One-pause cheat sheet: All the things you must perchance moreover merely accept to grab about Seahawks-Patriots

Huge Bowl LX kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday (NBC/Peacock), with the Seattle Seahawks facing the Unusual England Patriots.

Unusual England is calling to keep history by becoming the first NFL personnel with seven Huge Bowl wins. The closing time the Seahawks conducted in the astronomical game was towards the Patriots in 2015 for Huge Bowl XLIX, the attach Seattle lost a 28-24 heartbreaker. Unusual England entered the playoffs because the AFC’s No. 2 seed, while Seattle entered because the NFC’s No. 1 seed.

We accept you covered with the whole lot you must perchance moreover merely accept to grab, collectively with personnel previews, a breakdown of Huge Bowl MVP candidates and game picks. We also present recommendation from our sports activities making a wager experts and in-depth statistics from ESPN Study. We note on the two quarterbacks, coaches, officiating, positional advantages and X components. And scroll the total means all the contrivance down to look at out our preview of Defective Bunny’s halftime pronounce.

Let’s dive into this one-pause cheat sheet, beginning with a preview of the matchup.

Soar to a fraction:

What to grab | Meet the teams | QBs

Greatest questions | One-on-ones

Keys to Seahawks get | Keys to Patriots get

Picks | MVP behold | Stats to grab

Bold predictions | Injuries | Officiating

Final meeting | Making a wager | Halftime | FAQs

Previewing Seahawks vs. Patriots

When: Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET
The attach: Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California
Tv: NBC/Peacock
Depth charts: Seahawks | Patriots

Call it the Explosive Play Bowl. The astronomical play has continuously mattered, however previously few years, NFL games accept change into battles between teams searching to draw and prevent explosive performs.

Defenses accept raised their rates of two-excessive safety looks, funneling teams toward the flee and quick passes. Offenses accept accordingly taken what the defense has given. With a leaguewide elevate in willingness to transfer for it on fourth down, third-and-quick has change into an opportunity to hit these explosive performs. And the dynamic kickoff and placing touchbacks on the 35-yard line accept made it extra stressful to play the topic arena game as a defense.

All this has created a league the attach explosive performs are the sizable differentiator. Originate one explosive play on offense after a kickoff and also you are potentially already in topic fair vary. Winning defenses both force a ton of takeaways or stall the opposing offense from hitting a astronomical play, trusting that they’re going to present you with a sack, force a penalty or make a negative play to throw the offense off schedule. Huge offenses both force teams out of the two-excessive world by running the soccer too successfully or reliably hit throws into slender windows downfield.

In terms of explosive-play differential — the gap between the price at which teams generated explosive performs and avoided their opposition from doing the identical — every of the four teams in the conference championship games ranked in the tip 5 sometime of the typical season. The Patriots were fourth at 2.8 percentage aspects, buoyed by a league-ideal explosive advent price of 13.6% on offense. And the Seahawks’ explosive-play differential of 4.7 percentage aspects was the correct designate in the NFL and the ninth-ideal figure posted by any personnel of the past 25 years. They were no doubt elite on defense, which implies we will pick up the league’s ideal offense at creating explosive performs versus the league’s ideal defense at stopping them Sunday.

For certain, one-game variance can swamp typical-season stats. The six ideal teams by explosive-play differential over the last 25 years made it to the Huge Bowl; they all lost. A Patriots defense that was normal sometime of the typical season by developed metrics has allowed staunch six explosives by three postseason games while playing a series of compromised, misfortune-impacted offenses. The Seahawks gave up 12 explosives to the Rams in the NFC Championship Sport. They obtained that matchup because of quarterback Sam Darnold spoke back to two months of middling soccer by playing opinion to be one of many correct games of his lifestyles. His opponent, Drake Maye, has followed an MVP-caliber typical season with a wildly inconsistent postseason, mixing turnovers with spectacular performs.

