{"id":737614,"date":"2026-02-08T08:04:21","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T08:04:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/737614\/"},"modified":"2026-02-08T08:04:21","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T08:04:21","slug":"seahawks-patriots-picks-key-stats-predictions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/737614\/","title":{"rendered":"Seahawks-Patriots picks, key stats, predictions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Super Bowl LX kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday (NBC\/Peacock), with the Seattle Seahawks<\/a> facing the New England Patriots<\/a>.<\/p>\n

New England is looking to make history by becoming the first NFL team with seven Super Bowls wins. The last time the Seahawks went to the big game was against the Patriots in 2015 for Super Bowl XLIX, where Seattle lost a 28-24 heartbreaker. New England entered this season\u2019s playoffs as the AFC\u2019s No. 2 seed, while Seattle entered as the NFC\u2019s No. 1 seed.<\/p>\n

We have you covered with everything you need to know, including team previews, a breakdown of Super Bowl MVP candidates and game picks. We also provide advice from our sports betting experts and in-depth statistics from ESPN Research. We look at the two quarterbacks, coaches, officiating, positional advantages and X factors. And scroll all the way down to check out our preview of Bad Bunny\u2019s halftime show.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s dive into this one-stop cheat sheet, starting with a preview of the matchup.<\/p>\n

Previewing Seahawks vs. Patriots<\/p>\n

When: Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET<\/p>\n

Where: Levi\u2019s Stadium in Santa Clara, California<\/p>\n

Television: TSN, CTV<\/p>\n

Call it the Explosive Play Bowl. The big play has always mattered, but in the past few years, NFL games have become battles between teams trying to create and prevent explosive plays.<\/p>\n

Defenses have raised their rates of two-high safety looks, funneling teams toward the run and short passes. Offenses have accordingly taken what the defense has given. With a leaguewide increase in willingness to go for it on fourth down, third-and-short has become an opportunity to hit those explosive plays. And the dynamic kickoff and placing touchbacks at the 35-yard line have made it more difficult to play the field position game as a defense.<\/p>\n

All this has created a league where explosive plays are the great differentiator. Manufacture one explosive play on offense after a kickoff and you\u2019re probably already in field goal range. Successful defenses either force a ton of takeaways or stall the opposing offense from hitting a big play, trusting that they\u2019ll come up with a sack, force a penalty or produce a negative play to throw the offense off schedule. Great offenses either force teams out of the two-high world by running the football too effectively or reliably hit throws into narrow windows downfield.<\/p>\n

In terms of explosive-play differential — the gap between the rate at which teams generated explosive plays and prevented their opposition from doing the same — each of the four teams in the conference championship games ranked in the top five during the regular season. The Patriots were fourth at 2.8 percentage points, buoyed by a league-best explosive creation rate of 13.6% on offense. And the Seahawks\u2019 explosive-play differential of 4.7 percentage points was the best mark in the NFL and the ninth-best figure posted by any team of the past 25 years. They were truly elite on defense, meaning we\u2019ll get the league\u2019s best offense at creating explosive plays versus the league\u2019s best defense at stopping them Sunday.<\/p>\n

Of course, one-game variance can swamp regular-season stats. The six best teams by explosive-play differential over the past 25 years made it to the Super Bowl; they all lost. A Patriots defense that was ordinary during the regular season by advanced metrics has allowed just six explosives through three postseason games while playing a series of compromised, injury-impacted offenses. The Seahawks gave up 12 explosives to the Rams in the NFC Championship Game. They won that matchup because quarterback Sam Darnold<\/a> responded to two months of middling football by playing one of the best games of his life. His opponent, Drake Maye<\/a>, has followed an MVP-caliber regular season with a wildly inconsistent postseason, mixing turnovers with spectacular plays.<\/p>\n

In this postseason, we\u2019ve seen individual games decided by unexpected injuries, fumble luck, missed kicks and ill-timed weather systems. One of those unpredictable factors might decide Sunday\u2019s game too. All things being equal, though, this should be a fun Super Bowl matchup of two of the league\u2019s explosive-play kings in 2025. Whoever manages to win that battle should be the favorite to take home the Lombardi Trophy. — Bill Barnwell, NFL analyst<\/p>\n

