Super Bowl LX Preview: Patriots vs. Seahawks at Levi's Stadium
It’s happening. Put the coffee on, tell your boss you've got "early-onset February flu," and let’s talk about the matchup absolutely nobody had on their 2025 bingo card. We are heading back to Santa Clara for Super Bowl LX, and the scriptwriters clearly got lazy because we have a full-blown rematch of Super Bowl XLIX.
Eleven years after Malcolm Butler broke the Pacific Northwest's collective heart, the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks are meeting again on the big stage. But forget Brady and Russ; we’re living in the era of Drake Maye and the Sam Darnold resurgence.
New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks: The "Did That Just Happen?" Bowl
I’ll be honest with you—if you told me back in September that Mike Vrabel would lead the post-Belichick Patriots to a 14-3 record and a Super Bowl berth in year one, I would have asked for one of whatever you were having. But here we are. The Pats just grinded out a 10-7 win over Denver in a literal blizzard to win the AFC. It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t modern, and it was exactly how Vrabel likes it.
On the other side, Mike Macdonald has turned the Seahawks into the "Dark Side" defense. They just dismantled the Rams in a 31-27 thriller, and Sam Darnold—yes, that Sam Darnold—is playing like he finally saw the "ghosts" and decided to start hunting them.
The Wunderfan Take: Why This Game is a Defensive Masterclass
Most "experts" on the four-letter network are going to talk about the quarterback battle. Not us. The Wunderfan Take is that this game will be won in the trenches and by the guys with the clipboards.
The Macdonald Effect: Seattle’s defense led the league in points allowed. They’re fast, they’re violent, and Devon Witherspoon is basically playing a different sport than everyone else.
Vrabel’s Masterplan: The Patriots are averaging only 18 points per game in these playoffs. They are the football equivalent of a boa constrictor—they don't outrun you; they just slowly squeeze the life out of the game until you realize you’ve only had three possessions in the second half.
Key Players to Watch at Levi’s Stadium
| Player | Team | Why They Matter |
|---|---|---|
| Drake Maye | Patriots | The kid is a playmaker. If the pocket breaks, he’s gone. New England's first real hope since TB12. |
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba | Seahawks | 1,793 yards this season. He’s the "Get Out of Jail Free" card for Sam Darnold. |
| Kenneth Walker III | Seahawks | With the backfield injuries, he’s the bell cow. Expect him to see 25+ touches to keep Maye off the field. |
| Christian Gonzalez | Patriots | The lockdown corner has the unenviable task of following JSN all over the Levi's Stadium turf. |
It Pays to Be a Fan (Even if Your Team Missed the Cut)
Look, I know my Niners fans are hurting right now. Watching your rival play a Super Bowl in your own house is a special kind of hell. I get it. But here’s the beauty of being a Wunderfan: you don’t have to win the Lombardi to win the day.
We spend thousands on jerseys, beer, and overpriced stadium nachos. We plan our entire lives around a 17-week schedule. It’s about time we got something back. Whether you’re a die-hard 12 in Seattle or a New Englander looking for ring number seven, it pays to be a fan. Use your points to snag gift cards from national retailers while the rest of the world just watches commercials for free.
My Prediction: The Seahawks are 4.5-point favorites, and for good reason. They have more weapons. But never bet against Vrabel in a "ugly" game. I’m taking Seattle 24, New England 20. And yes, Kenneth Walker III scores the game-winner on a run from the 2-yard line. Poetic justice, baby.