In this postseason, now we accept considered particular individual games made up our minds by unexpected accidents, fumble success, neglected kicks and sick-timed climate programs. Such a unpredictable components could perchance make a resolution Sunday’s game too. All things being equal, even though, this ought to be a fun Huge Bowl matchup of two of the league’s explosive-play kings in 2025. Whoever manages to get that combat ought to be the favourite to take home the Lombardi Trophy. — Invoice Barnwell, NFL analyst

Be taught extra: Barnwell previews the Huge Bowl … How the Patriots, Seahawks obtained their conference title games

Meet the teams

Seattle Seahawks

2025 file: 14-3
ESPN’s Soccer Vitality Index: No. 1

Coach: Mike MacDonald

Macdonald did now not play soccer past excessive college because of accidents. Nonetheless he’s constructed treasure an NFL fullback, and because the son of a West Point graduate, he has a sternness to accomplice with his analytical brain. When the Seahawks employed Macdonald to interchange Pete Carroll in 2024, they knew they were getting a defensive mastermind. Nonetheless he has also grown as a main, with players announcing his willingness to admit mistakes helps them take his recount instructing style. At 38, he would change into the third-youngest coach to get a Huge Bowl.

How did they pick up here?

It started when personnel proprietor Jody Allen moved on from Carroll after the 2023 season, which was a stressful resolution because of Carroll had delivered the franchise its ideal Lombardi Trophy (XLVIII). Overall manager John Schneider tabbed Macdonald as Carroll’s substitute, and since then, the GM has persevered his personnel trail.

Basically the most notable of his several home flee moves closing offseason was procuring and selling quarterback Geno Smith and signing Sam Darnold to interchange him. Darnold and new coordinator Klint Kubiak transformed Seattle’s offense, while Macdonald’s defense took a main step forward in Yr 2 by allowing the fewest aspects per game (17.2) in the NFL. The Seahawks, with six Skilled Bowl decisions, accept loads of expertise. Nonetheless Macdonald has fostered a connectedness that has helped his personnel play even higher. — Brady Henderson, Seahawks reporter

Unusual England Patriots

2025 file: 14-3
ESPN’s Soccer Vitality Index: No. 10

Coach: Mike Vrabel

A 3-time Huge Bowl champion as a linebacker with the Patriots in the 2000s, Vrabel peaceable looks as if he could perchance moreover merely want a snap or two left in him. He puts on a chest pad at note and lets players fireplace away at him. He’ll chug a beer in the locker room after a playoff get. He has a mastery of the rulebook and an empathetic means — in section because of he says a coach is ideal as staunch as his players.

How did they pick up here?

Faster than about a of the players opinion they would. They credit Vrabel and the tradition he constructed, which integrated sharing their “4 Hs” — history, heartbreak, hope and hero — after they first met as a personnel in the spring. What resulted was a stable connection that players order made them ought to play extra for his or her teammates because of they understood them higher. For certain, it would now not afflict to accept an MVP candidate in second-one year QB Drake Maye, who blossomed below the route of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. — Mike Reiss, Patriots reporter

Be taught extra: What makes Macdonald’s defense so staunch? … The personnel that Vrabel constructed … Moments from past and most modern with Vrabel … Why Vrabel was the very ideal coach rent

QB breakdown

Sam Darnold, Seahawks

Darnold’s typical season was no doubt the account of two halves. In the first 10 weeks, he was legitimately lights-out, with a league-main 77.9 QBR and 9.3 yards per dropback. Nonetheless from Week 11 on, his effectivity plummeted, with a 35.3 QBR (Twenty seventh ideal) and 6.3 yards per dropback (15th). In the playoffs, he has looked extra treasure the first-half model. Nonetheless which Darnold will pronounce up in the Huge Bowl?

Strength: At his ideal, Darnold pushes the ball downfield precisely. In the first 10 weeks, he averaged 9.4 air yards per try (top among QBR qualifiers) and had a league-ideal plus-10% completion percentage over expected, per NFL Subsequent Gen Stats. And he did all of that while warding off sacks (4.2% sack price in that span).

