Preview for Seattle Seahawks @ New England Patriots
The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots face off in Super Bowl LX on Sunday as they each a fairytale ending to their respective remarkable campaigns at Levi’s Stadium.
Neither the Seahawks nor the Patriots were viewed among the favourites to lift the Lombardi Trophy at the start of the 2025 season.
But both have reaped the benefits of astute offseason decisions to move within a win of the championship as they meet in a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX, which the Patriots won in an all-time classic finish 11 years ago.
That game saw Tom Brady author a vintage fourth-quarter comeback before Malcolm Butler’s goal-line interception of Russell Wilson saved victory for the Patriots.
New England’s offensive coordinator that day is once again in the same role, with Josh McDaniels helping elevate second-year quarterback Drake Maye to a point where has produced MVP-calibre play throughout the season.
The task of Maye and the New England offense will be to produce against a ferocious Seahawks defense that has laid the foundation for a dominant season from Seattle.
Mike Macdonald’s defense finished the regular season ranked first in the NFL, allowing only 4.6 yards per play (2nd), while tallying 25 turnovers (6th) and racking up 180 quarterback pressures, per Pro Football Focus (3rd). Their fearsome front is complemented by a secondary with highly instinctive and versatile defenders who fit perfectly into Macdonald’s diverse scheme.
On offense, Seattle’s decision to bet that Sam Darnold’s spectacular 2024 season with the Minnesota Vikings was not a flash in the pan has been stunningly vindicated, Darnold’s rapport with star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba continually having a devastating impact on opposing defenses.
The Patriots are the underdogs, but their head coach Mike Vrabel, enjoying stunning success in his first year with the team, knows all about prevailing in such circumstances.
Vrabel was part of the Patriots team that stunned the ‘Greatest Show on Turf’ Rams to win Super Bowl XXXVI to start the first phase of the dynasty under Bill Belichick.
And he is under no illusions as to the challenge the Patriots face in their 11th Super Bowl appearance.
“I mean, they’re [the Seahawks] first in the league in scoring on defense, third on offense,” Vrabel said.
“Good mix of veterans and youth. So, any time that you have defenses that are good at keeping points down, it makes it real difficult. They disguise well, they blitz and sometimes they get pressure with rushing four. I mean, they’ve got four or five guys with six or seven sacks each.
“Offensively, it’s a mix of some of the West Coast stuff, some play action, but then just the scheme and Darnold’s ability to operate and function, and not many people slow down JSN [Jaxon Smith-Njigba.] Kenneth Walker [III], the speed, he can hit the edge, he’s not afraid to cut up. They’ve got an excellent special teams unit.
“So, we’re going to have to be really good in all phases, but this is an excellent football team.”
The Patriots’ regular season featured only one win against a team that ended the year with a winning record. However, they have since reeled off three impressive postseason wins, with their defense coming to the fore in each.
Though their AFC Championship Game win over the Denver Broncos came as both offenses were hamstrung by the snowy conditions, the Patriots’ defensive showings in the playoffs should raise hope of them managing to slow down Darnold and Smith-Njigba.
While the Patriots have faced questions about their strength of schedule, Seattle came through the gauntlet of the NFC West, playing the rival Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers a total of six times across the regular season and playoffs. That disparity is a large factor in why the Seahawks are expected to prevail.
Maye is a long way from reaching the heights of Brady. However, if the Patriots can upset the odds and once again deny the Seahawks a second Super Bowl title, then New England’s seventh Lombardi Trophy will have a strong case for being their most impressive yet.
