Super Bowl LX Preview & Prediction: Seahawks vs. Patriots — AKA... Silcoff Bowl II

It all comes down to this. Super Bowl LX, live from San Francisco. The Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots will battle for the Lombardi Trophy in what some people are calling Super Bowl LX, but I’m calling Silcoff Bowl II.

As you all know, this matchup is very personal for me.

As a Seattle Seahawks fan, it’s been a long 11 years since we were last in this game. And of course, we faced the New England Patriots with hopes of going back-to-back. That dream ended when Malcolm Butler intercepted Russell Wilson at the one-yard line with seconds to spare. Yes, we should have handed the ball off to Marshawn Lynch. Instead, the Patriots won their fourth championship of the Tom Brady era.

That alone makes it personal as us "12's" are looking for revenge.

But for those who know me and who are reading this, my father is a New England Patriots fan. The Patriots haven’t been in this game since Super Bowl LIII, when they beat the Los Angeles Rams for their sixth and final championship of the Brady era.

The Seahawks and Patriots being on this stage therefore make it the second edition of Silcoff Bowl.

If history has taught us anything, it’s that these two teams, across different eras and iterations have developed what I think we can safely call a cross-conference rivalry at this point. And once again, they meet on the biggest stage in sports.

So heading into the weekend, I thought this would be the perfect time to share my prediction.

And yes... You already know who I’m picking.

I’m taking the Seattle Seahawks to win this game, just like a majority of the public. I’ll fully admit it: I’m biased. I think the Seahawks should win. I think they’re the better team. I think they’re more talented. I think they have more superstar players.

That said, credit where it’s due... The Patriots deserve a ton of respect.

I was as high as anyone on Drake Maye and the Patriots entering this season. After winning only four games last year, I thought they would make the playoffs with Mike Vrabel coming in as head coach and Maye taking another step forward. Patriots fans know this, go back and read my posts from throughout the season. I’ve been consistent about how good their team and quarterback are.

And I’ll say this clearly: the Patriots absolutely have a chance in this game.

I’ve seen way too many people predicting a Seahawks blowout. I’m telling you right now, that is not going to happen. There will be a moment in the fourth quarter where New England has life, and they very well could win this game.

So let’s break down how both teams could win.

How the Patriots Can Win

New England’s path to victory is pretty straightforward.

Defensively, they need to generate interior pressure on Sam Darnold. Force him into mistakes. Get the Seahawks into second or third-and-long situations. Make sure Kenneth Walker isn’t beating them on the ground. And while you’re not going to fully take away Jaxon Smith-Njigba, you make someone else beat you.

Pressure Darnold, speed up his clock, and force him into errors.

Offensively, it can’t be the same story we’ve seen throughout parts of the playoffs. Drake Maye can’t be average or even below average in this game. He needs to be close to his MVP-level form to beat this Seattle defense.

Yes, he’s dealing with a shoulder injury. Yes, he’s facing one of the best defenses in football. But what separates great players from good ones is showing up when it matters most. If Maye is going to be one of the league’s elite quarterbacks moving forward, this is the stage to prove it.

How the Seahawks Can Win

The Seahawks’ plan isn’t all that different.

Mike Macdonald's defense needs to get after Maye, who has struggled with sacks throughout the postseason. He’s been prone to fumbling the football, and his completion percentage has dipped as the playoffs have gone on.

Early in the season, Maye was one of the best deep-ball throwers in the NFL. Over the past couple of months, that’s cooled off. And it’s not as if the Patriots have an elite offensive weapon outside of Maye himself.

The Patriots’ offensive line is going to struggle against Seattle’s pass rush. I truly believe Maye will be under duress for the majority of this game.

On the other side, Sam Darnold needs to play the way he did in the NFC Championship Game against the Rams. He doesn’t need to throw for 350 yards, but the Seahawks can’t win in spite of him like they did at times during the second half of the season.

If Seattle is going to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, Darnold has to be part of the reason why.

The Prediction

If you ask me what the best unit on the field will be, I believe it’s the Seahawks defense. In the majority of their games this season, they’ve been the best unit on the field and I expect that to be the case once again.

Regardless of who wins this game, it’s proof that defense can still win championships. And to be fair, the Patriots’ defense has been excellent throughout the postseason as well.

But Seattle’s defense is loaded.

DeMarcus Lawrence. Leonard Williams. Byron Murphy. Corners like Riq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon. Safeties like Coby Bryant,  Nick Emmanwori (who should play despite the sprained ankle he suffered yesterday), and Julian Love. Ernest Jones IV at linebacker.

There is talent everywhere.

Throughout the majority of the season, I believe the Seahawks have been the best and most consistent team in football. That said, New England will put up a fight and Seahawks fans, don’t get comfortable. This will not be a blowout.

But at the end of the day, Seattle is the more talented team. They’re the best representation of this NFL season, and in my opinion, they deserve to be crowned champions.

Final Score Prediction: Seahawks 19, Patriots 16.

Super Bowl MVP Prediction

If this game plays out the way I expect, low scoring and defensive, this could be our best chance at a defensive MVP since Von Miller in Super Bowl 50, ironically also in San Francisco.

My pick? Ernest Jones IV.

Maye is going to have to attack the middle of the field with underneath throws, and that’s where Jones thrives. He can rack up tackles, force turnovers, and make game-changing plays. He already has six interceptions this season, including one in the Divisional Round against Brock Purdy and the 49ers.

The Seahawks’ culture didn’t change when Mike Macdonald was hired as head coach in 2024. It changed when John Schneider pulled off the trade for Jones in the middle of that season.

Jones is the perfect embodiment of what it means to be a Seahawk. He’s a leader. He’s one of the best players on the defense. He’s been here before as a former Super Bowl champion with the Los Angeles Rams.

So yes, I’m going bold.

Ernest Jones IV is your Super Bowl MVP. The Seahawks win the game 19–16 and are crowned Super Bowl LX champions.

Is it a biased pick? Absolutely. But I’m going with both my heart. The Seahawks are the better team. They get it done, while New England puts up one hell of a fight.