(Photo: ESPN)

Super Bowl LX

(1) Seattle Seahawks at (2) New England Patriots

Seahawks (16-3):

I honestly didn’t know what to expect from them this year. Prior to the season, the Los Angeles Rams were the projected favorites to win the NFC West for the second consecutive season, and at one point, they appeared to be running away with the division. Matthew Stafford was on a tear, having arguably the best season of his career, with receivers like Davante Adams and Puka Nacua at his disposal. In a conference that featured the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, a division rival in the San Francisco 49ers, the Green Bay Packers—who were being crowned after just two games—and even a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that got off to a hot start (not to mention the Chicago Bears), none of those teams advanced as far as the one I’m about to break down. The Seahawks have been consistent in every phase of the game. They run the ball, execute on special teams, and they’ve been one of the two best defenses I’ve seen all year, right there with the Houston Texans. That’s a testament to Mike Macdonald, now in his second season as head coach, and the job he’s done is nothing short of impressive. The most important piece of this puzzle has been Sam Darnold. Could he really replicate what he did last season in Minnesota with another team? He’s also a perfect example of why you shouldn’t be so quick to give up on a player. Coaching matters. If there’s one team that probably has regrets right now, it’s the Vikings. In the NFC Championship Game against the Rams, that was the best I’ve ever seen Sam look as an NFL quarterback. He matched Stafford throw for throw. All he ever needed was a coach who believed in him, and now look where he is. This Sunday, the Seahawks will look to capture their second Super Bowl title in franchise history.

Patriots (17-3):

I was high on this team heading into the season and expected them to be much better than what we had seen over the previous few years. After Bill Belichick and the organization parted ways, I thought they would hire Mike Vrabel. Instead, they went with Jerod Mayo, and the team won just four games in 2024. Unfortunately, Jerod lost his job after one season. A year later, they finally hired Mike Vrabel—the same guy who once quarterbacked the defense and was a key piece of their first dynasty. After finishing in the basement of the AFC East, I knew the Patriots would be improved, but I never expected 14–3 improved. This is easily one of the best worst-to-first turnarounds I’ve seen in our sport. The offense moved the ball far more consistently, which brings me to the maturation of Drake Maye. What a season he had—one that deserved legitimate MVP consideration. He was the catalyst of a balanced attack and had a variety of weapons at his disposal, from Stefon Diggs to Kayshon Boutte. The Patriots also ran the ball consistently with Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson. As good as the offense has been, the defense has elevated its play even more during this postseason run. Let’s recap: in the Wild Card round against the Los Angeles Chargers, they sacked Justin Herbert six times. In the divisional round against the Houston Texans, they intercepted C.J. Stroud four times. Then, in the AFC Championship Game in Denver, they turned up the physicality and made the Broncos completely one-dimensional. This was a conference that many handed to the Kansas City Chiefs once again at the start of the season—but look how that turned out. The Patriots will look to bring their seventh Lombardi Trophy back to One Patriot Way this Sunday evening.

With this being the final preview of the season, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for always following along. I take what I do very seriously, and your support has meant the absolute world to me. If you’ve followed along before, this is usually where I reveal my X-factors, keys to the game for both teams, and, of course, my winner. This is Part One of my Super Bowl preview. Join me this Sunday prior to kickoff of Super Bowl LX, when I’ll be recording Part Two, breaking down my X-factors, keys to the game, and my final score prediction. I’ll see you then.