Weak point: Turnovers were an mission sometime of the typical season. Darnold’s 3.5% turnover price was the worst among all QBR-qualifying quarterbacks. The staunch news for Seattle is that in its two playoff games, he has yet to flip the ball over. Nonetheless given his music file, the mission is continuously a inconvenience. — Seth Walder, analytics creator

Drake Maye, Patriots

Even even though he performed runner-up for MVP, Maye was the correct quarterback in the NFL this season. Despite a middling offensive line and a lackluster receiving team, he led the league in QBR (77.1) in the typical season by a stable margin — even supposing or no longer it is a metric that controls the standard of opponent. And the Patriots leaned heavily on him. They’d a plus-4% pass price over expected, the second top, per Subsequent Gen Stats.

Strength: Accuracy. Maye’s plus-9% completion percentage over expected was no longer ideal the ideal among quarterbacks this season, however the ideal among QB seasons since the metric started in 2016. Numerous numbers affirm the identical opinion. Maye’s 12% off-target price was the seventh ideal, and he achieved that while averaging 8.7 air yards per try, third most in the NFL.

Weak point: Whereas the offensive line, receivers and contrivance positively play a job, the ideal facet affecting sack price is the quarterback. Maye was introduced down 47 times sometime of the typical season, fourth most in the NFL, and his 8.8% sack price ranked fifth worst. He also had a 1.8% fumble price that ranked third worst. — Walder

Be taught extra: Excessive college tales of 13 Huge Bowl stars, coaches … Maye feels staunch about shoulder, threw at note … Darnold says indirect ‘feels no doubt staunch’

Greatest questions

How can Seattle pick up broad receiver Rashid Shaheed extra fascinated with the pass game?

The Seahawks don’t necessarily accept to make a choice up him extra enthusiastic, however it indubitably obtained’t afflict if he can quit what he did early in the NFC Championship Sport, when he purchased begin in the abet of the Rams’ defense for a 51-yard make. Shaheed had been utilizing his game-breaking flee to keep an impact in other ways, most critically on special teams. He has three return touchdowns since his arrival in a midseason alternate from the Saints.

Nonetheless sooner than the title game, his impact on the offense was totally on quick and intermediate throws. He also took some quit arounds and pitches out of the backfield. There are ideal so many targets to transfer around in a flee-heavy offense that functions All-Skilled receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba because the principle option in the passing game. Nonetheless Shaheed has the price to keep a astronomical play. — Henderson

Will the Patriots’ offensive line be in a arena to befriend Maye spruce towards Seattle’s pass elope?

Vrabel stated the Seahawks are potentially the NFL’s ideal personnel at executing stunts to draw force. That has given the Patriots’ offensive line disaster as soon as in some time this season. Unusual England is the first personnel to delivery extra than one newcomers on the offensive line in a Huge Bowl, per ESPN Study, and the Patriots will need first-round pick Will Campbell (left sort out) and third-round pick Jared Wilson (left guard) to play well past their years. Or no longer it is an immense mission towards a defense that has confirmed a knack for creating force with the popular four rushers. — Reiss

Key one-on-one matchup

Jaxon Smith-Njigba vs. Christian Gonzalez

Whereas Smith-Njigba was basically a slot receiver when he first joined the Seahawks, he’s no longer restricted. Across the typical season and playoffs, 24% of his routes and 20% of his targets accept come from slot alignments. If the Patriots ought to make a choice up Gonzalez matched up on Smith-Njigba, they obtained’t must continuously scoot him internal. Whether or no longer Gonzalez will scoot with him the least bit is an arresting attach a question to, even though.

In his first two seasons with the Patriots — when the defense conducted extra man coverage — Gonzalez on a typical foundation followed the opponent’s ideal WR on the out of doorways. This season, because the Patriots accept flee extra zone and enjoyed a stable CB2 in Carlton Davis III, Gonzalez has basically stayed to one facet of the topic, lining up because the right cornerback on 72% of snaps. I imagine we will note him scoot with Smith-Njigba some, however it would now not could perchance accept to be the linchpin of the Patriots’ game notion.

