The New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks will face off in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Feb. 8. The game marks just the fourth time the two teams have faced off since their Super Bowl XLIX matchup in 2015, where the Patriots emerged with the 28-24 victory. The Emory Wheel staff have made their picks on who will hoist the Lombardi Trophy in this championship rematch.
New England Patriots
Cayden Xia, Opinion Editor
In my entire life, I have only seen one football game in its entirety: Super Bowl XLIX, where the New England Patriots obliterated the Seattle Seahawks. As a native Bostonian, I have to root for my home team, and will be two-for-two in football predictions as the Patriots will once again prove triumphant in this East-West derby. However, my geography isn’t the only reason I’m leaning towards the Patriots for this upcoming Super Bowl. I am absolutely one of those clueless spectators who judge the mascot more than the team. On the one hand, we have Pat Patriot, a Revolutionary War minuteman who symbolizes resilience, bravery and winning. He is a soldier from a city that has a rich history as the heart of the American Revolution. On the other hand, we have a team represented by a bird in a city famous for its gloomy weather and for being the Starbucks capital. I’m no biologist, but I’m pretty sure a soldier can beat a bird.
I have the confidence that the Patriots will win based on the expert analysis done by my friend. He, a weekly football enjoyer, is also a native Bostonian and a die-hard Pats fan. When I asked for his unbiased prediction and analysis of the game, he responded with, “Defense is locked in and Drake Maye reverts back to normal.” The Patriots will be seven-time champions while the Seahawks will be three-time runners-up, permanently cementing the Pats as the greatest NFL team of all time and once again proving the superiority of all Boston sports teams.
Siya Kumar, News Editor
I’m supporting the Patriots for one reason and one reason only: my family friend, who really likes the Patriots, is hot. I pray that he does not look up my name and find this, because that would be hard to explain. If the Patriots win, his day will be made. He, unfortunately, is the type of man whose day is ruined when his favorite sports team loses. Go sports!
Lauren Yee, Managing Editor
The good old days are back. My NFL MVP Drake “Drake Maye” Maye has arrived to deliver us from evil. No fan has suffered as much as I have in the Patriots’ long drought between Super Bowls. I would like to see the underdog win in America for once.
Amelia Bush, Arts & Life Editor
I have never been a fan of viewing organized sports. Or any sports, really, outside of watching ice skating at the Olympics. In fact, it was only on Jan. 29 that I realized that the Kansas City Chiefs were not in the Super Bowl. Moreover, they did not even make the playoffs. I say this to assert that I have no real experience in the realm of football. My knowledge starts and ends with who is performing at the halftime show — thank you, Bad Bunny.
However, if I had to predict something, it would be that the Patriots will, no, must win. Because, despite knowing nothing about football, I once met one of the Patriots’ former defensive coaches on his honeymoon in Hawaii after their 2017 victory against the Atlanta Falcons — a honeymoon he could only take because he won. And I may not understand the sport, but I do love a good love story.
Mack Young, Contributing Writer
I hate to say it, but New England will be the region of champions once again. As someone who was born in Massachusetts in the 2000s, I experienced the Brady dynasty — and as a non-Pats fan, it wasn’t fun. Now, the Patriots will win the big game once again this year. This shouldn’t surprise anyone given their elite defense, which, led by defensive coordinator Aden Durde and head coach Mike Macdonald, allowed only 16.4 points per game. Their defense has dominated this postseason, holding the 49ers to just six points while their offense put up 41.
The Patriots’ defense has given the offense room to take over — and Drake Maye has made it happen (shoutout to his wife Ann Michael Maye’s baking). In the playoffs, Maye has been clutch, including his 28-yard run that set up the go-ahead field goal in the AFC title game.
The Seahawks may have a better defense, but the Patriots have a defense that can compete with Seattle, and the Super Bowl often comes down to the quarterback. Maye has shown more poise in critical moments than Darnold. The Seahawks have dominated this postseason so thoroughly that Darnold hasn’t faced many close games. Maye has faced more adversity throughout the season and almost always risen to the occasion. Last season, when Darnold was on the Viking the lights were too bright in the Wild Card round — he was sacked nine times and lost 27-9. This is Maye’s first postseason, but he’s already shown he can be clutch when needed. In a battle of quarterbacks on the biggest stage, I’m taking Maye over Darnold, with history on my side.
NE 27 - SEA 24
Seattle Seahawks
Will Peck, Managing Editor
Many of my fellow pick-makers and football fans across the country will be rooting for the Seahawks this year due to an overwhelming sense of Patriots fatigue. The Patriots have been a constant force in the AFC throughout most of my lifetime, and it seems almost unfair that they have returned to championship-contending status almost as quickly as the key figures of the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era moved on to newer, fresher opportunities.
