Super Bowl LX Preview

February 7, 2026

by Steve Thomas

Welcome to Super Bowl LX, everyone!  It’s been a fun season, Washington’s struggles aside, and we should be in for a pretty good contest this year featuring the top-seeded franchises from each conference.  Overall, I think Seattle is a better team, and also faced a much harder struggle to get here, so in my view, they have the advantage.  We’ll see.  Enjoy the game everyone.

. . . oh yeah: I strongly urge everyone to skip – meaning, turn off completely – this year’s halftime show, which is not only yet another rapper, but also one of the most divisive major artists currently in the public eye.  The NFL apparently refuses to recognize that there are plenty of other types of music and entertainment which would make a great 12 minute show and wouldn’t be controversial at all.  The NFL needs to fire Jay-Z and start giving us some variety.  Please don’t give them the halftime ratings for this one.

Playoff Seedings

AFC

1. Denver Broncos (14 – 3; 1st, AFC West; homefield advantage and bye)
2. New England Patriots (14 – 3; 1st, AFC East)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (13 – 4; 1st, AFC South)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (10 – 7; 1st, AFC North)
5. Houston Texans (12 – 5; 2nd, AFC South)
6. Buffalo Bills (12 – 5; 2nd, AFC East)
7. Los Angeles Chargers (11 – 6; 2nd, AFC West)

NFC

1. Seattle Seahawks (14 – 3; 1st, NFC West; homefield advantage and bye)
2. Chicago Bears (11 – 6; 1st, NFC North)
3. Philadelphia Eagles (11 – 6; 1st, NFC East)
4. Carolina Panthers (8 – 9, 1st, NFC South)
5. Los Angeles Rams (12 – 5; 2nd, NFC West)
6. San Francisco 49ers (12 – 5; 3rd, NFC West)
7. Green Bay Packers (9 – 7 – 1; 2nd, NFC North)

2026 NFL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE:

Super Bowl LX

Sunday, Feb. 8

6:30 p.m. ET, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California (NBC, Telemundo, Peacock)

Halftime Show – another rapper half the country doesn’t want to watch, because the NFL doesn’t understand people sometimes want something besides R&B or rap #fire Jay-Z  Bad Bunny

Game Preview

Seattle Seahawks (#1) at New England Patriots (#2)

Early line: Seahawks, -4.5

Offensively, the Seahawks are one of the more prolific offenses in the NFL, with a total of 483 points scored, which is ranked third.  Quarterback Sam Darnold posted a 67.6% completion percentage in 17 games this season, which put the Seattle as a team in fifth place in the NFL.  Jaxon Smith-Njigba is one of the NFL’s leading receivers, with 119 receptions in 163 targets, for 1793 yards (tops in the league) and 10 touchdowns.  As a team, the Seahawks averaged just 4.1 yards per carry on the ground; however, starting running back Kenneth Walker III had 1027 yards in 221 attempts, which is an average of 4.6 yards per carry.  As a result, the Seahawks are very balanced and capable on offense, and represent a serious challenge to every opponent.  Defensively, they surrendered 292 points this season, the best in the NFL, and allowed opposing quarterbacks to have a combined 62.5% completion percentage and a 77.9 quarterback rating, ranked 4th.  Their rushing defense is the best in the NFL, surrendering just 3.7 yards per carry.  The Seahawks are the top seed in the NFC for a reason.

The Patriots scored 490 points this season, which was the second-most in the NFL.  Quarterback Drake Maye had the best quarterback rating in the league, at 113.5, plus the highest completion percentage at 72.0.  On the ground, the Patriots averaged 4.4 yards per carry, ranked 15th.  On defense, New England gave up 320 points, ranked 4th.  Opponents averaged 4.2 yards per carry on the ground, which was tied for 13th in the NFL.  Opposing quarterbacks earned a combined quarterback rating of 93.1, which was ranked 21st.

New England and Seattle did not face each other in the regular season.

Steve’s prediction:

I think Seattle is a better overall team, so I’m going with the Seahawks to win, 32 – 24.