Question to appear at Smith-Njigba sent in circulate usually — doubly so on the first few series. If Gonzalez is shadowing him, the Seahawks will circulate Smith-Njigba into the slot to force nickel corner Marcus Jones to suffer the one-on-one matchup. Jones is a sizable slot corner, however the Pats will must dial up double-teams to accommodate Smith-Njigba if he all correct now becomes a first price slot receiver in this game.

The lean in this matchup goes to Smith-Njigba. There is a fascinating attach for Unusual England, even though: Gonzalez can not single-handedly erase Smith-Njigba, however if he can befriend his like on the line of scrimmage, he can force Darnold to take longer dropbacks and target other receivers. That will be a get for the Patriots’ defense. — Ben Solak, NFL analyst

Be taught extra: 5 key matchups to behold

Keys to a Seahawks get

Positional profit: Secondary

This unit is constructed on flee and physicality. It conducted a league-excessive 815 snaps of nickel and allowed ideal 5.5 yards per try. The Seahawks can foremost in on Conceal 2 to limit the vertical alternatives for Maye, while also mixing in man schemes to mission the timing of Unusual England’s passing game.

With cornerbacks Devon Witherspoon and Josh Jobe on the perimeter, plus rookie Cut Emmanwori playing as a low zone disruptor in the slot, the Seahawks can discontinuance throwing windows and draw edges in the flee game. And over the tip, safeties Julian Esteem and Coby Bryant accept the instincts to keep performs downfield. — Matt Bowen, NFL analyst

Seahawks’ X facet: Rashid Shaheed, WR

Shaheed is the Seattle player in all probability to make a astronomical play, both in the passing game or on special teams. He was continuously an unswerving return player for the Saints, however he has kicked it into one other gear after combining with Seattle’s stable blockading gadgets. In 11 games with the Seahawks, collectively with the postseason, Shaheed has returned one punt and two kickoffs for touchdowns.

Shaheed has no longer conducted as astronomical of a job in the Seattle passing game as expected. He caught ideal 15 passes for 188 yards sometime of the typical season without a touchdowns. Nonetheless he’ll likely be covered by cornerback Carlton Davis III, who led Unusual England with six defensive pass interference penalties in 2025. — Aaron Schatz, NFL analyst

Rookie to behold: Cut Emmanwori, S

Emmanwori has snappy changed into opinion to be one of many personnel’s ideal defensive players. He is a hybrid defender who basically occupies the nickel arena in Macdonald’s defense, however he’s able to playing extra than one roles. He has an intense wrap-up and brings a host of vitality to the unit. Emmanwori did now not note Thursday after an ankle misfortune, however he returned Friday. It could well probably motive complications for Seattle if he’s no longer at 100%. — Jordan Reid, NFL draft analyst

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Keys to a Patriots get

Positional profit: Running backs

With two twin-possibility backs in Rhamondre Stevenson and rookie TreVeyon Henderson, the Patriots must draw an offensive tempo by running the ball, while also getting them to contribute in the pass game. Stevenson led the NFL with 2.8 yards after contact per elope, exhibiting off his quick-spot flee and vitality. Henderson affords the Patriots extra juice on the perimeter and astronomical-play capability, as he had 18 rushes of 10 or extra yards this season. With the zone coverage dispositions of the Seattle defense, Stevenson and Henderson can make as under outlets for Maye. — Bowen

Patriots’ X facet: Marcus Jones, CB

You are going to mostly note Jones because the Patriots’ nickelback. Meaning he’ll employ a host of time covering receiver Cooper Kupp. Nonetheless he could perchance moreover merely must conceal Smith-Njigba, smitten by how the Seahawks will usually transfer JSN into the slot or the backfield to make a choice up him begin. Jones had staunch coverage this season, even though his coverage DVOA (defense-adjusted price over moderate) is closer to moderate after adjusting for the standard of the receivers.