Meet the teamsSeattle Seahawks<\/p>\n

2025 record: 14-3<\/p>\n

ESPN\u2019s Football Power Index: No. 1<\/p>\n

Coach: Mike MacDonald<\/p>\n

Macdonald didn\u2019t play football past high school due to injuries. But he\u2019s built like an NFL fullback, and as the son of a West Point graduate, he has a sternness to go along with his analytical brain. When the Seahawks hired Macdonald to replace Pete Carroll in 2024, they knew they were getting a defensive mastermind. But he has also grown as a leader, with players saying his willingness to admit mistakes helps them take his direct coaching style. At 38, he would become the third-youngest coach to win a Super Bowl.<\/p>\n

How did they get here?<\/p>\n

It started when team owner Jody Allen moved on from Carroll after the 2023 season, which was a difficult decision because Carroll had delivered the franchise its only Lombardi Trophy (XLVIII). General manager John Schneider tabbed Macdonald as Carroll\u2019s replacement, and since then, the GM has continued his personnel tear.<\/p>\n

The most notable of his several home run moves last offseason was trading quarterback Geno Smith<\/a> and signing Sam Darnold<\/a> to replace him. Darnold and new coordinator Klint Kubiak transformed Seattle\u2019s offense, while Macdonald\u2019s defense took a significant step forward in Year 2 by allowing the fewest points per game (17.2) in the NFL. The Seahawks, with six Pro Bowl selections, have plenty of talent. But Macdonald has fostered a connectedness that has helped his team play even better. — Brady Henderson, Seahawks reporter<\/p>\n

New England Patriots<\/p>\n

2025 record: 14-3<\/p>\n

ESPN\u2019s Football Power Index: No. 10<\/p>\n

Coach: Mike Vrabel<\/p>\n

A three-time Super Bowl champion as a linebacker with the Patriots in the 2000s, Vrabel still looks as if he might have a snap or two left in him. He puts on a chest pad at practice and lets players fire away on him. He\u2019ll chug a beer in the locker room after a playoff win. He has a mastery of the rulebook and an empathetic approach with players — in part because he says a coach is only as good as them.<\/p>\n

How did they get here?<\/p>\n

Faster than some of the players thought they would. They credit Vrabel and the culture he built, which included sharing their \u201c4 Hs\u201d — history, heartbreak, hope and hero — when they first met as a team in the spring. What resulted was a strong connection that players say made them want to play more for their teammates because they understood them better. Of course, it doesn\u2019t hurt to have an MVP candidate in second-year QB Drake Maye<\/a>, who blossomed under the direction of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. — Mike Reiss, Patriots reporter<\/p>\n

Read more: What makes Macdonald\u2019s defense so good? … The team that Vrabel built … Moments from past and present with Vrabel … Why Vrabel was the perfect coach hire<\/p>\n

QB breakdownSam Darnold, Seahawks<\/p>\n

Darnold\u2019s regular season was truly the story of two halves. In the first 10 weeks, he was legitimately lights-out, with a league-leading 77.9 QBR and 9.3 yards per dropback. But from Week 11 on, his efficiency plummeted, with a 35.3 QBR (27th best) and 6.3 yards per dropback (15th). In the playoffs, he has looked more like the first-half version. But which Darnold will show up in the Super Bowl?<\/p>\n

Strength: At his best, Darnold pushes the ball downfield with accuracy. In the first 10 weeks, he averaged 9.4 air yards per attempt (highest among QBR qualifiers) and had a league-best plus-10% completion percentage over expected, per NFL Next Gen Stats. And he did all of that while avoiding sacks (4.2% sack rate in that span).<\/p>\n

Weakness: Turnovers were a problem during regular season. Darnold\u2019s 3.5% turnover rate was the worst among all QBR-qualifying quarterbacks. The good news for Seattle is that in its two playoff games, he has yet to turn the ball over. But given his track record, the issue is always a concern. — Seth Walder, analytics writer<\/p>\n