This game might not be billed as a powerhouse quarterback matchup, but there is plenty to talk about regarding the two signal-callers. Many have asserted that New England has found its true heir to Tom Brady in Drake Maye after his MVP-caliber season. Maye will fall short, though, as Sam Darnold is destined to complete his career comeback in his first year with Seattle. Throughout his career, he has been labeled a draft bust, has played for five teams in the past six seasons and was kicked to the curb by the Minnesota Vikings after a weak performance in last year’s postseason. While the Vikings settle for J.J. “Nine” McCarthy and his other former teams watch the big game from home, Darnold has risen above them.
Darnold became just the second quarterback in NFL history with consecutive 14-win seasons, following none other than Brady himself. A California native, Darnold is going to march the Seahawks into Santa Clara, lead his team to victory and stake his claim as the true “Next Tom Brady.”
SEA 30 - NE 17
Sophie Bergman, Assistant Sports Editor
At some point, we must stop pretending the Patriots are elite just because someone told us they are. The Patriots beat fewer teams with winning records than the lowly Giants did during the regular season. They lost to the pitiful Raiders and their quarterback Geno Smith yet are somehow being crowned contenders. Come on. We’re supposed to act like this run means something?
Drake “Drake Maye” Maye being an MVP favorite is insane. In the AFC Championship, he had 86 passing yards, while he has coughed up five turnovers in his last three games. He had fewer passing touchdowns in the playoffs than turnovers, and we’re considering naming this guy the most important player in the NFL?
The NFC Championship game between the Seahawks and Rams was the real Super Bowl. Overtime touchdowns, missed field goals, last-minute defensive holdups — every Rams vs. Seahawks game this season was cinematic. They battled until the clock ran out every single time. Meanwhile, the Patriots beat the Broncos by a whopping three points even with their backup quarterback, while Bo Nix was out due to an injury. In that game, there was the same number of missed field goals and punts combined as points scored. That’s pee-wee football.
The Patriots did not prove they are elite. They proved how easy it is to look elite without beating anyone.
SEA 27 - NE 17
Spencer Friedland, Editor-in-Chief
If any other franchise housed this Patriots roster, I would be rooting for this lovable squad led by Drake “Drake Maye” Maye. However, this franchise is the most despicable and conniving in the NFL. The poor Boston fans who have not seen a Patriots title in a handful of years will watch their fake underdog story disintegrate at the hands of Sam Darnold.
Watching the Championship Sunday games, it was clear that the NFC Championship was the real Super Bowl. The Denver Broncos, led by backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, were almost able to best the Patriots in a punt-fest for the ages. Moreover, the Patriots may have had the easiest path to the big game in decades, not playing a real contender outside of the Broncos, who were missing their stud quarterback Bo Nix.
On the other side of the bracket, we have the Seattle Seahawks, led by cult leader and head coach Mike Macdonald and a team that cares about nothing besides ball. The Seahawks bested two NFC West foes with Super Bowl experience and have proven beyond any doubt throughout the season that they are the best team in the NFL.
As long as the Seahawks do not crumble under the bright lights, the Super Bowl may not even be competitive. Seahawks in four.
SEA 34- NE 16
Ellie Fivas, Editor-in-Chief
I’m not usually one to agonize over the outcome of NFL games that don’t feature the Detroit Lions. And we all know how the Lions performed this season (hint: impressively terrible). But my prediction that the New England Patriots will crumble and the Seattle Seahawks will triumph came to me in a dream. In my dream, I looked down at a New York Times Athletic alert on my phone, and saw a headline: “Seattle Seahawks secure second-ever Super Bowl win.” And I’m not one to ignore premonitions.
If the Chicago Bears can’t grace our screens for Super Bowl LX with Caleb Williams’ incredible game instincts and throws, then at least let the Seahawks prevent the New England Patriots from taking their seventh Super Bowl. The Seahawks, based on my menial research, have proven their worth in a competitive lineup of games this season and will be taking home the Lombardi Trophy.
SEA 27 - NE 24
Sammy Brodsky, Sports Editor; Philadelphia Eagles Nationalist
Ever since system quarterback Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers bested my Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, I have disassociated myself from anything football related. I’ve hidden away my Eagles merch, avoided watching the following rounds and changed my ringtone from “Fly Eagles Fly” to “Here Come The Sixers.” This leaves me with zero interest in giving my take on the coaching duel, battle at the line or any intangibles that make up this meaningless matchup. With all that being said, the New England Patriots are led by a second-year quarterback who will likely end up as the runner-up for the MVP award, while also being helped by a strong defense and a new star wide receiver in Stefon Diggs. This is the exact situation that the Eagles were in just three years ago in Super Bowl LVII against the Kansas City Chiefs, where they ended up losing 38-35 due to an incorrect holding call by the officials.
