Super Bowl keys to victory and more – NBC Boston

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The New England Patriots’ first Tremendous Bowl look since 2018 might be a rematch of one of many best video games within the franchise’s historical past.

In Tremendous Bowl XLIX, cornerback Malcolm Butler sealed a 28-24 Patriots win over the Seattle Seahawks with a miraculous goal-line interception. However that was 11 years and three Patriots Tremendous Bowl titles in the past.

There might be no Tom Brady, Invoice Belichick, Russell Wilson, or “Legion of Growth” this time round. It will likely be two very completely different Pats and Seahawks groups dealing with off in Tremendous Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

The Mike Vrabel-led Patriots went 14-3 within the common season after back-to-back 4-13 campaigns. With second-year QB Drake Maye taking part in at an MVP-caliber degree, New England took down the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans, and the Denver Broncos within the playoffs to succeed in the Tremendous Bowl for the tenth time since 2000.

The Seahawks additionally went 14-3 of their first season with Sam Darnold as their QB. Led by second-year head coach Mike Macdonald, Seattle earned a first-round bye earlier than beating the San Francisco 49ers and L.A. Rams en path to its first Tremendous Bowl look since its devastating loss to New England.

Will the Patriots convey residence a seventh Tremendous Bowl championship, or will the Seahawks get their revenge for Tremendous Bowl XLIX?

Try our Tremendous Bowl LX preview under.

Latest head-to-head

The Patriots and Seahawks have met thrice since taking part in in Tremendous Bowl XLIX in February of 2015. Seattle beat New England in all three video games: 31-24 in 2016, 35-30 in 2020, and a 23-20 additional time win in 2024.

After all, no regular-season wins could make up for Seattle’s epic Tremendous Bowl XLIX collapse. On Feb. 8, the Seahawks will lastly have the chance to avenge the worst loss in franchise historical past.

Malcolm Butler’s interception in Tremendous Bowl XLIX stays one of many best performs in NFL historical past.

Key stats to know

Within the common season, the Seahawks offense ranked tied for No. 7 in yards per recreation (351.4) and No. 3 in factors per recreation (28.4). Their protection ranked No. 6 in yards allowed per recreation (285.6) and No. 1 in factors allowed per recreation (17.2).

In his first season with Seattle, QB Sam Darnold ranked fifth in passing yards (4,048) and tenth in passing touchdowns (25). Turnovers have been a problem as he threw the third-most interceptions (14) and had the second-most fumbles misplaced (six).

The Seahawks offense runs by means of star wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The previous Ohio State standout had 119 catches (No. 4 in NFL), 1,793 receiving yards (No. 1), and 10 TDs (tied No. 3) in 2025.

Preserving Smith-Njigba and the Seahawks offense in test might be one other problem for New England’s protection, which has been distinctive towards robust competitors all through the playoffs. The Pats D has allowed solely two touchdowns and 209.7 yards per recreation within the postseason, and has tallied 12 sacks and 7 takeaways.

Patriots’ keys to victory

Handle the soccer

As nice as Maye has been in 12 months 2, the Patriots QB wants work within the ball safety division. Maye threw an interception and fumbled twice (misplaced one) vs. the Chargers, and he threw one interception with 4 fumbles (two misplaced) towards the Texans. He performed a clear recreation towards Denver, however he tried solely 21 passes within the snowy AFC title recreation. He’ll seemingly be requested to do far more towards Seattle.

The Seahawks protection tallied the fifth-most interceptions (18) and the sixth-most whole takeaways (25) within the NFL throughout the common season. The margin for error might be razor-thin towards this stingy Seattle squad.

Shut down Jaxon Smith-Njigba

The Patriots can’t enable JSN to get in any type of groove. The star wideout has been the guts of the Seahawks offense all season, racking up 119 catches for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns. These catch and yardage totals are greater than double another Seattle pass-catcher’s.

Working again Kenneth Walker has been red-hot this postseason, however the Patriots ought to nonetheless power the Seahawks to depend on their run recreation, particularly with fellow RB Zach Charbonnet not within the combine as a consequence of damage.

Seahawks’ keys to victory

A clear recreation for Sam Darnold

Regardless of his turnover woes all through the common season, Darnold has succeeded in caring for the soccer by means of his two playoff video games. He has but to throw a decide or lose a fumble within the postseason.

If that pattern continues, this Seahawks workforce might be tremendously tough to beat. Maye and the Patriots offense must be nearly flawless towards a protection that allowed the fewest factors per recreation this season.

Darnold does not should be a hero; he simply has to keep away from giving New England additional possessions.

Stop the explosive performs

Maye has been held in test for lengthy stretches in all three of his playoff appearances, however the Pats’ star QB has stepped as much as make huge performs once they’ve mattered most.

He threw a 28-yard landing move to Hunter Henry within the low-scoring Wild Card recreation vs. L.A., then a 28-yard TD to DeMario Douglas and a clutch 32-yard TD to Kayshon Boutte within the Divisional Spherical vs. Houston. Within the AFC Championship vs. Denver, Maye took over the sport together with his legs by dashing for 65 yards and a TD.

Prediction

Drake Maye could be one of many youngest quarterbacks to win the Tremendous Bowl.

Credit score to Sam Darnold for revitalizing his profession these final two seasons with the Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings, however he will not outduel MVP candidate Drake Maye in Tremendous Bowl LX.

Maye and the Patriots have already taken down three of the league’s hardest defenses within the playoffs: the Chargers, Texans, and Broncos. They may proceed that pattern towards the Seahawks, who allowed the fewest factors per recreation in 2025 however have been inconsistent offensively.

Maye will not should put up huge numbers if the Patriots’ protection continues its stellar play. New England’s D has dominated opposing QBs Justin Herbert, C.J. Stroud and Jarrett Stidham within the postseason, and you may wager the unit is licking its chops because it appears to be like forward to this matchup towards the turnover-prone Darnold.

It’s going to be shut, however the Patriots have the sting so long as Maye takes care of the soccer. New England completes its storybook season with its first Tremendous Bowl title of the post-Brady/Belichick period.