Drake Maye, Patriots<\/p>\n

Although he finished runner-up for MVP, Maye was the best quarterback in the NFL this season. Despite a middling offensive line and a lackluster receiving group, he led the league in QBR (77.1) in the regular season by a solid margin — even though it\u2019s a metric that controls the quality of opponent. And the Patriots leaned heavily on him. They had a plus-4% pass rate over expected, the second highest, per Next Gen Stats.<\/p>\n

Strength: Accuracy. Maye\u2019s plus-9% completion percentage over expected was not only the highest among quarterbacks this season, but the highest among QB seasons since the metric began in 2016. Other numbers convey the same idea. Maye\u2019s 12% off-target rate was the seventh best, and he achieved that while averaging 8.7 air yards per attempt, third most in the NFL.<\/p>\n

Weakness: While the offensive line, receivers and scheme undoubtedly play a role, the biggest factor affecting sack rate is the quarterback. Maye was brought down 47 times during the regular season, fourth most in the NFL, and his 8.8% sack rate ranked fifth worst. He also had a 1.8% fumble rate that ranked third worst. — Walder<\/p>\n

Read more: High school stories of 13 Super Bowl stars, coaches … Maye feels good about shoulder, threw at practice … Darnold says oblique \u2018feels really good\u2019<\/p>\n

Biggest questions<\/p>\n

How can Seattle get wide receiver Rashid Shaheed<\/a> more involved in the pass game?<\/p>\n

The Seahawks don\u2019t necessarily have to get him more involved, but it certainly won\u2019t hurt if he can do what he did early in the NFC Championship Game, when he got open behind the Rams\u2019 defense for a 51-yard gain. Shaheed had been using his game-breaking speed to make an impact in other ways, most notably on special teams. He has three return touchdowns since his arrival in a midseason trade from the Saints.<\/p>\n

But before the title game, his impact on the offense was mostly on short and intermediate throws. He also took some end arounds and pitches out of the backfield. There are only so many targets to go around in a run-heavy offense that features All-Pro receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba<\/a> as the primary option in the passing game. But Shaheed has the speed to make a big play. — Henderson<\/p>\n

Will the Patriots\u2019 offensive line be able to keep Maye clean against Seattle\u2019s pass rush?<\/p>\n

Vrabel said the Seahawks are probably the NFL\u2019s best team at executing stunts to create pressure. That has given the Patriots\u2019 offensive line trouble at times this season. New England is the first team to start multiple rookies on the offensive line in a Super Bowl, per ESPN Research, and the Patriots will need first-round pick Will Campbell<\/a> (left tackle) and third-round pick Jared Wilson<\/a> (left guard) to play well beyond their years. It\u2019s an immense challenge against a defense that has shown a knack for creating pressure with the standard four rushers. — Reiss<\/p>\n

Key one-on-one matchup<\/p>\n

Jaxon Smith-Njigba<\/a> vs. Christian Gonzalez<\/a><\/p>\n

While Smith-Njigba was primarily a slot receiver when he first joined the Seahawks, he is no longer limited. Across the regular season and playoffs, 24% of his routes and 20% of his targets have come from slot alignments. If the Patriots want to get Gonzalez matched up on Smith-Njigba, they won\u2019t need to constantly travel him inside. Whether Gonzalez will travel with him at all is an interesting question, though.<\/p>\n

In his first two seasons with the Patriots — when the defense played more man coverage — Gonzalez regularly followed the opponent\u2019s best WR on the outside. This season, as the Patriots have run more zone and enjoyed a strong CB2 in Carlton Davis III<\/a>, Gonzalez has primarily stayed to one side of the field, lining up as the right cornerback on 72% of snaps. I imagine we\u2019ll see him travel with Smith-Njigba some, but it doesn\u2019t need to be the linchpin of the Patriots\u2019 game plan.<\/p>\n

