Old Is New For The 60th Super Bowl

Be kind, rewind. Did you rent movies at Blockbuster Video and were advised that if you returned the video un-rewound they would penalize you with a 2 dollar fee you were sure never to pay? Yes you did, we all did. I am continuing to wait for a knock on the door where the retro-Blockbuster patrol is demanding their 2 DOLLARS, AKA the library policeman from Seinfeld who tracks Jerry down after 30 years demanding back pay from an unreturned book. However, rewinding takes on a different meaning for Super Bowl number 60.

Circa February 1, 2015, Glendale AZ. Super Bowl 49. Patriots vs. Seahawks. If you watched it, you know where you were. Two words: Malcom Butler. The Seahawks epic defense, tagged "The Legion Of Boom," intersected with the Brady Belichick Patriots, on the back end of their 20-year run that included six Super Bowl victories. Many previous Super Bowls were abject blowouts. Go to a Super Bowl party, mingle with 30 people you've never met and will likely never see again, tune in for the pregame pomp and circumstance, and watch one team take full control by the end of the first quarter. You would spend the next 2 hours looking for the chips and salsa and when making the rounds again trying desperately to remember the name of that person you met when you first walked in.

Thankfully, for all of us, the Super Bowl has morphed into a watchable game, as the NFL has structured the league as such to allow the ultimate cream to rise to the top, and give all of us something we can actually enjoy, even if the characters in the production are not household names. There is New Years Eve, and then there is Super Bowl Sunday.

On Feb 1 of 2015, the defending champion Seahawks, one year removed from a demolishing of the Broncos and Peyton Manning in Super Bowl 48, were on the precipice of back to back Super Bowl wins. On the goal line down by 4, the Seahawks OC Darrell Bevell called for a pass play versus handing it off to Marshawn Lynch, and Butler jumped the route, intercepting the ball, sealing the Patriots victory.

Rewind. Now eleven years into the future, they meet again. Who are they and who has the edge???

2025 Seattle Seahawks

This team is long removed from the Pete Carroll, Russell Wilson 'Hawks. The Allen family, that being the family of Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, continues to own the team, however it is now reported the team is up for sale. Paul Allen passed in 2018, and his sister, Jody, has been running the team. In January of 2024, the Seahawks hired Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald as head coach. The Seahawks played in quite possibly the most competitive division in the NFL in the NFC West in 2025. Three of the four teams in that division had at least 12 wins. The Seahawks emerged by taking out the division foe Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship. While Seattle's Macdonald-led defense has been outstanding, the most noteworthy storyline is that of quarterback Sam Darnold. Darnold, 28, was part of the elite quarterback draft class of 2018, which included the likes of Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. Darnold, from USC, was drafted #3 overall by the Jets, spending time with the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers. Darnold rejuvenated his career with the Minnesota Vikings last season before Seattle acquired him via free agency. The Vikings decided to part ways with Darnold despite a stellar regular season that was marred by a defeat to the Lions in week 17 and a blowout loss to the Rams in the playoffs. Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak, soon to be the Head Coach of the Raiders, has Darnold playing at an MVP level. The Seahawks will need Darnold to battle past playoff demons and play to his capabilities in the biggest game of his life.

2025 New England Patriots

The number one storyline is head coach Mike Vrabel. Vrabel played linebacker for the Patriots and has three Super Bowl rings. Vrabel has a bit of a chip on his shoulder, having been fired by the Tennessee Titans in 2023. Vrabel was hired by the Patriots in January of 2025, and has the team in the Super Bowl in year one. The biggest knock on New England is the fact that they had, statistically, the easiest schedule in the NFL in 2025. 11 of the 14 wins the Pats had were against teams that had a coaching change at the end of the season. In the spotlight will be QB Drake Maye out of North Carolina. Maye has an athletic pedigree, as the son of former UNC QB Mark Maye, and younger brother of former UNC basketball player Luke Maye.

How It Plays Out

The Seahawks come in as a heavy favorite, sporting a Vegas line of 4.5 points. The early betting money is taking the 'Hawks and giving the points. The over/under sits at 45.5 total points, with the majority of bettors taking the Over. The betting public sees the Super Bowl as a scoring fest, and this may be true. However, both head coaches were previously defensive coordinators, and each team ranks in the top 5 on points allowed-per-game. The game will ultimately come down to the play of Darnold and Maye. Additionally, how impactful will the respective defensive lines be regarding pressure to each quarterback. Once the coin is flipped, whoever wins the toss will almost assuredly defer to the second half. Therefore, the team who has the ball first will need to ensure they do not turn the ball over on the first possession. Emotions will be at an all-time high, and the quarterback and ball carriers will need to protect the football at all costs. Seattle will look to run the ball with Kenneth Walker III and throw it to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, while the Patriots just need Maye to stay calm and work the ball down the field. There are always crucial turnovers and penalties, and whichever team has the fewer of the two will win.

Prediction

Seattle likely jumps out on top and looks to be in control at halftime. The Patriots start grinding and force Darnold into a rough turnover, and start to take back momentum. The fact that Vrabel has been through the Super Bowl routine so many times ends up paying off for the Patriots and keeps the team grounded. Maye connects with Stefon Diggs on a critical 3rd down late, setting up a game-winning kick by rookie kicker Andy Borregales.

FINAL SCORE: Patriots 24, Seahawks 21.