When Jones gets lively, then again, he makes loads of astronomical performs. Jones led the Patriots with 23 defeats, a metric that combines turnovers, tackles for loss and performs to prevent a conversion on third or fourth down. He was opinion to be one of 5 defensive backs to lead their teams in this metric. Jones had three fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and two interceptions (plus a third pick returned for a touchdown in the divisional round towards Houston). He also had two sacks and 4 pressures as section of Unusual England’s blitz packages.

Jones is also an X facet thanks to his impact on the kicking game. He was the second-personnel All-Skilled punt returner this season with a median of 17.3 yards and two touchdowns. — Schatz

Rookie to behold: Will Campbell, OT

The rookie could perchance accept his hands elephantine towards a Seattle defense that brings force from many assorted areas in arena of a straight four-man elope. Campbell, who was attributed seven sacks in the typical season, will be tasked without a longer staunch stopping a right-facet defensive quit, however also with conserving delayed pressures and blitzes off Maye. Campbell’s poise as a pass protector is what made him the tip sort out drafted in 2025, however this will be the ideal take a look at of his profession. Campbell’s performance will be valuable to befriend Maye and the offense sharp. — Matt Miller, NFL draft analyst

What ESPN’s Soccer Vitality Index (FPI) says

ESPN’s FPI has the Seahawks successful 59.6% of the simulations — and in addition they’re appreciated to get by a median of three.6 aspects.

This matchup is a showdown between two top-10 teams in FPI: the No. 1 Seahawks (7.0) and the No. 10 Patriots (2.6). The Patriots are ninth on offense and the Seahawks execrable 11th. On defense, Seattle ranks first and Unusual England is 11th.

In the preseason, the Seahawks had the Twenty first-ideal likelihood to keep the Huge Bowl (2.6%) and the Patriots had the 25th-ideal odds (2%). Seattle was given a 1.1% likelihood to get it, while Unusual England was at 0.9%.

Who wins the game?

Of the 58 experts who weighed in, the Seahawks were appreciated by forty eight of them (82.8%), while the Patriots claimed 10 votes (17.2%). Basically the most traditional obtain prediction was 27-17 in desire of Seattle (picked by four of our experts).

Be taught extra: ESPN personnel predictions

Who will get Huge Bowl MVP?

Of the 58 experts who weighed in, 23 (39.7%) picked Darnold to get Huge Bowl MVP. Darnold (+115), Maye (+240) and Smith-Njigba (+550) are the favorites, per DraftKings Sportsbook. We requested about a experts to pronounce their MVP prediction.

Jason Reid, Andscape senior creator: Darnold. He is on reasonably the flee. He was efficient in the Seahawks’ 41-6 rout of the 49ers in the divisional round, and he conducted the correct game of his profession in a 31-27 victory over the Rams in the NFC Championship Sport. Darnold has never been extra settled in the pocket. On Sunday, that could make certain again.

Liz Loza, delusion and making a wager analyst: Darnold. Since I’m taking Seattle to get outright, it is luminous to fold in Darnold because the MVP. The Huge Bowl winner’s QB has been named MVP in 34 of 59 Huge Bowls, collectively with seven of the past 9.

Todd Archer, Cowboys reporter: Maye. Per chance there could be one thing rotten with his right shoulder, however the Patriots is no longer going to accept to misfortune about the functions treasure they did towards Houston and Denver. Maye will present you with the astronomical performs wearisome in the game and produce home a seventh Lombardi Trophy.

Eric Fretful, delusion and making a wager analyst: Smith-Njigba. He was the engine of the Seahawks’ offense all season, ending with 119 catches for 1,793 yards and earning first-personnel All-Skilled honors. He further proved himself towards Los Angeles with 10 catches, 153 yards and a touchdown. If JSN sees the same target volume on soccer’s ideal stage, he’ll be well-positioned to emerge because the MVP.

Matt Miller, NFL draft analyst: Smith-Njigba. He has been a matchup nightmare for every personnel sometime of the 2025 season and the playoffs. As sizable because the Patriots’ defense has been, his capability to pronounce himself as a route runner and Darnold’s quick-spot accuracy/timing could perchance accept to peaceable add up to a astronomical evening for the All-Skilled broad receiver.