Expect to see Smith-Njigba sent in motion often — doubly so on the first few series. If Gonzalez is shadowing him, the Seahawks will motion Smith-Njigba into the slot to force nickel corner Marcus Jones<\/a> to endure the one-on-one matchup. Jones is a great slot corner, but the Pats will need to dial up double-teams to handle Smith-Njigba if he suddenly becomes a true slot receiver in this game.<\/p>\n

The lean in this matchup goes to Smith-Njigba. There\u2019s a bright spot for New England, though: Gonzalez can\u2019t single-handedly erase Smith-Njigba, but if he can hold his own at the line of scrimmage, he can force Darnold to take longer dropbacks and target other receivers. That would be a win for the Patriots\u2019 defense. — Ben Solak, NFL analyst<\/p>\n

Keys to a Seahawks win<\/p>\n

Positional advantage: Secondary<\/p>\n

This unit is built on speed and physicality. It played a league-high 815 snaps of nickel and allowed only 5.5 yards per attempt. The Seahawks can major in on Cover 2 to limit the vertical opportunities for Maye, while also mixing in man schemes to challenge the timing of New England\u2019s passing game.<\/p>\n

With cornerbacks Devon Witherspoon<\/a> and Josh Jobe<\/a> on the perimeter, plus rookie Nick Emmanwori<\/a> playing as a low zone disruptor in the slot, the Seahawks can close throwing windows and create edges in the run game. And over the top, safeties Julian Love<\/a> and Coby Bryant<\/a> have the instincts to make plays downfield. — Matt Bowen, NFL analyst<\/p>\n

Seahawks\u2019 X factor: Rashid Shaheed<\/a>, WR<\/p>\n

Shaheed is the Seattle player most likely to produce a big play, either in the passing game or on special teams. He was always a good return player for the Saints, but he has kicked it into another gear after combining with Seattle\u2019s strong blocking units. In 11 games with the Seahawks, including the postseason, Shaheed has returned one punt and two kickoffs for touchdowns.<\/p>\n

Shaheed has not played as big of a role in the Seattle passing game as expected. He caught only 15 passes for 188 yards during the regular season with no touchdowns. But he\u2019ll likely be covered by cornerback Carlton Davis III<\/a>, who led New England with six defensive pass interference penalties in 2025. — Aaron Schatz, NFL analyst<\/p>\n

Rookie to watch: Nick Emmanwori<\/a>, S<\/p>\n

Emmanwori has quickly turned into one of the team\u2019s best defensive players. He is a hybrid defender who primarily occupies the nickel position in Macdonald\u2019s defense, but he\u2019s capable of playing multiple roles. He has an intense wrap up and brings a lot of energy to the unit. Emmanwori was a limited participant in practice Wednesday and did not practice Thursday after an ankle injury, which could cause issues for Seattle if he\u2019s not at 100%. — Jordan Reid, NFL draft analyst<\/p>\n

Keys to a Patriots win<\/p>\n

Positional advantage: Running backs<\/p>\n

With two dual-threat backs in Rhamondre Stevenson<\/a> and rookie TreVeyon Henderson<\/a>, the Patriots must create an offensive tempo by running the ball, while also getting them to contribute in the pass game. Stevenson led the NFL with 2.8 yards after contact per rush, showing off his short-area speed and power. Henderson gives the Patriots more juice on the perimeter and big-play ability, as he had 18 rushes of 10 or more yards this season. With the zone coverage tendencies of the Seattle defense, Stevenson and Henderson can produce as underneath outlets for Maye. — Bowen<\/p>\n

Patriots\u2019 X factor: Marcus Jones<\/a>, CB<\/p>\n

You will mostly see Jones as the Patriots\u2019 nickelback. That means he\u2019ll spend a lot of time covering receiver Cooper Kupp<\/a>. But he might have to cover Smith-Njigba, considering how the Seahawks will sometimes move JSN into the slot or the backfield to get him open. Jones had good coverage this season, although his coverage DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) is closer to average after adjusting for the quality of the receivers.<\/p>\n

