The 60th edition of the Super Bowl is coming around, with the stage set for Levi’s Stadium on February 8. Several hundred million people will be watching the game worldwide, but in the US, in particular, most of the nation will be glued to the action in what has effectively become a national holiday.
Want a primer on what’s going on? Let’s dive in for a look at the teams, key players, tale of the tape, and everything else related to Super Bowl LX.
Who’s In?
The AFC champions, the New England Patriots, will tackle the NFC winners, the Seattle Seahawks. It’s a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX (2015), which has claims of being one of the best Super Bowls in history.
What time?
The Super Bowl starts at 6.30 ET. It will be played at 3.30 local time in Santa Clara. NBC and Peacock have the broadcast rights in the US, so coverage will basically be on all day.
Who’s Winning?
Anyone’s guess, but the Seahawks are favored in the Super Bowl moneyline odds. This has been a season of shocks in the NFL, so don’t take anything for granted.
Tale of the Tape?
Both teams went 14-3 in the regular season, the best in the NFL. The Seahawks had the No.1 seed in the NFC, so they played just two postseason games, albeit coming through them in style. The Patriots had three games, putting on controlled performances.
Star players?
This is a Super Bowl of up-and-coming stars and redemption arcs. Drake Maye, who is the Patriots’ young quarterback, had an MVP-worthy season, whereas the Seahawks’ Sam Darnold has really found his feet after being something of a misfit earlier in his career.
The coaches?
Mike Vrabel won three Super Bowls with the Patriots as a player, but his return to Foxborough could be the stuff of legend. The Patriots went 4-13 last season, so Vrabel seems to have brought the good times back overnight. Mike McDonald is in his first head coaching job, joining the Seahawks in 2024. He’s also been a revelation, with a 26-10 overall record across his two seasons. His background as a defensive coordinator is certainly apparent.
Where will the game be won?
For the Patriots to win, they’ll need to find a formula to break down what many believe to be the meanest defense in the NFL. That heaps pressure on the shoulders of young Maye, but you get the sense he will relish the challenge. The Seahawks probably have more weapons, including a very formidable one in Jaxon Smith-Njigba at wide receiver. The Patriots must contain him, and that’s not going to be easy.
What are the other narratives?
On paper, we are looking at two underdogs. The Patriots were +8000 to win the Super Bowl at the start of the season, with the Seahawks at +6000. It means it’s the longest odds for a Super Bowl pairing in history. Yet, the entire season, it did not feel like these are plucky upstarts. Both teams have played as if they were favorites from day one.
Anything Controversial?
Not really. There is a conspiracy going around social media to do with a graphic that predicted this matchup back in September, but it is, of course, nonsense. As ever, the cost of Super Bowl tickets does not sit well with everyone. It’ll cost several thousand dollars to get any type of seat, moving into five figures for a good one.
Non-Football Stuff?
Bad Bunny is the Halftime Show performer. A good pick, considering he is currently one of the most popular artists in the world, although that sentiment might depend on your age and demographic. Nonetheless, the Puerto Rican rapper knows how to put on a show and is well aware of the need to deliver. As usual, there’s also a lot of focus on the adverts. We expect something big from the ChatGPT firm, OpenAI.
One Prediction to Finish?
Sam Darnold has been milling about the NFL since 2018, and the Seahawks are his 5th team. It looks like he has been reborn under McDonald’s tutelage. If he plays like he did against the Rams in the Conference Final, he will be the Super Bowl MVP and Seattle will have its second title.
