Fortune Favors the Rebels: How the Patriots and Seahawks Gambled and Reached Super Bowl LX
The road to Super Bowl LX was paved with broken ankles, shattered dynasties and the kind of gut-wrenching drama that makes the NFL impossible to quit. On Sunday, two teams completed their Rebel runs: the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will meet in Santa Clara on February 8 for the Lombardi Trophy.
The AFC: Defense Wins Championships
New England’s defense suffocated Denver in a 10-7 defensive slugfest. Jarrett Stidham—thrust into the spotlight after Bo Nix’s broken ankle—couldn’t overcome a first-half fumble that led to the Patriots’ only touchdown. Christian Gonzalez’s late fourth-quarter interception sealed it.
The Patriots are one win from completing one of the greatest turnarounds in NFL history. After back-to-back 4-13 seasons, Mike Vrabel led them to a 14-3 record in Year 1. Drake Maye, the quarterback some wanted to redshirt as a rookie, has now beaten the league’s #1 and #2 ranked defenses in back-to-back playoff games—and held the Broncos’ vaunted 68-sack defense to just 7 points.
For Denver, Nix’s absence proved fatal. He broke his ankle on the second-to-last play of overtime against Buffalo, yet still took two more snaps—including drawing the pass interference call that set up the game-winning field goal. “He’s a tough cookie,” Sean Payton said. But tough wasn’t enough without him on the field.
The NFC: Darnold Silences the Doubters
Sam Darnold answered every question in a 31-27 victory over the Rams. The former bust—handed $100.5 million after his breakout 2024 season with Minnesota—threw for 346 yards and 3 touchdowns without a turnover. Jaxon Smith-Njigba hauled in 10 catches for 153 yards. Cooper Kupp, the former Rams Super Bowl MVP, caught the dagger touchdown for Seattle.
Matthew Stafford threw for 374 yards and 3 touchdowns in defeat, but couldn’t overcome the Seahawks’ late fourth-down stop. The likely MVP’s final drive ended at Seattle’s 28-yard line as time expired. At 37, his window may be closing.
The Fallen
For every winner, there’s heartbreak. Josh Allen’s 4 turnovers ended Buffalo’s clearest path to a Super Bowl in decades. Sean McDermott was fired the next morning. In Chicago, Caleb Williams’ brilliance was undone by his mistakes—7 fourth-quarter comebacks all season, then 3 interceptions when it mattered most.
And in Kansas City, the dynasty is officially over. Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL in Week 15. The Chiefs finished 6-11. The AFC was wide open for the first time in years—and the three-time defending champions watched from home.
Super Bowl LX
Patriots. Seahawks. A rematch of Super Bowl XLIX. February 8 in Santa Clara.
Fortune favored the Rebels. Now only one can finish the job.
