The 2026 Super Bowl is upon us, and it’s safe to say that neither the Patriots nor the Seahawks were expected to be in this position. Last season, the Patriots finished 4-13, and that poor record fails to underscore the countless issues that plagued the program. For starters, Jerod Mayo, Bill Belicheck’s successor, was unable to motivate or connect with the team. Drake Maye showed flashes in his rookie season, but his production was hindered by a horrific offensive line and wide receiver core (when Pop Douglas is your WR1, you know your team has problems). Meanwhile, the Seahawks were seen as a rebuilding team after trading Geno Smith and cutting several other veterans. They finished 10-7, though they missed out on the playoffs as a byproduct of the exceptionally strong NFC. However, that record is deceiving, overestimating the team’s abilities, since they beat up on bad teams but weren’t really competitive against better ones.
This past offseason, both teams knew changes were necessary. Immediately after the season concluded, the Patriots fired Jerod Mayo, a move that was commended by all. They replaced him with Mike Vrabel, former linebacker, which, in retrospect, was the best hire of last offseason’s coaching cycle. They also bolstered their previously pathetic offense around Drake Maye, with the free agency additions of WR Stefon Diggs and OT Morgan Moses, along with the draft picks of OT Will Campbell and RB TreVeyon Henderson. Finally, they added to their already strong defense, turning it into one of the most feared units in the league with the additions of DT Milton Williams, LB Harold Landry III, and CB Carlton Davis. All three of those players immediately became starters, and were indispensable to the Pats’ defense this season. For the Seahawks, their main moves centered around the quarterback position. They traded incumbent QB Geno Smith to the Raiders for a third round pick (a move that the Raiders definitely regret, as Smith eventually got benched this season), and signed Sam Darnold to a three year, 100 million dollar contract. This was seen as risky, as many saw Darnold as a draft bust who benefitted from one good season (2024 with the Vikings, where he led them to a playoff berth and 14-3 record). Further proving their desire to rebuild, they also traded star WR DK Metcalf to the Steelers, a move that benefitted the Seahawks much more than they could’ve ever realized, as it led to the emergence of Jaxon Smith-Njigba this season.
This season, both teams have dominated. The Patriots earned the #2 seed in the AFC after going 14-3, and the Seahawks received the #1 seed in the NFC after also going 14-3. Drake Maye has emerged as one of the top QBs in the NFL for the Patriots this season, and is firmly in the MVP race. On the other side of the ball, they have one of the strongest defenses in the league, anchored by star CB Christian Gonzales and DT Milton Williams. Although, their biggest advantage may be in the HC position, as Mike Vrabel has established himself as one of the premier coaches in the league, a strong turnaround after being fired by the Titans two years ago (however, there is an argument over whether that firing was justified). The Seahawks have enjoyed strong play from their entire offense, led by first-team all-pro receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Sam Darnold, and the RBBC duo of Kenneth Walker II and Zach Charbonnet (unfortunately, Charbonnet was ruled out for the playoffs with a knee injury, which may definitely play into the result). Their defense, while often overshadowed by the offense, is nearly as strong as the Patriots, with key players including CB Devon Witherspoon, LB Ernest Jones IV, and DT Byron Murphy II.
These two teams are just about as even as any recent Super Bowl matchup. However, in my eyes, while the Patriots defense is incredible, the Seahawks offense is even better. Meanwhile, after mustering only 13 points against a similarly skilled Broncos defense (although, the snowy conditions definitely played a part in that), I worry Drake Maye and co will struggle to move the ball. Because of that, my final score prediction is 34-27, Seahawks.
