Super Bowl 60: Keys To Success And Prediction

The Patriots won 14 games on the shoulders of second-year quarterback Drake Maye. Their ticket to the Super Bowl, however, has been because of defense. In the 2026 postseason, the Patriots have allowed just 8.67 points per game.

Albeit it was against a broken Just Herbert and a backup quarterback in Jarret Stidham, it is still impressive. For New England to win this game, the defensive dominance must continue. It is too much to ask Maye to carry the load as a 23-year-old in the Super Bowl.

The lights have proven to be a little bright in the postseason for the former UNC Tar Heel. In Maye’s three playoff games, he has averaged just 177.67 pass yards per game with four touchdowns and two interceptions. His biggest issue has been dropping the ball, as he has had six fumbles and lost three of them.

In addition to needing great defense, a consistent run game is needed. The running backs don’t have to be spectacular, but just effective enough to keep Seattle’s defense honest. This is mainly to help out a struggling offensive line.

In the regular season, that unit allowed 48 sacks, which is toward the bottom half of the league. The rate was no better in the postseason, allowing 12 in four games. It’s honestly impressive that Maye has had an MVP-caliber season behind that make-shift offensive line.

The Seahawks, meanwhile, get after you on the defensive line. They logged 47 sacks in the regular season, which was good for seventh in the league. New England has to avoid what happened to the Kansas City Chiefs last year. If that defensive line gets after Maye play after play, it could be a repeat perfromance of Super Bowl 59.

Head coach Mike Vrabel and Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels must be the MVPs for New England to have a chance on Sunday.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks’ script is a little different. Their path to the one seed was through total team football. Their offense and defense were both top-five units, and the special teams took off after the trade for Rasheed Shahhed.

In the biggest game of the season, though, it was Sam Darnold who put the team on his back. In the NFC Championship game, he outdueled MVP Matthew Stafford and threw for 346 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions, completing 69.4% of his passes.

It has been a bit of a roller coaster year for Darnold. In the first nine games of the season, he threw for 17 touchdowns and six interceptions. In the final eight, he had eight touchdowns and eight interceptions. He struggled mightily in the first matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, throwing for four interceptions.

People believed that the former USC Trojan was the weak point. In the postseason, however, he has been clean and done enough to lead them to two great victories. The key for Seattle is to remain true to what they are and dominate in all three phases.

It was incredible to see Darnold play the game of his life a few weeks back, but the game plan should remain consistent. The defense and special teams cannot relax, thinking that the quarterback all of a sudden is going to be the driving force. That’s not who the Seahawks have been all year, and it shouldn’t change now. They cannot allow recency bias to cloud their vision.

Seattle’s dismantling of the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round is a version of the team that can’t be beat. The opening play was a kickoff return for a touchdown. The defense forced three turnovers, and Darnold played mistake-free football. That is the style of football they should strive for.

Yes, if things go sideways, Darnold has proven that he can win a shootout. I just don’t think any part of Seattle’s coaching staff should go into the game with that game plan, especially in the Super Bowl.

Prediction

This will be a much closer game than most people think. The bright lights of the Super Bowl will cause slow starts by both teams. Darnold and Maye will have a choppy first quarter before they settle in.

New England will jump out to an early lead because of the experience of Vrabel and McDaniels over Seattle head coach Mike MacDonald. Seattle will settle in and get back in the game with a defensive turnover, and Darnold plays a clean game.

The game will go back and forth for most of the game. The Seahawks will find themselves up 24-20 in the middle of the fourth quarter, and the Patriots will be the final-drive team this time. In the biggest stage, Maye and the offense will stall, and Seattle hangs on 24-20, and will be your 2026 Super Bowl Champs.

The Lombardi heads back to Washington this year.