Ben Solak, NFL analyst: Shaheed. I ask a low scoring game total, which implies that one game-changing touchdown could perchance warrant the MVP award. Shaheed has the capability to obtain in all three phases: receiving, returning and even on a handoff. He’s the fun prolonged shot wager that could no doubt pay out.

Be taught Extra: Experts predict Seahawks-Patriots obtain, MVP … Can a defender SB MVP get for first time in a decade?

Stats and dispositions to grab

Team of workers stats: Seahawks | Patriots

Seahawks

• Seattle has obtained 9 straight games, collectively with the playoffs, which is the longest lively crawl in the NFL and the second longest in franchise history (11 in 2005).

• Darnold is 0-4 in his profession versus the Patriots, the second-most losses without a get by a quarterback of their profession towards an opponent coming into a Huge Bowl matchup.

• Along with the playoffs, Smith-Njigba is calling for his 11th game without a longer decrease than 100 receiving yards. If he reaches the designate, he’ll tie for the third most in a season in NFL history.

• Defensive quit DeMarcus Lawrence recorded a sack and compelled fumble in both Seahawks wins this postseason. If he does so again in the Huge Bowl, he’ll be first player this century to quit so.

• The Seahawks are the first personnel to lead the NFL in scoring defense in the typical season and keep it to the Huge Bowl since the 2016 Patriots. Teams that led the NFL in scoring defense in the typical season are 14-4 in the Huge Bowl.

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Patriots

• Unusual England has averaged 18.0 aspects this postseason, fourth fewest by any personnel coming into the Huge Bowl all time and the fewest since the 1979 Rams (15.0, lost 31-19 in XIV).

• The Patriots are the first personnel since the 1970 merger to defeat three of the tip 5 teams in total defenses (yards per game) en path to their Huge Bowl appearance (Chargers were fifth, Texans were first and Broncos were second).

• Along with the playoffs, Unusual England has led at halftime in 17 of 20 games this season, tied with the 1984 49ers for essentially the most such leads in a season in the Huge Bowl know-how (since 1966).

• Maye has had 129 speeding yards on scrambles sometime of the playoffs, which is the fourth most by any QB in a single postseason previously Two decades.

• Along with the playoffs, the Patriots accept a 12-0 file (14.5 PPG allowed) in games that Christian Gonzalez and Milton Williams play this season.

Be taught extra: Seahawks and Patriots recordsdata, stats, info … Huge Bowl recordsdata, stats, info … How Patriots’ investment in Milton Williams has paid off

Bold stat line predictions

Shaheed finishes with 100-plus all-aim yards and scores a touchdown. He delivered a punt return touchdown in Week 16, a kickoff return TD in the divisional round and a 51-yard catch in the NFC Championship Sport, showcasing his game-breaking upside. With Smith-Njigba drawing constant double teams, this on the total is a sizable opportunity to unleash Shaheed on offense. — Eric Fretful, delusion and making a wager analyst

Smith-Njigba goes well over 100 yards. I’m predicting he’ll catch 14 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns to flee away with the Huge Bowl MVP award. He’ll pick up to go Santa Clara because the unquestioned ideal WR in soccer. — Mike Tannenbaum, NFL analyst

Kenneth Walker III posts 150-plus yards from scrimmage. Walker has averaged over 120 yards from scrimmage in his past 5 games (collectively with the playoffs), and he was in a committee the majority of that time. Zach Charbonnet‘s torn ACL means Walker initiatives to be the trail-to RB on Sunday. Walker could perchance accept two things working in his desire: an elite WR in JSN, who demands excessive ranges of defensive attention, and a QB in Darnold, who opens things up by being opinion to be one of many correct in play-action. — Stephania Bell, delusion and misfortune analyst

Maye throws for 300 yards and further than one touchdowns. He had an unbelievable typical season, however he has had moderate manufacturing this postseason towards three top-5 defenses from the typical season — with yet one other astronomical mission in the Seahawks. A stat-stuffing game would now not appear likely on paper, however the second-youngest quarterback to delivery a Huge Bowl has uncommon poise and the expertise to step up in a foremost means. — Self-discipline Yates, NFL analyst

Who’s in, and who is out?

