Super Bowl LX is finally here as the (14-3) Seattle Seahawks and (14-3) New England Patriots will clash for the NFL’s biggest prize tonight.
Nobody could have foreseen this Super Bowl matchup a year ago, as both teams missed the playoffs and entered 2025 with major questions hanging over them. But after assembling the right pieces in the offseason, they’ve both made it to Levi Stadium for Super Bowl LX.
This game is difficult to predict as the Seahawks and Patriots are led by two outstanding coaches in Mike Macdonald and Mike Vrabel, and both teams are sound in all three phases of the game.
Super Bowl LX should be an entertaining contest that could be decided in the final moments. With all of that in mind, we make four bold predictions for tonight’s game.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba ties Super Bowl record for most receptions
Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the NFL in receiving yards this year with 1,793, to go along with 119 receptions and 10 touchdowns. Surprisingly, he’s only had one double-digit reception game this season, and that occurred in the NFC Championship when he had 10 receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown in their 31-27 victory over the Rams.
Quarterback Sam Darnold is coming off arguably the best game of his career, completing 25 out of 36 passes for 346 yards with three touchdowns to punch his ticket to his first Super Bowl. To maintain his hot streak, he’ll want to get the ball into his favorite receiver’s hands, Smith-Njigba.
There’s been speculation that the Patriots may put their best corner, Christian Gonzalez, to cover the First Team All-Pro receiver. But even if that happens, Njigba will get the better of the matchup as he will tie James White’s Super Bowl record for most receptions, which he set in Super Bowl LI with 14.
Drake Maye connects with Kayshon Boutte on a 50-yard touchdown
So far this postseason, Drake Maye hasn’t played up to his Second-Team All-Pro form. In three games, he’s completing 55.8% of his passes for 533 yards, with four touchdowns and two interceptions.
If the Patriots are going to have any chance of pulling off the upset, he must play better against Seattle’s 10th-ranked pass defense. Maye knows he’ll need to take his chances and attack the Seahawks secondary downfield, and his best deep threat is Kayshon Boutte. Boutte leads New England this postseason with 147 receiving yards and scored on a 32-yard touchdown in the Patriots’ 28-16 over the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round.
Maye and Boutte will connect again on a big play for a 50-yard score.
Rashid Shaheed will have a kickoff return touchdown
On Sunday, we’ll see one of the best kick returners in the league in Seattle’s Rashid Shaheed. During the regular season, he returned 15 kickoffs for 447 yards and a touchdown, and in the Seahawks 41-6 beatdown of the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round, Shaheed scored on a 95-yard kickoff on the first play of the game.
In Super Bowl LX, the 27-year-old return specialist will make one of the biggest plays of the game as he returns a kickoff for a touchdown.
Patriots defense will force three turnovers
England’s defense has been opportunistic in forcing eight turnovers. The Seahawks have played clean football this postseason and have yet to commit a turnover. It’s imperative that the Patriots’ defense force turnovers and create scoring opportunities for their offense, and you can be sure that Vrabel has emphasized this all week.
They accomplish this feat as they will force three turnovers on Super Sunday.
