The game that will decide the Lombardi trophy for its 60th year is all set, and it will take place at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the home of the San Francisco 49ers. The team representing the NFC, the Seattle Seahawks, crushed the host in the divisional round, beating them 41-6. The team that bested the AFC is no stranger to the bright lights as the Patriots look to set a record for the most Super Bowls, along with their fifth in the last 25 years.
This Patriots team looks different from the ones fans were used to in the Brady and Belichick era. They are now led by first-year head coach Mike Vrabel, a former Patriots player, and second-year quarterback Drake Maye, who finished the regular season as an MVP finalist. Seattle has undergone significant changes since the last time these two franchises met in the Super Bowl. The Seahawks are led by first-year head coach Mike Macdonald and quarterback Sam Darnold, who have now won 14 games in back-to-back seasons with two different teams.
Drake Maye has not played at the same MVP level during the playoffs, but he has also faced three of the league’s top defenses. Seattle currently allows the fewest points per game in the NFL, which will make scoring difficult. Maye has completed only 55 percent of his passes in the postseason, a noticeable decrease compared to his league-leading 72 percent during the regular season, so efficiency will be very important if New England wants to win.
On the other side, Sam Darnold is playing the best football of his career. Through two playoff games, he has not committed a single turnover, which has been huge for Seattle. The Patriots defense, however, has forced eight turnovers in the playoffs, including four interceptions against C.J. Stroud in the divisional round, so ball security will be a key factor in this matchup.
Special teams could also make a big difference. Both teams have scored multiple return touchdowns this season (both teams with two on punt returns each, add another on kick returns). Seattle’s Rashid Shaheed has been especially dangerous and even returned the inaugural kickoff for a touchdown in their divisional round game, helping spark a blowout win.
Overall, this game is expected to be close and exciting. Both teams are led by young players, and the team that handles the pressure better will likely come out on top. The game could go either way, and this could be both of these teams’ only Super Bowl shots they have in the next few years. I think the AP coach of the year, Mike Verbal, will outcoach the first-time coach Macdonald, though, and use his experience as a head coach in the NFL. I predict the Patriots will scrape by with a win as Drake Maye gets a ring in year two.
My Prediction: Seahawks: 24 Patriots: 27