When Past Meets Present: Seahawks vs. Patriots in Super Bowl LX
- karinnaleonard
- 15 minutes ago
- 6 min read
The last time the Seattle Seahawks appeared in the Super Bowl was 11 years ago. For many, it ended in a way that still feels unfinished: a 28-24 loss to the New England Patriots, sealed by an interception at the goal line that instantly became one of the most famous moments in NFL history. Now in 2026, with Super Bowl LX looming, the Seahawks once again find themselves staring across the field at the same opponent. In a matchup that will reopen old wounds for Seattle fans and resurrect a defining triumph for New England fans, this game forces both sides to relive a championship that never truly faded.
As a kid from the Pacific Northwest, my siblings and I grew up Seahawks fans. Our parents followed college football closely and played in fantasy leagues, but the Seahawks belonged to us. The team was something we had claimed for ourselves and chosen to love, which made the ending of Super Bowl XLIX all the more devastating. Instead of celebrating, we watched as Malcolm Butler intercepted a pass from Russel Wilson that should have brought us the win.
More than a decade later, that same play still carries radically different memories depending on where you stood in 2015. I was harshly reminded of that divide and how sharply perspective can shape memory recently in one of my classes. Attending school in New England means living among Patriots fans, many of whom still hold that moment as a masterpiece. One classmate described it as his favorite sports memory, calling it one of the greatest plays in sports history. It now seems almost fated that this moment would resurface as Seattle and New England prepare to meet again on the biggest Sunday of the year.
While the emotions remain familiar, much has changed since 2015. This will be the Patriots’ first Super Bowl without Tom Brady, officially closing one of the most dominant eras in NFL history and opening a new chapter in the franchise’s story. In his place stands a new direction and a new quarterback: Drake “Drake Maye” Maye.
As these teams face off again, those warring emotions return in full force. For the Patriots, Super Bowl LX marks the first true step beyond the Brady era. On the other hand, for the Seahawks, it is an opportunity to finally rewrite a story that has lingered unresolved for more than a decade. That tension is what makes Super Bowl LX special, as it represents a collision of the past and the future, providing a reminder of how differently the same moment can be remembered. For both teams, the only way forward is to face the memory head-on.
Heading into the Super Bowl, Seattle is coming off a dominant 16-3 season, with losses only to the San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Los Angeles Rams—by a combined nine points. That consistency has been fueled by quarterback Sam Darnold, whose career before this year often felt defined by missed chances and short leashes. He was traded by the Jets, relegated to backup duty with the 49ers, and allowed to walk in free agency by both the Panthers and Vikings. After years of being passed over, Darnold has finally found a home in Seattle. Now, he is one win away from becoming a Super Bowl champion.
Opposite Darnold stands Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, who in just his second season has been widely considered one of—if not the—best quarterbacks in the league. Maye finished the regular season with 4,394 passing yards, a 72% completion rate, and 31 passing touchdowns, while adding 450 rushing yards and 4 rushing touchdowns. His rapid ascent has reshaped expectations in New England and accelerated the franchise's rebuild following the end of the Tom Brady era.
Statistically, Super Bowl LX brings together two of the most dominant teams of the 2025 season. Seattle finished with the highest point differential in the league at plus 191, while New England ranked third at plus 170, a testament to how consistently both teams controlled games throughout the year. For Seattle, that dominance showed up in every phase. The Seahawks were arguably the most complete team in football, scoring the third-most points per game while allowing the fewest.
That balance has been fueled by a defense that finished atop the league, aided in part by the offseason signing of DeMarcus Lawrence. After 11 seasons with the Cowboys, the 12-year veteran signed with Seattle and will make his Super Bowl debut, providing the Seahawks with a disruptive presence capable of unsettling a young quarterback like Drake Maye. Seattle's defensive identity, paired with an offense capable of adjusting on the fly, has produced a roster that is built to win in multiple ways. When one approach stalls, the Seahawks pivot seamlessly to another. Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba captured that confidence, saying, "We’re the real deal. I believe it’s our culture, what we’ve built from the ground up. We’ve got a great mix of young players and veteran players. We built this thing, and we want to take care of it. We want to protect it. And we know what’s at stake.” A key part of that success, Smith-Njigba finished the regular season first in receiving yards with 1,793.
Though they took a different path, New England's season is no less remarkable. Under first-year head coach Mike Vrabel, the Patriots engineered one of the league's sharpest turnarounds, improving from a 4-13 record in 2024 to a 14-3 campaign in 2025. Although it's undeniable that they faced a favorable schedule, the Patriots have earned their place in the only game that ultimately matters.
The Seahawks are generally viewed as a complete team, but the Patriots' anchor has been Drake Maye. Despite being one of the most sacked quarterbacks this season, he finished the regular season second in completions of 20 yards or more. Mike Vrabel has cited Maye as the reason he wanted to coach in New England, explaining, "I came here because of Drake, I knew what he would be. That's who I wanted to coach...Building a program is about putting great people around your really good players. That's what Drake is for us. We have a lot of those guys. When we went through this process in the offseason, we were just trying to get the right people in the building at the right time. Talent obviously wins, but character and who you are is important in building a football team."
That emphasis on character has been evident in how the Patriots operate, making them, for the first time, a team that's surprisingly hard to hate. Led by 23 year old Drake Maye and his wife, Ann Michael Maye, the team has become almost universally likable. Together since middle school, the couple are treated like royalty in New England, with "Bakemas" taking over the internet this December. Anywhere you go in the area, you can spot at least one person sporting an "I Love Drake Maye" shirt. Ann Michael Maye fulled embraced the craze when she showed up to the Patriots' AFC Divisional matchup against the Houston Texans wearing a sweatshirt with the slogan.
Maye's likability extends beyond the field, where his leadership and personality have quickly endeared him to fans. He opens every press conference with a question from MassLive Sports columnist Karen Guregian, a tradition inspired by Mike Vrabel. Throughout his career, Vrabel has always invited a woman to ask the first question, demonstrating a refreshing respect for women in sports. That gesture has further solidified Vrabel, Maye, and the team's connection to the public.
As the Seahawks and Patriots finish preparing to meet in Super Bowl LX, the championship represents more than just a title. For Seattle, it's a chance to finally close the chapter on a game that has lingered in fans' memories for over a decade. For New England, it's an opportunity to prove that the franchise can still dominate with a new quarterback and culture leading the way. Built on opposite coasts, both teams carry a wealth of history and talent into this matchup, and both will have to reconcile the weight of past moments to achieve what lies ahead. On February 8th, past and present will collide, old wounds will be tested, and one team will emerge victorious, leaving its mark on football's biggest Sunday of the year.
Edited by: Kelly Cassette
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