I say all of this to explain that while I lack the desire to dive deep into anything NFL related, I have determined that Drake Maye is on an identical career path to Super Bowl LIX MVP Jalen Hurts, meaning that by the transitive property he will fall to the Seahawks, and on Feb. 8, Seahawks kicker Jason Myers will kick a game-winning field goal with little to no time left, and Super Bowl LX will conclude. Seahawks fans, congrats on your second Lombardi Trophy. Patriots faithful, congrats on winning Super Bowl LXII. Go Birds.
SEA 38 - NE 35
Sonia Liew, Assistant Sports Editor
Honestly, I am no avid football fan, but I will catch the occasional Sunday Night Football game. This season, though, I became far more invested than usual, thanks to the Chicago Bears and Caleb Williams’ weekly Hail Marys. Once the Bears were eliminated, my motives shifted from supporting a team to rooting against one.
More specifically, I am hoping that the Patriots lose. Regardless of whether or not you follow the NFL, everyone knows the Patriots’ reputation (they are a bunch of cheaters). Even in retirement, Tom Brady is unfortunately an unavoidable part of that legacy. How could anyone root for a team that arguably fielded one of the most arrogant quarterbacks of all time? Watching him and the Patriots collect Super Bowl rings every season growing up got old, and I definitely do not want to see history repeat itself this year.
From a more technical standpoint, the Patriots’ path to the Super Bowl makes their success much less impressive. They had one of the easiest regular-season schedules in the league, and they were not tested much in the playoffs either. In contrast, the Seahawks have played against much tougher competition, proving their consistency. On this front, the Patriots just do not compare. While my predictions may not be the most sophisticated, I still believe it’s not even a question who will win Super Bowl LX, because how can a team win while having almost an entire country rooting against them?
Chloe Nam, Sports Editor
Unlike a lot of people, I actually feel pretty neutral about the Patriots. Despite the dislike I feel towards Tom Brady (retiring twice is something that only he would do) and Bill Belichick (he used to struggle with drafting young talent, but seems to be working on that), they aren’t even part of the team anymore. And yet, there’s something refreshing about the Seattle Seahawks that the New England Patriots just can’t seem to replicate.
With their powerhouse defense, the Seahawks are more than capable of limiting Drake Maye’s offensive abilities and hopefully adding to the 15 times he’s been sacked this postseason. While Maye has demonstrated accuracy as a quarterback, Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s offense highlights Darnold’s best qualities and his six more years of NFL experience. Plus, we can’t ignore the rumors that the Patriots have had the easiest path to the Super Bowl. Their strength of schedule in 2025 was 0.429, the third lowest in the league. I believe when it comes down to it, the Seahawks are on a different level than the Patriots.
SEA 24 - NE 19
Ari Mayblum, Staff Writer
Sam Darnold has a career record of 0-4 against the New England Patriots, including his infamous “seeing ghosts” game where he registered five turnovers in a 33-0 MNF loss to the Patriots in 2019. However, the Seahawks’ star quarterback won’t be seeing ghosts on Super Bowl Sunday. After reviving his career and leading the Vikings to a 14-win season a year ago, Darnold signed a contract to become Seattle’s signal-caller. Fast forward just 11 months, Darnold and the Seahawks have been firing on all cylinders with just one team left standing between them and their second Lombardi Trophy.
That team is the New England Patriots. Head coach Mike Vrabel deserves immense credit for transforming a 4-13 squad to 14-3 AFC champions in just one season. Second-year Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has taken a major leap in his performance, recently being named a finalist for the 2025 NFL MVP. Nevertheless, I’d be naive not to highlight New England’s path to Super Bowl LX. The Patriots faced the weakest regular-season opponents since the 1999 St. Louis Rams. In the playoffs, they faced an injury-ridden Los Angeles Chargers unit, an underwhelming CJ Stroud-led Houston Texans and the Denver Broncos quarterbacked by Jarrett Stidham who hadn’t recorded a pass attempt in over two years prior to the AFC Championship.
Now, they are tasked with facing a Seattle offense that ranks third in the NFL in points per game, as well as the second rendition of Seattle’s Legion of Boom which ranks first in points allowed. Make no mistake, in the rematch of Super Bowl XLIX, the Seattle Seahawks will be victorious, and it won’t be particularly close.
SEA 30 - NE 13
