Tremendous Bowl Sunday has arrived, and if this 12 months’s showdown between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots is even half as thrilling because the final time these franchises met on this stage, followers are in for a wild experience. Eleven years after their Tremendous Bowl XLIX traditional, the groups meet once more tonight with the Lombardi Trophy on the road.
The Seahawks, very similar to their earlier Tremendous Bowl runs, have been powered by one of many NFL’s finest defenses. Seattle allowed the fewest factors within the league this season and completed first in each yards per cross try allowed and yards per rush try allowed. The unit flexed its muscle in a 41-6 divisional-round win over the San Francisco 49ers, surrendering simply 3.9 yards per play — San Francisco’s worst mark all season.
Seattle’s offense delivered its largest assertion within the NFC Championship Sport. Sam Darnold threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams, with 153 yards and a rating going to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Kenneth Walker III added 111 yards from scrimmage and a landing, whereas Cooper Kupp and Jake Bobo additionally reached the tip zone.
Although the unit was inconsistent late within the common season, it has discovered its rhythm within the playoffs — and, crucially, has not dedicated a turnover. Seattle enters tonight’s sport with a plus-four turnover differential this postseason.
Turnovers have additionally outlined New England’s playoff run — however on the opposite aspect of the ball. No protection has compelled extra this postseason than the Patriots, who’ve wreaked havoc in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans and Denver Broncos. New England is permitting simply 8.7 factors per sport within the playoffs, the fewest by any crew by means of three video games because the 2000 Baltimore Ravens‘ historic protection.
The Patriots’ offense, which powered a lot of the regular-season success, has been quieter in January. New England’s 18.0 factors per sport this postseason is the fewest getting into a Tremendous Bowl look because the 1979 Rams. Nonetheless, Drake Maye has delivered well timed performs with each his arm and legs, and the Patriots’ firepower presents a serious check for Seattle’s protection.
This is methods to watch tonight’s sport, adopted by keys to the matchup and a prediction.
For dwell updates, highlights and evaluation all through the sport, comply with our Tremendous Bowl LX dwell weblog.
Tremendous Bowl LX: The place to observe Patriots vs. Seahawks
Patriots-Seahaws Tremendous Bowl massive questions
Can the Patriots pressure Sam Darnold into errors?
For pretty much as good as Darnold has been this season — and particularly this postseason — he does have a penchant for turnovers. In reality, his 20 turnovers this season have been most within the NFL, and his 14 interceptions have been third-most. Eight of these 14 turnovers occurred when he was pressured, tied with Geno Smith for many within the NFL.
Now (principally) wholesome, the Patriots’ cross rush has been dominant this postseason with an NFL-best 52% strain price. For comparability’s sake, the best strain price in the course of the common season was 45% (by the Minnesota Vikings).
The Seahawks have executed a superb job protecting Darnold clear for essentially the most half, and play-caller Klint Kubiak does a superb job of getting him out of the pocket by way of play-action and giving him simple solutions.
However Milton Williams, who had a big effect in final 12 months’s Tremendous Bowl for the Philadelphia Eagles, Ok’Lavon Chaisson and different members of the New England entrance seven will hope to make an impression so gifted cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis have an opportunity to make Darnold pay for a poor choice.
Can the Patriots’ offensive line maintain up?
The trail for the underdogs to return out on prime begins with attending to Darnold. The subsequent step is defending their very own quarterback. Maye has taken 5 sacks in all three of his playoff video games to date, and whereas that is come in opposition to three of the NFL’s finest defenses, it isn’t as if the Seahawks’ unit is any simpler.
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald dials up quite a lot of completely different schemes and strain appears to be like, and he has each a disruptive duo inside (Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy II) and a plethora of edge rushers to generate strain.
When the Seahawks do get strain, Maye needs to be cautious with the ball: He has six fumbles (three misplaced) this postseason, each most of any participant.
Can Maye hit the deep ball?
The Seahawks’ wonderful cornerbacks play very aggressively, and it nearly at all times works. The outcomes converse for themselves.
But when the offensive line holds up, Maye might need the chance for a deep ball or two, and he is been pretty much as good as anybody in these eventualities: His 35 completions at the very least 20 yards downfield this common season have been second-most within the NFL behind Matthew Stafford.
2026 Tremendous Bowl knowledgeable predictions, odds, picks, finest bets, the place to observe Seahawks vs. Patriots at this time
Tyler Sullivan
Tremendous Bowl LX choose, prediction
Count on some nerves early, particularly from the quarterbacks, however as each settle in, this must be an incredible, shut battle between an ascending star and an unlikely one.
Maye is trying to develop into the youngest quarterback to win a Tremendous Bowl, and Darnold is trying to develop into the primary quarterback to win a Tremendous Bowl after enjoying for at the very least 5 completely different groups.
Finally, the Seahawks’ protection will get just a few well timed stops, and Seattle leaves with its second championship.
Choose: Seahawks 24, Patriots 20
