Super Bowl LX Preview: Seahawks, Patriots Set for High-Stakes Rematch in the Bay
SANTA CLARA - It's been over a decade since the Seahawks and Patriots met at the goal line in one of the most unforgettable finishes in Super Bowl history. And while that moment - Marshawn Lynch standing a yard away from glory - still echoes through NFL lore, the stakes are just as high this time around, with both teams eyeing another chapter in their storied postseason legacies.
On Sunday, Seattle and New England clash again - this time at Levi’s Stadium - with a Super Bowl title on the line. The Seahawks, top seed in the NFC at 16-3, are slight favorites over the 17-3 Patriots, who are back in the big game for the first time since the Brady-Belichick era ended.
Let’s dive into how we got here, what to expect, and the key matchups that could define Super Bowl LX.
A Quick Look Back: The One-Yard Line That Changed Everything
You don’t have to be a Seahawks fan to remember the heartbreak. With 26 seconds left in Super Bowl XLIX and the ball at the 1-yard line, Seattle opted for a slant pass instead of handing it to Lynch - who had just powered his way down to the doorstep of the end zone.
The result? Malcolm Butler's iconic interception sealed a 28-24 win for the Patriots and delivered their fourth Lombardi Trophy.
Lynch had been dominant that night - 24 carries, 104 yards, and a touchdown - and was coming off a 157-yard performance in the NFC Championship. His 1,306-yard regular season was vintage Beast Mode. But the decision to pass instead of run became one of the most debated calls in NFL history.
Fast-forward to now, and while the rosters and coaching staffs have changed, the intensity between these franchises hasn’t. Sunday’s game marks the third Super Bowl hosted in the Bay Area, and it’s shaping up to be a heavyweight fight.
Seattle Seahawks (16-3): Built for This Moment
Head Coach: Mike Macdonald (2nd year)
Super Bowl Record: 1-2
Last Super Bowl Appearance: Super Bowl XLIX (loss to Patriots)
Seattle has surged into the Super Bowl behind a balanced and increasingly dangerous roster. Macdonald’s squad clinched the NFC West with a Week 18 win over the 49ers and hasn’t looked back. They’ve rattled off eight straight wins, including a dominant 41-6 blowout of San Francisco in the Divisional Round and a gritty 31-27 win over the Rams in the NFC Championship.
Offense:
Quarterback Sam Darnold has found his rhythm at the right time.
Against the Rams, he threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns with no turnovers - the kind of clean, efficient performance Seattle needs from him. Jaxson Smith-Njigba was his go-to target, hauling in 10 catches for 153 yards and a score.
The ground game, led by Kenneth Walker III, has been the engine. Walker put up 116 yards against the 49ers and will be key against a Patriots run defense that showed cracks late in the regular season.
Defense:
This is where Seattle shines.
The Seahawks allowed just 17.2 points per game during the regular season - best in the NFL - and they’ve only tightened the screws since. Safety Nick Emmanwori has emerged as a playmaker on the back end, while Leonard Williams anchors a front that’s been downright nasty in the trenches.
Opposing offenses have struggled to get anything going, and if that trend continues, Seattle could be hoisting its second Lombardi Trophy.
New England Patriots (17-3): A Dynasty Recharged
Head Coach: Mike Vrabel
Super Bowl Record: 6-5
Last Super Bowl Appearance: Super Bowl LIII (win over Rams)
After a 4-13 season and a last-place finish in the AFC East, the Patriots’ turnaround under Vrabel has been nothing short of remarkable. They’ve recaptured the identity that defined their dynasty: smart football, suffocating defense, and timely playmaking.
Offense:
Second-year quarterback Drake Maye has grown up fast.
He’s managed the postseason with poise, including a 7-yard touchdown strike to Stefon Diggs that helped bury Houston in the Divisional Round. That game turned on a 26-yard pick-six by Carlton Davis, one of five takeaways by the Patriots’ defense.
In the AFC Championship, Maye didn’t light up the stat sheet, but he didn’t need to. A 23-yard field goal in a snowstorm was enough to edge out the top-seeded Broncos, thanks to a defense that made life miserable for Russell Wilson all night.
Defense:
New England’s defense has been the story.
They’ve allowed just 26 points across three playoff games and made life miserable for opposing quarterbacks. Nose tackle Khyiris Tonga clogs up the middle, linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson brings the heat off the edge, and rookie safety Craig Woodson - a Cal product - has been a revelation on the back end.
If they can slow down Walker and force Darnold into mistakes, the Patriots could be headed for their seventh Super Bowl title.
Matchups to Watch
Seattle's Run Game vs. Patriots' Front Seven
Kenneth Walker III has been a force, but New England’s defense - despite a late-season dip - has shown up in the playoffs. If Seattle can establish the run, it’ll open up play-action and keep Darnold in his comfort zone.
But if the Patriots can bottle up Walker early, they’ll force Darnold into high-pressure throws - and with 20 turnovers this season (including six lost fumbles), that’s a recipe for trouble.
Drake Maye vs. Seattle’s Secondary
Maye has been efficient, but this will be his biggest test yet. Emmanwori and company thrive on disguising coverages and baiting young quarterbacks into mistakes.
If Maye can protect the football and take what the defense gives him, New England has a shot. But if Seattle rattles him early, it could snowball fast.
Trenches, Trenches, Trenches
Both teams have difference-makers up front.
Leonard Williams is a game-wrecker for Seattle, while Tonga and Chaisson can disrupt any offensive rhythm. Whichever team wins the line of scrimmage is likely walking away with the trophy.
The Bottom Line
This isn’t just a rematch of a classic - it’s a collision of two teams that have taken very different roads to get here. Seattle, with a young coach and a resurgent quarterback, is looking to reclaim a championship that slipped through its fingers 11 years ago. New England, under a former player turned head coach, is writing a new chapter in its storied history.
Super Bowl LX has all the makings of a classic: power versus precision, redemption versus resurgence. And while there won’t be a goal-line decision to second-guess - at least we hope - there will be plenty of moments that define legacies.
Get your popcorn ready. This one’s going to be fun.