Injure reviews: Seahawks | Patriots

There is no attach a question to about Darnold’s availability for the Huge Bowl. Nonetheless the left indirect misfortune he has conducted by in both of Seattle’s playoff games has remained one thing he has had to administer. He did now not note afflicted by it while throwing three touchdown passes in the NFC Championship Sport. “It feels great,” Darnold stated of his indirect Monday. He was a elephantine participant in note on Thursday and Friday.

Emmanwori afflict an ankle while defending a pass wearisome in note Wednesday afternoon, and he did now not note Thursday. Nonetheless he’s formally staunch to transfer for the Huge Bowl. He has no game designation and was listed as a elephantine participant on Friday, even though the Seahawks ideal worked at stroll-by tempo of their second-to-closing note sooner than facing the Patriots. Left sort out Charles Unhealthy was also a elephantine participant Friday, coming off a foot misfortune.

Fullback Robbie Ouzts (neck) is listed as questionable for the Huge Bowl. Brady Russell would step in for him if wished. — Henderson

Maye’s right shoulder restricted him on Jan. 29 on the personnel’s first note main into the Huge Bowl, after which an illness saved him off the note topic the next day. So while Maye is playing in the game, it is unclear how worthy he’ll be plagued by the shoulder and having his typical routine altered. Nonetheless regardless, Maye is off the misfortune sage and has no game designation.

Starting linebacker/defensive signal-caller Robert Spillane (ankle) and outdated edge rusher Harold Landry III (knee) are formally questionable, even though both expressed optimism in most modern days that they would play. — Reiss

What to grab about the officiating

In naming Shawn Smith its Huge Bowl referee, the NFL broke its most modern pattern of utilizing a puny team of rotating officials to caretake its main game. Carl Cheffers, Invoice Vinovich and Ronald Torbert every refereed two of the past six Huge Bowls.

Smith has been a stable performer for some time, in step with merit-basically basically based playoff assignments in every of the past 5 seasons. Nonetheless his somewhat speedily upward thrust — the NFL employed him as an umpire in 2015 and promoted him to referee in 2018 — makes him opinion to be one of many least skilled Huge Bowl referees in most modern memory. Smith could perchance accept a stable beef up team, most critically umpire Roy Ellison and facet judge Eugene Hall, every of whom accept worked three Huge Bowls. — Kevin Seifert, Vikings reporter and officiating analyst

What came about the closing time these two teams met in the Huge Bowl?

Or no longer it is a game without end etched in the reminiscences — or nightmares — of Patriots and Seahawks fans. Seattle was 26 seconds and one touchdown far from hoisting abet-to-abet Lombardi trophies except quarterback Russell Wilson took the snap on the 1-yard line and threw to Ricardo Lockette on his right, ideal to behold rookie cornerback Malcolm Butler intercept the pass on the fair line.

Extra magnificent than Butler’s interception was Seahawks coach Pete Carroll’s resolution for Wilson to no longer hand the ball off to running abet Marshawn Lynch, who powered the offense that season in the abet of 1,306 speeding yards and 13 speeding touchdowns. The Patriots entered the fourth quarter trailing by 10 aspects sooner than quarterback Tom Brady led consecutive touchdown drives to take the lead and keep his fourth title. — Lindsey Thiry, national NFL reporter

wager Huge Bowl LX

Present line from DraftKings Sportsbook: Seahawks -4.5, O/U Forty five.5

This is assumed to be one of essentially the most out of the ordinary Huge Bowls — the first since no longer decrease than 1977 when both teams entered the season at 60-1 to get. Nonetheless one personnel has a clear profit in the eyes of the sportsbooks.

