Super Bowl LX isn’t just Seahawks vs. Patriots. It’s the story of two quarterbacks who’ve rewritten their narratives in spectacular fashion. And both coaches (Vrabel & Macdonald) were Coach of the Year favorites.
Sam Darnold, once labeled a draft bust after flaming out with the Jets, is now leading Seattle to its fourth Super Bowl appearance. After back-to-back 14-win seasons (a feat only he and Tom Brady have accomplished), Darnold has silenced the doubters. Sure, his 20 turnovers led the league this season, but he’s thrown zero in his last three games when it mattered most.
Drake Maye is making history of his own. At 23, he’s attempting to become just the fifth quarterback to win a Super Bowl in his second NFL season, a club that includes legends like Brady and Russell Wilson. Under OC Josh McDaniels and Mike Vrabel’s leadership, he orchestrated a stunning turnaround from 4-13 to 14-3, leading the NFL in Total QBR (77.1) and completion percentage (72%).
The irony? Seattle’s front office has built a championship roster specifically by not paying quarterbacks elite money. They traded Russell Wilson and Geno Smith rather than commit long-term dollars, proving you can win with “good enough” at QB if the defense is elite (fewest points allowed at 16.4 per game).
Meanwhile, New England’s rebuild happened in record time. They had the third-easiest path to a Super Bowl by strength of schedule since 1978, but they’ve beaten quality opponents when it counted.
Super Bowl LX Preview: By The Numbers 📊
🏈 Seahawks (14-3, NFC #1) vs Patriots (14-3, AFC #2)
📅 Feb 8 | 6:30 PM ET | Levi’s Stadium
Why Seattle Wins:
✅ NFL’s #1 scoring defense (16.4 PPG allowed)
✅ 27 straight games without allowing a 100-yard rusher
✅ Best run defense by every metric (34% success rate vs. designed runs)
Why New England Wins:
✅ Drake Maye leads NFL in QBR (77.1), completion % (72%), passer rating (113.5)
✅ Top-5 scoring offense under Mike Vrabel’s turnaround (4-13 to 14-3)
✅ #1 passing offense by EPA per play (0.23)
The X-Factors:
✨ Rashid Shaheed (SEA): Explosive threat as receiver & returner
✨ Rhamondre Stevenson (NE): 280 yards in 3 playoff games
February 8th at Levi’s Stadium: Defense vs. Youth. Redemption vs. Resurgence. Darnold vs. Maye. Who are you taking? 🏈