12 Reasons Seahawks Will Win Super Bowl LX

Some might say this is like Christmas Eve. It’s better. Why? Christmas is reliable. It comes every year, rain, snow, or shine.

Your favorite team in the Super Bowl? Absolutely not.

The season in which the Seattle Seahawks celebrated their 50th campaign as a franchise, they are competing for their second Lombardi Trophy.

So here we are. Like Pippin in the Lord of the Rings, finding it worse to sit on the edge of a battle one could not escape. Thanos said, “Dread it. Run from it. Destiny arrives all the same.”

Destiny knocks on the Seahawks’ door tomorrow. Will they open the door, and let it in?

Not just Destiny this time. Revenge was also invited to this party. Sure, none of the players on either side played any role whatsoever in The Super Bowl Where They Should Have Given It To Marshawn. But you know who was there? You. The 12s.

Let’s get to 12 reasons why the Seahawks will win Super Bowl LX.

History of the No. 1 Scoring Defense in the Super Bowl

As mentioned in a previous article, history has been kind to the No. 1 scoring defense playing in the Big Game. Since 1970, when the AFL and NFL merged, the No. 1 scoring defense (which is Seattle this season) is 14-4 in the Super Bowl. Not only that, but when that defense is paired with a top-five scoring offense (Seahawks at No. 3), that team is 7-0 in the Super Bowl.

Rams Were Better Than Patriots

One of the lowest hanging fruits, if the Seahawks do win this game, will be that the NFC Championship Game between the Rams and the Seahawks was the “real” Super Bowl. Not to completely disrespect the Patriots, but overall, the Rams were a better team and a tougher matchup for the Seahawks. First, the combination of Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford is unmatched in the NFL. No team diced up the Seahawks defense like that Hall of Fame pair did on several occasions this season. Plus, they have a young and hungry defense. It’s simply a fact. Pro Football Reference’s SRS (Simple Rating System) which basically gives each team a score when accounting for their strength of schedule and margin of victory, pitted the Rams second in the NFL, just under the Seahawks, with a 12.8 rating. The Patriots? They ranked sixth in the NFL at 5.5

Sam Darnold is On a Heater Towards Full Redemption

The Sam Darnold story has captivated the NFL world throughout the playoffs. It only feels right that his feel-good story would end with a Super Bowl title and maybe even Super Bowl MVP. That wouldn’t come out of nowhere, either. It’s hard to argue against his NFC Championship Game performance against a Rams team that previously had his number being the best game of his entire career. He has just one turnover worthy play in two playoff games, the least among any quarterback this postseason who has played multiple games. He also leads all quarterbacks in the playoffs with a 122.4 passer rating. He’s hot and it feels like this is heading towards a satisfying ending.

More Experienced QB

Aside from Sam Darnold playing better than Drake Maye this postseason, Darnold is far more experienced. He’s thrown over 2,000 more passes in his NFL career than Maye. This is technically his second trip to the Super Bowl, as he did so as the backup with the 2023 49ers. While he was not under the same bright, hot lights, he certainly got a front row seat as to what to expect to prepare for a Super Bowl. That might matter in the little moments of this game.

Mismatch Between Seahawks DL and Patriots OL

Perhaps the biggest advantage the Seahawks have is their ferocious defensive line against the inconsistent offensive line, especially along the left side for New England. Per Pro Football Focus, no offensive linemen has allowed more sacks than Patriots left tackle Will Campbell. Left guard Jared Wilson has not fared much better, being the only other offensive linemen throughout the playoffs to allow multiple sacks. The likes of DeMarcus Lawrence, Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy II, Uchenna Nwosu, Boye Mafe, Jarran Reed, and Derick Hall should be licking their chops. As we saw in Super Bowl LIX with the Eagles line overwhelming Kansas City, this kind of mismatch is what can win you a Super Bowl.

Mike Macdonald vs. Young QBs

Combining his time as the defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens and head coach of the Seahawks, young quarterbacks 24 years old and under have been chum in the water for a Mike Macdonald feeding frenzy. His defenses are 6-0 when facing quarterbacks that young. Drake Maye, while experienced between a lengthy college career and in his second season in the NFL, is not yet 24 years old. Not only that, but they have only thrown one touchdown pass. While Maye is more successful and seasoned than your average 23-year-old, Macdonald can still give him things to make his head spin.

Red Zone Battle

Throughout the regular season, the Patriots struggled to keep opponents out of the red zone once they got into it. New England ranked 30th in red zone rate on defense. While they have improved in the postseason, the vulnerabilities are still there. The Seahawks went 4-for-5 in the red zone against the Rams.

Special Teams

It’s hard to argue against the Seahawks having the best special teams unit in the NFL. Jason Myers is one of the most reliable kickers in the NFL, ranking second in field goals made this year. Michael Dickson is one of the best punters in the NFL. And then there is Rashid Shaheed. The man with two kick return scores and one punt returned for a touchdown. He is the type of player that can completely change the complexion of a game with one return. Could he have his Percy Harvin moment?

Christian Gonzalez Isn’t Enough to Stop JSN

Many assume that talented cornerback Christian Gonzalez will shadow the AP Offensive Player of the Year and limit his production. While Gonzalez can hold his own in some respects, it will take more than him to hold Smith-Njigba down. For starters, Gonzalez is not the first talented corner to try and shut down the talented receiver. The Texans First Team All-Pro corner Derek Stingley Jr. tried, and Smith-Njigba got him for 49 yards and a touchdown.

Explosive Play Battle

Both the Patriots and Seahawks rely on explosive plays on offense and try to limit explosive plays on defense. However, the Seahawks are better at it than New England. The offense ranks fourth in the NFL in explosive play rate and is the top defense in limiting explosive plays. The Patriots rank first in explosive play rate on offense, but 11th on defense. If this game comes down to one team either making one more explosive play or limit an explosive play in a key spot, the numbers favor Seattle.

Third Down Situations

The Seahawks are the best defense in the NFL at making opponents go from third down to fourth down. If the Seahawks can consistently get the Patriots into third and medium or long situations, it could be a long night for New England’s offense. While the Seahawks aren’t prolific on third downs on offense (16th), the Patriots are not airtight in defending third downs (12th) either.

The 12s Are Going to Show Up

It’s widely expected that Seahawks fans will outnumber the Patriots fans. Granted, it’s roughly 800 miles to San Francisco from Seattle. Meanwhile, Boston is 3,000 miles away from the Super Bowl site. Expect it to be loud when the Patriots are on offense. The 12s will be loud and proud. Expect the Patriots to be a lot more prepared than the Broncos were in Super Bowl XLVIII for the crowd noise. Still, the 12s will bring the heat for Drake Maye and company. Levi’s Stadium is not unfamiliar territory for them.