It’s official: We know the two teams heading to the Super Bowl. The Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots will take each other on in a rematch from 2015, when the Patriots defeated the Seahawks 28-24. However, instead of Katy Perry taking the stage (and the “left shark” incident), Bad Bunny will headline this year’s halftime show. Perhaps his show will feature a left shark of his own?
Anyway, here are The Huntington News’ fantasy football writers’ thoughts and predictions on Super Bowl LX.
Bailey’s predictions: Seattle Seahawks
Predicting this year’s Super Bowl winner is nothing short of difficult. The Patriots have shocked football fans across the country by being above .500 during the regular season, and, even more so, by reaching the pinnacle of the NFL. The Seahawks, meanwhile, have had a stellar playoff run, easily dispatching each opponent they faced.
Seattle has an advantage with quarterback Sam Darnold, who’s been elite throughout the postseason and has yet to turn over the ball. If he can maintain this form, his team will have no issue winning the big game. On the other side, New England’s Drake Maye has been limited by a shoulder injury that has kept him out of practice.
The Seahawks’ largest asset is their elite defense. The defense only allowed 16.4 points per game during the regular season and 17.2 in the playoffs. In perhaps the most shocking result, they held the San Francisco 49ers — with running back Christian McCaffrey — to six points in the divisional championship.
Seattle’s defense also has not allowed a player 100 rushing yards in 27 consecutive games. This means that running backs Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson could be held to a few yards, severely limiting New England’s scoring options. Defense wins championships, and the Seahawks’ defense could certainly prove that.
You cannot talk about the Super Bowl without bringing up Seattle’s star, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who has been one of the best players in any position in the league this season. He has brought down two touchdown passes in the postseason and will undoubtedly be receiving targets in the Super Bowl. Of course, the Patriots will be looking for him. However, an elite route runner and pass catcher in Smith-Njigba should have no trouble dealing with the extra pressure.
Super Bowl LX will no doubt be an exciting defensive battle with a nearly unpredictable outcome.
Aadit’s predictions: New England Patriots
The Patriots haven’t been the strongest offensively, but their defense has more than stepped up, providing Drake Maye with a safety blanket. While this may not be enough against a strong Seahawks team, Maye, using his dual-threat ability and backed by a strong offense, should step up when the lights shine brightest.
Darnold is due for a breakdown game, and what better time than the last one of the season?
Darnold and the Seahawks have been excellent all year, but they come up against a scrappy New England Patriots team that has massively overachieved this season, beating some of the best defenses in the league en route to the Super Bowl.
The Patriots hold a massive advantage over the Seahawks in the running back category, as the Seahawks lost their backup running back Zach Charbonnet to an ACL tear — severely limiting their playcalling flexibility during run plays. The Patriots can rely on fifth-year veteran Rhamondre Stevenson and Henderson to share carries and attack the Seahawks’ run defense.
Furthermore, the Patriots have had the best defense across the NFL in the postseason, conceding only 209.7 yards per game and amassing 12 sacks as a unit. Expect consistent pressure on Darnold and the Seahawks’ offensive line as the Patriots prove they can do it once again.
Aiden’s prediction: New England Patriots
The young backfield consisting of running backs Henderson and Stevenson will look to outrun Seattle’s Kenneth Walker III. Henderson ran for four touchdowns of 50 yards or more, the ninth time a player has done so in a season. However, Henderson was notably absent for most of the AFC Championship game, where he only carried the ball three times.
New England will have to utilize both Henderson and Stevenson in order to control possession. The Patriots currently rank fifth in the NFL in average time of possession at 31 minutes and 28 seconds. In these playoffs, New England has struggled in gaining first downs, averaging 14.7 first downs per game (28th in NFL) compared to Seattle’s 22 per game (fourth in NFL). Controlling the offense and putting together clean, disciplined drives will be key for the win.
On the defensive side, the Patriots have the pieces, including a strong defensive line, to pressure Darnold. In four career games against the Patriots, Darnold has thrown nine interceptions and only one touchdown. New England hasn’t faced the Seattle quarterback since 2021 when he was on the Carolina Panthers, and Darnold’s skill has evolved immensely since then. However, the Pats’ secondary has been a force to be reckoned with.
The Patriots lead the NFL with eight takeaways this postseason. However, Seattle has yet to turn the ball over in these playoffs. The Pats have also sacked their opponents 12 times this postseason and will look to blitz Darnold early and often. New England has blitzed 40.6% of the time this postseason, up from 27.6% in the regular season. Trust in the Patriots defense to make the Seahawks uncomfortable and bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Foxborough.
Elli’s prediction: Seattle Seahawks
This Super Bowl rematch will be a tight one — there is no doubt about that. Both teams’ quarterbacks have played well, finishing touchdown passes in both the regular season and postseason. However, Darnold’s experience will lead him and the rest of the Seahawks to victory.
Yes, Darnold has yet to play in the Super Bowl, but his eight seasons have brought experience that Maye severely lacks. Plus, Maye has been suffering a shoulder injury since before the AFC Championship. His performance in that game was not the best, and he relied instead on impressive catches from his teammates.
Seattle’s biggest battle will be New England’s defense. Specifically, linebacker Robert Spillane, who has collected 97 tackles this season, linebacker Harold Landry III, who holds 8.5 sacks, and safety Jaylinn Hawkins, who intercepted the ball four times this season.
The Patriots’ defense may have been solid so far, but the Seahawks have a better offensive game.
In the regular season, Charbonnet scored 12 touchdowns for 730 yards. Walker III ran for 1,027 in the regular season, plus 178 in the postseason for nine touchdowns. He has also caught 31 passes for 282, making him a double threat.
Another highlight for the offense is Smith-Njigba. He leads the team with 119 receptions for 1,793 yards in the regular season. In the playoffs, he caught 13 passes for 172 yards. He scored 12 touchdowns between the regular and postseason.
This offense will lift the Seahawks over the Patriots for the Super Bowl LX trophy.