When Jones gets active, however, he makes plenty of big plays. Jones led the Patriots with 23 defeats, a metric that combines turnovers, tackles for loss and plays to prevent a conversion on third or fourth down. He was one of five defensive backs to lead their teams in this metric. Jones had three fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and two interceptions (plus a third pick returned for a touchdown in the divisional round against Houston). He also had two sacks and four pressures as part of New England\u2019s blitz packages.<\/p>\n

Jones is also an X factor because of his impact on the kicking game. He was the second-team All-Pro punt returner this season with an average of 17.3 yards and two touchdowns. — Schatz<\/p>\n

Rookie to watch: Will Campbell<\/a>, OT<\/p>\n

The rookie will have his hand\u2019s full against a Seattle defense that brings pressure from many different areas instead of a straight four-man rush. Campbell, who was attributed seven sacks in the regular season, will be tasked with not just stopping a right-side defensive end, but also with keeping delayed pressures and blitzes off Maye. Campbell\u2019s poise as a pass protector is what made him the top tackle drafted in 2025, but this will be the biggest test of his career. Campbell\u2019s performance will be crucial to keep Maye and the offense moving. — Matt Miller, NFL draft analyst<\/p>\n

What ESPN\u2019s Football Power Index (FPI) says<\/p>\n

ESPN\u2019s FPI has the Seahawks winning 59.6% of the simulations — and they are favored to win by an average of 3.6 points.<\/p>\n

This matchup is a showdown between two top-10 teams in FPI: the No. 1 Seahawks (7.0) and the No. 10 Patriots (2.6). The Patriots are ninth on offense and the Seahawks rank 11th. On defense, Seattle ranks first and New England is 11th.<\/p>\n

In the preseason, the Seahawks had the 21st-best chance to make the Super Bowl (2.6%) and the Patriots had the 25th-best odds (2%). Seattle was given a 1.1% chance to win it, while New England was at 0.9%.<\/p>\n

Who wins the game?<\/p>\n

Of the 58 experts who weighed in, the Seahawks were favored by 48 of them (82.8%), while the Patriots claimed 10 votes (17.2%). The most common score prediction was 27-17 (picked by four of our experts).<\/p>\n

Who will win Super Bowl MVP?<\/p>\n

Of the 58 experts who weighed in, 23 (39.7%) picked Darnold to win Super Bowl MVP. Darnold (+115), Maye (+240) and Smith-Njigba (+550) are the favorites. We asked a few experts to explain their MVP prediction.<\/p>\n

Jason Reid, Andscape senior writer: Darnold. He is on quite the run. He was efficient in the Seahawks\u2019 41-6 rout of the 49ers in the divisional round, and he played the best game of his career in a 31-27 victory over the Rams in the NFC Championship Game. Darnold has never been more settled in the pocket. On Sunday, that will be clear again.<\/p>\n

Liz Loza, fantasy and betting analyst: Darnold. Since I\u2019m taking Seattle to win outright, it makes sense to fold in Darnold as the MVP. The Super Bowl winners\u2019 QB has been named MVP in 34 of 59 Super Bowls, including seven of the past nine.<\/p>\n

Todd Archer, Cowboys reporter: Maye. Maybe there\u2019s something wrong with his right shoulder, but the Patriots will not have to worry about the elements like they did against Houston and Denver. Maye will come up with the big plays late in the game and bring home a seventh Lombardi Trophy.<\/p>\n

Eric Moody, fantasy and betting analyst: Smith-Njigba. He was the engine of the Seahawks offense all season, finishing with 119 catches for 1,793 yards and earning first-team All-Pro honors. He further proved himself against Los Angeles with 10 catches, 153 yards and a touchdown. If JSN sees similar target volume on football\u2019s biggest stage, he\u2019ll be well-positioned to emerge as the MVP.<\/p>\n

Matt Miller, NFL draft analyst: Smith-Njigba. He has been a matchup nightmare for every team throughout the 2025 season and the playoffs. As great as the Patriots\u2019 defense has been, his ability to uncover himself as a route runner and Darnold\u2019s short-area accuracy\/timing should add up to a big night for the All-Pro wide receiver.<\/p>\n

