Super Bowl LX preview: Seattle Seahawks vs New England Patriots – matchups, storylines, and how to watch

The NFL saved a fun one for the 60th edition: a big-stage rematch with two teams that didn’t look like “inevitable Super Bowl finalists” back in September — and now they’re one win from rewriting the whole season’s story.

One side brings a defense that’s been dictating terms for months. The other brings a quarterback playing loose, fast, and fearless — with a head coach who treats close games like a personal hobby. The result is a matchup that can swing on a handful of third downs, a couple red-zone snaps, and (as always in February) one ball that hits the turf… or doesn’t.

Super Bowl LX quick facts

• When: Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026 (kickoff 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT)

• Where: Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara

• How to watch: NBC (plus streaming on Peacock; Spanish simulcast on Telemundo and Universo)

• Halftime show: Bad Bunny

• Opening ceremony: Green Day

• Pregame performances: Charlie Puth (national anthem), Brandi Carlile, Coco Jones

• Tailgate concert: Teddy Swims, with LaRussell also involved on game day

The headline storylines

A rematch with totally different vibes

This isn’t a “run it back” replay — it’s a fresh chapter that just happens to feature the same jerseys as a Super Bowl classic from a decade ago. That history adds juice, but these teams aren’t living in it. They’ve got new stars, new coaches, and new ways to win.

Quarterback pressure, quarterback freedom

For Seattle, Sam Darnold has turned a long, winding career into a “why not us?” run — but the last month has included some turnover turbulence. For New England, Drake Maye has played like the moment is smaller than the field, and that confidence is contagious.

Coaching chess match

Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald is trying to finish a season-long defensive masterpiece with four quarters of discipline and disguise. New England head coach Mike Vrabel will happily turn this into a street fight: field position, special teams, and “keep it close until it breaks.”

Three matchups that can decide the game

1) The Seahawks’ top target vs the Patriots’ top cover man

The cleanest way to describe this Super Bowl is “strength on strength.” New England corner Christian Gonzalez has been a problem for opposing WR1s, and Seattle wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been a magnet for high-leverage throws in the postseason.

If JSN wins early, Seattle can stay on schedule and keep the whole playbook open. If Gonzalez wins early, the Seahawks may need to manufacture answers: bunch releases, motion, quick game, and throws that come out before the rush can breathe.

2) Interior pass rush vs interior protection

Super Bowls often get framed around tackles vs edge rushers — and sure, that matters. But this one has a sneaky trench battle inside. Patriots DT Milton Williams can wreck a pocket without ever “getting the sack,” and Seahawks guard Anthony Bradford is going to be asked to hold up when the game inevitably becomes a third-and-7 contest.

If Seattle keeps the pocket firm, the Seahawks can hit intermediate routes that punish aggressive coverage. If the pocket caves, everything turns into scramble drills and desperation throws — and that’s where turnovers show up.

3) Slot coverage and the “hidden” throws

New England will look for the comfortable completions that keep a Super Bowl calm: quick in-breakers, option routes, and “take what they give you” throws. Seattle’s slot corner Devon Witherspoon is built to erase those easy buttons — physical at the catch point, fast enough to close, and smart enough to bait the wrong read.

If Maye can still live in the middle of the field, the Patriots can string drives and keep Seattle’s pass rush honest. If those windows are cloudy, New England may need to win outside the numbers — the hardest place to make a living against a top-tier defense.

Injury notes to watch

• Darnold has been managing an oblique issue and has shown up on the practice report. The big question isn’t “will he play?” — it’s whether he can move and torque the way he normally does when pressure shows up.

• Maye has been dealing with a shoulder concern, but has indicated he’s trending the right way heading into Sunday.

(Keep an eye on final practice statuses and the first few drives — that’s usually where you can see what’s real.)

Odds snapshot

As of early Super Bowl week, Seattle opened as the favorite by roughly a field goal and has been sitting closer to the 4.5–5 range at many books, with a total in the mid-40s. Lines move fast this week, so treat that as a temperature check — not a constant.

What it comes down to

If Seattle wins, it’ll likely look like this: no free possessions, a clean pocket on money downs, and one or two explosive plays that force New England to chase.

If New England wins, it’ll likely look like this: a patient, mistake-light offensive script, a timely takeaway (or two), and a game that stays tight into the fourth quarter — where belief starts to matter as much as play calls.

Either way, we’re set up for the kind of Super Bowl that feels like a live wire: one great drive, one coverage bust, one tipped ball… and suddenly the story changes.

For more game-week previews, matchup deep dives, and Sunday-night reactions, keep it locked on Scoredy.com.