themselves, it is hard to determine which team is more likely to win. Super Bowl LX promises fans a matchup defined by storylines, and a matchup anyone can be sure to enjoy. There is no doubt that the winner will cement themselves as a dominant force in the league. If you have nothing to watch Sunday night, put on the Super Bowl; it is likely that you’ll see an entertaining game full of emotion and determination.
