SUPER BOWL LX: PATRIOTS SEAHAWKS REMATCH DELIVERED

Malcolm Butler picked off Russell Wilson at the goal line. The Patriots beat the Seahawks 28-24 in Super Bowl XLIX on February 1, 2015. Now it's February 8, 2026, and the exact same matchup returns with completely different energy. ## The Youth Movement vs. The Redemption Tour Drake Maye becomes the second-youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl, behind only Dan Marino. The 23-year-old Patriots signal caller threw 4,394 yards with 31 touchdowns and just eight interceptions this season. New England improved from 4-13 in 2024 to 14-3 in 2025, tying the 1999 Colts and 2008 Dolphins for the best single-season turnaround in NFL history. Meanwhile, Sam Darnold becomes the first quarterback from the loaded 2018 draft class to reach a Super Bowl. The 28-year-old veteran posted 4,048 passing yards with 25 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, and a 99.1 passer rating. His 14-3 record makes him just the second quarterback in NFL history to achieve 14 wins in his first season with a team, joining Tom Brady. ## Defense Travels, Offense Worries Seattle's defense allowed a league-low 17.2 points per game while their offense averaged 28.4 points, third-best in the NFL. The Seahawks had the league's top-ranked scoring defense in the regular season but also maintained a top-10 offense, racking up 72 points in two playoff games. New England's path looks tougher. Maye has averaged just 18 points per game in the postseason while struggling with pressure awareness and ball security. He's the first quarterback to beat three top-five defenses in a single playoff run, having defeated the No. 5 Chargers, No. 1 Texans, and No. 2 Broncos. Now he faces the sixth-ranked Seattle defense. ## The Numbers Game Seattle opens as 4.5-point favorites with the total set at 45.5 points. That's the lowest Super Bowl projection since Patriots-Rams hit 56.5 in 2019. New England enters 9-0 on the road this season, becoming the first team in NFL history to play at least nine road games and win them all. Maye missed Friday's practice with an illness, adding late drama to preparation. Darnold carried a questionable designation all week with an oblique injury but played through it in both playoff wins. Eleven years ago, Pete Carroll called for a pass instead of handing it to Beast Mode. Sunday night, both teams get their sequel. The question isn't whether this game will match the original's drama. It's whether either offense can score enough to matter.