The Seahawks opened as 3.5-point favorites and snappy moved to 4.5-point favorites. Seattle is the ideal Huge Bowl accepted since the 2021 Rams (-4.5), however astronomical favorites accept no longer been proof towards getting upset. The past seven teams appreciated by no longer decrease than 4 aspects in the Huge Bowl all did now not conceal the unfold, with 5 of the seven losing outright.

The underdog has obtained every of the past three Huge Bowls and has covered in every of the past 5. This is all welcomed news for the Patriots, who’re embracing the “road warrior” mentality in Santa Clara. AFC teams are also 8-3 ATS previously 11 Huge Bowls.

Excellent wager: Patriots +4.5

Darnold’s splits are stark. When saved spruce, he’s efficient and harmful. Nonetheless when below force, his completion price drops to 50% and his yards per try falls to 6.4. Unusual England blitzes usually and limits explosive passes, which forces Darnold into the actual atmosphere the attach his effectivity collapses. Mix that with the Patriots’ willingness to soak up sacks, lean on Stevenson and bleed the clock, and also you pick up a game that stays tight by draw. Seattle can get, however Unusual England and the aspects keep sense. — Pamela Maldonado, making a wager analyst

Be taught extra: Sixty bets for Huge Bowl 60 … Bettors elevating stakes on what Huge Bowl announcers order … Huge Bowl making a wager buzz … What to grab when making a wager on Huge Bowl LX

Who’s playing the halftime pronounce?

Defective Bunny will accomplish on the halftime pronounce. He is a six-time Grammy award-successful artist and a 17-time Latin Grammy Awards winner. At the 68th Grammy Awards, he obtained Album of the Yr for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos.”

Some of Defective Bunny’s most current songs consist of “Dákiti,” “Titi Me Preguntó” and “Me Porto Bonito.” He also has music collaborations with Cardi B and J. Balvin (“I Like It”) and Drake (“Mia”).

Be taught extra: Why the NFL stood by Defective Bunny … How Up with Individuals paved a Huge Bowl direction for Defective Bunny … Hispanic icons who owned Huge Bowl halftime … Defective Bunny to headline Huge Bowl LX halftime pronounce

Huge Bowl FAQs

• Who has obtained essentially the most Huge Bowl rings?

• Which NFL personnel has essentially the most Huge Bowl wins?

• Which NFL teams accept never obtained a Huge Bowl?

• Who’re the winningest NFL coaches of all time?

• Who’re the youngest NFL quarterbacks to delivery a Huge Bowl?

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Extra preview must-reads

Detached seeking out extra Huge Bowl stutter? Check up on extra of our stuff.

Seahawks

• Henderson: Who makes Mike Macdonald’s defense so staunch? Three Seahawks to behold

• Henderson: ‘M.O.B Ties’: How Mike Macdonald has reset Seahawks’ tradition

• Keown: How Darnold and JSN fuel the Seahawks playoff flee

• ESPN: Aden Durde: Meet the British NFL coach heading to the Huge Bowl

• Cimini: Worn Jets GM Maccagnan talks belief in Darnold sooner than Huge Bowl

• Johnson: Leonard Williams is NFL’s ideal ‘Magic: The Gathering’ player

• Reid: Leslie Frazier ‘a foremost section’ of the Seahawks’ flee

• Wickersham/Henderson: Seahawks to transfer on sale after Huge Bowl

Patriots

• Reiss: From 4-13 to the Huge Bowl in a one year: How the Patriots chanced on success so rapidly

• Reiss: Why the Patriots accept adopted a ‘Avenue Warrior’ mentality

• Reiss: Inside Drake “Drake Maye” Maye’s viral upward thrust in 2025

• Reiss: How Drake Maye, Josh McDaniels sparked Patriots’ resurgence

• Grossman: Huge Bowl-crawl Patriots note in Mack Hollins’ bare footsteps

• Rhoden: For Thomas Brown, a Huge Bowl berth with Patriots is sweeter thanks to experiences

Numerous

• Solak: Offseason classes for both Huge Bowl teams

• NFL Nation: Excessive college tales of 11 Huge Bowl stars and two coaches

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