It all started back on Sept. 4, 2025, with a Thursday night game between Dallas and Philadelphia. It ends tomorrow evening, five months and 284 games later, when the New England Patriots face the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. Nic Bakker and Steph Curry break down all of the ins and outs for this matchup and give their predictions on who will hoist the Lombardi trophy.
Patriots offense vs Seahawks defense – Steph
Drake Maye, MVP runner-up, has delivered about as strong a sophomore season as a quarterback could ask for: 4,800 yards, 35 touchdowns, an AFC East title and a trip to Super Bowl LX. His reward? Playing the best defense the league has to offer.
What makes Seattle’s defense stand out is its ability to disrupt what opposing offenses want to do before the ball is even snapped. The Seahawks disguise coverages with confidence and cohesion, forcing quarterbacks, especially young ones like Maye, to hesitate and make mistakes.
Their secondary, led by cornerback Devon Witherspoon and rookie sensation Nick Emmanwori, matches up well against New England’s receivers. If Seattle can keep Maye guessing and deny New England the timing and spacing their offense depends on, the Patriots may find themselves fighting an uphill battle all night.
Despite the challenges Seattle presents, the Patriots aren’t walking into this game empty-handed. Maye has shown impressive command of an offensive scheme crafted by Josh McDaniels, and they have enough versatility in their skill positions to stress the Seahawks horizontally and vertically.
Stefon Diggs has returned to his status as a reliable wide receiver, Kayshon Boutte has emerged as one of the best downfield threats in the NFL this season, and rookie running back Treveon Henderson consistently makes explosive plays happen from the backfield.
If anything, Maye has been precise all season, showing poise that most second-year quarterbacks lack. Their only weak spot, especially in the playoffs, has been their offensive line (more on that later).
If New England can control the tempo and keep Seattle’s fast-moving, quick-adjusting defense in check, they can generate the offensive rhythm that’s carried them all year.
In the end, this matchup comes down to whether New England’s offensive range and structure can overcome Seattle’s discipline and ability to create confusion on defense. Given how often they create hesitation and force mistakes, I’m giving the edge to the Seahawks.
Seahawks offense vs Patriots defense – Nic
If there is a path for the Patriots to have their way in this game, it starts on this side of the ball. At the midseason point, defensive tackles Christian Barmore and Milton Williams were the only players at their positions with over 30 quarterback pressures.
Consistent interior pressure on Sam Darnold would go a long way in muddying up the Seahawks offensive game plan. Additionally, the Patriots must consistently get into the backfield to throw off the Seahawks’ run gameand force 3rd-and-pass situations drive after drive.
However, the Seattle run game may have a way out of this predicament. Seattle has run the ball on 65% of their runs in this postseason. It’s been all perimeter stuff for Kenneth Walker and Co. The Patriots this year, per Next Gen Stats, are 31st in run defense success rate on outside runs since Week 10.
If the Patriots want a chance, that has to change. They have to disrupt Seattle’s rhythm and get Sam Darnold into high-leverage passing downs.
Seattle X-Factor – Steph
The Pass Rush
To put it lightly, the Patriots’ offensive line hasn’t done many favors for Drake Maye this postseason. Maye has been sacked 15 times and has fumbled the ball six times in the last three playoff games.
New England’s offensive line was a top ten unit in the regular season, so this sudden falloff may seem strange at first. That is, until you realize that the Patriots didn’t play that many elite defenses in the regular season. Against well-coached teams with competent defenses, the cracks are starting to show.
The biggest test for the Patriots comes against Seattle, who have a chance to impose their will on New England’s shaky offensive line, DeMarcus Lawrence, Byron Murphy, and Leonard Williams. Earlier this season, Lawrence coined the Seahawks defense with a fitting nickname: The Dark Side.
With how bad the Patriots’ offensive line has looked as of late, The Dark Side has a chance to make Maye and the Patriots offense look pedestrian. Seattle’s ability to control the line of scrimmage could decide the game before New England ever has a chance to find their footing.
New England X-Factor – Nic
Maye’s Legs
The Patriots have had a pretty average offensive output this postseason; their best play in each of their playoff matchups has been the Drake Maye scramble. If Maye can use his legs to extend drives and keep the Seahawks offense off the field, it could reinforce the game script the Patriots have been following as of late.
Final prediction – Steph
23-15 Seahawks
Super Bowl MVP: Kenneth Walker III
Something tells me that this will be a very boring game, at least in the first half. However, another instinct says New England somehow finds a way to win its seventh Super Bowl, the same way theywon the first six. But as much as my instincts tell me that’s what’s going to happen, I simply cannot predict that. It won’t be pretty, it won’t be decisive, but I believe that Seattle lifts the Lombardi.
Final prediction – Nic
40-30 Seahawks
Super Bowl MVP: Sam Darnold
Many predictions see this as a low-scoring affair, but I don’t. Both defenses have been superb for the majority of this season, but withtwo weeks of preparation for offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and Josh McDaniels, and the weapons that both teams have to offer, I see this as a shootout.
I believe Seattle will be able to get into enemy territory with ease and rely on the plethora of weapons they have to get into the end zone. In doing so, Sam Darnold will complete the greatest career turnaround for a quarterback the league has ever seen and win Seattle’s second Super Bowl title.
