Both teams advanced through close conference finals. Playing in Denver, New England edged the Broncos, 10–7, in a snowstorm. The decisive points followed a second-quarter fumble by Denver quarterback Jarrett Stidham, setting up Maye’s six-yard touchdown run. Maye finished the game with 86 passing yards, 65 rushing yards and no turnovers. Denver’s defense limited him through the air, but New England’s own unit surrendered just one touchdown, continuing a postseason trend that mirrors the 2000 Baltimore Ravens’ playoff stinginess.
Seattle’s path was more offensively driven. Against Los Angeles, Darnold completed 28 of 37 passes, committed no turnovers and engineered a late fourth-quarter drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Tyler Lockett. Running back Kenneth Walker III contributed key yardage after Zach Charbonnet was ruled out with a knee injury. The Seahawks overcame preseason projections that favored division rivals San Francisco and Los Angeles, something Macdonald underscored in postgame remarks about his roster’s self-belief.
Maye, 23, is slated to become the second-youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl, trailing only Dan Marino, who reached the game at 23 during the 1984 season. According to the NFL’s official Super Bowl record book, Maye will also be the fourth second-year passer in the past seven seasons to guide his team to the league’s final game, joining Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Brock Purdy. Mahomes is the lone member of that group to have secured a championship.
Vrabel’s rapid impact has been central to New England’s turnaround. The former Patriots linebacker took over after a 4-13 campaign under Jerod Mayo and steered the team to a 14-3 regular-season record and a perfect postseason run. With a victory on February 8, Vrabel would become the first individual to claim Super Bowl titles with the same franchise as both player and head coach. Previous dual champions—Tom Flores, Mike Ditka, Tony Dungy and Doug Pederson—earned their rings with different organizations in the two roles.
New England’s offense has averaged 18 points per game during these playoffs, the lowest figure for a finalist since the 1979 Rams. The minimal scoring has placed added pressure on a defensive group that features versatile front-seven play and opportunistic secondary work. Through the conference title game, the Patriots have allowed an average of 8.7 points per outing, the second-best three-game postseason stretch behind only the 2000 Ravens’ 5.3-point mark.
Seattle’s defense carries its own strong résumé. The Seahawks limited opponents to 19.1 points per game in the regular season and have generated seven takeaways in two playoff contests. Edge rushers Boye Mafe and Uchenna Nwosu have combined for five postseason sacks, while rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon has provided man-coverage stability. Offensively, Darnold’s interception-free playoff run has offset the loss of Charbonnet, placing additional responsibility on Walker III and the receiving trio of Lockett, D.K. Metcalf and first-year target Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
The looming rematch inevitably recalls Super Bowl 49, when Malcolm Butler’s interception of Russell Wilson preserved a 28–24 Patriots victory. Debate continues among Seahawks supporters over that pass attempt rather than a handoff to Marshawn Lynch from the one-yard line. While personnel and coaching staffs have largely changed, the franchises’ shared history adds narrative weight to this season’s championship meeting.
Kickoff at Levi’s Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The venue last hosted the Super Bowl in February 2016, when Denver defeated Carolina. League officials expect strong ticket demand, driven by both fan bases’ national followings and the renewal of a headline-grabbing encounter.
Broadcast rights belong to a national network yet to be formally announced, though the NFL’s current rotation places the game with the platform that televised the 2023 championship. In-stadium protocol will follow standard Super Bowl security measures, and the league is expected to confirm halftime entertainment in the coming days.
Entering the contest, New England’s overall Super Bowl record stands at 6–5. Seattle is 1–2, having defeated Denver in Super Bowl 48 and lost to New England and Pittsburgh in Super Bowls 49 and 40, respectively. The Patriots will practice at Stanford University during the week leading up to the game, while the Seahawks are slated to train at San José State University, each location selected for proximity to the stadium and practice-field availability.
With one of the league’s most accomplished franchises facing a team intent on adding a second championship to its ledger, Super Bowl 60 will determine whether New England secures the stand-alone record for titles or Seattle claims its first championship since the 2013 season.
Crédito da imagem: Associated Press
