Super Bowl LX is an iconic rematch between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. The last time these two teams met was over nine years ago in a nail-biting matchup. The Patriots took home the Lombardi trophy after Seahawks quarterback Russel Wilson infamously threw an interception at the one-yard line that was caught by Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler. Now, both teams have evolved drastically and had to overcome their own struggles to get to the most coveted stage in football. Here are the predictions for who will win Super Bowl LX. 

Assistant Sport Editor Theo Diesenhaus: Patriots win 27-24

We all know what happened last time the Patriots were heavy underdogs heading into the Super Bowl with a second-year quarterback. I expect a similar result the second time. Throughout the entire regular season, the Patriots’ strength was their offense. Quarterback Drake Maye had an MVP-caliber season, and the Patriots were in the top five in terms of points per game. When the calendar flipped to January, so did the Patriots’ identity. Their offensive attack became a run-first operation, and their defense transformed from a middle-of-the-pack unit to a dominant one. The team has allowed only two touchdowns this postseason, and teams have had little to no success running the ball against them. 

As for the quarterbacks, both teams are dealing with injuries that have made them limited during team practices. For Seattle, Darnold has an oblique injury that occurred during a practice ahead of Seattle’s divisional round matchup, though the injury hasn’t seemed to impact his gameplay through their two playoff games. On the other hand, Patriots fans began to panic after rumors of a potential Drake Maye shoulder injury surfaced, but it looks like the injury is more soreness than anything else, and he should be good to go for Sunday. 

Taking into account all of this, I expect Drake Maye to have a bounce-back game coming off two weeks of rest, and I think Sam Darnold will be affected by this Patriots pass rush. It will not be an easy win, but I have the Patriots holding on to a stellar 27-24 win in Santa Clara. 

Assistant Sports Editor Brady Young: Patriots win 13-10

There is no doubt that the Patriots are a heavy underdog going into Super Bowl LX. The offense for New England has been struggling in the postseason so far, only scoring five touchdowns total in three games. It has been their defense that has done the heavy lifting, first hand carrying them to the Super Bowl, and I don’t think that will change playing against the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks are a power house in all three phases of the game: offense, defense and special teams. Quarterback Sam Darnold is the definition of a comeback player, fighting his way from the bottom to the top. He was cut from multiple teams and never lived up to his expectations of being a 3rd overall draft pick in the 2018 draft class. Now, he has found his home in Seattle, an organization that respects his talents and skillset, and no one is more deserving to go to the Super Bowl than Sam Darnold. 

On the flip side, another person who I think will put everything on the line for their team is Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs. When the team first signed him, I thought this could be one of the worst signings ever, especially with all the baggage Diggs brings from his past experiences and injuries, such as a torn ACL. He proved me wrong, though, becoming the guy in the locker room that everyone and the fanbase looked up to, taking on the role of a leader. Given these facts, this is going to be a really emotional game for both sides, certainly since many players and coaches are just looking for their first ring and the chance to host the Lombardi trophy. 

The Patriots are likely going to rely on their defense yet again, and I don’t think they will be able to move the ball effectively against the Seahawks defense. However, I also believe that the Seattle offense is going to struggle against the New England defense. 

So, while this might be a low scoring game, it will not be sloppy, just a game with great coaching. Well-thought out coaching decisions to go for it or take the field goal will be intense when points are at a premium.  It’s expected that each team will get at least one touchdown, but that’s it. All of this considered, this is why I have the New England Patriots winning their seventh Super Bowl with a final score of 13-10, as they are used to playing in low scoring games with big time moments, and head coach Mike Vrabel is exactly the person who understands how to handle various situations well. 

Senior Staff Writer Jeremy Moyer: Seahawks win 27 – 20

The Seattle Seahawks come into this game as big favorites, and it is clear to see why. They have been the most dominant team in the NFL all season, and have proved countless doubters wrong every single week. The biggest reason for their success has been the generational gameplay of wide receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba. Njigba put up the most receptions and yards in the NFL this year with 119 catches and 1,793 yards. Njigba also added ten touchdowns, good enough for sixth in the NFL. His consistent dominance was recognized by the NFL when he was awarded the Offensive Player of the Year during the NFL Honors. 

Another reason why the Seahawks are so heavily favored is the great play of quarterback Sam Darnold. Darnold was doubted heavily coming into this season due to some poor performances in previous seasons. Despite all that, he has come into this season with his head held high, putting up 4,048 passing yards and 25 touchdowns. He has been very successful, especially in the playoffs, where he has thrown for 470 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions in just two games. Seattle’s success relies heavily on Darnold’s play, and I believe he will continue his success and win the Super Bowl. 

The final reason why the Seattle Seahawks will beat the Patriots on Sunday is because of their star studded defense. Seattle’s defense has been top five all year with countless contributors such as the team leader in tackles with 126 and interceptions with five, linebacker Earnest Jones IV, rookie phenom Nick Emmanwori and shutdown corner Devin Witherspoon. This defense also has the best defensive tackle duo in the league, Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy II, who have been disrupting opposing quarterbacks all season long. The generational talent of Jaxson Smith-Njigba, consistent play from Sam Darnold and dominance from their defense will be why the Seattle Seahawks defeat the New England Patriots 27-20 on Sunday to win their second Super Bowl in franchise history.