As the New England Patriots gear up to take on the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX, the sting of the AFC Championship loss is still fresh for Denver Broncos star cornerback Patrick Surtain II - and he’s not hiding it.
Surtain, participating in Pro Bowl festivities this week, was asked to give his Super Bowl prediction. Let’s just say he didn’t mince words.
“35-7 Seahawks,” he told Guerilla Sports on Monday.
That’s not just picking against the Patriots - that’s calling for a full-on rout. And while Surtain didn’t elaborate much, the subtext is loud and clear: he’s still feeling the frustration of that 10-7 loss to New England in the AFC title game.
To be fair, the Broncos were shorthanded. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix was sidelined, and while Denver’s defense - led by Surtain himself - did its part, holding the Patriots to just 10 points, it wasn’t enough to punch their ticket to the big game. That kind of loss lingers, especially when your unit plays lights-out and still comes up short.
Surtain, a four-time Pro Bowler and last year’s Defensive Player of the Year, has earned the right to speak his mind. He’s been a cornerstone of Denver’s defense and continues to be one of the most respected corners in the league. On Tuesday’s “Up & Adams,” he doubled down on his belief that the AFC Championship would’ve played out differently had Nix been under center.
Now, is his Super Bowl prediction just a bit of competitive bitterness? Maybe.
But it also reflects how personal these playoff battles can get. Surtain’s not just watching from the sidelines - he was one win away from being in that game himself.
As for the matchup on the field, Surtain’s blowout prediction doesn’t exactly line up with the numbers. Both the Patriots and Seahawks finished the regular season with 14 wins, and both come into this game with legitimate claims to being the NFL’s most complete team.
New England’s offense has been electric all year, ranking second in points and third in total yards. They’ve been efficient, explosive, and balanced - a nightmare to scheme against. But they’ll be facing one of the league’s most dominant defenses in Seattle, a unit that thrives on physicality, speed, and forcing mistakes.
This feels more like a heavyweight clash than a one-sided affair. On paper, it’s strength vs. strength - New England’s high-powered offense against Seattle’s stingy defense.
A 28-point margin? That’s hard to envision.
But then again, this is the Super Bowl. Legacies are made, and emotions run high - especially for players like Surtain, who are watching from home, believing they should be there instead.