On Sunday, the most anticipated sports event of the year will take place when the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots face off in Super Bowl 60. 11 years ago, it was Tom Brady and Russell Wilson battling for the Lombardi trophy — now it’s Drake Maye and Sam Darnold. The players are different, the coaches are different, but what remains is a rivalry that goes back to Super Bowl 49 and an unforgettable mistake that Seattle fans will certainly be hoping to get revenge for.
Let’s set the scene: Super Bowl 49 in Arizona. Future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady had just led the Patriots down the field to score a touchdown, going up 28-24 with two minutes and three seconds left in regulation. The Seahawks had the ball at their own 20-yard line and needed a touchdown drive to win the game. Wilson started slinging the ball downfield with the help of First Team All-Pro running back Marshawn Lynch. With a minute left on his own 38-yard line, Wilson launches a ball to Jermaine Kearse. “Russell for Kearse, and it’s broken up again. But somehow … Did he come up with the football?” broadcaster Al Michaels called as the play happened. Kearse somehow held onto the ball after it bounced off his leg, producing one of the most acrobatic catches in Super Bowl history.
Hopes of a Super Bowl success seemed bleak for New England. The Kearse snag felt all too similar to the David Tyree helmet catch that had doomed the undefeated 2007 team. It felt like history was repeating itself, and all of Patriots Nation could see what was staring them down: Lynch, the best running back in the NFL at the time, on the 5-yard line with a fresh set of downs. On first down, Lynch managed to gain four yards, barely getting tackled short of the end zone. On second down, with a yard to go and Lynch in the backfield, everyone in America knew the game was over.
For whatever reason, head coach Pete Carroll elected to throw the ball rather than hand it off to Lynch. Wilson received the snap, dropped back and fired a bullet. Undrafted Patriots rookie cornerback Malcolm Butler darted in, bumping intended receiver Ricardo Lockette, and intercepted the ball. Just like that, it was over. What should’ve been a guarantee for the Seahawks had just been stolen from out from under them. Brady took a knee, killing the rest of the clock, and the Patriots won the Super Bowl. Butler saved the game and became a hero in New England in a matter of seconds. In his retelling of the game, Lynch recalled asking his teammates, “What the f--- did [Carroll] just call?”
The history of these two teams runs deep, but it really comes down to one play that changed their fates. The Super Bowl on Sunday, however, will feature two completely different teams. The Patriots, representing the AFC, made the Super Bowl after defeating a gauntlet of the NFL’s top defenses. They hosted the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card round, ranked fifth in average yards per game, the Texans in the Divisional round, ranked first, and most recently defeated the Denver Broncos and their second-ranked defense.
The AFC Championship game victory in Denver helped the Patriots achieve a 9-0 road record, a feat that no other team in NFL history has accomplished. The game started off rough for the Patriots, despite facing backup quarterback Jarett Stidham after Bo Nix’s ankle injury. On the Broncos’ second drive, Stidham connected with Marvin Mims Jr. on a 54-yard pass, setting up a touchdown grab reeled in by Courtland Sutton. New England found themselves in a 7-0 hole and struggled to get any offense going for the majority of the first two quarters.
With under three minutes to go in the half, it was the Patriots’ defense who sparked some momentum. Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss applied heavy pressure on Stidham, forcing him to run backward and eventually throw a backward pass that was recovered by the Patriots. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye took advantage of the turnover and scrambled in for a six-yard touchdown, tying the game at 7-7.
The second half brought major offensive struggles for both teams. While the Patriots managed a single scoring drive to go up 10-7, the Broncos were only able to gain 32 total yards in the second half. With two minutes left in the game, Stidham threw an interception to Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez, sealing New England’s spot in the Super Bowl.
Despite winning all three playoff games, Maye has struggled in the postseason so far, likely due to the relentless pressure from opposing edge rushers. He has only passed for 533 yards and has been sacked 15 total times. Unfortunately for him, he will face no reprieve against the Seahawks, who boast the NFL’s sixth-best defense, powered by second-team All-Pros Devon Witherspoon, Ernest Jones IV and Leonard Williams. Keeping Maye protected and buying him more time in the pocket will be key to New England finding success against Seattle.
The Patriots’ receivers also had a difficult time getting open in the AFC Championship and will face an even greater challenge against the Seahawks’ secondary. Mack Hollins, however, proved in his return to football after four weeks on injured reserve that he remains a valuable and reliable target for Maye.
The Seahawks enter the Super Bowl after defeating their NFC West rivals, the Los Angeles Rams. The NFC Championship marked the third matchup between the two teams this season, with the sides splitting the first two meetings. This final contest turned into an offensive shootout, highlighted by two All-Pro receivers, Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Darnold led the way for Seattle, throwing for 346 yards and three touchdowns. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford actually finished with the better stat line, passing for 374 yards and three touchdowns, but special teams proved to be the difference.
Midway through the third quarter, Rams returner Xavier Smith muffed a punt, giving the Seahawks excellent field position. On the very next play, Darnold connected with Jake Bobo for a 17-yard touchdown, extending Seattle’s lead to 24-13. The Rams attempted to mount a comeback but were unable to fully recover, eventually falling 31-27.
Although Darnold faced criticism for much of his career after being selected third overall by the New York Jets in 2018 and failing to meet expectations, the past two seasons have been remarkable. He has led both the Minnesota Vikings and Seahawks to 14-3 records, benefiting from playing alongside superstar wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Smith-Njigba, the latter of whom is favored to win Offensive Player of the Year. Both receivers have become reliable ‘security blankets,’ helping settle Darnold and allowing him to operate more comfortably in the pocket. If Darnold can deliver one more strong performance and avoid reverting to his turnover-prone tendencies, he could very well find himself holding the Super Bowl MVP trophy.
New England, however, has elevated its defense in the playoffs, allowing just 26 total points across three games. Even so, containing an offense that features Smith-Njigba, 2022 Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp and speedy receiver Rashid Shaheed will be an enormous challenge. Seattle has averaged 36 points per game this postseason, and if they approach that number again, the Patriots’ struggling offense may not be able to keep pace.
One potential turning point came in the Wild Card round, when Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet tore his ACL. His absence could be significant, as Charbonnet played a major role as both a runner and an elite pass blocker. While Kenneth Walker III brings explosive speed and big-play ability, he is not nearly the same blocker. If New England hopes to prevent Seattle from piling up points, they will need to consistently pressure Darnold and force turnovers, just as they have throughout their playoff run.
Super Bowl 60 will bring together two young, unproven teams linked by one of the craziest plays in NFL history. The Patriots will arrive in Santa Clara with a battle-tested defense and a quarterback looking to rediscover his dominant, regular-season form, while the Seahawks enter the big game with a red-hot offense. One quick word of advice for Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald: If you find yourself on the one-yard line with a chance to win the Super Bowl, just run the damn ball.