Ben Solak, NFL analyst: Shaheed. I expect a low scoring game overall, which means that one game-changing touchdown might warrant the MVP award. Shaheed has the ability to score in all three phases: receiving, returning and even on a handoff. He\u2019s the fun long shot bet that might actually pay out.<\/p>\n

Read More: Experts predict Seahawks-Patriots score, MVP … Can a defender SB MVP win for first time in a decade?<\/p>\n

Bold stat line predictions<\/p>\n

Shaheed finishes with 100-plus all-purpose yards and scores a touchdown. He delivered a punt return touchdown in Week 16, a kickoff return TD in the divisional round and a 51-yard catch in the NFC Championship Game, showcasing his game-breaking upside. With Smith-Njigba drawing constant double teams, this could be a great opportunity to unleash Shaheed on offense. — Eric Moody, fantasy and betting analyst<\/p>\n

Smith-Njigba goes well over 100 yards. I\u2019m predicting he\u2019ll catch 14 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns to run away with the Super Bowl MVP award. He\u2019ll get to leave Santa Clara as the unquestioned best WR in football. — Mike Tannenbaum, NFL analyst<\/p>\n

Kenneth Walker III<\/a> posts 150-plus yards from scrimmage. Walker has averaged over 120 yards from scrimmage in his past five games (including the playoffs), and he was in a committee the bulk of that time. Zach Charbonnet<\/a>\u2019s torn ACL means Walker projects to be the go-to RB on Sunday. Walker will have two things working in his favor: an elite WR in JSN, who demands high levels of defensive attention and a QB in Darnold, who opens things up by being one of the best in play-action. — Stephania Bell, fantasy and injury analyst<\/p>\n

Maye throws for 300 yards and multiple touchdowns. He had a remarkable regular season, but he has had moderate production this postseason against three top-five defenses from the regular season — with yet another enormous challenge in the Seahawks. A stat-stuffing game doesn\u2019t seem likely on paper, but the second-youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl has uncommon poise and the talent to step up in a major way. — Field Yates, NFL analyst<\/p>\n

Who is in, and who is out?<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no question about Darnold\u2019s availability for the Super Bowl. But the left oblique injury he has played through in both of Seattle\u2019s playoff games has remained something he has had to manage. The Seahawks have listed the quarterback as a limited participant on all seven of the injury reports they\u2019ve released since Darnold was hurt on Jan. 15. But then again, he didn\u2019t look bothered by it while throwing three touchdown passes in the NFC Championship Game. \u201cIt feels great,\u201d Darnold said of his oblique Monday.<\/p>\n

Other injury situations of note are with fullbacks Brady Russell<\/a> (hand) and Robbie Ouzts<\/a> (neck), who were limited last week and given an initial designation of questionable for the Super Bowl. Russell is Seattle\u2019s de facto special teams captain. And Emmanwori hurt an ankle while defending a pass late in practice Wednesday afternoon, and he did not practice Thursday. — Henderson<\/p>\n

Maye\u2019s right shoulder limited him at the team\u2019s first practice leading into the Super Bowl on Jan. 29 and then an illness kept him off the practice field the following day. So while Maye has said he\u2019s playing in the game, it is unclear how much he will be affected by the shoulder and having his regular routine altered.<\/p>\n

Starting linebacker\/defensive signal-caller Robert Spillane<\/a> (ankle) and veteran edge rusher Harold Landry III<\/a> (knee) are the others whose status was uncertain when the team arrived in the Bay Area. — Reiss<\/p>\n

What to know about the officiating<\/p>\n

In naming Shawn Smith its Super Bowl referee, the NFL broke its recent pattern of utilizing a small group of rotating officials to caretake its most important game. Carl Cheffers, Bill Vinovich and Ronald Torbert each refereed two of the past six Super Bowls.<\/p>\n

