Super Bowl LX: Seahawks’ Edge Lies in the Details - And Rashid Shaheed Might Be the Difference
The stage is set for Super Bowl LX, and while the betting line has the Seattle Seahawks as slight favorites, this one feels like a true coin flip. Both Seattle and New England arrive with eerily similar resumes - nine double-digit wins apiece, identical 5.9 yards per play, 41% third-down conversion rates, and defenses that each allowed just 17 points per game. On paper, it’s almost uncanny.
But when you look beyond the surface-level stats, you start to see where this game could tilt - and why Seattle might have the trump card.
Let’s start with New England. The Patriots have taken heat for cruising through a relatively soft regular-season schedule.
Fair enough. But when it mattered most, they answered the bell - knocking off three of the top five defenses in the NFL on their playoff run.
That’s not just surviving; that’s thriving under pressure. This team has been tested, and it’s passed with flying colors.
Still, Seattle has a few matchup advantages that could swing this game - and none bigger than special teams, where the Seahawks quietly boast one of the NFL’s most dangerous units. That’s not just lip service. It’s a legitimate edge, and at the heart of it is wide receiver and return ace Rashid Shaheed.
Since the Seahawks traded for Shaheed, this team has found another gear. And it’s not just because he’s fast - though, let’s be clear, he is fast. It’s about what his presence unlocks across the board.
Sam Darnold, who’s found new life under center in Seattle, now has a legitimate vertical threat to pair with Jaxon Smith-Njigba. JSN has been nothing short of sensational this year, leading the league with over 1,700 receiving yards.
But even with that production, Seattle’s offense needed a little more juice. Cooper Kupp, once one of the league’s most feared receivers, has transitioned into more of a chain-mover.
He’s still dependable, but the days of him torching secondaries are behind him.
Enter Shaheed - the kind of burner who forces defenses to account for every inch of the field. He stretches coverages, opens up space underneath, and can flip a game on a single play. And in this matchup, that could be critical.
New England’s secondary is anchored by Christian Gonzalez, one of the best young corners in the league. There’s a good chance he draws the assignment on either Kupp or Shaheed, but the real chess match will be how the Patriots handle JSN.
Expect head coach Mike Vrabel - a disciple of Bill Belichick and a three-time Super Bowl champ under him - to throw double coverage at Smith-Njigba all game long. That likely means Carlton Davis and a safety bracketing Seattle’s top target, forcing Darnold to look elsewhere.
That’s where Shaheed becomes the X-factor. If Gonzalez is tasked with covering him one-on-one, there’s opportunity.
As good as Gonzalez has been, he’s had some struggles on deep balls this season. And Shaheed doesn’t need much space to make a defense pay.
But Shaheed’s impact doesn’t stop at receiver. He might be the most electric return man in the league right now - and he’s got the receipts to prove it.
In the Divisional Round, he took the opening kickoff to the house against San Francisco, setting the tone in a game the Niners never recovered from. That wasn’t a fluke.
Earlier in the year, his punt return touchdown against the Rams shifted the momentum of Seattle’s season. These aren’t just highlight-reel plays - they’re game-changers.
Special teams might not get the same spotlight as offense or defense, but in a game this close, it could be the difference. New England’s unit has been serviceable - middle of the pack, statistically - but Seattle’s group is elite. Punter Michael Dickson continues to flip field position with surgical precision, and with Shaheed lurking on returns, every kick becomes a potential turning point.
So yes, the stats say these teams are evenly matched. And yes, the Patriots have earned their way here. But if you’re looking for the edge - the one thing that could tip the scales - keep your eyes on No. 22 in navy and action green.
Because if Rashid Shaheed gets loose, he won’t just flip the field. He might flip the outcome of Super Bowl LX.