Smith has been a strong performer for a while, based on merit-based playoff assignments in each of the past five seasons. But his relatively quick rise — the NFL hired him as an umpire in 2015 and promoted him to referee in 2018 — makes him one of the least experienced Super Bowl referees in recent memory. Smith will have a strong support group, most notably umpire Roy Ellison and side judge Eugene Hall, each of whom have worked three Super Bowls. — Kevin Seifert, Vikings reporter and officiating analyst<\/p>\n

What happened the last time these two teams met in the Super Bowl?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a game forever etched in the memories — or nightmares — of Patriots and Seahawks fans. Seattle was 26 seconds and one touchdown away from hoisting back-to-back Lombardi trophies until quarterback Russell Wilson<\/a> took the snap at the 1-yard line and threw to Ricardo Lockette on his right, only to watch rookie cornerback Malcolm Butler intercept the pass at the goal line.<\/p>\n

More stunning than Butler\u2019s interception was Seahawks coach Pete Carroll\u2019s decision for Wilson to not hand the ball off to running back Marshawn Lynch, who powered the offense that season behind 1,306 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. The Patriots entered the fourth quarter trailing by 10 points before quarterback Tom Brady led consecutive touchdown drives to take the lead and earn his fourth title. — Lindsey Thiry, national NFL reporter<\/p>\n

How to bet Super Bowl LX<\/p>\n

Current line: Seahawks -4.5, O\/U 45.5<\/p>\n

This is one of the most improbable Super Bowls — the first since at least 1977 when both teams entered the season at 60-1 to win. But one team has a clear advantage in the eyes of the sportsbooks.<\/p>\n

The Seahawks opened as 3.5-point favorites and quickly moved to 4.5-point favorites. Seattle is the biggest Super Bowl favorite since the 2021 Rams (-4.5), but big favorites have not been immune to getting upset. The past seven teams favored by at least 4 points in the Super Bowl all failed to cover the spread, with five of the seven losing outright.<\/p>\n

The underdog has won each of the past three Super Bowls and has covered in each of the past five. This is all welcomed news for the Patriots, who are embracing the \u201croad warrior\u201d mentality in Santa Clara. AFC teams are also 8-3 ATS in the past 11 Super Bowls.<\/p>\n

Best bet: Patriots +4.5<\/p>\n

Darnold\u2019s splits are stark. When kept clean, he\u2019s efficient and dangerous. But when under pressure, his completion rate drops to 50% and his yards per attempt falls to 6.4. New England blitzes often and limits explosive passes, which forces Darnold into the exact environment where his efficiency collapses. Combine that with the Patriots\u2019 willingness to absorb sacks, lean on Stevenson and bleed the clock, and you get a game that stays tight by design. Seattle can win, but New England and the points make sense. — Pamela Maldonado, betting analyst<\/p>\n

Who is playing the halftime show?<\/p>\n

Bad Bunny will perform at the halftime show. He is a six-time Grammy award-winning artist and a 17-time Latin Grammy Awards winner. At the 68th Grammy Awards, he won Album of the Year for \u201cDeB\u00cd TiRAR M\u00e1S FOToS.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some of Bad Bunny\u2019s most popular songs include \u201cD\u00e1kiti,\u201d \u201cTiti Me Pregunt\u00f3\u201d and \u201cMe Porto Bonito.\u201d He also has song collaborations with Cardi B and J. Balvin (\u201cI Like It\u201d) and Drake (\u201cMia\u201d).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Super Bowl LX kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday (NBC\/Peacock), with the Seattle Seahawks facing the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":737615,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2049],"tags":[217,7,216,251,2087,6,208,238,16165],"class_list":{"0":"post-737614","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-miami-dolphins","8":"tag-dolphins","9":"tag-football","10":"tag-miami","11":"tag-miami-dolphins","12":"tag-miamidolphins","13":"tag-nfl","14":"tag-patriots","15":"tag-seahawks","16":"tag-super-bowl-lx"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116033975916744683","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/737614","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=737614"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/737614\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/737615"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=737614"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=737614"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=737614"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}